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CHAP. VII.]

PEVERIL OF THE PEAK.

who, withdrawing it altogether, had found his way into the secret apartment with which it communicated, and from thence to the postern of the Castle by another secret passage, which had been formed in the thickness of the wall, as is not uncommon in ancient mansions; the lords of which were liable to so many mutations of fortune, that they usually contrived to secure some lurking-place and secret mode of retreat from their fortresses. That Bridgenorth had discovered and availed himself of this secret mode of retreat was evident; because the private doors communicating with the postern and the sliding panel in the gilded chamber, were both left open.

While Lady Peveril, therefore, made every arrangement which time permitted and circumstances required, for the Countess prosecuting her journey, her husband, whose spirits always rose with the prospect of action, issued his orders to Whitaker to get together a few stout fellows, with back and breast-pieces, and steel-caps. "There are the two lackeys, and Outram and Saunders, besides the other groom fellow, and Roger Raine, and his son; but bid Roger not to come drunk again;-thyself, young Dick of the Dale and his servant, and a file or two of the tenants,-we shall be enough for any force they can make. All these are fellows that will strike hard, and ask no Sir Geoffrey returned to the ladies with looks of question why-their hands are ever readier than their perplexity. While he deemed Bridgenorth within his tongues, and their mouths are more made for drinkWhitaker, apprized of the necessity of the case, reach, he was apprehensive of nothing he could do; ing than speaking." for he felt himself his superior in personal strength, "Not a word to him, as you live," said the Knight and in that species of courage which induces a man asked if he should not warn Sir Jasper Cranbourne. to rush, without hesitation, upon personal danger. "this may be an outlawry, as they call it, for what But when at a distance, he had been for many years accustomed to consider Bridgenorth's power and in- know; and therefore I will bring no lands or tenefluence as something formidable; and, notwithstand-ments into peril, saving mine own. Sir Jasper hath ing the late change of affairs, his ideas so naturally had a troublesome time of it for many a year. By reverted to his neighbour as a powerful friend or dan- my will, he shall sit quiet for the rest of's days." gerous enemy, that he felt more apprehension on the Countess's score, than he was willing to acknowledge even to himself. The Countess observed his downcast and anxious brow, and requested to know if her stay there was likely to involve him in any trouble, or in any danger.

"The trouble should be welcome," said Sir Geoffrey, "and more welcome the danger, which should come on such an account. My plan was, that your ladyship should have honoured Martindale with a few days' residence, which might have been kept private until the search after you was ended. Had I seen this fellow Bridgenorth, I have no doubt I could have compelled him to act discreetly; but he is now at liberty, and will keep out of my reach; and, what is worse, he has the secret of the priest's chamber." Here the Knight paused, and seemed much embarrassed.

CHAPTER VII.

Fang. A rescue! a rescue!

Mrs. Quickly. Good people, bring a rescue or two. Henry IV., Part I. THE followers of Peveril were so well accustomed to the sound of " Boot and Saddle," that they were soon mounted and in order; and in all the form, and with some of the dignity of danger, proceeded to escort the Countess of Derby through the hilly and desert tract of country which connects the frontier of the shire with the neighbouring county of Cheshire. The cavalcade moved with considerable precaution, which they had been taught by the discipline of the Civil Wars. One wary and well-mounted trooper rode about two hundred yards in advance; followed, at about half that distance, by two more, with their carabines advanced, as if ready for action. About one hundred yards behind the advance, came "Pardon, my honoured lady," answered the Knight, the main body; where the Countess of Derby, mountand let me say out my say. The plain truth is, that ed on Lady Peveril's ambling palfrey, (for her own this man hath many friends among the Presbyterians had been exhausted by the journey from London to here, who are more numerous than I would wish them; Martindale Castle,) accompanied by one groom, of and if he falls in with the pursuivant fellow who approved fidelity, and one waiting-maid, was attendcarries the warrant of the Privy Council, it is likely ed and guarded by the Knight of the Peak, and three he will back him with force sufficient to try to exe-files of good and practised horsemen. In the rear cute it. And I doubt whether any of our own friends can be summoned together in haste, sufficient to resist such a power as they are like to bring together." "Nor would I wish any friends to take arms, in my name, against the King's warrant, Sir Geoffrey," said the Countess.

"You can, then, neither conceal nor protect me?" said the Countess.

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came Whitaker, with Lance Outram, as men of especial trust, to whom the covering the retreat was confided. They rode, as the Spanish proverb expresses it," with the beard on the shoulder," looking around, that is, from time to time, and using every precaution to have the speediest knowledge of any pursuit which might take place.

an Nay, for that matter," replied the Knight, " But, however wise in discipline, Peveril and his his Majesty will grant warrants against his best friends, he must look to have them resisted. But the followers were somewhat remiss in civil policy. The best I can think of in this emergence is though the Knight had communicated to Whitaker, though withproposal be something inhospitable-that your lady-out any apparent necessity, the precise nature of their ship should take presently to horse, if your fatigue will permit. I will mount also, with some brisk fellows, who will lodge you safe at Vale-Royal, though the Sheriff stopped the way with a whole posse comitatus.'

The Countess of Derby willingly acquiesced in this proposal. She had enjoyed a night's sound repose in the private chamber, to which Ellesmere had guided her on the preceding evening, and was quite ready to resume her route, or flight-" she scarce knew," she said, "which of the two she should term it."

Lady Peveril wept at the necessity which seemed to hurry her earliest friend and protectress from under her roof, at the instant when the clouds of adversity were gathering around her; but she saw no alternative equally safe. Nay, however strong her attachment to Lady Derby, she could not but be more readily reconciled to her hasty departure, when she considered the inconvenience, and even danger, in which her presence, at such a time, and in such circumstances, was likely to involve a man so bold and hot-tempered as her husband Sir Geoffrey.

present expedition; and Whitaker was equally communicative to his comrade Lance, the keeper. "It "and I wish you, being is strange enough, Master Whitaker," said the latter, when he had heard the case,

a wise man, would expound it;-why, when we have been wishing for the King-and praying for the King-and fighting for the King-and dying for the King, for these twenty years, the first thing we find to do on his return, is to get into harness to resist his warrant!"

"Pooh! you silly fellow," said Whitaker, " that is all you know of the true bottom of our quarrel! Why, man, we fought for the King's person against his warrant, all along from the very beginning; for I remember the rogues' proclamations, and so forth, always ran in the name of the King and Parlia ment.'

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« Nay,

Ay! was it even so?" replied Lance. then, if they begin the old game so soon again, and send out warrants in the King's name against his is ready to take them down in their stocking-soles. loyal subjects, well fare our stout Knight, say I, who

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And if Bridgenorth takes the chase after us, I shall not be sorry to have a knock at him for one." "Why, the man, bating he is a pestilent Roundhead and Puritan," said Whitaker, "is no bad neighbour. What has he done to thee, man?"

"He has poached on the manor," answered the keeper.

"The devil he has !" replied Whitaker. "Thou must be jesting, Lance. Bridgenorth is neither hunter nor hawker; he hath not so much of honesty in him."

"Ay, but he runs after game you little think of, with his sour, melancholy face, that would scare babes and curdle milk," answered Lance.

"Thou canst not mean the wenches?" said Whitaker; "why, he hath been melancholy mad with moping for the death of his wife. Thou knowest our lady took the child, for fear he should strangle it for putting him in mind of its mother, in some of his tantrums. Under her favour, and among friends, there are many poor Cavaliers' children, that care would be better bestowed upon-But to thy tale."

"Why, thus it runs,' said Lance. "I think you may have noticed, Master Whitaker, that a certain Mistress Deborah hath manifested a certain favour for a certain person in a certain household." "For thyself, to wit," answered Whitaker; "Lance Outram, thou art the vainest coxcomb' "Coxcomb?" said Lance; why, 'twas but last night the whole family saw her, as one would say, fling herself at my head."

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"I would she had been a brick-bat, then, to have broken it, for thy impertinence and conceit," said the steward.

"Well, but do but hearken. The next morningthat is, this very blessed morning-I thought of going to lodge a buck in the park, judging a bit of venison might be wanted in the larder, after yesterday's wassail; and, as I passed under the nursery window, I did but just look up to see what madam governante was about; and so I saw her, through the casement, whip on her hood and scarf as soon as she had a glimpse of me. Immediately after I saw the still-room door open, and made sure she was coming through the garden, and so over the breach and down to the park; and so, thought I, ' Aha, Mistress Deb, if you are so ready to dance after my pipe and tabor, I will give you a couranto before you shall come up with me.' And so I went down Ivy-tod Dingle, where the copse is tangled, and the ground swampy, and round by Haxley-bottom, thinking all the while she was following, and laughing in my sleeve at the round I was giving her."

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You deserved to be ducked for it," said Whitaker, for a weather-headed puppy; but what is all this Jack-a-lantern story to Bridgenorth?"

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"Credit me, Lance, it is not as thou thinkest," said Whitaker. Bridgenorth cares not for these amorous toys, and thou thinkest of nothing else. But it is fitting our Knight should know that he has met with Deborah in secret, and given her gold; for never Puritan gave gold yet, but it was earnest for some devil's work done, or to be done."

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Nay, but," said Lance, "I would not be such a dog-bolt as to go and betray the girl to our master. She hath a right to follow her fancy, as the dame said who kissed her cow-only I do not much approve her choice, that is all. He cannot be six years short of fifty; and a verjuice countenance, under the penthouse of a slouched beaver, and bag of meagre dried bones, swaddled up in a black cloak, is no such temptation, methinks."

"I tell you once more," said Whitaker, "you are mistaken; and that there neither is, nor can be, any matter of love between them, but only some intrigue, concerning, perhaps, this same noble Countess of Derby. I tell thee, it behooves my master to know it, and I will presently tell it to him.",

So saying, and in spite of all the remonstrances which Lance continued to make on behalf of Mistress Deborah, the steward rode up to the main body of their little party, and mentioned to the Knight and the Countess of Derby what he had just heard from the keeper, adding at the same time his own suspicions, that Master Bridgenorth of MoultrassieHall was desirous to keep up some system of espial in the Castle of Martindale, either in order to secure his menaced vengeance on the Countess of Derby, as authoress of his brother-in-law's death, or for some unknown, but probably sinister purpose. The Knight of the Peak was filled with high resentment at Whitaker's communication. According to his prejudices, those of the opposite faction were supposed to make up by wit and intrigue what they wanted in open force; and he now hastily conceived that his neighbour, whose prudence he always respected, and sometimes even dreaded, was maintaining, for his private purposes, a clandestine correspondence with a member of his family. If this was for the betrayal of his noble guest, it argued at once treachery and presumption; or, viewing the whole as Lance had done, a criminal intrigue with a woman so near the person of Lady Peveril, was in itself, he deemed, a piece of sovereign impertinence and disrespect on the part of such a person as Bridgenorth, against whom Sir Geoffrey's anger was kindled accordingly.

Whitaker had scarce regained his post in the rear, when he again quitted it, and galloped to the main body with more speed than before, with the unpleasing tidings that they were pursued by half a score of horsemen, and better.

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"Why, it was all along of he, man," continued Lance, that is, of Bridgenorth, that she did not follow me-Gad, I first walked slow, and then stopped, "Ride on briskly to Hartley-nick," said the Knight, and then turned back a little, and then began to won- and there, with God to help, we will bide the knaves. der what she had made of herself, and to think I had-Countess of Derby-one word and a short oneborne myself something like a jackass in the matter." "That I deny," said Whitaker, "never jackass but would have borne him better-but go on.'

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Why, turning my face towards the Castle, I went back as if I had my nose bleeding, when just by the Copely thorn, which stands, you know, a flight shot from the postern-gate, I saw Madam Deb in close conference with the enemy."

"What enemy?" said the Steward. "What enemy! why, who but Bridgenorth? They kept out of sight, and among the copse; but, thought I, it is hard if I cannot stalk you, that have stalked so many bucks. If so, I had better give my shafts to be pudding-pins. So I cast round the thicket, to watch their waters; and, may I never bend crossbow again, if I did not see him give her gold, and squeeze her by the hand!"

And was that all you saw pass between them?" said the steward.

"Faith, and it was enough to dismount me from my hobby," said Lance. "What! when I thought I had the prettiest girl in the Castle dancing after my whistle, to find that she gave me the bag to hold,

Farewell!-you must ride forward with Whitaker and another careful fellow, and let me alone to see that no one treads on your skirts."

"I will abide with you and stand them," said the Countess; "you know of old, I fear not to look on man's work.'

"You must ride on, madam," said the Knight, "for the sake of the young Earl, and the rest of my noble friend's family. There is no manly work which can be worth your looking upon; it is but child's play that these fellows bring with them."

As she yielded a reluctant consent to continue her flight, they reached the bottom of Hartley-nick, a pass very steep and craggy, and where the road, or rather path, which had hitherto passed over more open ground, became pent up and confined, betwixt copsewood on the one side, and, on the other, the precipitous bank of a mountain-stream.

The Countess of Derby, after an affectionate adieu to Sir Geoffrey, and having requested him to convey her kind commendations to her little page-elect and his mother, proceeded up the pass at a round pace, and, with her attendants and escort, was soon out of

sight. Immediately after she had disappeared, the pursuers came up with Sir Geoffrey Peveril, who had divided and drawn up his party so as completely to occupy the road at three different points.

The opposite party was led, as Sir Geoffrey had expected, by Major Bridgenorth. At his side was a person in black, with a silver greyhound on his arm; and he was followed by about eight or ten inhabitants of the village of Martindale-Moultrassie, two or three of whom were officers of the peace, and others were personally known to Sir Geoffrey as favourers of the subverted government.

As the party rode briskly up, Sir Geoffrey called to them to halt; and as they continued advancing, he ordered his own people to present their pistols and carabines; and after assuming that menacing attitude, he repeated, with a voice of thunder, "Halt, or we fire!"

The other party halted accordingly, and Major Bridgenorth advanced, as if to parley,

"Why, how now, neighbour," said Sir Geoffrey, as if he had at that moment recognised him for the first time,-"what makes you ride so sharp this morning? Are you not afraid to harm your horse, or spoil your spurs ?"

of Bridgenorth advanced to rescue their leader, and that of the Knight to oppose them. Swords were unsheathed, and pistols presented; but Sir Geoffrey, with the voice of a herald, commanded both parties to stand back, and to keep the peace.

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The pursuivant took the hint, and easily found a reason for not prosecuting a dangerous duty. "The warrant," he said, was destroyed. They that did it must be answerable to the Council; for his part, he could proceed no farther without his commission."

"Well said, and like a peaceable fellow!" said Sir Geoffrey.-"Let him have refreshment at the Castle-his nag is sorely out of condition.-Come, neigh bour Bridgenorth, get up, man-I trust you have had no hurt in this mad affray? I was loath to lay hand on you, man, till you plucked out your petronel."

As he spoke thus, he aided the Major to rise. The pursuivant, meanwhile, drew aside; and with him the constable and headborough, who were not without some tacit suspicion, that though Peveril was interrupting the direct course of law in this matter, yet he was likely to have his offence considered by favourable judges; and therefore it might be as much for their interest and safety to give way as to oppose him. But the rest of the party, friends of Bridgenorth, and of his principles, kept their Are you sure it is not upon Old Noll's, neighbour? ground notwithstanding this defection, and seemed, You used to hold his the better errand," said the from their looks, sternly determined to rule their conKnight, with a smile which gave occasion to a horse-duct by that of their leader, whatever it might be. laugh among his followers.

"Sir Geoffrey," said the Major, "I have no time for jesting-I am on the King's affairs."

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"Show him your warrant," said Bridgenorth to the man in black formerly mentioned, who was a pursuivant. Then taking the warrant from the officer, he gave it to Sir Geoffrey-" To this, at least, you will pay regard."

"The same regard which you would have paid to it a month back or so," said the Knight, tearing the warrant to shreds." What a plague do you stare at? Do you think you have a monopoly of rebellion, and that we have not a right to show a trick of disobedience in our turn?"

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But it was evident that Bridgenorth did not intend to renew the struggle. He shook himself rather roughly free from the hands of Sir Geoffrey Peveril; but it was not to draw his sword. On the contrary, he mounted his horse with a sullen and dejected air; and, making a sign to his followers, turned back the same road which he had come. Sir Geoffrey looked after him for some minutes. "Now there goes a man," said he, "who would have been a right honest fellow had he not been a Presbyterian. But there is no heartiness about them-they can never forgive a fair fall upon the sod-they bear malice, and that I hate as I do a black cloak, or a Geneva skull-cap, and a pair of long ears rising on each side on't, like two chimneys at the gable ends of a thatched cottage. They are as sly as the devil to boot; and, therefore, Lance Outram, take two with you, and keep after them, that they may not turn our flank, and get on the track of the Countess again, after all."

Make way, Sir Geoffrey Peveril," said Bridgenorth, or you will compel me to do that I may be sorry for. I am in this matter the avenger of the blood of one of the Lord's saints, and I will follow the chase while Heaven grants me an arm to make my way.' "You shall make no way here, but at your peril," said Sir Geoffrey; "this is my ground-I have been harassed enough for these twenty years by saints, as "I had as soon they should course my lady's white you call yourselves. I tell you, master, you shall nei- tame doe," answered Lance, in the spirit of his callther violate the security of my house, nor pursue my ing. He proceeded to execute his master's orders friends over the grounds, nor tamper, as you have by dogging Major Bridgenorth at a distance, and obdone, amongst my servants, with impunity. I have serving his course from such heights as commanded had you in respect for certain kind doings, which I the country. But it was soon evident that no mawill not either forget or deny, and you will find it nouvre was intended, and that the Major was taking difficult to make me draw a sword or bend a pistol the direct road homeward. When this was asceragainst you; but offer any hostile movement, or pre-tained, Sir Geoffrey dismissed most of his followers; sume to advance a foot, and I will make sure of you and, retaining only his own domestics, rode hastily presently. And for these rascals, who come hither forward to overtake the Countess. to annoy a noble lady on my bounds, unless you draw them off, I will presently send some of them to the devil before their time."

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Make room, at your proper peril," said Major Bridgenorth; and he put his right hand on his holster-pistol. Sir Geoffrey closed with him instantly, seized him by the collar, and spurred Black Hastings, checking him at the same time, so that the horse made a courbette, and brought the full weight of his chest against the counter of the other. A ready soldier might, in Bridgenorth's situation, have rid himself of his adversary with a bullet. But Bridgenorth's courage, notwithstanding his having served some time with the Parliament army, was rather of a civil than a military character; and he was inferior to his adversary, not only in strength and horsemanship, but also and especially in the daring and decisive resolution which made Sir Geoffrey thrust himself readily into personal contest. While, therefore, they tugged and grappled together upon terms which bore such little accordance with their long acquaintance and close neighbourhood, it was no wonder that Bridgenorth should be unhorsed with much violence. While Sir Geoffrey sprung from the saddle, the party

It is only necessary to say farther, that he completed his purpose of escorting the Countess of Derby to Vale-Royal, without meeting any farther hinderance by the way. The lord of the mansion readily undertook to conduct the high-minded lady to Liverpool, and the task of seeing her safely embarked for her son's hereditary dominions, where there was no doubt of her remaining in personal safety until the accusation against her for breach of the Royal Indemnity, by the execution of Christian, could be brought to some compromise.

For a length of time this was no easy matter. Clarendon, then at the head of Charles's administration, considered her rash action, though dictated by motives which the human breast must, in some respects, sympathise with, as calculated to shake the restored tranquillity of England, by exciting the doubts and jealousies of those who had to apprehend the consequences of what is called, in our own days, a re-action. At the same time, the high services of this distinguished family-the merits of the Countess herself-the memory of her gallant husband-and the very peculiar circumstances of jurisdiction, which took the case out of all common rules, pleaded strong

ly in her favour: and the death of Christian was at length only punished by the imposition of a heavy fine, amounting, we believe, to many thousand pounds; which was levied, with great difficulty, out of the shattered estates of the young Earl of Derby.

CHAPTER VIII.

My native land, good night!-BYRON. LADY PEVERIL remained in no small anxiety for several hours after her husband and the Countess had departed from Martindale Castle; more especially when she learned that Major Bridgenorth, concerning whose motions she made private inquiry, had taken horse with a party, and was gone to the westward in the same direction with Sir Geoffrey. At length her immediate uneasiness in regard to the safety of her husband and the Countess was removed, by the arrival of Whitaker, with her husband's commendations, and an account of the scuffle betwixt himself and Major Bridgenorth.

Lady Peveril shuddered to see how nearly they had approached to renewal of the scenes of civil discord; and, while she was thankful to Heaven for her husband's immediate preservation, she could not help feeling both regret and apprehension for the consequences of his quarrel with Major Bridgenorth. They had now lost an old friend, who had showed himself such under those circumstances of adversity by which friendship is most severely tried; and she could not disguise from herself, that Bridgenorth, thus irritated, might be a troublesome, if not a dangerous enemy. His rights as a creditor, he had hitherto used with gentleness; but if he should employ rigour, Lady Peveril, whose attention to domestic economy had made her much better acquainted with her husband's affairs than he was himself, foresaw considerable inconvenience from the measures which the law put in his power. She comforted herself with the recollection, however, that she had still a strong hold on Bridgenorth, through his paternal affection, and from the fixed opinion which he had hitherto manifested, that his daughter's health could only flourish while under her charge. But any expectations of reconciliation which Lady Peveril might probably have founded on this circumstance, were frustrated by an incident which took place in the course of the following morning.

"You bid me use my own eyes, Ellesmere; but I suspect," answered the lady, "you would be better pleased were I contented to see through your spectacles. I charge you-and you know I will be obeyedI charge you to tell me what you know or suspect about this girl, Deborah Debbitch."

"I see through spectacles!" exclaimed the indignant Abigail; "your ladyship will pardon me in that, for I never use them, unless a pair that belonged to my poor mother, which I put on when your ladyship wants your pinners curiously wrought. No woman above sixteen ever did white-seam without barnacles. And then as to suspecting, I suspect nothing; for as your ladyship hath taken Mistress Deborah Debbitch from under my hand, to be sure it is neither bread nor butter of mine. Only," (here she began to speak with her lips shut, so as scarce to permit a sound to issue, and mincing her words as if she pinched off the ends of them before she suffered them to escape,)-" only, madam, if Mistress Deborah goes so often of a morning to Moultrassie Holt, why, I should not be surprised if she should never find the way back again." Once more, what do you mean, Ellesmere? You were wont to have some sense-let me know distinctly what the matter is."

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'Only, madam," pursued the Abigail," that since Bridgenorth came back from Chesterfield, and saw you at the Castle Hall, Mistress Deborah has been pleased to carry the children every morning to that place; and it has so happened that she has often met the Major, as they call him, there in his walks; for he can walk about now like other folks; and I warrant you she hath not been the worse of the meeting-one way at least, for she hath bought a new hood might serve yourself, madam; but whether she hath had any thing in hand besides a piece of money, no doubt your ladyship is best judge."

Lady Peveril, who readily adopted the more goodnatured construction of the governante's motives, could not help laughing at the idea of a man of Bridgenorth's precise appearance, strict principles, and reserved habits, being suspected of a design of gallantry; and readily concluded, that Mistress Deborah had found her advantage in gratifying his parental affection by a frequent sight of his daughter during the few days which intervened betwixt his first seeing little Alice at the Castle, and the events which had followed. But she was somewhat surprised, when, an hour after the usual breakfast hour, during which neither the child nor Mistress Deborah appeared, Major Bridgenorth's only man-servant arrived at the Castle on horseback, dressed as for a journey; and having delivered a letter addressed to herself, and another to Mistress Ellesmere, rode away without waiting any answer.

The governante, Mistress Deborah, who has been already mentioned, went forth, as usual, with the children, to take their morning exercise in the Park, accompanied by Rachel, a girl who acted occasionally as her assistant in attending upon them. But not as usual did she return. It was near the hour of breakfast, when Ellesmere, with an unwonted degree There would have been nothing remarkable in this of primness in her mouth and manner, came to ac- had any other person been concerned; but Major quaint her lady that Mistress Deborah had not thought Bridgenorth was so very quiet and orderly in all his proper to come back from the Park, though the break-proceedings-so little liable to act hastily or by imfast hour approached so near. pulse, that the least appearance of bustle where he was concerned, excited surprise and curiosity.

"She will come, then, presently," said Lady Peveril, with indifference.

Ellesmere gave a short and doubtful cough, and then proceeded to say, that Rachel had been sent home with little Master Julian, and that Mistress Deborah had been pleased to say, she would walk on with Miss Bridgenorth as far as Moultrassie Holt; which was a point at which the property of the Major, as matters now stood, bounded that of Sir Geoffrey Peveril.

Is the wench turned silly," exclaimed the lady, something angrily, "that she does not obey my orders, and return at regular hours?"

"She may be turning silly," said Ellesmere, mysteriously; or she may be turning too sly; and I think it were as well your ladyship looked to it."

"Looked to what, Ellesmere?" said the lady, impatiently. "You are strangely oracular this morning. If you know any thing to the prejudice of this young woman, I pray you speak it out.'

"I prejudice!" said Ellesmere; "I scorn to prejudice man, woman, or child, in the way of a fellowservant; only I wish your ladyship to look about you, and use your own eyes-that is all."

Lady Peveril broke her letter hastily open, and found that it contained the following lines:

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For the Hands of the Honourable and Honoured Lady Peveril-These:

'MADAM-Please it your Ladyship,

"I write more to excuse myself to your ladyship, than to accuse either you or others, in respect that I am sensible it becomes our frail nature better to confess our own imperfections, than to complain of those of others. Neither do I mean to speak of past times, particularly in respect of your worthy ladyship, being sensible that if I have served you in that period when our Israel might be called triumphant, you have more than requited me, in giving to my arms a child, redeemed, as it were, from the vale of the shadow of death. And therefore, as I heartily forgive to your ladyship the unkind and violent measure which you dealt to me at our last meeting, (seeing that the woman who was the cause of strife is accounted one of your kindred people,) I do entreat you, in like manner, to pardon my enticing away from your service the young woman called Deborah Debbitch, whose

"Do it with all civility," said the lady, "and let Whitaker send her the wages for which she has served, and a broad-piece over and above; for, though a light-headed young woman, she was kind to the children."

"I know who is kind to their servants, madam, and would spoil the best ever pinned a gown."

nurture, instructed as she hath been under your lady- ["the fanatic fool intends to marry the wench? They ship's direction, is, it may be, indispensable to the say he goes to shift the country. Truly it's time, inhealth of my dearest child. I had purposed, madam, deed; for, besides that the whole neighbourhood with your gracious permission, that Alice should would laugh him to scorn, I should not be surprised have remained at Martindale Castle under your kind if Lance Outram, the keeper, gave him a buck's head charge, until she could so far discern betwixt good to bear; for that is all in the way of his office." and evil, that it should be matter of conscience to "There is no great occasion for your spite at preteach her the way in which she should go. For it is sent, Ellesmere," replied her lady." "My letter says not unknown to your ladyship, and in no way do I nothing of marriage; but it would appear that Masspeak it reproachfully, but rather sorrowfully, that a ter Bridgenorth, being to leave this country, has enperson so excellently gifted as yourself-I mean touch-gaged Deborah to take care of his child; and I am ing natural qualities-has not yet received that true sure I am heartily glad of it, for the infant's sake." light, which is a lamp to the paths, but are contented And I am glad of it for my own," said Ellesmere; to stumble in darkness, and among the graves of " and, indeed, for the sake of the whole house.-And dead men. It has been my prayer in the watches of your ladyship thinks she is not like to be married to the night, that your ladyship should cease from the him? Troth, I could never see how he should be doctrine which causeth to err; but I grieve to say, such an idiot; but perhaps she is going to do worse, that our candlestick being about to be removed, the for she speaks here of coming to high preferment, land will most likely be involved in deeper darkness and that scarce comes by honest service now-a-days; than ever; and the return of the King, to which I then she writes me about sending her things, as if I and many looked forward as a manifestation of di- were mistress of the wardrobe to her ladyship-ay, vine favour, seems to prove little else than a permit- and recommends Master Julian to the care of my age ted triumph of the Prince of the Air, who setteth and experience, forsooth, as if she needed to recomabout to to restore his Vanity-fair of bishops, deans, mend the dear little jewel to me; and then, to speak and such like, extruding the peaceful ministers of the of my age-But I will bundle away her rags to the word, whose labours have proved faithful to many Hall, with a witness!" hungry souls. So, hearing from a sure hand, that commission has gone forth to restore these dumb dogs, the followers of Laud and of Williams, who were cast forth by the late Parliament, and that an Act of Conformity, or rather of deformity, of worship, was to be expected, it is my purpose to fly from the wrath to come, and to seek some corner where I may dwell in peace, and enjoy liberty of conscience. For who would abide in the Sanctuary, after the carved work thereof is broken down, and when it hath been made a place for owls, and satyrs of the wilderness? And herein I blame myself, madam, that I went in the singleness of my heart too readily into that carousing in the house of feasting, wherein my love of union, and my desire to show respect to your ladyship, were made a snare to me. But I trust it will be an atonement, that I am now about to absent myself from the place of my birth, and the house of my fathers, as well as from the place which holdeth the dust of those pledges of my affection. I have also to remember, that in this land my honour (after the worldly estimation) hath been abated, and my utility circumscribed, by your husband, Sir Geoffrey Peveril; and that without any chance of my obtaining reparation at his hand, whereby I may say the hand of a kinsman was lifted up against my credit and my life. These things are bitter to the taste of the old Adam; wherefore, to prevent farther bickerings, and, it may be, bloodshed, it is better that I leave this land for a time. The affairs which remain to be settled between Sir Geoffrey and myself, I shall place in the hand of the righteous Master Joachim Win-the-Fight, an attorney in Chester, who will arrange them with such attention to Sir Geoffrey's convenience, as justice and the due exercise of the law, will permit; for, as I trust I shall have grace to resist the temptation to make the weapons of carnal warfare the instruments of my revenge, so I scorn to effect it through the means of Mammon. Wishing, madam, that the Lord may grant you every blessing, and, in especial, that which is over all others, namely, the true knowledge of His way,

"I remain, your devoted servant to command, "RALPH BRIdgenorth.

Written at Moultrassie-Hall, this tenth day of July, 1660.'

So soon as Lady Peveril had perused this long and singular homily, in which it seemed to her that her neighbour showed more spirit of religious fanaticism than she could have supposed him possessed of, she boked up and beheld Ellesmere,-with a countenance in which mortification, and an affected air of contempt, seemed to struggle together, who, tired with watching the expression of her mistress's countenance, applied for confirmation of her suspicions in plain terms.

"I suppose, madam," said the waiting-woman, VOL. IV.-W

"I spoiled a good one, Ellesmere, when I spoiled thee," said the lady; "but tell Mrs. Deborah to kiss the little Alice for me, and to offer my good wishes to Major Bridgenorth, for his temporal and future happiness."

She permitted no observation or reply, but dismissed her attendant, without entering into farther particulars.

When Ellesmere had withdrawn, Lady Peveril began to reflect, with much feeling of compassion, on the letter of Major Bridgenorth; a person in whom there were certainly many excellent qualities, but whom a series of domestic misfortunes, and the increasing gloom of a sincere, yet stern feeling of devotion, rendered lonely and unhappy; and she had more than one anxious thought for the happiness of the little Alice, brought up, as she was likely to be, under such a father. Still the removal of Bridgenorth was, on the whole, a desirable event; for while he remained at the Hall, it was but too likely that some accidental collision with Sir Geoffrey might give rise to a rencontre betwixt them, more fatal than the last had been.

In the meanwhile, she could not help expressing to Doctor Dummerar her surprise and sorrow, that all which she had done and attempted, to establish peace and unanimity betwixt the contending factions, had been perversely fated to turn out the very reverse of what she had aimed at.

"But for my unhappy invitation," she said, "Bridgenorth would not have been at the Castle on the morning which succeeded the feast, would not have seen the Countess, and would not have incurred the resentment and opposition of my husband. And but for the King's return, an event which was so anxiously expected as the termination of all our calamities, neither the noble lady nor ourselves had been engaged in this new path of difficulty and danger."

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Honoured madam," said Doctor Dummerar, were the affairs of this world to be guided implicitly by human wisdom, or were they uniformly to fall out according to the conjectures of human foresight, events would no longer be under the domination of that time and chance, which happen unto all men, since we should, in the one case, work out our own purposes to a certainty, by our own skill, and, in the other, regulate our conduct according to the views of unerring prescience. But man is, while in this vale of tears, like an uninstructed bowler, so to speak, who thinks to attain the jack, by delivering his bowl straight forward upon it, being ignorant that there is a concealed bias within the spheroid, which will make

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