TREVALLYAN. 9|. 



passages, which echoed and re-echoed to the screams aud shouts of 

 battle. At length, the spacious hall, in which the earl had received 

 the king's messenger in the commencement of our story, was gained, 

 and the darkness gave way to a light almost brilliant, caused by torches 

 hung around the walls, or held by the attendants of the countess, who 

 had betaken herself to this apartment for refuge. She and her waiting- 

 women stood at the further end, surrounded by some of the earl's 

 retainers, who with Fitzalan at then* head, were defending her against 

 the royal soldiery. Trevallyan entering in the throng, saw the state 

 of affairs at one glance, and bidding his men stand finn against those 

 who were striving to enter pell-mell with them into the hall, nished 

 through the band of the enemy who surrounded the defenders of the 

 countess, and clasping her, all bloody as he was, in his arms, strove 

 to comfort her in that hour of dire distress. She threw herself upon 

 his breast, and, like a dove pursued by some bird of prey, seemed to 

 nestle there and seek protection. 



" Margaret," began the warrior, in a voice of dreadful earnestness, 

 and with a look of deep affection ; " Margaret, beloved, the time has 

 come when we must part, — and that for ever. Already do our foes 

 possess the castle. Soon will thy husband lie as the clod of the valley. 

 God above knows how I grieve for having brought on thee this un- 

 timely fate. May he pardon me ; — for I shall soon be in his presence !" 



The noise of the unchecked strife around now aroused him from 

 these tender and solemn thoughts, and he was uttering his last fare- 

 well to the fair being whom he clasped in his anns ; but she clung 

 to him the more. 



" O Richard!" said she, " my first, my only love, — forsake me not : 

 surely they will not slay thee : they will not hann thee — nor separate 

 us, Richard !" 



This last word was almost inaudible; for overcome by the 

 paroxysm of separation, she sank insensible in his arms. The knight 

 raised his visor, and bent down to his wife's lips, — and as he raised 

 his head, those who gazed upon his fine face, never had erased from 

 their memory the mingled look of unutterable despair and heart-felt 

 affection which it displayed. Once more did he bend this look upon 

 her — once more did he press those bloodless lips — and one solitary, 

 scalding tear, fell upon her ! 



At tliis crisis Norfolk pressed into the circle, and seized Trevallyan 



