"Assume," he said, "fair lady, the mark of your sovereignty, to which

none vows homage more sincerely than ourself, John of Anjou; and if

it please you to-day, with your noble sire and friends, to grace our

banquet in the Castle of Ashby, we shall learn to know the empress to

whose service we devote to-morrow."

Rowena remained silent, and Cedric answered for her in his native Saxon.

"The Lady Rowena," he said, "possesses not the language in which to

reply to your courtesy, or to sustain her part in your festival. I also,

and the noble Athelstane of Coningsburgh, speak only the language, and

practise only the manners, of our fathers. We therefore decline with

thanks your Highness's courteous invitation to the banquet. To-morrow,

the Lady Rowena will take upon her the state to which she has been

called by the free election of the victor Knight, confirmed by the

acclamations of the people."

So saying, he lifted the coronet, and placed it upon Rowena's head, in

token of her acceptance of the temporary authority assigned to her.

"What says he?" said Prince John, affecting not to understand the

Saxon language, in which, however, he was well skilled. The purport of

Cedric's speech was repeated to him in French. "It is well," he said;

"to-morrow we will ourself conduct this mute sovereign to her seat of

dignity.--You, at least, Sir Knight," he added, turning to the victor,

who had remained near the gallery, "will this day share our banquet?"

The Knight, speaking for the first time, in a low and hurried voice,

excused himself by pleading fatigue, and the necessity of preparing for

to-morrow's encounter.

"It is well," said Prince John, haughtily; "although unused to such

refusals, we will endeavour to digest our banquet as we may, though

ungraced by the most successful in arms, and his elected Queen of

Beauty."

So saying, he prepared to leave the lists with his glittering train, and

his turning his steed for that purpose, was the signal for the breaking

up and dispersion of the spectators.

Yet, with the vindictive memory proper to offended pride, especially

when combined with conscious want of desert, John had hardly proceeded

three paces, ere again, turning around, he fixed an eye of stern

resentment upon the yeoman who had displeased him in the early part of

the day, and issued his commands to the men-at-arms who stood near--"On

your life, suffer not that fellow to escape."

The yeoman stood the angry glance of the Prince with the same unvaried

steadiness which had marked his former deportment, saying, with a smile,

"I have no intention to leave Ashby until the day after to-morrow--I

must see how Staffordshire and Leicestershire can draw their bows--the

forests of Needwood and Charnwood must rear good archers."




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