126 liunmofo 



strangers. Her bloom, indeed, had faded, together with the 

 sprightliness which rendered her the darling of her father's 

 house ; but her noble bearing and matron beauty which 

 time still spared, caused the rough warrior to gaze on her 

 with mingled love and admiration. But he wished not 

 to be thus entangled, and, therefore, bidding her adieu, 

 he hastened on his way. The way was long and lonely, 

 now over a wide common ; now through the depth of a 

 dark forest, beside a rapid streamlet, or through a valley 

 where high trees drooped on either side, in all the majesty 

 and luxuriance of uncultivated nature. The knight 

 looked not on these, however beautiful ; he cared not for 

 the grandeur or sublimity of the mighty landscape, which 

 extended at times before him, or the sylvan beauty of 

 woodland scenery; he thought only of the high-minded 

 dame to whom he had borne the pledge of amity ; till 

 at length her image rose before him with an intensity of 

 feeling that caused him to turn his horse's head, and to 

 retrace the way which he had come. The day had closed 

 in before he reached the priory, but the light of many 

 tapers streamed through the windows of the adjoining 

 church on the weary knight, and the dirge of death 

 sounded solemnly through the stillness of the forest. 

 The priory seemed deserted ; there was no one to answer 

 his impatient questions ; all were either within the church 

 or around the door, and thither he too hastened with 

 trembling steps, for his heart sunk within him. The 

 chancel was lighted up, and before the curiously carved 



