Sir Oskatell and her father had often taken counsel together since his return.  Shortly afterwards, Isabella received a summons to attend Sir Thomas in private.  What was the precise nature of that interview does not appear, save that the lady withdrew to her chamber, and the brow of Sir Thomas was for a long space moody and disturbed.  Sir John Stanley, though of gentle descent, was not endowed with an adequate inheritance, at least for the heiress of Lathom, whose extensive possessions, though shared by Oskatell, were deemed by Sir Thomas of sufficient magnitude to command a connection of higher rank and importance.  As a younger brother he could have slight pretensions to patrimony, and save the manors, then but a slender endowment, just granted by King Edward, his profession as a soldier supplied his chief revenue.  His exclusive notice of the Lady Isabella at the tournament was quickly conveyed to the ear of Sir Thomas; and, it was said, the latter had vowed that no portion of wealth should descend to his daughter if wedded to Sir John, but that the whole should be settled on Sir Oskatell.  “The course of true love never did run smooth.”  That Sir John Stanley had a watchful eye at the time to the fortune as well as to the person of Isabella, is by some rather freely hinted.  This, however, turns out to be an unfounded calumny, as the events hereafter unfolded will abundantly demonstrate.

Sir John, after vainly endeavouring to avert this cruel purpose, and to win the old man’s favour, entered into the service of the king.  He hoped that some lucky adventure would enable him to appear with more certainty of success the next time he played the suitor at Lathom.

Isabella, though sorely importuned to the contrary, remained true to her first and only attachment; and Sir Oskatell was likely, in the end, to gather to himself the whole of these vast possessions.  A disposition to this effect she had for some time suspected.  His conduct, too, was less kindly of late, and he took upon himself an authority more direct and unconditional.  Indeed, it seemed but too evident that Sir Oskatell was looked upon as the ultimate possessor.  The maiden pined sorely at her lot, and lack of perpetuity in the inheritance.  But woman’s wits have compassed a sea of impossibilities, and will ever continue irresistible until their beautiful forms shall no longer irradiate these dull mortalities with their presence.

One day an aged minstrel craved admission.  Sir Thomas had just retired from the banquet.  Isabella and the lady of Lathom were at their usual employment in their private chamber, plying the needle in “Antres vast,” and wildernesses of embroidery, along with the maids.  The request was granted; soon after which an old man, bending apparently under an accumulation of years and infirmities, entered the apartment.  There was a keen scrutinising restlessness of the eye, stealing through the silvery locks about his brow, that but ill accorded with his apparent decrepitude.