217 "How then can you believe that they would be angry to see you happy ?" "I do not," said Amelia. "I feel that nothing could impart to them greater delight." "Then you do not expect to be happy with me?" "O Stanley! you know I feel sure that our happiness would be perfect." "Then how can you suppose that when they see that you are happy, their anger will last?" Amelia's head drooped, and she was silent. 'Come," continued Stanley, " come, look at this matter in a rational point of view. I believe, fully believe, their affection to be firm; but I cannot associate firmness with the love which one venial act of disobedience can for ever destroy. My sweet girl! confide in me!—All, all, will be well. Come, say, my love, say that you will at once be mine!" "O Stanley!" cried Amelia, who was able to resist no longer, "you are, indeed, my soul's guide. You will be kind to me, my love? Oh, yes -I feel, I know that you will be kind to me!" "This is a moment of happiness! Now do I feel that you love me indeed! My dear girl, words are insufficient to express the ardour of my affection: my life shall be devoted to prove it. Prepare, my sweet, at once. Let our happiness to-morrow be complete. Once over and all will be well. I may depend upon your firmness!" "Stanley! I will be firm!" They now returned from the arbour, and, after dinner, Stanley, having delivered into her hands a paper containing a few brief instructions, and extorted from her another declaration that her mind was made up, left with the view of making the arrangements which were essential to the performance of the highly important business of the morrow. The morrow came; and at ten o'clock Stanley was at breakfast at an inn at Richmond; and at eleven a lady closely veiled, enveloped in a bronze satin cloak and attended by a servant, inquired for Mr. Fitzgerald, and was immediately shown-according to instructions into the room which Stanley occupied. He received this lady with great formality, and directed the waiter, by whom she had been introduced, to send his servant up immediately; but the moment they were alone Stanley embraced her, exclaiming, "My noble girl! now have I proved your devotion." "My Stanley," said Amelia, who trembled with great violence and looked pale as death as she spoke "thus far-thus far, have I kept my word; but, on my knees, I implore you to urge me no farther." "Hush!" cried Stanley, raising her, as Bob, who knew his cue, knocked at the door. "Confide in me, my sweet wife !-Still, still confide in me! Come in," he added, and Bob most respectfully entered, hat in hand. With all the delicacy of which he was capable, and with innumerable cheering expressions, Stanley divested Amelia of her bonnet and cloak, which he placed with great tact upon Bob, who appeared to be inexpressibly delighted. He was, it is true, somewhat shorter than Amelia; but that was of no great importance, as it merely made his train a little longer, and while he felt that the style of the bonnet became him well, he held the muff in the most lady-like man ner possible. While Bob was uniting the little hooks and eyes from the top to the very bottom of the cloak, with the laudable view of concealing his boots effectually, Stanley was preparing Amelia's disguise— Bob's hat and his own roquelaure. "Now," said Stanley, "let us see, sir, how much like a lady you can walk." And Bob paced the room with all the dignity and grace at his command, although he occasionally turned to look at his train, and laughed with infinite enthusiasm, while Stanley was endeavouring to raise the spirits of Amelia, who had sunk into a chair in a state of exhaustion. "My dear, sweet girl!" said Stanley, "have confidence: have courage. Be assured that we shall both have cause to bless this happy day. Now," he continued, addressing Bob, "you know, sir, what you have to do, and take care that you do it well." "I will, sir. God bless you, miss," said Bob, "I wish you joy, and many happy returns ;" and having curtsied, and veiled himself closely, he walked with due elegance from the inn, promptly followed by the Captain's servant. Stanley had no sooner seen Bob safely off than he completed Amelia's disguise, rang for the bill, and ordered his cab to be brought to the door as soon as possible; and as the waiter saw Bob, as he believed, upon a chair with his hat on, he naturally inferred that he had been taken very suddenly ill, and hence proceeded at once to He had but to be obey orders. The horse was already harnessed. put to; and when the bill was brought the cab was at the door. Stanley, therefore, in an instant settled the amount, and, to the great admiration of the attendants, who regarded him as a kind and most considerate master, assisted poor Amelia with great care into the cab, stepped round, seized the reins, and drove off. BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY. MARCH, 1840. Contents. GUY FAWKES: A HISTORICAL ROMANCE, ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE Page Chapter XIV.-The Yorkshire House-Its Company-And an Adventure. Chapter XV-Colin makes an acquaintance, and is put in a way of being intro- duced to his sister, a "public singer." Chapter XVI-A peep at a Tavern Concert.-Colin falls in love, parts with his GUY FAWKES. AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE, BY W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, ESQ. ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. BOOK THE FIRST. CHAPTER V. CHAT MOSS. THE pursuivant was taken so completely unawares by the sudden appearance of Guy Fawkes and his companions, that he made no attempt at resistance. Nor were his attendants less confounded. Before they recovered from their surprise, Humphrey Chetham seized Viviana in his arms, and darting through the panel, called to the priest to follow him. Father Oldcorne was about to comply, when one of the soldiers, grasping the surcingle at his waist, dragged him forcibly backwards. The next moment, however, he was set free by Guy Fawkes, who, felling the man to the ground, and interposing himself between the priest and the other soldier, enabled the former to make good his retreat. This done, he planted himself in front of the panel, and with a petronel in each hand, menaced his opponents. "Fly for your lives!" he shouted in a loud voice to the others. "Not a moment is to be lost. I have taken greater odds, and in a worse cause, and have not been worsted. Heed me not, I say. I will defend the passage till you are beyond reach of danger. Fly!-fly!" "After them!" vociferated the pursuivant, stamping with rage vexation; "after them instantly! Hew down that bold traitor. Show him no quarter. His life is forfeit to the King. Slay him as you would a dog!" and But the men, who had no fire-arms, were so much intimidated by the fierce looks of Guy Fawkes, and the deadly weapons which he pointed at their heads, that they hesitated to obey their leader's injunctions. Do you hear what I say to you, cravens?" roared the pursuivant. Cut him down without mercy." "They dare not move a footstep," rejoined Guy Fawkes, in a de risive tone. "Recreants!" cried the pursuivant, foaming with rage, "is my prey to be snatched from me at the very moment I have secured it, through your cowardice? Obey me instantly, or, as Heaven shall judge me, I will denounce you to my Lord Derby and the Commissioners as aiders and abettors in Father Oldcorne's escape!—and you well know what your punishment will be if I do so. What!—are you afraid of one man ?" "Our pikes are no match for his petronels," observed the foremost soldier, sullenly. "They are not," rejoined Guy Fawkes; "and you will do well not to compel me to prove the truth of your assertion. As to you, Master Pursuivant," he continued, with a look so stern that the other quailed before it, "unwilling as I am to shed blood, I shall hold your |