But, reverting to our story; after the first cordial salutations had passed between Shakspeare and his friends, the latter very naturally inquired into what had occasioned such unexpected delay in the arrival of their guest, mentioning, at the same time, how greatly their apprehensions had been excited lest any unforeseen accident should have detained him so much beyond the hour he had thought it probable he should reach them; in replying to which Shakspeare gave a full detail of his having, by mistake, passed through the valley of and of his encounter there with Roland the freebooter.

At the mention of this name he was surprised to observe the agitation into which Montchensey appeared to be thrown; and he could not help adding, "I am afraid, my friend, that your property, nay, perhaps your lives, may be endangered by the neighbourhood of this lawless adventurer and his wild associates."

"I cannot say," returned Montchensey, as soon as he had sufficiently recovered to speak with composure, "that in these respects we have lately had reason to complain; on the contrary, since this fellow, Roland, as he terms

himself, became the leader of the gang, now better than a year ago, this place has remained perfectly unmolested; nay, indeed, the village itself may look up to him as their protector from every species of depredation. But there is a mystery and pretension about this young man that, connected as they are with some circumstances which have lately occurred, very justly excite my apprehensions; and his conduct towards you this day, noble and praiseworthy as it is, and indicative of a lofty and cultivated spirit, only adds to my astonishment and suspicions."

"And have you made no representations to government," enquired Shakspeare, "relative to the existence and enormities of these desperadoes?"

"I know not that they absolutely merit the title which you have given them," returned Montchensey, "especially since Roland has assumed the direction of their affairs; for though we still occasionally hear of a wealthy or obnoxious neighbour having been disburthened by them of his purse, and even of his horse as he journeyed, yet he has nearly, if not altogether, succeeded in limiting their spoliations to the

contents of our forests and deer-parks. Mine, however, from some cause or other which I am anxious to learn, have been lately exempt from all levy of this arbitrary kind; and as the villagers, whose poultry and cattle used formerly to be laid under heavy contribution, now experience a similar forbearance, Roland has, not undeservedly, become a mighty favourite amongst them; and, indeed, if we except the lordly proprietors of venison, with the whole country side; for, though his irregularities are neither small nor infrequent, there is, I understand, a courtesy and gallantry in his bearing and demeanour to the lower orders which reconciles them to all his faults. In short, under the influence of their present chief, these outlaws, once remembered with dread and detestation, and against whom for more than ten years we had all been accustomed to go armed, have now become little other than Robin Hood's men ; making free, it is true, with the out-door superfluities of the rich, but sparing at the same time, and even protecting, the poor. These circumstances, together with the conviction which repeated experience has brought home to us, that

all informations lodged against these marauders when even in their worst state, were carelessly received, and still more negligently acted upon, and consequently served but to render our situ ation still more hazardous, have induced us at present to remain, if not perfectly satisfied, at least altogether quiescent."

"And do you not know who this young adventurer is, or whence he comes ?" asked the bard.

"I must confess," replied Montchensey, "that after all our enquiries, and they have been prosecuted with no little eagerness and pertinacity, we are still, as to these essential particulars, altogether in the dark; for the suspicions to which I just now alluded have been very recently formed, and seem, at present, even to myself, too improbable to justify communication. Indeed he is so seldom seen in the immediate neighbourhood of Wyeburne Hall, which, fortunately for us, he appears sedulously to shun, that almost he may be said to be personally unknown to us."

"Upon my word, my good friend,” rejoined Shakspeare," much as I have felt interested for

this youth, in consequence of his late courteous demeanour towards myself, your account has given fresh wings to my curiosity. And what does my fair Helen," he added, turning towards her, as she sate attentively listening, but with downcast eyes, to the conversation, "what does she think of this very singular character? May I not surmise, that however justly she may condemn the way of life to which he has attached himself, there is a feeling of sympathy and sorrow in her breast for one so generous and so brave, though yet so erring?"

"And would you not, my dear Sir," said Helen, blushing deeply as she spoke, and then suddenly becoming pale, "would you not have me pity one who, if we may judge from his conduct, has perhaps been driven to this extremity by unhappy and, it is possible, uncontrollable circumstances?"

"Marry, would I, my sweet girl," replied the poet, smiling; "for though I am no apologist of deeds incompatible with the rights of property, yet have I been much struck with this same Roland; there is a buoyancy of mind, and strength of character about him which pleases me much,