PEVERIL OF THE PEA K. CHAPTER I. BUTLER. several occasions more capacity for command than men had heretofore given him credit for. Even in the midst of the civil turmoil, he fell in love with, and married, a beautiful and amiable young lady of the noble house of Stanley; and from that time had the more merit in his loyalty, as it divorced him from her society, unless at very brief intervals, when his duty permitted an occasional visit to his home. Scorning to be allured from his military duty by domestic inducements, Peveril of the Peak fought on for several rough years of civil war, and performed his part with sufficient gallantry, until his regiment was surprised and cut to pieces by Poyntz, Cromwell's enterprising and successful general of cavalry. The defeated Cavalier escaped from the field of battle, and, like a true descendant of William the Conqueror, disdaining submission, threw himself into his own castellated mansion, which was attacked and defended in a siege of that irregular kind which caused the destruction of so many baronial residences during the course of those unhappy wars. Martindale Castle, after having suffered severely from the cannon which Cromwell himself brought against it, was at length surrendered when in the last extremity. Sir Geoffrey himself became a prisoner, and while his liberty was only restored upon a promise of remaining a peaceful subject to the Commonwealth in future, his former delinquencies, as they were termed by the ruling party, were severely punished by fine and sequestration. "When civil dudgeon first grew high, And men fell out they knew not why: When foul words, jealousies, and fears, Set folk together by the earsWILLIAM, the Conqueror of England, was, or supposed himself to be, the father of a certain William Peveril, who attended him to the battle of Hastings, and there distinguished himself. The liberal-minded monarch, who assumed in his charters the veritable title of Gulielmus Bastardus, was not likely to let his son's illegitimacy be any bar to the course of his royal favour, when the laws of England were issued from the mouth of the Norman victor, and the lands of the Saxons were at his unlimited disposal. William Peveril obtained a liberal grant of property and lordships in Derbyshire, and became the erector of that Gothic fortress, which, hanging over the mouth of the Devil's Cavern, so well known to tourists, gives the name of Castleton to the adjacent village. From this feudal Baron, who chose his nest upon the principles on which an eagle selects her eyry, and built it in such a fashion as if he had intended it, as an Irishman said of the Martello towers, for the sole purpose of puzzling posterity, there was, or conceived themselves to be, descended (for their pedigree was rather hypothetical) an opulent family of knightly rank, in the same county of Derby. The great fief of Castleton, with its adjacent wastes and forests, and all the wonders which they contain, had been forfeited in King John's stormy days, by one William But neither his forced promise, nor the fear of farPeveril, and had been granted anew to the Lord Fer-ther unpleasant consequences to his person or prorers of that day. Yet this William's descendants, perty, could prevent Peveril of the Peak from joining though no longer possessed of what they alleged to the gallant Earl of Derby the night before the fatal have been their original property, were long distin-engagement in Wiggan-lane, where the Earl's forces guished by the proud title of Peverils of the Peak, which served to mark their high descent, and lofty pretensions. were dispersed. Sir Geoffrey having had his share in that action, escaped with the relics of the royalists after the defeat, to join Charles II. He witnessed also the In Charles the Second's time, the representative of final defeat of Worcester, where he was a second time this ancient family was Sir Geoffrey Peveril, a man made prisoner; and, as in the opinion of Cromwell who had many of the ordinary attributes of an old- and the language of the times, he was regarded as an fashioned country gentlemen, and very few individual obstinate malignant, he was in great danger of havtraits to distinguish him from the general portrait of ing shared with the Earl of Derby his execution at that worthy class of mankind. He was proud of Bolton-le-Moor, having partaken with him the dansmall advantages, angry at small disappointments, gers of two actions. But Sir Geoffrey's life was incapable of forming any resolution or opinion ab-preserved by the interest of a friend, who possessed stracted from his own prejudices-he was proud of influence in the councils of Oliver. This was a Mr. his birth, lavish in his housekeeping, convivial with Bridgenorth, a gentleman of middling quality, whose those kindred and acquaintances, who would allow father had been successful in some commercial adhis superiority in rank-contentious and quarrelsome venture during the peaceful reign of James I.; and with all that crossed his pretensions-kind to the who had bequeathed his son a considerable sum of poor, except when they plundered his game-a roy- money, in addition to the moderate patrimony which alist in his political opinions, and one who detested he inherited from his father. alike a Roundhead, a poacher, and a Presbyterian. The substantial, though small-sized brick building In religion Sir Geoffrey was a high-churchman, of so of Moultrassie Hall, was but two miles distant from exalted a strain that many thought he still nourished Martindale Castle, and the young Bridgenorth atin private the Roman Catholic tenets, which his fa- tended the same school with the heir of the Peverils. mily had only renounced in his father's time, and A sort of companionship, if not intimacy, took place that he had a dispensation for conforming in outward betwixt them, which continued during their youthful observances to the Protestant faith. There was at sports-the rather that Bridgenorth, though he did least such a scandal amongst the Puritans, and the not at heart admit Sir Geoffrey's claims of superiinfluence which Sir Geoffrey Peveril certainly ap-ority to the extent which the other's vanity would peared to possess amongst the Catholic gentlemen of Derbyshire and Cheshire, seemed to give countenance to the rumour. Such was Sir Geoffrey, who might have passed to his grave without farther distinction than a brassplate in the chancel, had he not lived in times which forced the most inactive spirits into exertion, as a tempest influences the sluggish waters of the deadest meer. When the Civil Wars broke out, Peveril of the Peak, proud from pedigree, and brave by constitution, raised a regiment for the King, and showed upon VOL. IV. T have exacted, paid deference in a reasonable degree to the representative of a family so much more ancient and important than his own, without conceiving that he in any respect degraded himself by doing so. Mr. Bridgenorth did not, however, carry his complaisance so far as to embrace Sir Geoffrey's side during the Civil War. On the contrary, as an active Justice of the Peace, he rendered much assistance in arraying the militia in the cause of the Parliament, and for some time held a military commission in that service. This was partly owing to his religious prin- Before the Civil War, the superb battlements and ciples, for he was a zealous Presbyterian, partly to turrets of Martindale Castle looked down on the red his political ideas, which, without being absolutely brick-built Hall, as it stole out from the green plantademocratical, favoured the popular side of the great tions, just as an oak in Martindale Chase would national question. Besides, he was a moneyed man, have looked beside one of the stunted and formal and to a certain extent had a shrewd eye to his young beech-trees with which Bridgenorth had graworldly interest. He understood how to improve the ced his avenue; but after the siege which we have opportunities which civil war afforded, of advancing commemorated, the enlarged and augmented Hall his fortune, by a dexterous use of his capital; and was as much predominant in the landscape over the he was not at a loss to perceive that these were likely shattered and blackened ruins of the Castle, of which to be obtained by joining the Parliament; while the only one wing was left habitable, as the youthful King's cause, as it was managed, held out nothing beech, in all its vigour of shoot and bud, would appear to the wealthy but a course of exaction and compul- to the same aged oak stripped of its boughs, and sory loans. For these reasons, Bridgenorth became rifted by lightning, one half laid in shivers on the a decided Roundhead, and all friendly communica- ground, and the other remaining a blackened and tion betwixt his neighbour and him was abruptly ungraceful trunk, rent and splintered, and without broken asunder. This was done with the less acri- either life or leaves. Sir Geoffrey could not but feel, mony, that during the Civil War, Sir Geoffrey was that the situation and prospects of the two neighalmost constantly in the field, following the vacilla- bours were exchanged as disadvantageously for himting and unhappy fortunes of his master; while Ma- self as the appearance of their mansions; and that jor Bridgenorth, who soon renounced active military though the authority of the man in office under the service, resided chiefly in London, and only occasion-Parliament, the sequestrator, and the committeeman, ally visited the Hall. had been only exerted for the protection of the cavalier and the malignant, they would have been as effec tual if applied to procure his utter ruin; and that he was become a client, while his neighbour was elevated into a patron. Upon these visits, it was with great pleasure he received the intelligence, that Lady Peveril had shown much kindness to Mrs. Bridgenorth, and had actually given her and her family shelter in Martindale Castle, when Moultrassie Hall was threatened with pillage There were two considerations, besides the necesby a body of Prince Rupert's ill-disciplined Cava- sity of the case and the constant advice of his lady, liers. This acquaintance had been matured by frequent which enabled Peveril of the Peak to endure, with walks together, which the vicinity of their places some patience, this state of degradation. The first of residence suffered the Lady Peveril to have with was, that the politics of Major Bridgenorth began, Mrs. Bridgenorth, who deemed herself much honour-on many points, to assimilate themselves to his own. ed in being thus admitted into the society of so dis- As a Presbyterian, he was not an utter enemy to tinguished a lady. Major Bridgenorth heard of this monarchy, and had been considerably shocked at the growing intimacy with great pleasure, and he deter- unexpected trial and execution of the King; as a mined to repay the obligation, as far as he could civilian and a man of property, he feared the dowithout much hurt to himself, by interfering with all mination of the military; and though he wished not his influence, in behalf of her unfortunate husband. to see Charles restored by force of arms, yet he arIt was chiefly owing to Major Bridgenorth's media-rived at the conclusion, that to bring back the heir tion, that Sir Geoffrey's life was saved after the battle of the royal family on such terms of composition as of Worcester. He obtained him permission to com- might ensure the protection of those popular immupound for his estate on easier terms than many who nities and privileges for which the Long Parliament had been less obstinate in malignancy; and, finally, had at first contended, would be the surest and most when, in order to raise the money to the composition, desirable termination to the mutations in state affairs the Knight was obliged to sell a considerable portion which had agitated Britain. Indeed, the Major's of his patrimony, Major Bridgenorth became the pur-ideas on this point approached so nearly those of his chaser, and that at a larger price than had been paid to neighbour, that he had well-nigh suffered Sir Geoffrey, any Cavalier under such circumstances, by a member who had a finger in almost all the conspiracies of of the Committee for Sequestrations. It is true, the the Royalists, to involve him in the unfortunate prudent committeeman did not, by any means, lose rising of Penruddock and Groves in the west, in sight of his own interest in the transaction, for the which many of the Presbyterian interest, as well as price was, after all, very moderate, and the property the Cavalier party, were engaged. And though his lay adjacent to Moultrassie Hall, the value of which habitual prudence eventually kept him out of this was at least trebled by the acquisition. But then it and other dangers, Major Bridgenorth was considered, was also true, that the unfortunate owner must have during the last years of Cromwell's domination, and submitted to much worse conditions, had the com- the interregnum which succeeded, as a disaffected mitteeman used, as others did, the full advantages person to the Commonwealth, and a favourer of which his situation gave him; and Bridgenorth took Charles Stewart. credit to himself, and received it from others, for having, on this occasion, fairly sacrificed his interest to his liberality. But besides this approximation to the same political opinions, another bond of intimacy united the families of the Castle and the Hall. Major BridgeSir Geoffrey Peveril was of the same opinion, and north, fortunate, and eminently so, in all his worldly the rather that Mr. Bridgenorth seemed to bear his transactions, was visited by severe and reiterated exaltation with great moderation, and was disposed misfortunes in his family, and became, in this parto show him personally the same deference in his ticular, an object of compassion to his poorer and present sunshine of prosperity, which he had exhi- more decayed neighbour. Betwixt the breaking bited formerly in their early acquaintance. It is but out of the Civil War and the Restoration, he lost justice to Major Bridgenorth to observe, that in this successively a family of no less than six children, conduct he paid respect as much to the misfortunes apparently through a delicacy of constitution, which as to the pretensions of his far-descended neighbour, cut off the little prattlers at the early age when they and that, with the frank generosity of a blunt English-must wind themselves around the heart of the paman, he conceded points of ceremony, about which rents. he himself was indifferent, merely because he saw In the beginning of the year 1658, Major Bridgethat his doing so gave pleasure to Sir Geoffrey. north was childless; ere it ended, he had a daughter, Peveril of the Peak did justice to his neighbour's indeed, but her birth was purchased by the death of delicacy, in consideration of which he forgot many an affectionate wife, whose constitution had been things. He forgot that Major Bridgenorth was alrea-exhausted by maternal grief, and by the anxious and dy in possession of a fair third of his estate, and had harrowing reflection, that from her the children they various pecuniary claims affecting the remainder, to had lost derived that delicacy of health, which proved the extent of one-third more. He endeavoured even unable to undergo the tear and wear of existence. to forget, what it was still more difficult not to re- The same voice which told Bridgenorth that he was member, the altered situation in which they and their father of a living child, (it was the friendly voice of mansions now stood to each other. Lady Peveril,) communicated to him the melancholy PEVERIL OF THE PEAK. intelligence that he was no longer a husband. The Yet such was Lady Peveril's influence over the pre- He almost threw the child into Lady Peveril's arms, placed his hands before his face, and wept aloud. Lady Peveril did not say "be comforted," but she ventured to promise that the blossom should ripen to fruit. "Never, never!" said Bridgenorth; "take the unhappy child away, and let me only know when I shall wear black for her-Wear black!" he exclaimed, interrupting himself, "what other colour shall I wear during the remainder of my life?" "I will take the child for a season," said Lady Peveril," since the sight of her is so painful to you; and the little Alice shall share the nursery of our Julian, until it shall be pleasure and not pain for you to look on her." "That hour will never come," said the unhappy father; "her doom is written-she will follow the Test-God's will be done.-Lady, I thank you-I trust her to your care; and I thank God that my eye shall not see her dying agonies." Without detaining the reader's attention longer on this painful theme, it is enough to say that the Lady Peveril did undertake the duties of a mother to the little orphan; and perhaps it was owing, in a great measure, to her judicious treatment of the infant, that its feeble hold of life was preserved, since the glimmering spark might probably have been altogether smothered, had it, like the Major's former children, undergone the over-care and over-nursing of a mother rendered nervously cautious and anxious by so many successive losses. The lady was the more ready to undertake this charge, that she herself had lost two infant children; and that she attributed the preservation of the third, now a fine healthy child of three years old, to Julian's being subjected to rather a different course of diet and treatment than was then generally practised. She resolved to follow the same regimen with the little orphan, which she had observed in the case of her own boy; and it was equally successful. By a more sparing use of medicine, by a bolder admission of fresh air, by a firm, yet cautious attention to encourage rather than to supersede the exertions of nature, the puny infant, under the care of an excellent nurse, gradually improved in strength and in liveliness. Sir Geoffrey, like most men of his frank and goodnatured disposition, was naturally fond of children, and so much compassionated the sorrows of his neighbour, that he entirely forgot his being a Presbyterian, until it became necessary that the infant should be christened by a teacher of that persuasion. This was a trying case-the father seemed incapable of giving direction; and that the threshold of Martindale Castle should be violated by the heretical step of a dissenting clergyman, was matter of horror to its orthodox owner. He had seen the famous Hugh Peters, with a Bible in one hand and a pistol in the other, ride in triumph through the court-door when Martindale was surrendered; and the bitterness of that hour had entered like iron into his soul. Morning after morning the good Baronet made A deep sigh, sometimes coupled with "I thank By degrees the communication became something more protracted, as Major Bridgenorth's grief, like all human feelings, lost its overwhelming violence, and permitted him to attend, in some degree, to what passed around him, to discharge various duties which pressed upon him, and to give a share of attention to the situation of the country, distracted as it was by the contending factions whose strife only terminated in the Restoration. Still, however, though slowly recovering from the effects of the shock which he had sustained, Major Bridgenorth felt himself as yet unable to make up his mind to the effort necessary to see his infant; and though separated by so short a distance from the being in whose existence he was more interested than in any thing the world H afforded, he only made himself acquainted with the would you had been no Presbyterian, neighbour-a w.ndows of the apartment where little Alice was lodg-knighthood,-I mean a knight-bachelor, not a knighted, and was often observed to watch them from the baronet,-would have served your turn well." terrace, as they brightened in the evening under the influence of the setting sun. In truth, though a strong-minded man in most respects, he was unable to lay aside the gloomy impression that this remaining pledge of affection was soon to be conveyed to that grave which had already devoured all besides that was dear to him; and he awaited in miserable suspense the moment when he should hear that symptoms of the fatal malady had begun to show themselves. The voice of Peveril continued to be that of a comforter, until the month of April, 1660, when it suddenly assumed a new and different tone. "The King shall enjoy his own again," far from ceasing, as the hasty tread of Black Hastings came up the avenue, bore burden to the clatter of his hoofs on the paved courtyard, as Sir Geoffrey sprang from his great war-saddle, now once more garnished with pistols of two feet in length, and, armed with steel-cap, back and breast, and a truncheon in his hand, he rushed into the apartment of the astonished Major, with his eyes sparkling, and his cheek inflamed, while he called out, "Up! up, neighbour! No time now to mope in the chimneycorner! Where is your buff-coat and broadsword, man? Take the true side once in your life, and mend past mistakes. The King is all lenity, man-all royal nature and mercy. I will get your full pardon." "What means all this?" said Bridgenorth-"Is all well with you-all well at Martindale Castle, Sir Geoffrey?" "I leave those things to my betters, Sir Geoffrey," said the Major, "and desire nothing so earnestly as to find all well at Martindale when I return." "You will-you will find them all well," said the Baronet; "Julian, Alice, Lady Peveril, and all of them-Bear my commendations to them, and kiss them all, neighbour, Lady Peveril and all-you may kiss a Countess when I come back; all will go well with you now you are turned honest man." "I always meant to be so, Sir Geoffrey," said Bridgenorth, calmly. "Well, well, well-no offence meant," said the Knight, "all is well now-so you to Moultrassie Hall, and I to Whitehall. Said I well, aha! So ho, mine host, a stoup of Canary to the King's health ere we get to horse-I forgot, neighbour-you drink no healths." "I wish the King's health as sincerely as if I drank a gallon to it," replied the Major; "and I wish you, Sir Geoffrey, all success on your journey, and a safe return." CHAPTER II. Why then, we will have bellowing of beeves, Old Play. WHATEVER rewards Charles might have condescended to bestow in acknowledgment of the sufferings and loyalty of Peveril of the Peak, he had none in his disposal equal to the pleasure which Providence had reserved for Bridgenorth on his return to Derbyshire. The exertion to which he had been summoned, had had the usual effect of restoring to a certain extent the activity and energy of his character, and he felt it would be unbecoming to relapse into the state of lethargic melancholy from which it had rcused him. Time also had its usual effect in miti "Well as you could wish them, Alice and Julian and all. But I have news worth twenty of thatMonk has declared at London against those stinking scoundrels the Rump. Fairfax is up in Yorkshirefor the King-for the King, man! Churchmen, Presbyterians, and all, are in buff and bandelier for King Charles. I have a letter from Fairfax to secure Derby and Chesterfield, with all the men I can make. D-n him, fine that I should take orders from him! But never mind that-all are friends now, and you and I, good neighbour, will charge abreast, as good neighbours should. See there! read-read-read-gating the subjects of his regret; and when he had and then boot and saddle in an instant. Hey for cavaliers-ho for cavaliers, Pray for cavaliers, Dub-a-dub, dub-a-dub, Have at old Beelzebub, Oliver shakos in his bier!'" After thundering forth this elegant effusion of loyal enthusiasm, the sturdy Cavalier's heart became too full. He threw himself on a seat, and exclaiming, "Did ever I think to live to see this happy day!" he wept to his own surprise, as much as to that of Bridgenorth. Upon considering the crisis in which the country was placed, it appeared to Major Bridgenorth, as it had done to Fairfax, and other leaders of the Presbyterian party, that their frank embracing of the royal interest was the wisest and most patriotic measure which they could adopt in the circumstances, when all ranks and classes of men were seeking refuge from the uncertainty and varied oppression attending the repeated contests between the factions of Westminster Hall and of Wallingford House. Accordingly, he joined with Sir Geoffrey, with less enthusiasm indeed, but with equal sincerity, taking such measures as seemed proper to secure their part of the country on the King's behalf, which was done as effectually and peaceably as in other parts of England. The neighbours were both at Chesterfield, when news arrived that the King had landed in England; and Sir Geoffrey instantly announced his purpose of waiting upon nis Majesty, even before his return to the castle of Martindale. "Who knows, neighbour," he said, "whether Sir Geoffrey Peveril will ever return to Martindale? Titles must be going amongst them yonder, and I have deserved something among the rest.-Lord Peveril would sound well-or stay, Earl of Martindale-no, not of Martindale-Earl of the Peak.-Meanwhile, trust your affairs to me-I will see you secured-I passed one day at the Hall, in regretting that he could not expect the indirect news of his daughter's health, which Sir Geoffrey used to communicate in his almost daily call, he reflected that it would be in every respect becoming that he should pay a personal visit at Martindale Castle, carry thither the remembrances of the knight to his lady, assure her of his health, and satisfy himself respecting that of his daughter. He armed himself for the worst-he called to recollection the thin cheeks, faded eye, wasted hand, pallid lip, which had marked the decaying health of all his former infants. "I shall see," he said, "these signs of mortality once more-I shall once more see a beloved being to whom I have given birth, gliding to the grave which ought to enclose me long before her. No matter-it is unmanly so long to shrink from that which must be--God's will be done!" He went accordingly, on the subsequent morning, to Martindale Castle, and gave the lady the welcome assurances of her husband's safety, and of his hopes of preferment. "For the first, may Almighty God be praised!" said the Lady Peveril; " and be the other as our gracious and restored sovereign may will it. We are great enough for our means, and have means sufficient for contentment, though not for splendour. And now I see, good Master Bridgenorth, the folly of putting faith in idle presentiments of evil. So often had Sir Geoffrey's repeated attempts in favour of the Stewarts led him into new misfortunes, that when, the other morning, I saw him once more dressed in his fatal armour, and heard the sound of his trumpet, which had been so long silent, it seemed to me as if I saw his shroud, and heard his death-knell. I say this to you, good neighbour, the rather because I fear your own mind has been harassed with anticipations of impending calamity, which it may please God to avert in your case as it has done in mine PEVERIL OF THE PEAK. and here comes a sight which bears good assurance ( the tear of joy in his eye showed how gladly he of it." The door of the apartment opened as she spoke, and two lovely children entered. The eldest, Julian Peveril, a fine boy betwixt four and five years old, led in his hand, with an air of dignified support and attention, a little girl of eighteen months, who rolled and tottered along, keeping herself with difficulty upright by the assistance of her elder, stronger, and masculine companion. would accept Lady Peveril's proposal, he could not help stating the obvious inconveniences attendant "Madam," upon her scheme, though it was in the tone of one who would gladly hear them overruled. he said, "your kindness makes me the happiest and most thankful of men; but can it be consistent with your own convenience? Sir Geoffrey has his opinions on many points, which have differed, and probably do still differ, from mine. He is high-born, and Bridgenorth cast a hasty and fearful glance upon of middling parentage only. He uses the Church Serthe countenance of his daughter, and, even in that vice, and the Catechism of the Assembly of Divines glimpse, perceived, with exquisite delight, that his at Westminster". fears were unfounded. He caught her in his arms, pressed her to his heart, and the child, though at first alarmed at the vehemence of his caresses, presently, as if prompted by nature, smiled in reply to them. Again he held her at some distance from him, and examined her more attentively; he satisfied himself that the complexion of the young cherub he had in his arms was not the hectic tinge of disease, but the clear hue of ruddy health; and that, though her little frame was slight, it was firm and springy. "I did not think that it could have been thus," he said, looking to Lady Peveril, who had sat observing the scene with great pleasure; "but praise be to God in the first instance, and next, thanks to you, madam, who have been his instrument." "Julian must lose his playfellow now, I suppose?" said the lady; "but the Hall is not distant, and I will see my little charge often. Dame Martha, the housekeeper at Moultrassie, has sense, and is careful. I will tell her the rules I have observed with little Alice, and". "God forbid my girl should ever come to Moultrassie," said Majer Bridgenorth, hastily; "it has been the grave of her race. The air of the low grounds suited them not-or there is perhaps a fate connected with the mansion. I will seek for her some other place of abode." "That you shall not, under your favour be it spoken, Major Bridgenorth," answered the lady. If you do so, we must suppose that you are undervaluing my qualities as a nurse. If she goes not to her father's house, she shall not quit mine. I will keep the little lady as a pledge of her safety and my own skill; and since you are afraid of the damp of the low grounds, I hope you will come here frequently to visit her." This was a proposal which went to the heart of Major Bridgenorth. It was precisely the point which he would have given worlds to arrive at, but which he saw no chance of attaining. It is too well known, that those whose families are long pursued by such a fatal disease as existed in his, become, it may be said, superstitious respecting its fatal effects, and ascribe to place, circumstance, and individual care, much more perhaps than these can in any case contribute to avert the fatality of constitutional distemper. Lady Peveril was aware that this was peculiarly the impression of her neighbour; that the depression of his spirits, the excess of his care, the feverishness of his apprehensions, the restraint and gloom of the solitude in which he dwelt, were really calculated to produce the evil which most of all he dreaded. She pitied him, she felt for him, she was grateful for former protection received at his hands-she had become interested in the child itself. What female fails to feel such interest in the helpless creature she has tended? And to sum the whole up, the dame had a share of human vanity; and being a sort of Lady Bountiful in her way, (for the character was not then confined to the old and the foolish,) she was proud of the skill by which she had averted the probable attacks of hereditary malady, so inveterate in the family of Bridgenorth. It needed not, perhaps, in other cases, that so many reasons should be assigned for an act of neighbourly humanity; but civil war had so lately torn the country asunder, and broken all the usual ties of vicinage and good neighbourhood, that it was unusual to see them preserved among persons of different political opinions. Major Bridgenorth himself felt this; and while Come, Master Bridgenorth," said the Lady Pe- To fly the boar before the boar pursues, And make pursuit when he did mean no chase. "With reverence to your ladyship," said Bridgenorth, "I were much to blame did I need the idle words of a Warwickshire stroller, to teach me my grateful duty to your ladyship on this occasion, which appoints me to be directed by you in all things which my conscience will permit." Since you allow me such influence, then," replies the Lady Peveril, "I shall be moderate in exercising it, in order that I may, in my domination at least, give you a favourable impression of the new order of things. So, if you will be a subject of mine for one day, neighbour, I am going, at my lord and husband's command, to issue out my warrants to invite the whole neighbourhood to a solemn feast at the Castle, on Thursday next; and I not only pray you to be personally present yourself, but to prevail on your worthy pastor, and such neighbours and friends, high and low, as may think in your own way, to meet with the rest of the neighbourhood, to rejoice on this joyful occasion of the King's Restoration, and thereby to show that we are to be henceforward a united people." The parliamentarian Major was considerably embarrassed by this proposal. He looked upwards and downwards and around, cast his eye first to the oakcarved ceiling, and anon fixed it upon the floor; then threw it around the room till it lighted on his child, the sight of whom suggested another and a better train of reflections than ceiling and floor had been able to supply. "Madam," he said, "I have long been a stranger to festivity, perhaps from constitutional melancholy, perhaps from the depression which is natural to a desolate and deprived man, in whose ear mirth is marred, like a pleasant air when performed on a mis |