"And Cedric also," said Rowena, repeating his words; "my noble--my

generous guardian! I deserved the evil I have encountered, for

forgetting his fate even in that of his son!"

"Cedric's fate also depends upon thy determination," said De Bracy; "and

I leave thee to form it."

Hitherto, Rowena had sustained her part in this trying scene with

undismayed courage, but it was because she had not considered the

danger as serious and imminent. Her disposition was naturally that which

physiognomists consider as proper to fair complexions, mild, timid,

and gentle; but it had been tempered, and, as it were, hardened, by the

circumstances of her education. Accustomed to see the will of all, even

of Cedric himself, (sufficiently arbitrary with others,) give way before

her wishes, she had acquired that sort of courage and self-confidence

which arises from the habitual and constant deference of the circle in

which we move. She could scarce conceive the possibility of her will

being opposed, far less that of its being treated with total disregard.

Her haughtiness and habit of domination was, therefore, a fictitious

character, induced over that which was natural to her, and it deserted

her when her eyes were opened to the extent of her own danger, as well

as that of her lover and her guardian; and when she found her will, the

slightest expression of which was wont to command respect and attention,

now placed in opposition to that of a man of a strong, fierce, and

determined mind, who possessed the advantage over her, and was resolved

to use it, she quailed before him.

After casting her eyes around, as if to look for the aid which was

nowhere to be found, and after a few broken interjections, she raised

her hands to heaven, and burst into a passion of uncontrolled vexation

and sorrow. It was impossible to see so beautiful a creature in such

extremity without feeling for her, and De Bracy was not unmoved, though

he was yet more embarrassed than touched. He had, in truth, gone too

far to recede; and yet, in Rowena's present condition, she could not be

acted on either by argument or threats. He paced the apartment to and

fro, now vainly exhorting the terrified maiden to compose herself, now

hesitating concerning his own line of conduct.

If, thought he, I should be moved by the tears and sorrow of this

disconsolate damsel, what should I reap but the loss of these fair hopes

for which I have encountered so much risk, and the ridicule of Prince

John and his jovial comrades? "And yet," he said to himself, "I feel

myself ill framed for the part which I am playing. I cannot look on so

fair a face while it is disturbed with agony, or on those eyes when they

are drowned in tears. I would she had retained her original haughtiness

of disposition, or that I had a larger share of Front-de-Boeuf's

thrice-tempered hardness of heart!"




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