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with her neighbour's general habits of indifference | reducing them to the same condition with the other and apathy, and therefore the more surprised at his testifying such sudden symptoms of interest. She would once again have moved the Countess to retire to another apartment, but Lady Derby proceeded with too much vehemence to endure interruption.

"This Christian," she said, "had eat of my lord his sovereign's bread, and drunk of his cup, even from childhood-for his fathers had been faithful servants to the House of Man and Derby. He himself had fought bravely by my husband's side, and enjoyed all his confidence; and when my princely Earl was martyred by the rebels, he recommended to me, amongst other instructions communicated in the last message I received from him, to continue my confidence in Christian's fidelity. I obeyed, although I never loved the man. He was cold and phlegmatic, and utterly devoid of that sacred fire which is the incentive to noble deeds, suspected too of leaning to the cold metaphysics of Calvinistic subtlety. But he was brave, wise, and experienced, and, as the event proved, possessed but too much interest with the islanders. When these rude people saw themselves without hope of relief, and pressed by a blockade, which brought want and disease into their island, they began to fall off from the faith which they had hitherto shown."

"What!" said the Lady Peveril, "could they forget what was due to the widow of their benefactor-she who had shared with the generous Derby the task of bettering their condition?"

subjects of the pretended republic. When the news arrived of the changes which were current in Britain, these sentiments were privately communicated to me. Calcott and others acted with great zeal and fidelity; and a rising, effected as suddenly and effectually as that which had made me a captive, placed me at liberty, and in possession of the Sovereignty of Man, as Regent for my son, the youthful Earl of Derby. Do you think I enjoyed that sovereignty long without doing justice on that traitor Christian?"

"How, madam," said Lady Peveril, who, though she knew the high and ambitious spirit of the Countess, scarce anticipated the extremities to which it was capable of hurrying her-"Have you imprisoned Christian?"

"Ay, wench, in that sure prison which felon never breaks from," answered the Countess.

Bridgenorth, who had insensibly approached them, and was listening with an agony of interest which he was unable any longer to suppress, broke in with the stern exclamation

"Lady, I trust you have not dared".

The Countess interrupted him in her turn.

"I know not who you are who question-and you know not me when you speak to me of that which I dare, or dare not, do. But you seem interested in the fate of this Christian, and you shall hear it. I was no sooner placed in possession of my rightful power, than I ordered the Dempster of the island to hold upon the traitor a High Court of Justice, with all the "Do not blame them," said the Countess; "the formalities of the isle, as prescribed in its oldest rerude herd acted but according to their kind-in pre- cords. The Court was held in the open air, before sent distress they forgot former benefits, and, nursed the Dempster and the Keys of the island, assembled in their earthen hovels, with spirits suited to their under the vaulted cope of heaven, and seated on the dwellings, they were incapable of feeling the glory terrace of the Zonwald Hill, where of old Druid and which is attached to constancy in suffering. But Scald held their courts of judgment. The criminal that Christian should have headed their revolt-that was heard at length in his own defence, which he, born a gentleman, and bred under my murdered amounted to little more than those specious allegaDerby's own care in all that was chivalrous and noble tions of public consideration, which are ever used to -that he should have forgot a hundred benefits-colour the ugly front of treason. He was fully conwhy do I talk of benefits?-that he should have for- victed of his crime, and he received the doom of a gotten that kindly intercourse which binds man to traitor." man far more than the reciprocity of obligation-that he should have headed the ruffians who broke suddenly into my apartment-immured me with my infants in one of my own castles, and assumed or usurped the tyranny of the island-that this should have been done by William Christian, my vassal, my servant, my friend, was a deed of ungrateful treachery, which even this age of treason will scarcely parallel!" And you were then imprisoned," said the Lady Peveril, "and in your own sovereignty!"

For more than seven years I have endured strict captivity," said the Countess. "I was indeed offered my liberty, and even some means of support, if I would have consented to leave the island, and pledge my word that I would not endeavour to repossess my son in his father's rights. But they little knew the princely house from which I spring, and as little the royal house of Stanley which I uphold, who hoped to humble Charlotte of Tremouille into so base a composition. I would rather have starved in the darkest and lowest vault of Rushin Castle, than have consented to aught which might diminish in one hair's breadth the right of my son over his father's sovereignty."

And could not your firmness, in a case where hope seemed lost, induce them to be generous, and dismiss you without conditions?"

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But which, I trust, is not yet executed?" said Lady Peveril, not without an involuntary shudder. "You are a fool, Margaret," said the Countess, sharply; "think you I delayed such an act of justice, until some wretched intrigues of the new English Court might have prompted their interference? No, wench-he passed from the judgment-seat to the place of execution, with no farther delay than might be necessary for his soul's sake. He was shot to death by a file of musketeers in the common place of execution, called Hango-hill."*

* The reader will find, in an Appendix to the Introduction, an account of this tragedy, as related by one who may be said to fayour the sufferer. It must be admitted, on the other hand, that to the laws of the island. He was tried in all due form, by the Captain Christian's trial and execution were conducted according Dempster, or chief judge, then named Norris, the Keys of the island, and other constituted authorities, making what is called a Tinwald court. This word, yet retained in many parts of Scotland, signifies Vallis Negotii, and is applied to those artificial mounds which were in ancient times assigned to the meeting of the inhabitants for holding their Comitia. It was pleaded that the articles of accusation against Christian were found fully relevant, and as he refused to plead at the bar, that he was, according to the laws of Man, most justly sentenced to death. It was also stated that fulf time was left for appeal to England, as he was apprehended about the end of September, and not executed until the 24 January, 1662

These defences were made for the various officers of the Isle of Man called before the Privy Council, on account of Christian's death, and supported with many quotations from the laws of the Island, and appear to have been received as a sufficient defence for their share in those proceedings.

tified extract to the following effect: Malew Burials. A. D. 1662 Mr. William Christian of Ronalds-wing, late receiver, was shot to death at Hange Hall, the 24 January. He died most penitently and couradgeously, made a good end, prayed earnestly, made an kirk Malew."

I am obliged to the present reverend Vicar of Malew, for a cer

excellent speech, and the next day was buried in the chancell of

"They knew me better than thou dost, wench," answered the Countess; once at liberty, I had not been long without the means of disturbing their usurpation, and Christian would have as soon uncaged a lioness to combat with, as have given me the slightest power of returning to the struggle with him. But time had liberty and revenge in store-I It is certain that the death of William Christian made a very had still friends and partisans in the island, though deep impression upon the minds of the islanders, and a Mr. Calcell they were compelled to give way to the storm. Even or Colquit was much blamed on the occasion. Two lesser incidents among the islanders at large, most had been disap-on which he stood was covered with white blankets that his blood are worth preservation as occurring at his execution. The place pointed in the effects which they expected from the change of power. They were loaded with exactions by their new masters, their privileges were abridged, and their immunities abolished, under the pretext of

might not fall on the ground; and, secondly, the precaution proved necessary, for, the musket wounds bleeding internally, there was no outward pinusion of blood.

Many on the island deny Christian's guilt altogether, like his respectable descendant, the present Dempster; but there are others,

Bridgenorth clasped his hands together, wrung | tach thee of the crime of which thou hast but now them, and groaned bitterly. made thy boast."

As you seem interested for this criminal," added the Countess, addressing Bridgenorth, "I do him but justice in reporting to you, that his death was firm and manly, becoming the general tenor of his life, which, but for that gross act of traitorous ingratitude, had been fair and honourable. But what of that? The hypocrite is a saint, and the false traitor a man of honour, till opportunity, that faithful touchstone, proves their metal to be base."

"It is false, woman-it is false!" said Bridgenorth, no longer suppressing his indignation.

"What means this bearing, Master Bridgenorth?" said Lady Peveril, much surprised. "What is this Christian to you, that you should insult the Countess of Derby under my roof?"

Speak not to me of Countesses and of ceremonies," said Bridgenorth; "grief and anger leave me no leisure for idle observances, to humour the vanity of overgrown children.-Oh Christian-worthy, well worthy, of the name thou didst bear! My friendmy brother-the brother of my blessed Alice-the only friend of my desolate estate! art thou then cruelly murdered by a female fury, who, but for thee, had deservedly paid with her own blood that of God's saints, which she, as well as her tyrant husband, had spilled like water!-Yes, cruel murderess!" he continued, addressing the Countess, "he whom thou hast butchered in thy insane vengeance, sacrificed for many a year the dictates of his own conscience to the interest of thy family, and did not desert it till thy frantic zeal for royalty had well-nigh brought to utter perdition the little community in which he was born. Even in confining thee, he acted but as the friends of the madman, who bind him with iron for his own preservation; and for thee, as I can bear witness, he was the only barrier between thee and the wrath of the Commons of England; and but for his earnest remonstrances, thou hadst suffered the penalty of thy malignancy, even like the wicked wife

of Ahab."

"I shall not obey your arrest," said the Countess, composedly; "I was born to give, but not to receive such orders. What have your English laws to do with my acts of justice and of government, within my son's hereditary kingdom? Am I not Queen in Man, as well as Countess of Derby? A feudatory Sovereign indeed; but yet independent so long as my dues of homage are duly discharged. What right can you assert over me?"

"That given by the precept of Scripture," answered Bridgenorth-"Whoso spilleth man's blood, by man shall his blood be spilled.' Think not that the barbarous privileges of ancient feudal customs will avail to screen you from the punishment due for an Englishman murdered upon pretexts inconsistent with the act of indemnity."

"Master Bridgenorth," said Lady Peveril, "if by fair terms you desist not from your present purpose, I tell you that I neither dare, nor will, permit any violence against this honourable lady, within the walls of my husband's castle."

"You will find yourself unable to prevent me from executing my duty, madam," said Bridgenorth, whose native obstinacy now came in aid of his grief and desire of revenge; "I am a magistrate, and act by authority."

"I know not that," said Lady Peveril. "That you were a magistrate, Master Bridgenorth, under the late usurping powers, I know well; but till I hear of your having a commission in the name of the King, I now hesitate to obey you as such."

"I shall stand on small ceremony," said Bridgenorth. "Were I no magistrate, every man has title to arrest for murder against the terms of the indemnities held out by the King's proclamations, and I will make my point good."

"What indemnities? What proclamations?" said the Countess of Derby, indignantly, Charles Stuart may, if he pleases, (and it doth seem to please him,) consort with those whose hands have Master Bridgenorth," said Lady Peveril, "I will been red with the blood, and blackened with the allow for your impatience upon hearing these un-plunder, of his father and of his loyal subjects. H pleasing tidings; but there is neither use nor propriety in farther urging this question. If in your grief you forget other restraints, I pray you to remember that the Countess is my guest and kinswoman, and is under such protection as I can afford her. I beseech you, in simple courtesy, to withdraw, as what must needs be the best and most becoming course in these trying circumstances.'

may forgive them if he will, and count their deeds good service. What has that to do with this Christian's offence against me and mine? Born a Manksman-bred and nursed in the island-he broke the laws under which he lived, and died for the breach of them, after the fair trial which they allowed.-Methinks, Margaret, we have enough of this peevish and foolish magistrate-I attend you to

'Nay, let him remain," said the Countess, regard-your apartment." ing him with composure, not unmingled with triumph; "I would not have it otherwise; I would not that my revenge should be summed up in the stinted gratification which Christian's death hath afforded. This man's rude and clamorous grief only proves that the retribution I have dealt has been more widely felt than by the wretched sufferer himself. I would I knew that it had but made sore as many rebel hearts, as there were loyal breasts afflicted by the death of my princely Derby!"

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So please you, madam," said Lady Peveril, "since Master Bridgenorth hath not the manners to leave us upon my request, we will, if your ladyship lists, leave him, and retire to my apartment.-Farewell, Master Bridgenorth; we will meet hereafter on better terms.' "Pardon me, Madam," said the Major, who had been striding hastily through the room, but now stood fast, and drew himself up, as one who has taken a resolution;-" to yourself I have nothing to say but what is respectful; but to this woman I must speak as a magistrate. She has confessed a murder in my presence the murder too of my brother-in-law;-as a man, and as a magistrate, I cannot permit her to pass from hence, excepting under such custody as may prevent her farther flight. She has already confessed that she is a fugitive, and in search of a place of concealment, until she should be able to escape into foreign parts.-Charlotte, Countess of Derby, I atand those men of judgment and respectability, who are so far of a different opinion, that they only allow the execution to have been wrong in so far as the culprit died by a military rather than a civil VOL. IV.-V

Major Bridgenorth placed himself betwixt them and the door, in a manner which showed him determined to interrupt their passage; when the Lady Peveril, who thought she had already shown more deference to him in this matter than her husband was likely to approve of, raised her voice, and called loudly on her steward, Whitaker. That alert person, who had heard high talking, and a female voice with which he was unacquainted, had remained for several minutes stationed in the ante-room, much afflicted with the anxiety of his own curiosity. Of course he entered in an instant.

"Let three of the men instantly take arms," said his lady; "bring them into the ante-room, and wait my farther orders."

CHAPTER VI.

You shall have no worse prison than my cnamber,
Nor jailor than myself.-The Captain.

THE Command which Lady Peveril laid on her domestics to arm themselves, was so unlike the usual gentle acquiescence of her manners, that Major Bridgenorth was astonished. "How mean you, madam?" said he; "I thought myself under a friendly roof."

"And you are so, Master Bridgenorth," said the death. I willingly drop the veil over a transaction, which took place flagrantibus odiis at the conclusion of a civil war, when Revenge at least was awake if Justice slept.

Lady Peveril, without departing from the natural | venience; and a message shall relieve your domescalmness of her voice and manner; "but it is a roof tics of the anxiety which your absence from the Hall which must not be violated by the outrage of one is not unlikely to occasion. When a few hours, at friend against another." most two days, are over, I will myself relieve you from confinement, and demand your pardon for now acting as your obstinacy compels me to do."

The Major made no answer, but that he was in her hands, and must submit to her pleasure; and then turned sullenly to the window, as if desirous to be rid of their presence.

"It is well, madam," said Bridgenorth, turning to the door of the apartment. "The worthy Master Solsgrace has already foretold, that the time was returned when high houses and proud names should be once more an excuse for the crimes of those who inhabit the one and bear the other. I believed him not, but now see he is wiser than I. Yet think not I will The Countess and the Lady Peveril left the apartendure this tamely. The blood of my brother-of the ment arm in arm; and the lady issued forth her difriend of my bosom-shall not long call from the al-rections to Whitaker concerning the mode in which tar, 'How long, O Lord, how long! If there is one she was desirous that Bridgenorth should be guarded spark of justice left in this unhappy England, that and treated during his temporary confinement; at proud woman and I shall meet where she can have the same time explaining to him, that the safety of no partial friend to protect her." the Countess of Derby required that he should be closely watched.

So saying, he was about to leave the apartment, when Lady Peveril said, "You depart not from this place, Master Bridgenorth, unless you give me your word to renounce all purpose against the noble Countess's liberty upon the present occasion."

"I would sooner," he answered, "subscribe to my own dishonour, madam, written down in express words, than to any such composition. If any man offers to interrupt me, his blood be on his head!" As Major Bridgenorth spoke, Whitaker threw open the door, and showed that, with the alertness of an old soldier, who was not displeased at seeing things tend once more towards a state of warfare, he had got with him four stout fellows in the Knight of the Peak's livery, well armed with swords and carabines, buff-coats, and pistols at their girdles.

"I will see," said Major Bridgenorth, "if any of these men be so desperate as to stop me, a freeborn Englishman, and a magistrate, in the discharge of my duty."

So saying, he advanced upon Whitaker and his armed assistants, with his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Do not be so desperate, Master Bridgenorth,” exclaimed Lady Peveril; and added, in the same moment, "Lay hold upon, and disarm him, Whitaker; but do him no injury."

In all proposals for the prisoner's security, such as the regular relief of guards, and the like, Whitaker joyfully acquiesced, and undertook, body for body, that he should be detained in captivity for the necessary period. But the old steward was not half so docile when it came to be considered how the captive's bedding and table should be supplied; and he thought Lady Peveril displayed a very undue degree of attention to her prisoner's comforts. "I warrant," he said, "that the cuckoldy Roundhead ate enough of our fat beef yesterday to serve him for a month; and a little fasting, will do his health good. Marry, for drink he shall have plenty of cold water to cool his hot liver, which I will be bound is still hissing with the strong liquors of yesterday. And as for bedding, there are the fine dry boards-more wholesome than the wet straw I lay upon when I was in the stocks, I trow."

"Whitaker," said the lady, peremptorily, "I desire you to provide Master Bridgenorth's bedding and food in the way I have already signified to you; and to behave yourself towards him in all civility."

"Lack-a-day! yes, my lady," said Whitaker; "you shall have all your directions punctually obeyed; but, as an old servant, I cannot but speak my mind.

The ladies retired after this conference with the Her commands were obeyed. Bridgenorth, though steward in the antechamber, and were soon seated a man of moral resolution, was not one of those who in another apartment, which was peculiarly dedicated undertake to cope in person with odds of a descrip- to the use of the mistress of the mansion-having, tion so formidable. He half drew his sword, and on the one side, access to the family bed-room; and, offered such show of resistance as made it necessary on the other, to the still-room which communicated to secure him by actual force; but then yielded up his with the garden. There was also a small door which, weapon, and declared, that, submitting to force which ascending a few steps, led to that balcony, already one man was unable to resist, he made those who mentioned, that overhung the kitchen; and the same commanded, and who employed it, responsible for passage, by a separate door, admitted to the principal assailing his liberty without a legal warrant. gallery in the chapel; so that the spiritual and tempo"Never mind a warrant on a pinch, Master Bridge-ral affairs of the Castle were placed almost at once north," said old Whitaker; "sure enough you have within reach of the same regulating and directing often acted upon a worse yourself. My lady's word eye.* is as good a warrant, sure, as Old Noll's commission; and you bore that many a day, Master Bridgenorth, and, moreover, you laid me in the stocks for drinking the king's health, Master Bridgenorth, and never cared a farthing about the laws of England."

In the tapestried room, from which issued these various sallyports, the Countess and Lady Peveril were speedily seated; and the former, smiling upon the latter, said, as she took her hand, "Two things have happened to-day which might have surprised me, if any thing ought to surprise me in such times; "Hold your saucy tongue, Whitaker," said the-the first is, that yonder roundheaded fellow should Lady Peveril; "and do you, Master Bridgenorth, not have dared to use such insolence in the house of take it to heart that you are detained prisoner for a Peveril of the Peak. If your husband is yet the same few hours, until the Countess of Derby can have honest and downright Cavalier whom I once knew, nothing to fear from your pursuit. I could easily send and had chanced to be at home, he would have thrown an escort with her that might bid defiance to any the knave out of window. But what I wonder at force you could muster; but I wish, Heaven knows, still more, Margaret, is your generalship. I hardly to bury the remembrance of old civil dissensions, thought you had courage sufficient to have taken not to awaken new. Once more, will you think bet- such decided measures, after keeping on terms with ter on it-assume your sword again, and forget whom the man so long. When he spoke of justices and you have now seen at Martindale Castle?" warrants, you looked so overawed that I thought I felt the clutch of the parish-beadles on my shoulder, to drag me to prison as a vagrant."

"Never," said Bridgenorth. "The crime of this cruel woman will be the last of human injuries which I can forget. The last thought of earthly kind which will leave me, will be the desire that justice shall be done on her.'

"If such be your sentiments," said Lady Peveril, "though they are more allied to revenge than to justice, I must provide for my friend's safety, by putting restraint upon your person. In this room you will be supplied with every necessary of life, and every con

"We owe Master Bridgenorth some deference, my dearest lady," answered the Lady Peveril; “he has

*This peculiar collocation of apartments may be seen at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire, once a seat of the Vernons, where, in the lady's pew in the chapel, there is a sort of scuttle, which opens into the kitchen, so that the good lady could ever and anon, with roast-meat was not permitted to burn, and that the turn-broche die out much interruption of her religious duties, give an eye that the his duty.

served us often, and kindly, in these late times; but neither he, nor any one else, shall insult the Countess of Derby in the house of Margaret Stanley." "Thou art become a perfect heroine, Margaret," replied the Countess.

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"Two sieges, and alarms innumerable," said Lady Peveril, may have taught me presence of mind. My courage is, I believe, as slender as ever." Presence of mind is courage,' answered the Countess. Real valour consists not in being in sensible to danger, but in being prompt to confront and disarm it;-and we may have present occasion for all that we possess," she added, with some slight emotion, "for I hear the trampling of horses' steps on the pavement of the court."

In one moment, the boy Julian, breathless with joy, came flying into the room, to say that papa was returned, with Lamington and Sam Brewer; and that he was himself to ride Black Hastings to the stable. In the second, the tramp of the honest Knight's heavy jack-boots was heard, as, in his haste to see his lady, he ascended the staircase by two steps at a time. He burst into the room, his manly countenance and disordered dress showing marks that he had been riding fast; and without looking to any one else, caught his good lady in his arms, and kissed her a dozen of times.-Blushing, and with some difficulty, Lady Peveril extricated herself from Sir Geoffrey's arms; and in a voice of bashful and gentle rebuke, bid him, for shame, observe who was in the room.

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'One," said the Countess, advancing to him, "who is right glad to see that Sir Geoffrey Peveril, though turned courtier and favourite, still values the treasure which she had some share in bestowing upon him. You cannot have forgot the raising of the leaguer of Latham House?"

"The noble Countess of Derby!" said Sir Geoffrey, doffing his plumed hat with an air of deep deference, and kissing with much reverence the hand which she held out to him; "I am as glad to see your ladyship in my poor house, as I would be to hear that they had found a vein of lead in the Brown Tor. I rode hard, in the hope of being your escort through the country. I feared you might have fallen into bad hands, hearing there was a knave sent out with a warrant from the Council."

"When heard you so? and from whom?" "It was from Cholmondley of Vale-Royal," said Sir Geoffrey; "he is come down to make provision for your safety through Cheshire; and I promised to bring you there in safety. Prince Rupert, Ormond, and other friends, do not doubt the matter will be driven to a fine; but they say the Chancellor, and Harry Bennet, and some others of the over-sea counsellors, are furious at what they call a breach of the King's proclamation. Hang them, say I!-They left us to bear all the beating; and now they are incensed that we should wish to clear scores with those who rode us like nightmares!"

"What did they talk of for my chastisement?" said the Countess.

"I wot not," said Sir Geoffrey; "some friends, as I said, from our kind Cheshire, and others, tried to bring it to a fine; but some, again, spoke of nothing but the Tower, and a long imprisonment.'

"I have suffered imprisonment long enough for King Charles's sake," said the Countess; " and have no mind to undergo it at his hand. Besides, if I am removed from the personal superintendence of my son's dominions in Man, I know not what new usurpation may be attempted there. I must be obliged to you, cousin, to contrive that I may get in security to Vale-Royal, and from thence I know I shall be guarded safely to Liverpool.

"You may rely on my guidance and protection, noble lady," answered her host, "though you had come here at midnight, and with the rogue's head in your apron, like Judith in the Holy Apocrypha, which I joy to hear once more read in churches."

these parts, it is for the Grace of God, and what they there may find."

Meet the old Cavaliers with much countenance?" continued the Countess.

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"Faith, madam, to speak truth," replied the Knight, the King hath so gracious a manner, that it makes every man's hopes blossom, though we have seen but few that have ripened into fruit."

"You have not, yourself, my cousin," answered the Countess, "had room to complain of ingratitude, I trust? Few have less deserved it at the King's hand."

Sir Geoffrey was unwilling, like most prudent persons, to own the existence of expectations which had proved fallacious, yet had too little art in his character to conceal his disappointment entirely. "Who? I, madam?" he said; Alas! what should a poor country knight expect from the King, besides the pleasure of seeing him in Whitehall once more, and enjoying his own again? And his Majesty was very gracious when I was presented, and spoke to me of Worcester, and of my horse, Black Hastings-he had forgot his name, though-faith, and mine too, I believe, had not Prince Rupert whispered it to him. And I saw some old friends, such as his Grace of Ormond, Sir Marmaduke Langdale, Sir Philip Musgrave, and so forth; and had a jolly rouse or two, to the tune of old times."

"I should have thought so many wounds received so many dangers risked-such considerable lossesmerited something more than a few smooth words," said the Countess.

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Nay, my lady, there were other friends of mine who had the same thought," answered Peveril. "Some were of opinion that the loss of so many hundred acres of fair land was worth some reward of honour at least; and there were, who thought my descent from William the Conqueror-craving your ladyship's pardon for boasting it in your presencewould not have become a higher rank or title worse than the pedigree of some who have been promoted. But what said the witty Duke of Buckingham, forsooth? (whose grandsire was a Lei'stershire Knight

rather poorer, and scarce so well-born as myself)—, Why, he said, that if all of my degree who deserved well of the King in the late times were to be made peers, the House of Lords must meet upon Salisbury Plain!"

"And that bad jest passed for a good argument!" said the Countess; "and well it might, where good arguments pass for bad jests.-But here comes one I must be acquainted with."

This was little Julian, who now re-entered the hall, leading his little sister, as if he had brought her to bear witness to the boastful tale which he told his father, of his having manfully ridden Black Hastings to the stable-yard, alone in the saddle; and that Saunders, though he walked by the horse's head, did not once put his hand upon the rein, and Brewer, though he stood beside him, scarce held him by the knee. The father kissed the boy heartily; and the Countess, calling him to her so soon as Sir Geoffrey had set him down, kissed his forehead also, and then surveyed all his features with a keen and penetrating eye.

He is a true Peveril," said she, "mixed as he should be with some touch of the Stanley. Cousin, you must grant me my boon, and when I am safely established, and have my present affair arranged, you must let me have this little Julian of yours some time hence, to be nurtured in my house, held as my page, and the playfellow of the little Derby. I trust in Heaven, they will be such friends as their fathers have been and may God send them more fortunate times!"*

"Marry, and I thank you for the proposal with all

* Even down to a later period than that in which the tale is laid, the ladies of distinction had for their pages young gentlemen of distinguished rank, whose education proceeded within the family of their patroness. Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch and Monmouth, who in several respects laid claim to the honour due to royal blood, was, I believe, the last person of rank who kept up this old custom. A general officer distinguished in the American war was Ay, madam," replied Sir Geoffrey; "and accord-bred up as a page in her family. At present the youths whom we sometimes see in the capacity of pages of great ladies, are, I be, ing to our saying, when miners do begin to bore in lieve mere lackeys.

Do the gentry resort much to the Court?" said the lady.

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my heart, madam," said the Knight. "There are so many noble houses decayed, and so many more in which the exercise and discipline for the training of noble youths is given up and neglected, that I have often feared I must have kept Gil to be young master at home; and I have had too little nurture myself to teach him much, and so he would have been a mere hunting hawking knight of Derbyshire. But in your ladyship's household, and with the noble young Earl, he will have all, and more than all, the education which I could desire."

"There shall be no distinction betwixt them, cousin," said the countess; Margaret Stanley's son shall be as much the object of care to me as my own, since you are kindly disposed to intrust him to my charge. You look pale, Margaret," she continued, "and the tear stands in your eye? Do not be so foolish, my love-what I ask is better than you can desire for your boy; for the house of my father, the Duke de la Tremouille, was the most famous school of chivalry in France; nor have I degenerated from him, or suffered any relaxation in that noble discipline which trained young gentlemen to do honour to their race. You can promise your Julian no such advantages, if train him up a mere home-bred youth." "I acknowledge the importance of the favour, madam," said Lady Peveril, and must acquiesce in what your ladyship honours us by proposing, and Sir Geoffrey approves of; but Julian is an only child, and"

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An only son," said the Countess, "but surely not an only child. You pay too high a deference to our masters, the male sex, if you allow Julian to engross all your affection, and spare none for this beautiful girl."

So saying, she sat down Julian, and, taking Alice Bridgenorth on her lap, began to caress her; and there was, notwithstanding her masculine character, something so sweet in the tone of her voice and in the cast of her features, that the child immediately smiled, and replied to her marks of fondness. This mistake embarrassed Lady Peveril exceedingly. Knowing the blunt impetuosity of her husband's character, his devotion to the memory of the deceased Earl of Derby, and his corresponding veneration for his widow, she was alarmed for the consequences of his hearing the conduct of Bridgenorth that morning, and was particularly desirous that he should not learn it save from herself in private, and after due preparation. But the Countess's error led to a more precipitate disclosure.

"Nay, madam," answered the Knight, "my neighbour is bad enough, but not so bad as you would make him; he is but a Presbyterian-that I must confessbut not an Independent."

"A variety of the same monster," said the Countess, "who hallooed while the others hunted, and bound the victim whom the Independents massacred. Betwixt such sects I prefer the Independents. They are at least bold, barefaced, merciless villains, have more of the tiger in them, and less of the crocodile. I have no doubt it was that worthy gentleman who took it upon him this morning".

She stopped short, for she saw Lady Peveril was vexed and embarrassed.

"I am," she said, "the most luckless of beings. I have said something, I know not what, to distress you, Margaret-Mystery is a bad thing, and betwixt us there should be none.'

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"There is none, madam," said Lady Peveril, something impatiently; "I waited but an opportunity to tell my husband what had happened-Sir Geoffrey, Master Bridgenorth was unfortunately here when the Lady Derby and I met; and he thought it part of his duty to speak of"

"To speak of what?" said the Knight, bending his brows. "You were ever something too fond, dame, of giving way to the usurpation of such people."

"I only mean," said Lady Peveril, "that as the person-he to whom Lady Derby's story related,was the brother of his late lady, he threatened--but I cannot think that he was serious."

"Threaten?-threaten the Lady of Derby and Man in my house!-the widow of my friend-the noble Charlotte of Latham-House!-by Heaven the prickeared slave shall answer it! How comes it that my knaves threw him not out of the window?"

"Alas! Sir Geoffrey, you forget how much we owe him," said the lady.

"Owe him!" said the Knight, still more indignant for in his singleness of apprehension he conceived that his wife alluded to pecuniary obligations-"if I do owe him some money, hath he not security for it? and must he have the right, over and above, to domineer and play the Magistrate in Martindale Castle? Where is he?-what have you made of him? I willI must speak with him."

"Be patient, Sir Geoffrey," said the Countess, who now discerned the cause of her kinswoman's apprehension; " and be assured I did not need your chivalry to defend me against this discourteous faitour, "That pretty girl, madam," answered Sir Geoffrey, as Morte d'Arthur would have called him. I promise "is none of ours-I wish she were. She belongs to you my kinswoman hath fully righted my wrong; and a neighbour hard by-a good man, and, to say truth, I am so pleased to owe my deliverance entirely to her a good neighbour though he was carried off from gallantry, that I charge and command you, as a true his allegiance in the late times by a d-d Presbyterian knight, not to mingle in the adventure of another." scoundrel, who calls himself a parson, and whom I Lady Peveril, who knew her husband's blunt and hope to fetch down from his perch presently, with a impatient temper, and perceived that he was becomwannion to him! He has been cock of the roosting angry, now took up the story, and plainly and simlong enough. There are rods in pickle to switch the ply pointed out the cause of Master Bridgenorth's inGeneva cloak with, I can tell the sour-faced rogues terference. that much. But this child is the daughter of Bridgenorth-neighbour Bridgenorth, of Moultrassie-Hall." 'Bridgenorth?" said the Countess; "I thought I had known all the honourable names in Derbyshire I remember nothing of Bridgenorth.-But stay -was there not a sequestrator and committee-man of that name? Sure, it cannot be he."

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Peveril took some shame to himself as he replied, "It is the very man whom your ladyship means, and you may conceive the reluctance with which I submitted to receive good offices from one of his kidney; but had I not done so, I should have scarce known how to find a roof to cover Dame Margaret's head." The Countess, as he spoke, raised the child gently from her lap, and placed it upon the carpet, though little Alice showed a disinclination to the change of place, which the Lady of Derby and Man would certainly have indulged in a child of patrician descent and loyal parentage.

"I blame you not," she said; "no one knows what temptation will bring us down to. Yet I did think Peveril of the Peak would have resided in its deepest cavern, sooner than owed an obligation to a regicide."

"I am sorrow for it," said the Knight; "I thought he had more sense; and that this happy change might have done some good upon him. But you should have told me this instantly-It consists not with my honour that he should be kept prisoner in this house, as if I feared any thing he could do to annoy the noble Countess, while she is under my roof, or within twenty miles of this Castle."

So saying, and bowing to the Countess, he went straight to the gilded chamber, leaving Lady Peveril in great anxiety for the event of an angry meeting between a temper hasty as that of her husband, and stubborn like that of Bridgenorth. Her apprehensions were, however, unnecessary; for the meeting was not fated to take place.

While Sir Geoffrey Peveril, having dismissed Whitaker and his sentinels, entered the gilded chamber, in which he expected to find his captive, the prisoner had escaped, and it was easy to see in what manner. The sliding panel had, in the hurry of the moment, escaped the memory of Lady Peveril, and of Whitaker, the only persons who knew any thing of it. It was probable that a chink had remained open, sufficient to indicate its existence to Bridgenorth;

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