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would ye could rise from your grave at Templestowe； and that we
might break another spear for honor andand〃 。 。 。
〃And REBECCA；〃 he would have said； but the knight paused here in
rather a guilty panic： and her Royal Highness the Princess Rowena
（as she chose to style herself at home） looked so hard at him out
of her china…blue eyes； that Sir Wilfrid felt as if she was reading
his thoughts； and was fain to drop his own eyes into his flagon。
In a word； his life was intolerable。 The dinner hour of the
twelfth century； it is known； was very early； in fact； people dined
at ten o'clock in the morning： and after dinner Rowena sat mum
under her canopy； embroidered with the arms of Edward the
Confessor； working with her maidens at the most hideous pieces of
tapestry； representing the tortures and martyrdoms of her favorite
saints； and not allowing a soul to speak above his breath； except
when she chose to cry out in her own shrill voice when a handmaid
made a wrong stitch； or let fall a ball of worsted。 It was a
dreary life。 Wamba； we have said； never ventured to crack a joke；
save in a whisper； when he was ten miles from home； and then Sir
Wilfrid Ivanhoe was too weary and blue…devilled to laugh； but
hunted in silence； moodily bringing down deer and wild…boar with
shaft and quarrel。
Then he besought Robin of Huntingdon； the jolly outlaw； nathless；
to join him； and go to the help of their fair sire King Richard；
with a score or two of lances。 But the Earl of Huntingdon was a
very different character from Robin Hood the forester。 There was
no more conscientious magistrate in all the county than his
lordship： he was never known to miss church or quarter…sessions； he
was the strictest game…proprietor in all the Riding； and sent
scores of poachers to Botany Bay。 〃A man who has a stake in the
country； my good Sir Wilfrid；〃 Lord Huntingdon said； with rather a
patronizing air （his lordship had grown immensely fat since the
King had taken him into grace； and required a horse as strong as an
elephant to mount him）〃a man with a stake in the country ought to
stay IN the country。 Property has its duties as well as its
privileges； and a person of my rank is bound to live on the land
from which he gets his living。〃
〃'Amen！〃 sang out the Reverend Tuck； his lordship's domestic
chaplain； who had also grown as sleek as the Abbot of Jorvaulx；
who was as prim as a lady in his dress； wore bergamot in his
handkerchief； and had his poll shaved and his beard curled every
day。 And so sanctified was his Reverence grown； that he thought it
was a shame to kill the pretty deer； （though he ate of them still
hugely； both in pasties and with French beans and currant…jelly；）
and being shown a quarter…staff upon a certain occasion； handled it
curiously； and asked 〃what that ugly great stick was？〃
Lady Huntingdon； late Maid Marian； had still some of her old fun
and spirits； and poor Ivanhoe begged and prayed that she would come
and stay at Rotherwood occasionally； and egayer the general dulness
of that castle。 But her ladyship said that Rowena gave herself
such airs； and bored her so intolerably with stories of King Edward
the Confessor； that she preferred any place rather than Rotherwood；
which was as dull as if it had been at the top of Mount Athos。
The only person who visited it was Athelstane。 〃His Royal Highness
the Prince〃 Rowena of course called him； whom the lady received
with royal honors。 She had the guns fired； and the footmen turned
out with presented arms when he arrived； helped him to all
Ivanhoe's favorite cuts of the mutton or the turkey； and forced her
poor husband to light him to the state bedroom； walking backwards；
holding a pair of wax…candles。 At this hour of bedtime the Thane
used to be in such a condition； that he saw two pair of candles and
two Ivanhoes reeling before him。 Let us hope it was not Ivanhoe
that was reeling； but only his kinsman's brains muddled with the
quantities of drink which it was his daily custom to consume。
Rowena said it was the crack which the wicked Bois Guilbert； 〃the
Jewess's OTHER lover； Wilfrid my dear；〃 gave him on his royal
skull； which caused the Prince to be disturbed so easily； but
added； that drinking became a person of royal blood； and was but
one of the duties of his station。
Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoe saw it would be of no avail to ask this man
to bear him company on his projected tour abroad； but still he
himself was every day more and more bent upon going； and he long
cast about for some means of breaking to his Rowena his firm
resolution to join the King。 He thought she would certainty fall
ill if he communicated the news too abruptly to her： he would
pretend a journey to York to attend a grand jury； then a call to
London on law business or to buy stock； then he would slip over to
Calais by the packet； by degrees as it were； and so be with the
King before his wife knew that he was out of sight of Westminster
Hall。
〃Suppose your honor says you are going as your honor would say Bo！
to a goose； plump； short； and to the point；〃 said Wamba the Jester
who was Sir Wilfrid's chief counsellor and attendant〃depend on't
her Highness would bear the news like a Christian woman。〃
〃Tush； malapert！ I will give thee the strap；〃 said Sir Wilfrid； in
a fine tone of high…tragedy indignation。 〃Thou knowest not the
delicacy of the nerves of high…born ladies。 An she faint not；
write me down Hollander。〃
〃I will wager my bauble against an Irish billet of exchange that
she will let your honor go off readily： that is； if you press not
the matter too strongly；〃 Wamba answered； knowingly。 And this
Ivanhoe found to his discomfiture： for one morning at breakfast；
adopting a degage air； as he sipped his tea； he said； 〃My love； I
was thinking of going over to pay his Majesty a visit in Normandy。〃
Upon which； laying down her muffin； （which； since the royal Alfred
baked those cakes； had been the chosen breakfast cate of noble
Anglo…Saxons； and which a kneeling page tendered to her on a
salver； chased by the Florentine； Benvenuto Cellini；）〃When do you
think of going； Wilfrid my dear？〃 the lady said； and the moment the
tea…things were removed； and the tables and their trestles put
away； she set about mending his linen； and getting ready his
carpet…bag。
So Sir Wilfrid was as disgusted at her readiness to part with him
as he had been weary of staying at home； which caused Wamba the
Fool to say； 〃Marry； gossip； thou art like the man on ship…board；
who； when the boatswain flogged him； did cry out 'Oh！' wherever the
rope's…end fell on him： which caused Master Boatswain to say；
'Plague on thee； fellow； and a pize on thee； knave； wherever I hit
thee there is no pleasing thee。'〃
〃And truly there are some backs which Fortune is always belaboring；〃
thought Sir Wilfrid with a groan； 〃and mine is one that is ever
sore。〃
So； with a moderate retinue； whereof the knave Wamba made one； and
a large woollen comforter round his neck； which his wife's own
white fingers had woven； Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoe left home to join
the King his master。 Rowena； standing on the steps； poured out a
series of prayers and blessings； most edifying to hear； as her lord
mounted his charger； which his squires led to the door。 〃It was
the duty of the British female of rank；〃 she said； 〃to suffer all
ALL in the cause of her sovereign。 SHE would not fear loneliness
during the campaign： she would bear up against widowhood；
desertion； and an unprotected situation。〃
〃My cousin Athelstane will protect thee；〃 said Ivanhoe； with
profound emotion； as the tears trickled down his basenet； and
bestowing a chaste salute upon the steel…clad warrior； Rowena
modestly said 〃she hoped his Highness would be so kind。〃
Then Ivanhoe's trumpet blew： then Rowena waved her pocket…
handkerchief： then the household gave a shout： then the pursuivant
of the good Knight； Sir Wilfrid the Crusader； flung out his banner
（which was argent； a gules cramoisy with three Moors impaled
sable）： then Wamba gave a lash on his mule's haunch； and Ivanhoe；
heaving a great sigh； turned the tail of his war…horse upon the
castle of his fathers。
As they rode along the forest； they met Athelstane the Thane
powdering along the road in the direction of Rotherwood on his
great dray…horse of a charger。 〃Good…by； good luck to you； old
brick；〃 cried the Prince； using the vernacular Saxon。 〃Pitch into
those Frenchmen； give it 'em over the face and eyes； and I'll stop
at home and take care of Mrs。 I。〃
〃Thank you； kinsman；〃 said Ivanhoelooking； however； not
particularly well pleased； and the chiefs shaking hands； the train
of each took its different wayAthelstane's to Rotherwood；
Ivanhoe's towards his place of embarkation。
The poor knight had his wish； and yet his face was a yard long and
as yellow as a lawyer's parchment； and having longed