CICELY OF RABY VOL. 4

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by  NA

aetarne fete taBlengast
eer 47tf 1710. 74,
Ene the world and all its sickening
vanities are shut upon me for ever, let
me finish, for you, my beloved friend,
the Jong recital I have engaged in.
After Orleans quitted me, I employed
myself in packing up the few valuable
ornaments which belonged to me. The
time approached fast in which I was to
quit for ever the towers of my fathers;
I had to cross the large western hall;
the rays of the setting sun shed a golden
light through the storied window, and
VOL. Iv. B fell
a . SIELY OF Raby.
(Pel on the pictures of my angestors. I
\thought they secmed to reproach and
Took wistfully on me:—* AM I ex.
claimed, “ the Jong-foretold prophecy,
whose actoniplishment has been so anx-
iously hoped for by the Nevilles, in
Cicely shall not be fulfilled! from some
other branch may spring kings and mt-
Jers—blot my name from amongst you,
ye lords of Raby !”

I quitted the hall, my soul filled with
sadness, and entering my own apart-
ment, endeavoured to shake off the im-
pression, I threw open my casement:
« Why sits this heaviness at my heart?
whilst Orleans was with me I felt it ne.
The gale of spring blew on me; its
balmy freshness stole on my gladdened
senses, and threw a transitory calm upon
them. I thought of the promised cot-
tage, as the birds carolled forth their
evening-song. ,

E saw Jaques pace, with trembling

steps,
CICELY OF RABY. $

steps, his white hair floating with the
wind, towards the wood, where.the duke
had told me the horses which were to
bear us were concealed. Spite of love,
spite of all my resolution, tears found
“their way when I lost sight of the ve-
nerable Jaques.

Already the sun was sinking beyond
the hills which bounded the park, and
ere midnight—yes, long ere midnight,
was I to quit the Castle of Raby, where
oft I had anxiously watched, as I now ,
did, the setting luminary. My father
seemed present to my view; kneeling,
UT cried—* Aid me, every saint! so long
the guardians of the house of Fitz-Mal>
dred, the protectors of Raby! give me
resolution to sustain this trying season,
or at once frustrate every plan I have
aid!”

J heard the trampling of horses, and
yesuméd my station at the window.—
“This,” said I, “is no longer the pace

Be of
4 CICELY OF RABY..

of lord Westmoreland—it is that of my
brother Richard.”

A troop of horsemen appeared; they
gallopped into the court; they wore the
badge of the Nevilles; their leader lifted
his helmet, and I beheld in him sir John ;
Neville, the warden of the western.
marches, the eldest son of Jord West-
moreland! “Alas thought 1, “some
disaster has befallen my father; what
brings, at the head of an armed troop,
the heir of Raby?” .

T was not Jong in suspense. My bro-
ther leaped off his steed; the duke of
Oricans appeared. A conversation, which
lasted but a few minutes, took place be-
tween them, when iny brother holding
the reins of a horse, which was brought
into the court by a page, the prince,
vaulted on the saddle. I ‘had not power
to speak, or even move, as-he cast his
eyes where I stood, and laying his hand
on his heart, hastily bowed in agonizing

silence,
CICELY OF RABY, 5

silence, while his countenance wore an
air of distraction. .The whole party
gallapped off with the same celerity they
had advanced to Raby, taking the road
which, in-an hour's time, I should have
gone. :

Amazed, confounded, lost in conjee-
ture, I kept my station till my aching
eyes could no longer distinguish the
trodp which accompanied the duke. The
sound of their steps still was heard; they
grew fainter and fainter: I scarce breath-"
ed lest I should lose the last. echo, Tong
after it had faded on my ear, I yet ima-
gined, at intervals, I heard them.

Father Francis entered my apartmenty
newly returned from his little journey.
“Ah! why, I conjure you tell me, is the
duke carried hence so guarded 2”

*« Alas! my cbild, I know. not. Be-
hold, this is the order brought, by your
brother, for his delivery. It is signed
by the king,-and countersigned by the

BS earl,