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〃I am sure my cousin hath no good looks to be proud of！〃 the
admirable Fatima exclaimed； bridling up。 〃Not that I care for my
Lord of Barbazure's looks。 MY heart； dearest mother； is with him
who is far away！〃
〃He danced with thee four galliards； nine quadrilles； and twenty…
three corantoes； I think； child；〃 the mother said； eluding her
daughter's remark。
〃Twenty…five；〃 said lovely Fatima； casting her beautiful eyes to
the ground。 〃Heigh…ho！ but Romane danced them very well！〃
〃He had not the court air；〃 the mother suggested。
〃I don't wish to deny the beauty of the Lord of Burbazure's
dancing； mamma；〃 Fatima replied。 〃For a short； lusty man； 'tis
wondrous how active he is； and in dignity the King's Grace himself
could not surpass him。〃
〃You were the noblest couple in the room； love；〃 the lady cried。
〃That pea…green doublet； slashed with orange…tawny； those ostrich
plumes； blue； red； and yellow； those party…colored hose and pink
shoon； became the noble baron wondrous well；〃 Fatima acknowledged。
〃It must be confessed that； though middle…aged； he hath all the
agility of youth。 But alas； madam！ The noble baron hath had nine
wives already。〃
〃And your cousin would give her eyes to become the tenth；〃 the
mother replied。
〃My cousin give her eyes！〃 Fatima exclaimed。 〃It's not much； I'm
sure； for she squints abominably。〃 And thus the ladies prattled；
as they rode home at night after the great ball at the house of the
Baron of Barbazure。
The gentle reader； who has overheard their talk； will understand
the doubts which pervaded the mind of the lovely Fatima； and the
well…nurtured English maiden will participate in the divided
feelings which rent her bosom。 'Tis true； that on his departure
for the holy wars； Romane and Fatima were plighted to each other；
but the folly of long engagements is proverbial； and though for
many months the faithful and affectionate girl had looked in vain
for news from him； her admirable parents had long spoken with
repugnance of a match which must bring inevitable poverty to both
parties。 They had suffered； 'tis true； the engagement to subside；
hostile as they ever were to it； but when on the death of the ninth
lady of Barbazure； the noble baron remarked Fatima at the funeral；
and rode home with her after the ceremony； her prudent parents saw
how much wiser； better； happier for their child it would be to have
for life a partner like the baron； than to wait the doubtful return
of the penniless wanderer to whom she was plighted。
Ah！ how beautiful and pure a being！ how regardless of self！ how
true to duty！ how obedient to parental command； is that earthly
angel； a well…bred woman of genteel family！ Instead of indulging
in splenetic refusals or vain regrets for her absent lover； the
exemplary Fatima at once signified to her excellent parents her
willingness to obey their orders； though she had sorrows （and she
declared them to be tremendous）； the admirable being disguised them
so well； that none knew they oppressed her。 She said she would try
to forget former ties； and （so strong in her mind was DUTY above
every other feeling！so strong may it be in every British maiden！）
the lovely girl kept her promise。 〃My former engagements；〃 she
said； packing up Romane's letters and presents； （which； as the good
knight was mortal poor； were in sooth of no great price）〃my
former engagements I look upon as childish follies；my affections
are fixed where my dear parents graft themon the noble； the
princely； the polite Barbazure。 'Tis true he is not comely in
feature； but the chaste and well…bred female knows how to despise
the fleeting charms of form。 'Tis true he is old； but can woman be
better employed than in tending her aged and sickly companion？
That he has been married is likewise certainbut ah； my mother！
who knows not that he must be a good and tender husband； who； nine
times wedded； owns that； he cannot be happy without another
partner？〃
It was with these admirable sentiments the lovely Fatima proposed
obedience to her parents' will； and consented to receive the
magnificent marriage…gift presented to her by her gallant
bridegroom。
III。
The old Countess of Chacabacque had made a score of vain attempts
to see her hapless daughter。 Ever； when she came； the porters
grinned at her savagely through the grating of the portcullis of
the vast embattled gate of the Castle of Barbazure； and rudely bade
her begone。 〃The Lady of Barbazure sees nobody but her confessor；
and keeps her chamber；〃 was the invariable reply of the dogged
functionaries to the entreaties of the agonized mother。 And at
length； so furious was he at her perpetual calls at his gate； that
the angry Lord of Barbazure himself； who chanced to be at the
postern； armed a cross…bow； and let fly an arblast at the crupper
of the lady's palfrey； whereon she fled finally； screaming； and in
terror。 〃I will aim at the rider next time！〃 howled the ferocious
baron； 〃and not at the horse！〃 And those who knew his savage
nature and his unrivalled skill as a bowman； knew that he would
neither break his knightly promise nor miss his aim。
Since the fatal day when the Grand Duke of Burgundy gave his famous
passage of arms at Nantes； and all the nobles of France were
present at the joustings； it was remarked that the Barbazure's
heart was changed towards his gentle and virtuous lady。
For the three first days of that famous festival； the redoubted
Baron of Barbazure had kept the field against all the knights who
entered。 His lance bore everything down before it。 The most
famous champions of Europe； assembled at these joustings； had
dropped； one by one； before this tremendous warrior。 The prize of
the tourney was destined to be his； and he was to be proclaimed
bravest of the brave； as his lady was the fairest of the fair。
On the third day； however； as the sun was declining over the
Vosges； and the shadows were lengthening over the plain where the
warrior had obtained such triumphs；after having overcome two
hundred and thirteen knights of different nations； including the
fiery Dunois； the intrepid Walter Manny； the spotless Bayard； and
the undaunted Dugueselin； as the conqueror sat still erect on his
charger； and the multitudes doubted whether ever another champion
could be found to face him； three blasts of a trumpet were heard；
faint at first； but at every moment ringing more clearly； until a
knight in pink armor rode into the lists with his visor down； and
riding a tremendous dun charger； which he managed to the admiration
of all present。
The heralds asked him his name and quality。
〃Call me；〃 said he； in a hollow voice； 〃the Jilted Knight。〃 What
was it made the Lady of Barbazure tremble at his accents。
The knight refused to tell his name and qualities； but the
companion who rode with him； the young and noble Philibert de
Coquelicot； who was known