Part 28 (2/2)

They guarded her there until they could send for the authorities, who came and dispersed the mob. Margaret immediately returned to Rouen, willing enough now to accept of an escort. A proper guard was provided for her, and under the protection of it she set out once more on her journey, and this time went on in safety.

[Sidenote: Margaret arrives in Anjou.]

[Sidenote: Her father.]

When Margaret at last reached her native country of Anjou, she was received very kindly by her father, and went to live with him in a castle called the castle of Reculee, situated about a league from Angers, the capital of the province.

Here she remained about four years. It was a very pleasant place. The castle was situated upon the bank of a river, and yet in a commanding situation, which afforded a pretty view of the town. There was a beautiful garden attached to the castle, and a gallery of painting and sculpture. Her father, King Rene, was a painter himself, and he amused himself a great deal in painting pictures to add to his collection or to give to his friends.

[Sidenote: Dreadful depression of spirits.]

But Margaret could take no interest in any of these things. Her mind was all the time filled with bitter recollections of the past, which, even if she did not cling to and cherish them, she could not dispel.

She dwelt continually upon thoughts of her husband and her child. She made ceaseless efforts to obtain possession of their bodies, in order that she might have them transported to Anjou, and, as she could not succeed in this, she paid annually a considerable sum to secure the services of priests to say ma.s.ses over their graves in England, in order to secure the repose of their souls.

[Sidenote: Its effects.]

Indeed, the anguish and agitation which continually reigned in her heart preyed upon her like a worm in the centre of a flower. ”Her eyes, once so brilliant and expressive,” says one of her historians, ”became hollow and dim, and permanently inflamed from continual weeping.” Indeed, the whole ma.s.s of her blood became corrupted, and a fearful disease affected her once beautiful skin, making her an object of commiseration to all who beheld her.

[Sidenote: Death of her father.]

She continued in this state until her father died. He, on his death-bed, committed her to the care of an old and faithful friend, who, after King Rene's decease, took her with him to his own castle of Damprierre, which was situated about twenty-five miles farther up the river.

[Sidenote: The closing scene.]

But, though Margaret was treated very kindly by the friend to whom her father thus consigned her, she did not long survive this change.

She died, and was buried in the cathedral at Angers, and for centuries afterward the ecclesiastics of the chapter, once every year, at the return of the proper anniversary, performed a solemn ceremony over her grave by walking round it with a slow and measured step, singing a hymn.

THE END.

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