Page:Ainsworth's Magazine - Volume 1.djvu/63

to attend her, and the bridegroom was to meet her at the chapel of the Pont des Eaux, where the Sioule forms a beautiful cascade, and from thence six knights of the retinue of the Baron de Coupladour were to accompany her to the castle.

The English were at this time ravaging the whole country, and the father of the bride could not himself come with her, as he was obliged to remain at home to defend his castle; however, as a short truce existed, it was thought quite safe to send her thus accompanied, but as he could not spare any of his knights, it was agreed that they should return.

The appointed day came, and the fair lady and her attendants were punctual to the appointment. The young bridegroom and his people appeared and claimed her, but, previous to continuing the journey, the pair entered the chapel to pay their orisons to the saint.

When they came forth again the lady mounted her palfrey, and they took their way to the castle, where they were met by the Baron, who received his intended daughter-in-law very courteously. Her modesty was so great that she did not raise her veil, and as she appeared greatly fatigued, she was conducted at once to her chamber. That night a splendid banquet was prepared, at which the bride appeared, covered with jewels, and richly attired. A large veil covered her head, which was so thickly embroidered, that her face could with difficulty be seen through its folds. The Baron regarded her attentively, and seemed extremely struck with her grace and beauty.

"Truly," he said to one of his friends, "the mountain journey has greatly improved the bride's looks; for at her father's castle she seemed to me but a homely damsel, the only time I beheld her before."

The marriage ceremony was performed by the Abbot of La Voie de Dieu, and everything went off with great pomp, and to the satisfaction, apparently of all parties.

A few days after the marriage, the young Seigneur Orbert proposed to his father to take his bride to a chateau he possessed in the neighbourhood of the Great Cascade, where he was in the habit of repairing to enjoy the diversion of hunting. To this the Baron consented, and the new married pair left the castle of Couplador for that of the Cascade.

It so happened that at this time the English compagnons attacked the castle of Montrodeix, where lived the father of the young bride, and he had a long siege to sustain, which prevented any communication passing between the two families for some time. The old Baron de Coupladour passed much of his time at the castle of his son, whose lady pleased him so greatly that he could not bear to be out of her company. She was about to bring him a child, which the Baron hoped would be an heir to all his wealth, which was very considerable: the only thing that surprised him in the conduct of the lady was, her apparent indifference to her father's danger, and he could not but observe that she listened to the reports he gave of the position of his castle with singular indifference. He more than once reproached her with this, but her answers were so affectionate towards himself and his son, that he thought no more of the matter.

Orbert appeared completely happy,—so much so, that all his mind seemed given up to the enjoyment of the society of his beautiful bride, and his father was surprised to find he expressed none of his former love of arms, nor any wish to join the parties who were constantly setting forth to repress the inroads of the English invaders.

Meantime the village of Croix-le-blanc was mournful and silent, for the pride of the whole country, the beautiful Yolande, had taken the veil in the convent of Fontclairant; and her father and mother finding home dreary