274 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



to deliver the stranger up, whom thou hadst resetted 

 although five hundred marks were upon his head, what 

 was thy answer ? ' The lands may go, but plighted 

 faith must stand ! ' The ink with which you bound 

 yourself to the conditions of yonder bond is not yet 

 dry upon the parchment, and wilt thou break thy word ? " 



"It is a trick," cried De Moore. 



" The selection rests with ourselves alone," exclaimed 

 Mandeville. 



" We will never brook that page or minstrel should 

 hold the lands and castles of Cormac More," said both 

 together : and they laid their hands upon their swords ; 

 the attendants followed the example of their lords, and 

 a scene of violence and discord was about immediately 

 to ensue. 



O'Connor slowly rose he waved his hand to command 

 silence, and his wishes were promptly obeyed. 



" This is, indeed, an unexpected choice," he said : 

 " Sir Prior, read thy parchment aloud, that all may 

 hear, and read it carefully, line after line, and 

 syllable by syllable : see that a letter be not omitted." 

 The Monk obeyed. " The document is a plain one," 

 said " The Big Man," " and by it the lady has good 

 right to choose whom she listeth for her consort. 

 Lady of Iveagh," he continued, as he turned to the 

 blushing widow, " is this youth the husband of thy 

 choice ? " " He, and none besides, so help me saints 

 and angels ! " was the solemn answer. " Then, by 

 my father's ashes, and a knight's word that never yet was 

 questioned, thou, Aylmer Mowbray, shalt this night 

 possess thy bride ! And why, my lords, chafe you so 

 at this ? " for the storm was again about to burst forth : 

 "Is it because the monk was but a sorry lawyer, and 



