第10章

Afterthesefollowed，indueandmajesticorder，thefemaleswhocomposedthechoir；six，who，fromtheirblackscapularies，andblackveilsovertheirwhitegarments，appearedtobeprofessednunsoftheorderofMountCarmel；andasmanywhoseveils，beingwhite，arguedthemtobenovices，oroccasionalinhabitantsinthecloister，whowerenotasyetboundtoitbyvows。Theformerheldintheirhandslargerosaries，whiletheyoungerandlighterfigureswhofollowed，carriedeachachapletofredandwhiteroses。Theymovedinprocessionaroundthechapel，withoutappearingtotaketheslightestnoticeofKenneth，althoughpassingsonearhimthattheirrobesalmosttouchedhim；whiletheycontinuedtosing，theknightdoubtednotthathewasinoneofthosecloisterswherethenobleChristianmaidenshadformerlyopenlydevotedthemselvestotheservicesofthechurch。MostofthemhadbeensuppressedsincetheMahometanshadreconqueredPalestine，butmany，purchasingconnivancebypresents，orreceivingitfromtheclemencyorcontemptofthevictors，stillcontinuedtoobserveinprivatetheritualtowhichtheirvowshadconsecratedthem。Yet，thoughKennethknewthistobethecase，thesolemnityoftheplaceandhour，thesurpriseatthesuddenappearanceofthesevotresses，andthevisionarymannerinwhichtheymovedpasthim，hadsuchinfluenceonhisimagination，thathecouldscarceconceivethatthefairprocessionwhichhebeheldwasformedofcreaturesofthisworld，somuchdidtheyresembleachoirofsupernaturalbeings，renderinghomagetotheuniversalobjectofadoration。

Suchwastheknight’sfirstidea，astheprocessionpassedhim，scarcemoving，savejustsufficientlytocontinuetheirprogress；

sothat，seenbytheshadowyandreligiouslight，whichthelampsshedthroughthecloudsofincensewhichdarkenedtheapartment，theyappearedrathertoglidethantowalk。

Butasasecondtime，insurroundingthechapel，theypassedthespotonwhichhekneeled，oneofthewhite-stoledmaidens，assheglidedbyhim，detachedfromthechapletwhichshecarriedarose-bud，whichdroppedfromherfingers，perhapsunconsciously，onthefootofSirKenneth。Theknightstartedasifadarthadsuddenlystruckhisperson；for，whenthemindiswoundtiptoahighpitchoffeelingandexpectation，theslightestincident，ifunexpected，givesfiretothetrainwhichimaginationhasalreadylaid。Buthesuppressedhisemotion，recollectinghoweasilyanincidentsoindifferentmighthavehappened，andthatitwasonlytheuniform，monotonyofthemovementofthechoristers，whichmadetheincidentintheslightestdegreeremarkable。

Still，whiletheprocession，forthethirdtime，surroundedthechapel，thethoughtsandtheeyesofKennethfollowedexclusivelytheoneamongthenoviceswhohaddroppedtherose-bud。Herstep，herface，herform，weresocompletelyassimilatedtotherestofthechoristers，thatitwasimpossibletoperceivetheleastmarksofindividuality，andyetKenneth’sheartthrobbedlikeabirdthatwouldburstfromitscage，asiftoassurehim，byitssympatheticsuggestions，thatthefemalewhoheldtherightfileonthesecondrankofthenovices，wasdearertohim，notonlythanalltherestthatwerepresent，butthanthewholesexbesides。Theromanticpassionoflove，asitwascherished，andindeedenjoined，bytherulesofchivalry，associatedwellwiththenolessromanticfeelingsofdevotion；andtheymightbesaidmuchmoretoenhancethantocounteracteachother。Itwas，therefore，withaglowofexpectation，thathadsomethingevenofareligiouscharacter，thatSirKenneth，hissensationsthrillingfromhishearttotheendsofhisfingers，expectedsomesecondsignofthepresenceofone，who，hestronglyfancied，hadalreadybestowedonhimthefirst。Shortasthespacewasduringwhichtheprocessionagaincompletedathirdperambulationofthechapel，itseemedaneternitytoKenneth。Atlengththeform，whichhehadwatchedwithsuchdevotedattention，drewnigh-therewasnodifferencebetwixtthatshroudedfigureandtheothers，withwhomitmovedinconcertandinunison，until，justasshepassedforthethirdtimethekneelingCrusader，apartofalittleandwell-proportionedhand，sobeautifullyformedastogivethehighestideaoftheperfectproportionsoftheform。

towhichitbelonged，stolethroughthefoldsofthegauze，likeamoonbeamthroughthefleecycloudofasummernight，andagainarose-budlayatthefeetoftheKnightoftheLeopard。

Thissecondintimationcouldnotbeaccidental-itcouldnotbefortuitoustheresemblanceofthathalf-seen，butbeautifulfemalehand，withonewhichhislipshadoncetouched，and，whiletheytouchedit，hadinternallyswornallegiancetothelovelyowner。Hadfartherproofbeenwanting，therewastheglimmerofthatmatchlessrubyringonthatsnow-whitefinger，whoseinvaluableworthKennethwouldyethaveprizedlessthantheslightestsignwhichthatfingercouldhavemade-

and，veiledtoo，asshewas，hemightsee，bychance，orbyfavour，astraycurlofthedarktresses，eachhairofwhichwasdearertohimahundredtimesthanachainofmassivegold。

Itwastheladyofhislove！Butthatsheshouldbehere-

inthesavageandsequestereddesert-amongvestals，whorenderedthemselveshabitantsofwildsandofcaverns，thattheymightperforminsecretthoseChristianriteswhichtheydarednotassistinopenly-thatthisshouldbeso-intruthandinreality-seemedtooincredible-itmustbeadream-adelusivetranceoftheimagination。WhilethesethoughtspassedthroughthemindofKenneth，thesamepassage，bywhichtheprocessionhadenteredthechapel，receivedthemontheirreturn。Theyoungsacristans，thesablenuns，vanishedsuccessivelythroughtheopendoor-atlengthshefromwhomhehadreceivedthisdoubleintimation，passedalso-yet，inpassing，turnedherhead，slightlyindeed，butperceptibly，towardstheplacewhereheremainedfixedasanimage。Hemarkedthelastwaveofherveil-itwasgone-andadarknesssunkuponhissoul，scarcelesspalpablethanthatwhichalmostimmediatelyenvelopedhisexternalsense；forthelastchoristerhadnosoonercrossedthethresholdofthedoor，thanitshutwithaloudsound，andatthesameinstantthevoicesofthechoirweresilent，thelightsofthechapelwereatonceextinguished，andSirKennethremainedsolitary，andintotaldarkness。ButtoKenneth，solitude，anddarkness，andtheuncertaintyofhismysterioussituation，wereasnothing-hethoughtnotofthem-carednotforthem-caredfornoughtintheworldsavetheflittingvisionwhichhadjustglidedpasthim，andthetokensofherfavourwhichshehadbestowed。Togropeonthefloorforthebudswhichshehaddropped-topressthemtohislips-tohisbosom-nowalternately，nowtogether-torivethislipstothecoldstonesonwhich，asnearashecouldjudge，shehadsolatelystept-toplayalltheextravaganceswhichstrongaffectionsuggestsandvindicatestothosewhoyieldthemselvesuptoit，werebutthetokensofpassionatelove，propertoallages。Butitwaspeculiartothetimesofchivalry，thatinhiswildestrapturetheknightimaginedofnoattempttofollowortotracetheobjectofsuchromanticattachment；thathethoughtofherasofadeity，who，havingdeignedtoshowherselfforaninstanttoherdevotedworshipper，hadagainreturnedtothedarknessofhersanctuary-orasaninfluentialplanet，which，havingdartedinsomeauspiciousminuteonefavourableray，wrappeditselfagaininitsveilofmist。Themotionsoftheladyofhisloveweretohimthoseofasuperiorbeing，whowastomovewithoutwatchorcontrol，rejoicehimbyherappearance，ordepresshimbyherabsence，animatehimbyherkindness，ordrivehimtodespairbyhercruelty-allatherownfreewill，andwithoutotherimportunityorremonstrancethanthatexpressedbythemostdevotedservicesoftheheartandswordofthechampion，whosesoleobjectinlifewastofulfilhercommands，and，bythesplendourofhisownachievements，toexaltherfame。

Suchweretherulesofchivalry，andofthelovewhichwasitsrulingprinciple。ButSirKenneth’sattachmentwasrenderedromanticbyotherandstillmorepeculiarcircumstances。Hehadneverevenheardthesoundofhislady’svoice，thoughhehadoftenbeheldherbeautywithrapture。Shemovedinacircle，whichhisrankofknighthoodpermittedhimindeedtoapproach，butnottominglewith；andhighlyashestooddistinguishedforwarlikeskillandenterprise，stillthepoorScottishsoldierwascompelledtoworshiphisdivinityatadistancealmostasgreatasdividesthePersianfromthesunwhichheadores。

Butwhenwastheprideofwomantooloftytooverlookthepassionatedevotionofalover，howeverinferiorindegree？Hereyehadbeenonhiminthetournament，herearhadheardhispraisesinthereportofthebattleswhichweredailyfought；

andwhilecount，duke，andlord，contendedforhergrace，itflowed，unwillinglyperhapsatfirst，orevenunconsciously，towardsthepoorKnightoftheLeopard，who，tosupporthisrank，hadlittlebesideshissword。Whenshelooked，andwhenshelistened，theladysawandheardenoughtoencourageherinherpartiality，whichhadatfirstcreptonherunawares。Ifaknight’spersonalbeautywaspraised，eventhemostprudishdamesofthemilitarycourtofEnglandwouldmakeanexceptioninfavouroftheScottishKenneth；anditoftentimeshappened，thatnotwithstandingtheveryconsiderablelargesseswhichprincesandpeersbestowedontheminstrels，animpartialspiritofindependencewouldseizethepoet，andtheharpwasswepttotheheroismofonewhohadneitherpalfreysnorgarmentstobestowinguerdonofhisapplause。

Themomentswhenshelistenedtothepraisesofherloverbecamegraduallymoreandmoredeartothehigh-bornEdith，relievingtheflatterywithwhichherearwasweary，andpresentingtoherasubjectofsecretcontemplation，moreworthy，asheseemedbygeneralreport，thanthosewhosurpassedhiminrankandinthegiftsoffortune。Asherattentionbecameconstantly，thoughcautiously，fixedonSirKenneth，shegrewmoreandmoreconvincedofhispersonaldevotiontoherself，andmoreandmorecertaininhermind，thatinKennethofScotlandshebeheldthefatedknightdoomedtosharewithherthroughwealandwoe-andtheprospectlookedgloomyanddangerous-thepassionateattachmenttowhichthepoetsoftheageascribedsuchuniversaldominion，andwhichitsmannersandmoralsplacednearlyonthesamerankwithdevotionitself。

Letusnotdisguisethetruthfromourreaders。WhenEdithbecameawareofthestateofherownsentiments，chivalrousaswerehersentiments，becomingamaidennotdistantfromthethroneofEngland-gratifiedasherpridemusthavebeenwiththemutethoughunceasinghomagerenderedtoherbytheknightwhomshehaddistinguished，thereweremomentswhenthefeelingsofthewoman，lovingandbeloved，murmuredagainsttherestraintsofstateandformbywhichshewassurrounded，andwhenshealmostblamedthetimidityofherlover，whoseemedresolvednottoinfringethem。Theetiquette，touseamodernphrase，ofbirthandrank，haddrawnaroundheramagicalcircle，beyondwhichSirKennethmightindeedbow，andgaze，butwithinwhichhecouldnomorepass，thananevokedspiritcantransgresstheboundariesprescribedbytherodofapowerfulenchanter。

Thethoughtinvoluntarilypressedonherthatsheherselfmustventure，wereitbutthepointofherfairyfoot，beyondtheprescribedboundary，ifsheeverhopedtogivealoversoreservedandbashful，anopportunityofsoslightafavour，asbuttosalutehershoe-tie。Therewasanexample，thenotedprecedentofthe“King’sdaughterofHungary，“whothusgenerouslyencouragedtheSquireoflowdegree；’’andEdith，thoughofkinglyblood，wasnoKing’sdaughter，anymorethanherloverwasoflowdegree-fortunehadputnosuchextremebarrierinobstacletotheiraffection。Something，however，withinthemaiden’sbosom-thatmodestpride，whichthrowsfettersevenonloveitself-forbadeher，notwithstandingthesuperiorityofhercondition，tomakethoseadvances，which，ineverycase，delicacyassignstotheothersex；aboveall，SirKennethwasaknightsogentleandhonourable，sohighlyaccomplished-asherimaginationatleastsuggested，togetherwiththestrictestfeelingsofwhatwasduetohimselfandtoher-thathoweverconstrainedherattitudemightbewhilereceivinghisadorations，liketheimageofsomedeity，whoisneithersupposedtofeelnortoreplytothehomageofitsvotaries，stilltheidolfearedthattostepprematurelyfromherpedestalwouldbetodegradeherselfintheeyesofherdevotedworshipper。

Yetthedevoutadorerofanactualidolcanevendiscoversignsofapprobationintherigidandimmovablefeaturesofamarbleimage，anditisnowonderthatsomething，whichcouldbeasfavourablyinterpreted，glancedfromthebrighteyeofthelovelyEdith，whosebeauty，indeed，consistedrathermoreinthatverypowerofexpression，thanonabsoluteregularityofcontour，orbrilliancyofcomplexion。Somelightmarksofdistinctionhadescapedfromher，notwithstandingherownjealousvigilance，elsehowcouldSirKennethhavesoreadily，andsoundoubtingly，recognisedthelovelyhand，ofwhichscarcetwofingerswerevisiblefromundertheveil，orhowcouldhehaverestedsothoroughlyassuredthattwoflowers，successivelydroptonthespot，wereintendedasarecognitiononthepartofhislady-love？Bywhattrainofobservation-bywhatsecretsigns，looks，orgestures-

bywhatinstinctivefree-masonryoflove，thisdegreeofintelligencecametosubsistbetweenEdithandherlover，wecannotattempttotrace；forweareold，andsuchslightvestigesofaffection，quicklydiscoveredbyyoungereyes，defythepowerofours。