{"character_count": 3261, "word_count": 581, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9800000190734863], "ccnet_perplexity": [1952.0], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
his child from his mind, he continued re-
peating, in loud voice. "a blessing for
my child, blessing for my child" Again
he passed the door, and as he caught the
faint giimmer of the light in the room
where Catharine had SO lately knelt to
him in vain, he wrung his haDds i'll all
the impotence of madness and despair.
The perspiration rolled in large drops from
his brow, his knees tremhlcd as if unable
to bear his weight, his brain seemed on
fire. Suddenly a thought flashed across
his mind: "Wof," he cried, "Wolf, come
hithcr." The sagacious dog came bound
Ing towards his master, gazcd earnestly
at his agitatcd countenance, and then with
a Load howl he ran out of the apartment,
anl Up the long staircase which commu-
nicatcl with the upper story Of the palace.
He hastily trayc:scd several large and mag
niicen, rooms, aud never stopped I'LL he
reached a small iron balcony where the
kDy was wont to sit of an evening count
ing the lights in the city, and listening,
with evident pleasure, to the Good night
and God bless YOU Of those Of lis sub





for their betrayed and unfortunate mon
arch. Charles had instlnctively follow
ed the steps of his intelligent lavoYite, and
as the night breeze blew the grey hairs
from his temples, he covered his face with
his hands and for an instant forgot his
purpose. 1t was, indeed, Il strange scene.
The light of the torches cleaned upon
the litter, the pages the men at arms, all
dressed in the deepest mourning; while
On the steps of the palace, Immediately
beneath the iron balcony, stood the ma
jestc form Of Isabella of Bavaria, support
Ing the trembling, weeping Catharinc :and
they too, like the English re;nue, were
clad in sables. Above them stood the
maniac king, his long grey locks floating
on the wind, and his pale and emaciated
features looking still paler, still more care
worn, by the vacilating light Of the moon.
There he stood, gazing vacan'ly around
him, utterly unconscious that the child 50
deeply loved, so fond!y chcrishcd was
leaving the land Of her ancestors for ever.
Just as her litter was put inmot!on, Cath
arlne gave one sad dcspalring look to the
home Of her early happy childhood, and as
she did So she encountered the wandering,
searching glance of her father. For one
moment the light ofreason beamcd again as
in days of yorr, and stretching his caspcd
hands towards his daughter, he uttered,
in tones which, though low and laItcring,
sank deep into the nlourner's heart, God
bless thee, my own, my loved one. The
God of mercy bless thee"


The men at arms closed round the lit
ter, ana soon their measured tramp, the
ringing of their swords and brides, and
even the light OF the torches, were lost in
the distance. Charles VI. stood notion,
less, with his eyes fixed on the spot where
last ne had seen his child. Perhaps the
memory Of early days was rushing across
his mind the four first brilliant years of his
reign, succeeded by thirty years of mad
ness, wrctehcdness, and despair Tears
were streaming down his furrowed checks.
Percl,ance they fell as he thought of the
engaging childhood, the blooming, bud
ding girlhood of the pale and mourning
princess, dragged from the home of her at-
iections, to spend in cold and strange,
land, an cyile's life of misery and tears.