king. Fetes and manifestations of delight greeted them
everywhere along the line of march. De Guiche and
Buckingham forgot eveiy thing, — De Guiche in his anx-
iety to prevent any fresh attempts on the part of the
Englishman, and Buckingham in his desire to awaken in
the heart of the princess a softer remembrance of the
country to which the recollection of many happy days
were attached. But, alas ! the poor duke could perceive
that the image of his dear England became from day to
day more and more effaced in the princess's mind, in pro-
portion as her affection for France became more deeply
engraved on her heart. In fact, it was not difficult to
perceive that his most devoted attention awakened no
acknowledgment, and that the grace with which he rode
one of his most fiery Yorkshire horses was thrown away ;
for it was only casually and by the merest accident that
the princess's eyes were turned towards him. In vain
did he try, in order to fix upon himself one of those
looks roving carelessly around or bestowed elsewhere, to
produce from the animal he rode its greatest display of
strength, speed, temper, and address ; in vain did he, by
exciting his horse almost to madness, spur him, at the
risk of dashing himself in pieces against the trees or of
rolling in the ditches, over gates and barriers, or down
the steep declivities of the hills. The princess, whose
attention had been aroused by the noise, turned her
head for a moment to observe the cause of it, and then,
slightly smiling, again turned to her faithful guardians,
Eaoul and De Guiche, who were quietly riding at her
carriage doors.
