"
Buckingham looked flushed and agitated, strangely differing from his
usual manner. It was not unobserved by the king, who attributed the
change to illness.
"Thou shalt continue about our person," said the monarch. "Jack, see to
the sports:--the pageant hath suffered greatly from thine absence. I do
think the Queen of Beauty hath played thee false."
Buckingham took his usual station by the king; and Sir John Finett, in
great dolour, went forth in search of his mistress. He questioned the
guests diligently, but could gain no further tidings, save that she had
been seen by many in company with the Silver Knight. Every minute added
to his uneasiness: thoughts of a wild and terrible import haunted him.
In vain he tried to shake off these intruders--they came like shadows,
horrible and indistinct. His naturally sensitive and sanguine
temperament, as prone to the anticipation of evil as of delight, was a
curse, and not a blessing. Departed hopes may fling a deeper shadow even
on the brow of Despair!--and rayless was the night which visited his
spirit. It was now too evident--for he was no novice in the
science--that his admiration had awakened one dormant but hallowed
affection, long lulled in the soft lap of pleasure.
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