Brieflyafterthejudicialcombat，CedrictheSaxonwassummonedtothecourtofRichard，which，forthepurposeofquietingthecountiesthathadbeendisturbedbytheambitionofhisbrother，wasthenheldatYork。Cedrictushedandpshawedmorethanonceatthemessage——butherefusednotobedience。Infact，thereturnofRichardhadquenchedeveryhopethathehadentertainedofrestoringaSaxondynastyinEngland；for，whateverheadtheSaxonsmighthavemadeintheeventofacivilwar，itwasplainthatnothingcouldbedoneundertheundisputeddominionofRichard，popularashewasbyhispersonalgoodqualitiesandmilitaryfame，althoughhisadministrationwaswilfullycareless，nowtooindulgent，andnowalliedtodespotism。
But，moreover，itcouldnotescapeevenCedric’sreluctantobservation，thathisprojectforanabsoluteunionamongtheSaxons，bythemarriageofRowenaandAthelstane，wasnowcompletelyatanend，bythemutualdissentofbothpartiesconcerned。
Thiswas，indeed，aneventwhich，inhisardourfortheSaxoncause，hecouldnothaveanticipated，andevenwhenthedisinclinationofbothwasbroadlyandplainlymanifested，hecouldscarcebringhimselftobelievethattwoSaxonsofroyaldescentshouldscruple，onpersonalgrounds，atanalliancesonecessaryforthepublicwealofthenation。Butitwasnotthelesscertain：RowenahadalwaysexpressedherrepugnancetoAthelstane，andnowAthelstanewasnolessplainandpositiveinproclaiminghisresolutionnevertopursuehisaddressestotheLadyRowena。EventhenaturalobstinacyofCedricsunkbeneaththeseobstacles，wherehe，remainingonthepointofjunction，hadthetaskofdraggingareluctantpairuptoit，onewitheachhand。Hemade，however，alastvigorousattackonAthelstane，andhefoundthatresuscitatedsproutofSaxonroyaltyengaged，likecountrysquiresofourownday，inafuriouswarwiththeclergy。
Itseemsthat，afterallhisdeadlymenacesagainsttheAbbotofSaintEdmund’s，Athelstane’sspiritofrevenge，whatbetweenthenaturalindolentkindnessofhisowndisposition，whatthroughtheprayersofhismotherEdith，attached，likemostladies，oftheperiod，totheclericalorder，hadterminatedinhiskeepingtheAbbotandhismonksinthedungeonsofConingsburghforthreedaysonameagrediet。ForthisatrocitytheAbbotmenacedhimwithexcommunication，andmadeoutadreadfullistofcomplaintsinthebowelsandstomach，sufferedbyhimselfandhismonks，inconsequenceofthetyrannicalandunjustimprisonmenttheyhadsustained。Withthiscontroversy，andwiththemeanshehadadoptedtocounteractthisclericalpersecution，CedricfoundthemindofhisfriendAthelstanesofullyoccupied，thatithadnoroomforanotheridea。AndwhenRowena’snamewasmentionedthenobleAthelstaneprayedleavetoquaffafullgoblettoherhealth，andthatshemightsoonbethebrideofhiskinsmanWilfred。Itwasadesperatecasetherefore。TherewasobviouslynomoretobemadeofAthelstane；or，asWambaexpressedit，inaphrasewhichhasdescendedfromSaxontimestoours，hewasacockthatwouldnotfight。
ThereremainedbetwixtCedricandthedeterminationwhichtheloversdesiredtocometo，onlytwoobstacles——hisownobstinacy，andhisdislikeoftheNormandynasty。Theformerfeelinggraduallygavewaybeforetheendearmentsofhisward，andthepridewhichhecouldnothelpnourishinginthefameofhisson。Besides，hewasnotinsensibletothehonourofallyinghisownlinetothatofAlfred，whenthesuperiorclaimsofthedescendantofEdwardtheConfessorwereabandonedforever。Cedric’saversiontotheNormanraceofkingswasalsomuchundermined，——first，byconsiderationoftheimpossibilityofriddingEnglandofthenewdynasty，afeelingwhichgoesfartocreateloyaltyinthesubjecttotheking_defacto_；and，secondly，bythepersonalattentionofKingRichard，whodelightedintheblunthumourofCedric，and，tousethelanguageoftheWardourManuscript，sodealtwiththenobleSaxon，that，erehehadbeenaguestatcourtforsevendays，hehadgivenhisconsenttothemarriageofhiswardRowenaandhissonWilfredofIvanhoe。
Thenuptialsofourhero，thusformallyapprovedbyhisfather，werecelebratedinthemostaugustoftemples，thenobleMinsterofYork。TheKinghimselfattended，andfromthecountenancewhichheaffordedonthisandotheroccasionstothedistressedandhithertodegradedSaxons，gavethemasaferandmorecertainprospectofattainingtheirjustrights，thantheycouldreasonablyhopefromtheprecariouschanceofacivilwar。TheChurchgaveherfullsolemnities，gracedwithallthesplendourwhichsheofRomeknowshowtoapplywithsuchbrillianteffect。
Gurth，gallantlyapparelled，attendedasesquireuponhisyoungmasterwhomhehadservedsofaithfully，andthemagnanimousWamba，decoratedwithanewcapandamostgorgeoussetofsilverbells。SharersofWilfred’sdangersandadversity，theyremained，astheyhadarighttoexpect，thepartakersofhismoreprosperouscareer。
Butbesidesthisdomesticretinue，thesedistinguishednuptialswerecelebratedbytheattendanceofthehigh-bornNormans，aswellasSaxons，joinedwiththeuniversaljubileeofthelowerorders，thatmarkedthemarriageoftwoindividualsasapledgeofthefuturepeaceandharmonybetwixttworaces，which，sincethatperiod，havebeensocompletelymingled，thatthedistinctionhasbecomewhollyinvisible。Cedriclivedtoseethisunionapproximatetowardsitscompletion；forasthetwonationsmixedinsocietyandformedintermarriageswitheachother，theNormansabatedtheirscorn，andtheSaxonswererefinedfromtheirrusticity。
ButitwasnotuntilthereignofEdwardtheThirdthatthemixedlanguage，nowtermedEnglish，wasspokenatthecourtofLondon，andthatthehostiledistinctionofNormanandSaxonseemsentirelytohavedisappeared。
Itwasuponthesecondmorningafterthishappybridal，thattheLadyRowenawasmadeacquaintedbyherhandmaidElgitha，thatadamseldesiredadmissiontoherpresence，andsolicitedthattheirparleymightbewithoutwitness。Rowenawondered，hesitated，becamecurious，andendedbycommandingthedamseltobeadmitted，andherattendantstowithdraw。
Sheentered——anobleandcommandingfigure，thelongwhiteveil，inwhichshewasshrouded，overshadowingratherthanconcealingtheeleganceandmajestyofhershape。Herdemeanourwasthatofrespect，unmingledbytheleastshadeeitheroffear，orofawishtopropitiatefavour。Rowenawaseverreadytoacknowledgetheclaims，andattendtothefeelings，ofothers。Shearose，andwouldhaveconductedherlovelyvisitortoaseat；butthestrangerlookedatElgitha，andagainintimatedawishtodiscoursewiththeLadyRowenaalone。
Elgithahadnosoonerretiredwithunwillingsteps，than，tothesurpriseoftheLadyofIvanhoe，herfairvisitantkneeledononeknee，pressedherhandstoherforehead，andbendingherheadtotheground，inspiteofRowena’sresistance，kissedtheembroideredhemofhertunic。
``Whatmeansthis，lady?’’saidthesurprisedbride；``orwhydoyouoffertomeadeferencesounusual?’’
``Becausetoyou，LadyofIvanhoe，’’saidRebecca，risingupandresumingtheusualquietdignityofhermanner，``Imaylawfully，andwithoutrebuke，paythedebtofgratitudewhichIowetoWilfredofIvanhoe。Iam——forgivetheboldnesswhichhasofferedtoyouthehomageofmycountry——IamtheunhappyJewess，forwhomyourhusbandhazardedhislifeagainstsuchfearfuloddsinthetiltyardofTemplestowe。’’
``Damsel，’’saidRowena，``WilfredofIvanhoeonthatdayrenderedbackbutinslightmeasureyourunceasingcharitytowardshiminhiswoundsandmisfortunes。Speak，isthereaughtremainsinwhichheorIcanservethee?’’
``Nothing，’’saidRebecca，calmly，``unlessyouwilltransmittohimmygratefulfarewell。’’
``YouleaveEnglandthen?’’saidRowena，scarcerecoveringthesurpriseofthisextraordinaryvisit。
``Ileaveit，lady，erethismoonagainchanges。
MyfatherhadabrotherhighinfavourwithMohammedBoabdil，KingofGrenada——thitherwego，secureofpeaceandprotection，forthepaymentofsuchransomastheMoslemexactfromourpeople。’’
``AndareyounotthenaswellprotectedinEngland?’’saidRowena。``MyhusbandhasfavourwiththeKing——theKinghimselfisjustandgenerous。’’
``Lady，’’saidRebecca，``Idoubtitnot——butthepeopleofEnglandareafiercerace，quarrellingeverwiththeirneighboursoramongthemselves，andreadytoplungetheswordintothebowelsofeachother。Suchisnosafeabodeforthechildrenofmypeople。Ephraimisanheartlessdove——Issacharanover-laboureddrudge，whichstoopsbetweentwoburdens。Notinalandofwarandblood，surroundedbyhostileneighbours，anddistractedbyinternalfactions，canIsraelhopetorestduringherwanderings。’’
``Butyou，maiden，’’saidRowena——``yousurelycanhavenothingtofear。Shewhonursedthesick-bedofIvanhoe，’’shecontinued，risingwithenthusiasm——``shecanhavenothingtofearinEngland，whereSaxonandNormanwillcontendwhoshallmostdoherhonour。’’
``Thyspeechisfair，lady，’’saidRebecca，``andthypurposefairer；butitmaynotbe——thereisagulfbetwixtus。Ourbreeding，ourfaith，alikeforbideithertopassoverit。Farewell——yet，ereI
goindulgemeonerequest。Thebridal-veilhangsoverthyface；deigntoraiseit，andletmeseethefeaturesofwhichfamespeakssohighly。’’
``Theyarescarceworthyofbeinglookedupon，’’
saidRowena；``but，expectingthesamefrommyvisitant，Iremovetheveil。’’
Shetookitoffaccordingly；and，partlyfromtheconsciousnessofbeauty，partlyfrombashfulness，sheblushedsointensely，thatcheek，brow，neck，andbosom，weresuffusedwithcrimson。Rebeccablushedalso，butitwasamomentaryfeeling；and，masteredbyhigheremotions，pastslowlyfromherfeatureslikethecrimsoncloud，whichchangescolourwhenthesunsinksbeneaththehorizon。
``Lady，’’shesaid，``thecountenanceyouhavedeignedtoshowmewilllongdwellinmyremembrance。
Therereignsinitgentlenessandgoodness；
andifatingeoftheworld’sprideorvanitiesmaymixwithanexpressionsolovely，howshouldwechidethatwhichisofearthforbearingsomecolourofitsoriginal?Long，longwillIrememberyourfeatures，andblessGodthatIleavemynobledelivererunitedwith——’’
Shestoppedshort——hereyesfilledwithtears。
Shehastilywipedthem，andansweredtotheanxiousenquiriesofRowena——``Iamwell，lady——
well。ButmyheartswellswhenIthinkofTorquilstoneandthelistsofTemplestowe——Farewell。
One，themosttriflingpartofmyduty，remainsundischarged。
Acceptthiscasket——startlenotatitscontents。’’
Rowenaopenedthesmallsilver-chasedcasket，andperceivedacarcanet，ornecklace，withear-jewels，ofdiamonds，whichwereobviouslyofimmensevalue。
``Itisimpossible，’’shesaid，tenderingbackthecasket。``Idarenotacceptagiftofsuchconsequence。’’
``Yetkeepit，lady，’’returnedRebecca——``Youhavepower，rank，command，influence；wehavewealth，thesourcebothofourstrengthandweakness；
thevalueofthesetoys，tentimesmultiplied，wouldnotinfluencehalfsomuchasyourslightestwish。Toyou，therefore，thegiftisoflittlevalue，——andtome，whatIpartwithisofmuchless。Letmenotthinkyoudeemsowretchedlyillofmynationasyourcommonsbelieve。ThinkyethatI
prizethesesparklingfragmentsofstoneabovemyliberty?orthatmyfathervaluesthemincomparisontothehonourofhisonlychild?Acceptthem，lady——tometheyarevalueless。Iwillneverwearjewelsmore。’’
``Youarethenunhappy！’’saidRowena，struckwiththemannerinwhichRebeccautteredthelastwords。``O，remainwithus——thecounselofholymenwillweanyoufromyourerringlaw，andIwillbeasistertoyou。’’
``No，lady，’’answeredRebecca，thesamecalmmelancholyreigninginhersoftvoiceandbeautifulfeatures——``that——maynotbe。ImaynotchangethefaithofmyfatherslikeagarmentunsuitedtotheclimateinwhichIseektodwell，andunhappy，lady，Iwillnotbe。He，towhomIdedicatemyfuturelife，willbemycomforter，ifIdoHiswill。’’
``Haveyouthenconvents，tooneofwhichyoumeantoretire?’’askedRowena。