After a few moments she revived and gazed wildly around her.
"Robert, is it you? are you beside me? Oh, my son, I have had such a tale of horror revealed to me as I slept."
She pressed her fingers upon her eyelids as if to recall what appeared to her a dark dream. As she did so he stole from her towards the door—lingered—turned back—severed a bright lock from his temples, pressed it to his lips, and placed it within her hand; he then hastily kissed her pale forehead, saying, half aloud,
"Here I bury all human feelings!"
The next moment he precipitately fled from the room.
Roused by the sound of the closing door, she shrieked his name, and, hastening through the dark hall, called in tones of distressing anguish,
"Robert, my son! my boy! my dear boy! leave not your mother desolate!"
He stopped his ears to the sounds, quickened his steps, and threw himself into his saddle.
"'Tis full late, my lord, to ride forth alone," said the groom, as he held the stirrup.
"Lord me not, Tyrell. If thou hast chanced to be born in wedlock, thou hast better blood in thy veins than I!"