222 *& 



places of trust and profit which the adherents of the house 

 of Gray had hitherto enj oyed. Elizabeth, therefore, sought 

 again the paternal roof. Sad was the day of her return, 

 yet she only was changed. The avenue of noble trees 

 waved in the breeze, fresh and shady as when last she 

 passed ; the fields, too, looked as green and lovely, and 

 through them lay the pathway, fringed with wild flowers, 

 where she had often gathered, with her young companions, 

 fresh garlands of sweet flowers, with which to bedeck them- 

 selves. The mansion had not been altered, since the 

 family returned from court, at the accession of Edward 

 IV. There was the open door, down the steps of which 

 the train of sisters had followed their stately mother, when 

 they set forth a few years before, at the invitation of 

 Queen Margaret, to visit her court; the eldest, appointed 

 to be her maid of honour;* the others, with promises of 

 favour and promotion. They had now returned, for 

 there was neither favour nor promotion for adherents of 

 the Red-rose, and Catherine, and Anne, and Mary, were 

 waiting to receive Elizabeth with blended feelings of joy 

 and sorrow ; joy, to welcome back their sister ; sorrow, 

 to see her widow's weeds and orphan children. Time 

 had not changed them, nor were the faithful servants, 

 who had seen, a few years back, their young mistress 

 depart, with tears and blessings, yet broken down. 

 Here, then, at a short distance from this time-worn 

 tree, Elizabeth continued to reside in Grafton Castle, 

 * Parliamentary History. Vol. II. p. 345. 



