Heed not these
preparations--fear not the King's displeasure, I will take all upon
myself. Speak to me dearest, deal with me sincerely.--Theresa, are
you willing to be mine?' She only replied by bending her knee upon
the gorgeous cushion before her. 'Hush!' said she in a suppressed
tone, 'hush! my lord--let us pray to the Almighty for support,' and
the service instantly began."
CHAPTER III.
"Let not the Heavens hear these tell-tale women,
Rail on the Lord's anointed."--_RICHARD III._
"The month which followed our marriage we passed in the happy
retirement of Silsea; and there for the first time I became
acquainted with the real character of my Theresa. Her beauty had
indeed been the glory of the court, but it was only amid the privacy
of domestic life that the accomplishments of her cultivated mind, and
the submissive gentleness of her disposition became apparent. Timid
almost to a fault, I sometimes doubted whether to attribute her
implicit obedience to my wishes, to the habit of early dependence
upon the caprice of those around her, or to the resignation of a
broken spirit. Still she did not appear unhappy. The wearisome
publicity and etiquette of the life she had been hitherto compelled
to lead, was most unsuitable to her taste for retirement; and she
enjoyed equally with myself the calm repose of a quiet home.
Pages:
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44