He started haftily from his feat, walked a turn" or two up and down the room, and then in a fullen tone faid, "Perhaps you expect to fee your favourite triumph in his infolence; you'll be miftaken: Please to leave the room."" Willingly," the replied," and from this moment I regard it as my difmiffion." Her firmnefs staggered him; he would have called her back, but pride withheld him: Sufpicious that his lady in her present temper might in defiance of his orders attempt an interview with the youth in waiting, he rung the bell with vehemence, and called for his attendance on the inftant.

Henry made his entrance, bowing refpectfully to the Peer, who feated with all due ftate, from which he did not in the flighteft degree relax, eyed him over from heel to head with that haughty air of contempt, which is now fo rarely feen, except in our tyrants on the ftage.

A ftring of interrogatories, fomewhat in the inquifitorial ftile, were the firft falutations Henry received from the noble perfonage; his anfwers to thefe, though not always fatisfactory to the point of information, were refpectfully and modeftly conveyed." I find," refumed his Lordfhip, "you are here without occupation or employ, idling about my parifh, conforting with a young woman, the daughter of one of the cottagers, caballing with the rabble of the village, and ftir ring them up to very infamous attacks upon a refpectable magiftrate, my friend and neighbour; and therefore I would have you know, that I fhall confider you as a perfon of a very fufpicious character, and pafs you off as a vagrant, unless you inftantly decamp."

"My lord," replied the youth, "if I offend" again the laws of my country, by being poor and

without

without employ, I must patiently submit to all the confequences I may incur by your enforcing them against me; but if I have committed no offence, have behaved myself peaceably, and in one inftance, fuffer me to fay, profitably to an individual of your lordship's parifh, I am at a lofs to think how I can be represented to you as a dangerous ande fufpected character: nevertheless, if my abiding any longer on your lordship's foil may give you offence, I fhall not oppofe myself to your displea fure, but depart."

"Do fo then without delay," faid the. Peer, "and begone; but firft tell me what charities you have received from my wife, for what fervices, and to what amount."-" My lord,, I have done no fervices to Lady Crowbery, nor am at liberty to anfwer to the other points, on which you question me."

"

"What, Sir! do you receive money from my wife, and refuse to fatisfy me, when I demand how much?"

"I am very forry to be obliged to decline any thing your lordship wishes to be informed of from me, but in this inftance I muft, defire, to be ex cufed "

"You have been cautioned, I perceive; but do, you affect honour ?"

"That requires no answer, my lord,”

"Why, in truth the question is rather fuper fluous.

"I treat it as fuch, for honour is as inherent in my perfon as it is hereditary in your lordship's: I, do not therefore take your lordship's words as conveying any doubt of my preferving that part at leaft. of my natural character, which misfortune cannot rob me of, and which, permit me to add, does not fuffer me to put up with a determined infult from any man.”

"Upon

"Upon my word, Sir!" replied Lord Crowbery, fomewhat relaxing from the ftatelinefs of his manner, and the acrimony of his tone, "you talk a high language confidering what you are; and I believe it was fomewhat in this file that you deported yourself with Mr. Blachford."" Pardon nie, my lord, it was in a very different manner I found myself compelled to addrefs Mr. Blachford: he had defamed the character of a young woman, whom he took the basest means to feduce, and as he had falfely charged me with the very crime he himself had attempted to commit, I fimply told him, that his attack on Sufan May was infamous, and his report of me an impudent and abominable lie. That gentleman, I dare fay, very diftinctly heard the words; if not, I am very ready to repeat them."

"Not in my hearing; I defire no fuch famili arity; nor do I wish to be made a party in Mr. Blachford's quarrels."

"Your lordfhip will be pleafed to recollect that you stated my behaviour to that gentleman as matter of charge: in my own vindication therefore I was led to tell you of what fort his behaviour was to me; and in accounting for my words found it neceffary to explain the caufes that provoked them. I truft your lordship thinks I have not failed in my refpect to you by anfwering in my own defence."

"You have no right over my thoughts; them I fhall keep to myfelf: there are deeper thoughts in my mind than I fhall fee fit at prefent to produce."

"Then, my lord, I am to prefume you never will produce them, againft me at leaft; for I am here prefent on your own fummons, ftanding be fore you like a culprit at the bar, to hear and to

anfwer

anfwer every thing you can urge against me; I therefore humbly beg leave to know from yourfelf whether I am clear of all you have to charge me with."I have nothing more to say to you, Sir," replied my Lord; "you may retire when you pleafe.""I understand you, my lord," cried Henry; you have reftored to me my character, and I will take care fo to guard it that no man fhall traduce it with impunity."

CHAPTER XI.

A Blow well placed in the Dark, or, in other Words, according to the Greek Proverb, Blachford fhears Lion.

S Henry paffed through the hall, after his conference related in the foregoing chapter, he was met by Lady Crowbery, who haftily put a pacquet into his hand, conjuring him to take care of it, and keep fecret the contents." In that paper," the faid, "you will fee the mystery. of your birth revealed: Betake yourfelf to my uncle Manftock without delay, and Heaven in its mercy protect and guard you!"

Henry, almoft overpowered with joyful furprize, at hearing what that paper was to difclofe, took it with all the rapture and devotion, which its interefting contents excited, and carefully fecured it in his pocket. He had yet fufficient recollection left to feize the opportunity for returning the ring to Lady Crowbery wrapped up in paper and tied; at the fame time he briefly recited what had been faid to him by the man who found it: Lady Crowbery

feemed

feemed a good deal furprized, and denied having miffed any one of her rings, however as the time was preffing, and the danger of being discovered inftant, fhe took it from him, and again bidding him tenderly farewell, haftened away.

There were two roads to the village; the shortest by a foot-path through the plantation, which was clofe and now dark, the other was the common coach-road through the park, open and fecure from ambuscade. As Henry came out from the hall-door, he found old Weevil the miller waiting in the court-yard: he had been to the houfe with flour, and had been chatting as ufual with the fervants; he understood from them, that Henry was under examination with my lord, and having noticed O'Rourke prowling about the plantations with his bludgeon in his hand, entertained fome fufpicions of a plot upon Henry, and was determined to accompany him home, and perfuaded him to take the open road through the park.

This was a talk of fome difficulty on the part of the friendly miller, for Henry's eagerness to open the important pacquet made him very ad verfe to any propofal that prolonged the time; the point, however, was carried, and he, accompanied by Weevil, arrived fafe at the widow's, whilft Larry O'Rourke laid clofe in his ambush at the bottom of the grove, where was a little foot-bridge that led over a narrow ftream, thickly fhaded with alders.

When a much longer period of time had elapfed than would have ferved to carry Henry through the grove, Blachford, who calculated minutes, with fome anxiety, fet out from the Vifcount's upon the scout, and took his way fecretly and folitarily down the plantation-walk: as he approached the fpot where the attack was to be made, he stopt