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man, in which you have brought my honour into question, and for which you ought to blush, knowing your own infamous attempts upon her perfon; but as your turpitude is fuch, that to speak of it in this presence would be a breach of decency, I defire you will step out with me, and I will breathe one word in your ear; which, if you have the spirit of a man, you will know how to reply to."

This faid, Henry stept nimbly out of the door, and Blachford, attended by his lawyer, fullenly followed." In the name of the Lord," cried Ezekiel, grafping his crab-stick, " I will alfo go forth."-At this moment Ifabellan gave a figh, and fell back in her chair.

CHAPTER VIII.

How deep and fecret are the Seeds of Love! AS foon as Blachford was on the outside of

the door, Henry, who had stopt for him, accofted him, and faid, "I now repeat to you, that your attempt upon Sufah May was infa mous; and that when you told Lord Crowbery that innocent girl had been criminal with me, you told a moft impudent and abominable

lie."-

lie."" Very well, Sir," replied Blachford, * I fhall not talk with you now: you shall hear from me in another way."-The cowardly bully flunk away, and Henry returned to the cottage, but not till Ezekiel, brandishing his crab-stick, had marched up to him, and declared, with an obfervation little fhort of an oath, that if he had turned out with the Juftice, he himself would have undertaken for the attorney, and-"Grace of God," added he, "I truft I fhould have fmitten him to the earth, even thereafter as the prophet Samuel fmote Agag."

When Henry entered the cottage, he found the women anxiously employed in bringing Ifabella out of a fwoon.-"Heaven defend me," he exclaimed, "what is the matter?" Dame May had dropt fome hartshorn into water; Henry, fcarce knowing what he did, feized the cup, and prefented it to the lips of the drooping beauty; at that moment fhe opened her eyes" And are you fafe?" fhe faid, then took the contents of the cup, and presently revived.

In a few minutes Ifabella was perfectly recovered, and then Sir Roger Manstock began to express himself in the kindeft terms to

Henry :

Henry: he required to know what had paffed between him and Blachford; exhorted him very earnestly not to enter into any quarrel with a man of fo malicious a character, and very cordially invited him to take refuge in Manftock-houfe" For I am perfuaded," faid he," that both Blachford, and, I am forry to add, Lord Crowbery himself, will fet every engine at work to play off fome diabolical plot upon you."

"Indeed, Sir," faid Ifabella, turning her eyes upon him with the tendereft expreffion,

you are in the greateft-danger whilft you remain amongst them; my dear father gives you the best counsel, and you will do well to get out of their way; for only think what affliction it would give to my poor coufin, if any harm was to befall you."

"She is infinitely good," replied Henry, "and her folicitude gives fome value to a life, which, circumstanced as it was a while ago, would scarce have merited my care."-" If that be fo," refumed Ifabella, "I am confident it is her wifh that you should accept my father's invitation; and, after what I have now been a witness to, permit me to fay, it is mine alfo."" You honour me too much," replied

he,

he, " and I can make no other return to fuch unmerited kindness, than by affuring Sir Roger Manstock and yourself of my unalterable respect and gratitude."

This point being fo fettled, the worthy baronet and his fair daughter took their leave of the good people, Sir Roger having fhaken Henry very cordially by the hand, and affured him of a hearty welcome at Manstock-house. Upon their arrival at the caftle, they found Lady Crowbery alone, and employed at her writing-table; their carriage was at the door, and they had called to bid her farewell. Sir Roger related to her all that had been paffing at the cottage, and faid 'fo many handsome things of Henry, both with refpect to his behaviour, perfon and fpirit, that whilft her heart trembled for his fafety, it overflowed with joy upon hearing him fo praised." And now," faid the baronet," we must think of fomething for him out of hand, for there is a deal of malice brewing against him in the hearts of this Blachford and his crew: he has a gallant fpirit, I think his turn feems to lie towards the army.".

"It is too clear," replied Lady Crowbery, "what dangers befet him, and with whom they fpring:

73

fpring: that I fhall have my share in them, I can well believe; I expect no lefs, and am preparing myself to meet it. In the mean time, to remove him to fome place of fafety seems the first thing needful; of his future deftination we may decide at leifure."-" But my father," cried Isabella, “has invited him, and he is coming to Manstock-house.”—Lady Crowbery fmiled; but whether it was from the joy fhe took in the intelligence, or from fomething fhe obferved in the eagerness of Ifabella's manner, or from a mixture of causes, we must leave to conjecture; certain it is, that the fineft eyes in nature were juft then illuminated with uncommon vivacity, and the sweetest countenance overfpread with a blufh, whofe exquifite carnation no art can imitate.

After a few minutes fpent in making their affectionate adieus, they parted; Sir Roger Manstock and his fair daughter to their own home, and Lady Crowbery refumed her pen; the productions of which, it is more than probable, our readers will hereafter be acquainted with.

We shall now look back to the cottage, where the agitation, in which we left our friends, had not yet fubfided. Ezekiel was VOL. II.

E

gone

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