Might it not be contempt, or might he not, at this moment, intend to seek their father; and, the first to proclaim his love for the orphan, advance, also, the privilege of the elder born?
As these suspicions flashed across him, the haughty Otho strode to his brother's side, and laying his hand on his arm, said,-- "Whither goest thou; and dost thou consent to surrender Leoline ?" "Does she love thee, Otho ?" answered Warbeck, breaking silence at last; and his voice spoke so deep an anguish, that it arrested the passions of Otho even at their height.
"It is thou who art now silent," continued Warbeck; "speak.

Doth she love thee, and has her lip confessed it ?" "I have believed that she loved me," faltered Otho; "but she is of maiden bearing, and her lip, at least, has never told it." "Enough," said Warbeck; "release your hold." "Stay," said Otho, his suspicions returning; "stay,--yet one word; dost thou seek my father?
He ever honoured thee more than me: wilt thou own to him thy love, and insist on thy right of birth?
By my soul and my hope of heaven, do it, and one of us two must fall!" "Poor boy!" answered Warbeck, bitterly; "how little thou canst read the heart of one who loves truly! Thinkest thou I would wed her if she loved thee?
Thinkest thou I could, even to be blessed myself, give her one moment's pain?
Out on the thought! away!" "Then wilt not thou seek our father ?" said Otho, abashed.
"Our father!--has our father the keeping of Leoline's affection ?" answered Warbeck; and shaking off his brother's grasp, he sought the way to the castle.
As he entered the hall, he heard the voice of Leoline; she was singing to the old chief one of the simple ballads of the time that the warrior and the hunter loved to hear.

He paused lest he should break the spell (a spell stronger than a sorcerer's to him), and gazing upon Leoline's beautiful form, his heart sank within him.

His brother and himself had each that day, as they sat in the gardens, given her a flower; his flower was the fresher and the rarer; his he saw not, but she wore his brother's in her bosom! The chief, lulled by the music and wearied with the toils of the chase, sank into sleep as the song ended, and Warbeck, coming forward, motioned to Leoline to follow him.

He passed into a retired and solitary walk, and when they were a little distance from the castle, Warbeck turned round, and taking Leoline's hand gently, said,-- "Let us rest here for one moment, dearest cousin; I have much on my heart to say to thee." "And what is there," answered Leoline, as they sat on a mossy bank, with the broad Rhine glancing below, "what is there that my kind Warbeck would ask of me?
Ah, would it might be some favour, something in poor Leoline's power to grant; for ever from my birth you have been to me most tender, most kind.