34 THE BOY CRUSADERS, ~

liberty. In fact, Queen Blanche was too fond of

power to allow that which she had acquired to be

needlessly imperilled; and, apprehensive that the -
young queen should gain too much influence with

the king, she deliberately kept the royal pair’sepa-

rate. Nothing, indeed, could exceed the domestic

tyranny under which they suffered. When Louis

and Margaret made royal progresses, Blanche of
Castille took care that her son and daughter-in-law

were lodged in separate houses. Even in cases of
sickness the queen-mother did not relent. On one

occasion, when Margaret was ill and in the utmost

danger, Louis stole to her chamber. While he was

there, Blanche entered, and he endeavoured to con-

ceal himself. Blanche, however, detected him, shook

her head, and forcibly pushed him out of the door.

‘ Be off, sir,’ said she, sternly ; ‘ you have no richt
here.’

‘Madam, madam,’ exclaimed Margaret, in despair,
‘will you not allow me to see my husband, either
when I am living, or when I am dying?’ and the
poor queen fainted away.

It was while the young saint-king and his fair
Provencal spouse were enduring this treatment at the
hands of the old queen-mother that events occurred
which fired Louis with the idea of undertaking a
crusade, and gave Margaret an excellent excuse for
escaping from the society of the despotic dowager
who had embittered her life, and almost broken her
heart.

One day, when Louis was recovering from the
effects of a fever, which had so thoroughly prostrated