The Star-Chamber, Volume 2 An Historical Romance

in the

ood adjoining Holborn, Sir Jocelyn, as we have said, daily repaired, and the moments so spent were the most delicious of his life. The feelings of regard entertained for him from the first by Aveline, had by this time ripened into love; yet, mindful of her solemn promise to her father, she checked her growing affection as much as lay in her power, and would not, at first, permit any words of tenderness to be uttered by him. As weeks, however, and even month

on the day after the banquet, when he came to communicate the intelligence of the jousts, and that he was selected to essay his skill against that of Buckingham. The news, however, did not produce upon her the effect he expected. Not only she could n

aid she would do well to comply with it,-that, indeed, resistance would be idle as Sir Giles was prepared to enforce his orders; and that he himself would he responsible for her safety. Compelled to be satisfied with these assurances, Aveline yielded to the apparent necessity of the case, and set forth with him, attended by Dame Sherbourne. With what passed during her interview with the extortioner the reader is already acquainted. She had anticipated something dreadful; but the reality almost exc

u to make an exception in favour of this tilting-match, and consent to be present at it.

uest," she replied, in an agitated tone. "Prepa

delight, in which he had bee

e, would be that the claim had been made

nce. I have received undoubted infor

a severe blow had been dealt him-and he coul

ut the ill tidings have been commun

what he heard. "Your father would never have surrendered you to him.

nalties attached to the sin of disobedience, rather than fulfil it. Sir Giles is merely the mouth-pie

rself. It is out of all reason. Your father's promise cannot bind you. He had no right to destroy his child. Will you listen to my council, Aveline?" he continued, vehemently. "You have rec

econcile such a course to my conscience, o

"if you choose to adopt it; and that is, to take a stop w

on. Often and often have I thought over this matter, and with much unea

fancied scruples, to be forced into a marriage repugnant to y

r suggestions, and fly from this threatened danger, or remove it altogether by a ma

e, interrupted only by

exclaime

Sir Giles Mompesson. He may have heard of the promise you have made to your father,

tment, and looking up, they beheld the dusky figure of Clement La

ed Sir Jocelyn,

ll you that this is no idle fear,-that the c

Aveline, in a

mistress," replied the promoter; "and therefor

," cried Sir Jocelyn, "and I will eng

be-you must not res

consent to owe my del

y," said Lanyere; "and let the thought strengthen your arm in the strife, f

as suddenly and myste