صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

skirted by knots and beds of flowers, which formed a kind of Mosaic floor, rose in appearance a plantation, corresponding with that which they had just left, but which proved, on passing into it, a perfect wilderness, or labyrinth. Here the fool, who went on before, playing all manner of antics, began to raise his voice to a somewhat louder pitch, singing as was his wont, snatches and burdens of old songs, till, at length, turning quickly round, he came up to the side of Helen, murmuring, as he approached her, and with a most significant smile on his countenance,

I could tell thee close in thine eare
A tale that thou would'st like to heare,
I dare well say,

As ladye gay

E'er loved to hear of her runnaway ;

words which had scarcely passed his lips, when there suddenly glanced across one of the numerous paths which intersected the thicket, the figure of a young man, dressed in a frock of Lincoln green, and with a hunting pole in his hand. It was, however, but a momentary

vision; for just as Helen, almost fainting with
surprise, had involuntarily exclaimed, "Good
heavens! it is Hubert Gray !" the fool, with a
vociferation which drowned every other accent,
called out,
"Gadzooks! another sail! another
sail!" and then, running up one of the alleys,
and shouting "Nuncle, nuncle,” as loud as he
could, Montchensey was presently seen ap-
proaching, with Morley skipping before him,
pointing to Helen, and carolling with all his
might

Now reed me aright, and do not miss,
What bonny sweet dame is this, I wis?

It was evident, however, that something had disturbed the temper of Montchensey, who was not easily provoked; for he appeared threatening the fool with his stick, and was heard, as he drew near, speaking to him in an angry tone, and exclaiming, "Who was that, you rogue, whom I saw just now thriding yonder maze in green? and where hast thou been all this time? Didst thou not promise me to be back in ten minutes? and here hast thou been gone better than an hour."

Morley, who had by this time gotten to the side of his young mistress, put on a very melancholy and somewhat alarmed look at the charge; but this was speedily followed by a change of feature so vacant, and at the same time so laughably quaint, as almost to disarm resentment, whilst he stammered forth

Perdie, I said it not,

Nor never thought to doo :
As well as I ye wot

I had no power thereto.

"I tell thee what, fool," said Montchensey, whose returning good humour was somewhat checked by this attempt at denial, however ludicrously made, "I must positively have this evil spirit of lying whipped out of thee. Go, get thee gone, ere thy shoulders and my cane become better acquainted;" an injunction which was instantly complied with by Morley, who, glad to have escaped so well, ran capering off in great glee, and singing, in his thoughtless mood,

Many a faire lasse, borne up and downe,
Many a broker in a threid bare gowne,
Many a bankrowte scarce worth a crowne
In London.

"This knave," continued Montchensey, turning to Shakspeare," is ever in a mischief; and were it not that he was brought up by my father, and I remember him with the kindness of early association, I should be almost tempted to get rid of him; for I do think this custom of keeping domestic fools would, to adopt a phraseology of your own, my friend, be more honoured in the breach than in the observance."

"I am afraid," returned the bard, addressing Montchensey with a smile of the utmost benevolence," that I have been indirectly the cause of poor Morley's disgrace; but, tempted by the beauty of the morning, and the romantic appearance of your village, and, above all, by accidentally meeting with my fair hostess here, I had forgotten, I must confess, all note of time."

"And will you blame me, my dear father,"

said Helen, as a blush of the most ingenuous simplicity just tinted her cheeks, "when I add, that I have visited with our friend the cottage of Simon Fraser ?"

"I cannot, my Helen," said Montchensey, extending his hand to her in the kindest manner; nor do I wonder at your regard for that singular but amiable old man.

66

Indeed, I take blame to myself for my late inattention towards him. But saw ye no one else there," he continued, assuming a solemn and somewhat reproachful manner, "in whose interest you could take a part?”

"No one, save Dorothy, my father; but I will freely own to you," she added, again slightly colouring, "for why should I conceal it, that I made some enquiries after poor Hubert Gray ?"

"If I am not much mistaken," he replied, "though I confess I am somewhat startled by the occurrence, I saw him but now in yonder part of the thicket," pointing to the spot in which he had been seen by Helen; " and I suspect that that rogue Morley, with whom he ever a great favourite, has, instead of

was ever

« السابقةمتابعة »