Rowena had no sooner beheld him than she uttered a faint shriek; but at once summoning up the energy of her disposition, and compelling herself, as it were, to proceed, while her frame yet trembled with the violence of sudden 5 emotion, she placed upon the drooping head of the victor the splendid chaplet which was the destined reward of the day, and pronounced, in a clear and distinct tone, these words: "I bestow on thee this chaplet, Sir Knight, as the meed of valour assigned to this day's victor." Here she 10 paused a moment, and then firmly added, "And upon brows more worthy could a wreath of chivalry never be placed!"

The knight stooped his head, and kissed the hand of the lovely Sovereign by whom his valour had been rewarded; 15 and then sinking yet farther forward, lay prostrate at her feet.

Cedric, who had

There was a general consternation. been struck mute by the sudden appearance of his banished son, now rushed forward, as if to separate him from Rowena. 20 But this had been already accomplished by the marshals of the field, who, guessing the cause of Ivanhoe's swoon, had hastened to undo his armour, and found that the head of a lance had penetrated his breastplate, and inflicted a wound in his side.

IV. THE SIEGE OF THE CASTLE

Ivanhoe after the tournament was taken in charge by Isaac the Jew and his beautiful daughter, who cared for the wounds of the knight. Isaac and Rebecca, while on their way to York with Ivanhoe, fall in with Cedric and Rowena returning home from the tournament, and the whole party is taken prisoner by an armed band under the leadership of De Bracy and Bois-Guilbert. Rowena falls to De Bracy as his prize, and Rebecca to Bois-Guilbert; and the captives are taken for security to Torquilstone, the neighboring castle of Front de Boeuf. Meantime Gurth and Wamba have gathered Robin Hood and his outlaws for an attack on the castle. They are accompanied by the unknown knight, Le Noir Fainéant, who saved Ivanhoe's life in the tournament and who has been passing a day or two in the company of Robin Hood's men in the forest. Ivanhoe, borne on a litter to the castle, has not been recognized by his enemies, and Rebecca is permitted to nurse the bedridden knight.

A moment of peril is often also a moment of openhearted kindness and affection. We are thrown off our guard by the general agitation of our feelings, and betray the intensity of those which, at more tranquil periods, our prudence at least conceals, if it cannot altogether suppress 5 them. In finding herself once more by the side of Ivanhoe, Rebecca was astonished at the keen sensation of pleasure which she experienced, even at a time when all around them both was danger, if not despair. As she felt his pulse, and enquired after his health, there was a softness in her touch 10 and in her accents, implying a kinder interest than she would herself have been pleased to have voluntarily expressed. Her voice faltered and her hand trembled, and it was only the cold question of Ivanhoe, "Is it you, gentle

maiden?" which recalled her to herself, and reminded her the sensations which she felt were not and could not be mutual. A sigh escaped, but it was scarce audible; and the questions which she asked the knight concerning his state of 5 health were put in the tone of calm friendship. Ivanhoe answered her hastily that he was, in point of health, as well, and better than he could have expected "Thanks," he

said, "dear Rebecca, to thy helpful skill."

"He calls me dear Rebecca," said the maiden to herself, 10"but it is in the cold and careless tone which ill suits the word. His war-horse his hunting hound, are dearer to him than the despised Jewess!"

"My mind, gentle maiden," continued Ivanhoe, "is more disturbed by anxiety than my body with pain. From the 15 speeches of those men who were my warders just now, I learn that I am a prisoner, and, if I judge aright of the loud hoarse voice which even now despatched them hence on some military duty, I am in the castle of Front-de-Bœuf. If so, how will this end, or how can I protect Rowena and 20 my father?"

"He names not the Jew or Jewess," said Rebecca internally; "yet what is our portion in him, and how justly am I punished by Heaven for letting my thoughts dwell upon him!" She hastened after this brief self-accusation to give 25 Ivanhoe what information she could; but it amounted only to this, that the Templar Bois-Guilbert and the Baron Front-de-Boeuf were commanders within the castle; that it was beleaguered from without, but by whom she knew not.

The noise within the castle occasioned by the defensive preparations which had been considerable for some time, now increased into tenfold bustle and clamour. The heavy, yet hasty step of the men-at-arms traversed the battlements or resounded on the narrow and winding pas-5 sages and stairs which led to the various bartisans and points of defence. The voices of the knights were heard, animating their followers or directing means of defence while their commands were often drowned in the clashing of armour, or the clamorous shouts of those whom they 10 addressed. Tremendous as these sounds were, and yet more terrible from the awful event which they presaged, there was a sublimity mixed with them which Rebecca's hightoned mind could feel even in that moment of terror. Her eye kindled, although the blood fled from her cheeks; and 15 there was a strong mixture of fear and of a thrilling sense of the sublime as she repeated, half whispering to herself, half speaking to her companion, the sacred text, "The quiver rattleth- the glittering spear and the shield - the noise of the captains and the shouting!"

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But Ivanhoe was like the war-horse of that sublime passage, glowing with impatience at his inactivity and with his ardent desire to mingle in the affray of which these sounds were the introduction. "If I could but drag myself," he said, "to yonder window, that I might see how this brave 25 game is like to go if I had but bow to shoot a shaft, or battle-ax to strike were it but a single blow for our deliverance! It is in vain — it is in vain — I am alike nerveless and weaponless!"

"Fret not thyself, noble knight," answerd Rebecca, "the sounds have ceased of a sudden - it may be they join not battle."

"Thou knowest nought of it," said Wilfred impatiently; 5"this dead pause only shows that the men are at their posts on the walls, and expecting an instant attack; what we have heard was but the distant muttering of the storm — it will burst anon in all its fury. Could I but reach yonder window!"

10 "Thou wilt but injure thyself by the attempt, noble knight,” replied his attendant. Observing his extreme solicitude, she firmly added, "I myself will stand at the lattice and describe to you as I can what passes without."

"You must not you shall not!" exclaimed Ivanhoe; 15"each lattice, each aperture, will be soon a mark for the archers; some random shaft -"

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"It shall be welcome!" murmured Rebecca, as with firm pace she ascended two or three steps, which led to the window of which they spoke.

"Rebecca, dear Rebecca!" exclaimed Ivanhoe, "this is no maiden's pastime — do not expose thyself to wounds and death, and render me for ever miserable for having given the occasion; at least, cover thyself with yonder ancient buckler, and show as little of your person at the lattice as 25 may be."

Following with wonderful promptitude the directions of Ivanhoe, and availing herself of the protection of the large ancient shield, which she placed against the lower part of the window, Rebecca, with tolerable security to herself,