The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-10-04


changing stuffs of every varied hue under
heaven.
The queen, with her retinue, rode slowly up,
and turned her eyes with spiteful curiosity
upon these Flemish dance, who glittered so
brilliantly in the suns rays. AS soon as she
lad arrived within certain distance, the Ia
dies rode up to her at stately pace. and
greeted her with many oourtly speeches; Ma
tilda alone was silent, and regarded Joanna
with stern unbending countenance. 1t was
impossible for her to show honor to queen
who had thrown her father into prison. Her
feelings wero plainly traceable Oh her features
and did not escape Joanna's notice. She looked
Matilda imperiously in the face, thinking to
make the Flemish maiden quail beneath her
frown but in this she found herself mistaken;
for the young girl proudly threw back glance
for glance, without lowering her eyelids, even
for an instant, before the angry queen, whose
displeasure at the sight of much magnif
cence had now become too great to be con-
cealed. With evident annoyance she turned
her horses head, and exclaimed, while casting
a look of scorn upon the band of ladies,
"Look you, gentlemen, 1 thought that l
alone was queen-in France but methinks our
Flemish traitors whom we hold in prison are
princes one and all for here see their wives
aud daughters dressed out like queens and
priucesses."
These words she spoke aloud to be
beard by the mobiles about her, and even by
some of the citizens then, with in-concea1ed
vexation she inquired of the knight who rode
next her:
"But Messire de Chatillon, who is this inso-
lent girl before me, with the Lion of Flanders
upon her breast; what doth that betokenF'
De Chatillon, drawing nearer to her, replied ::
'It is Matilda, the daughter of Robert de
Bethune."
And with these words he put his fin
ger to his lips, as sign to the queen to dis
semble and keep silence,-a sign which she
well understood, and accepted with smile,-
a smile full of treachery, hatred, and revenge.
Any one who might have been observing the
Dean of the Clothworkers at this moment could
not have failed to perceive the steadfastness
with which his eye was fixed upon the queen
not the slightest shade had come or gone upon
her brow, but Deconinck had noted it down
lures he had plainly OWNED her anger, her
wishes, aud her plans he knew, moreover.
that De Chatllon was chosen to be the instru-
c pied bitnself in devisng the readiest means
for de featipg their atttempts, whether made
by strltagem or by force.
The king and queen now dismounted from
their horses and ascehded the throne which
had been erected for them in the mid
die of the great square. Their esquires and
ladies of honor arranged themselves in two
rows upon the steps; the knights remained on
n
folding. When every one was in his place the
magistrates came forward with the maideus
who were to represent the city of Bruges, and
offered the foreign rulers the keys of the gates
upon costly velvet cushion. At the same
moment the two figures of Fame blew fresh
blast upon their trumpets and the Lilyards
again cried, Long live the king Long live
queen"
All this time dead silence reigned among
the citizens it seemed though they affected
Indifference, that their dissatisfaction might be
only the more thoroughly apparent; and
in this they fully attained their aim, for Jo-
anna was already turning indignantly in her
mind how she might most efectually punish
these ihsolent and dsloyal subjects.
King Philip, who was of less irritable
| temper, received the magistrates most affably,
anu promised 10 DeSGOW DlS DesG cOnSluer8UlOn
on all that might tend the prosperity of
| Flanders. And this promise was mere
feigning; he was generous prince and true
knight, and might, under other circumstances,
have been the blessing of his people both in
France and Flanders. But there were two
| causes which completely -nsutr.,;i~ed all his
good qualities The first aud worst of these
was the influence OF his imrtri"ns wife, who,
whenever his better nature was about To pre-
vail came in like al evil spiri5 to turn him
from good to evil. Toe other was his
prodigality, which drove hiln on to use all
| means, whether good or bad. il order TO pro-
VIDE for his grati6cat,on. F"c~ now, his plans
and resolves were al toe the s,oo4 oi EIsriers ;
but what could ta.t avail, -.r joanna Of
Ravarrc had already otto I".'-" g"'.' .uineI7
After the delivery oi l..g b.. sing and
queen rer:tiLU i &C. :e -, 80 the
addresses OF the may which
Ttpy left tho sc.4F,Itl,.,- t..i..., rlIotnIy