half displeased; for she doted upon her son with all a mother's fondness, even when she was most angry with him for being deficient in the peculiar and chivalrous disposition which had distinguished his father, and which was so analogous to her own romantic and high-minded character. 'Lend me your signet,' she added with a sigh; 'for it were, I fear, vain to ask you to read over these dispatches from England, and execute the warrants which I have thought necessary to prepare in consequence.'

6

My signet you shall command with all my heart, madam,' said Earl Philip; but spare me the revision of what you are much more capable to decide upon. I am, you know, a most complete Roi fainéant, and never once interfered with my Maire de palais in her proceedings.'

The Countess made signs to her little trainbearer, who immediately went to seek for wax and a light, with which she presently returned.

In the meanwhile, the Countess continued, addressing Peveril. Philip does himself less than justice. When you were absent, Julian, (for if you had been here I would have given you the credit of prompting your friend), he had a spirited controversy with the Bishop, for an attempt to enforce spiritual censures against a poor wretch, by confining her in the vault under the chapel."*

* Beneath the only one of the four churches in Castle Rushin, which is or was kept a little in repair, is a prison or dungeon, for ecclesiastical offenders. This,' says Waldron, 'is certainly one of the most dreadful

'Do not think better of me than I deserve,' said the Earl to Peveril; 'my mother has omitted to tell you the culprit was pretty Peggy of Ramsey, and her crime what in Cupid's courts would have been called a peccadillo.'

'Do not make yourself worse than you are,' replied Peveril, who observed the Countess's cheek redden, 'you know you would have done as much for the oldest and poorest cripple in the island. Why, the vault is under the burial ground of the chapel, and, for aught I know, under the ocean itself, such a roaring do the waves make in its vicinity. I think no one could remain there long, and retain his reason.'

'It is an infernal hole,' answered the Earl, and I will have it built up one day—that is full certain. -But hold-hold-for God's sake, madam-what are you going to do?-Look at the seal before you put it to the warrant-you will see it is a choice antique cameo Cupid, riding on a flying fish-I had it for twenty zechins, from Signor Furabosco at Rome-a most curious matter for an antiquary, but which will add little faith to a Manx warrant.'

'How can you trifle thus, you simple boy?'

places that imagination can form; the sea runs under it through the hollows of the rock with such a continual roar, that you would think it were every moment breaking in upon you, and over it are the vaults for burying the dead. The stairs descending to this place of terrors are not above thirty, but so steep and narrow, that they are very difficult to go down. A child of eight or nine years not being able to pass them but sideways.'-WALDRON'S Description of the Isle of Man, in his Works, p. 105, folio.

said the Countess, with vexation in her tone and look. 'Let me have your signet, or rather, take these warrants, and sign them yourself.'

'My signet-my signet-Oh! you mean that with the three monstrous legs, which I suppose was devised as the most preposterous device, to represent our most absurd Majesty of Man.-The signet I have not seen it since I gave it to Gibbon, my monkey, to play with.-He did whine for it most piteously-I hope he has not gemmed the green breast of ocean with my symbol of sovereignty!'

'Now, by Heaven,' said the Countess, trembling, and colouring deeply with anger, 'it was your father's signet! the last pledge which he sent, with his love to me, and his blessing to thee, the night before they murdered him at Bolton!'

'Mother, dearest mother,' said the Earl, startled out of his apathy, and taking her hand, which he kissed tenderly, 'I did but jest-the signet is safe -Peveril knows that it is so.-Go fetch it, Julian, for Heaven's sake-here are my keys-it is in the left-hand drawer of my travelling cabinet.-Nay, mother, forgive me it was but a mauvaise plaisanterie; only an ill-imagined jest, ungracious, and in bad taste, I allow-but only one of Philip's follies. Look at me, dearest mother, and forgive me!'

The Countess turned her eyes towards him, from which the tears were fast falling.

'Philip,' she said, 'you try me too unkindly, and too severely. If times are changed, as I have

heard you allege-if the dignity of rank, and the high feelings of honour and duty, are now drowned in giddy jests and trifling pursuits, let me at least, who live secluded from all others, die without perceiving the change which has happened, and, above all, without perceiving it in mine own son. Let me not learn the general prevalence of this levity, which laughs at every sense of dignity or duty, through your personal disrespect-Let me not think that when I die

'Speak nothing of it, mother,' said the Earl, interrupting her affectionately. It is true, I cannot promise to be all my father and his fathers were; for we wear silk vests for their steel coats, and feathered beavers for their crested helmets. But believe me, though to be an absolute Palmerin of England is not in my nature, no son ever loved a mother more dearly, or would do more to oblige her. And that you may own this, I will forthwith not only seal the warrants, to the great endangerment of my precious fingers, but also read the same from end to end, as well as the dispatches thereunto appertaining.'

A mother is easily appeased, even when most offended; and it was with an expanding heart that the Countess saw her son's very handsome features, while reading these papers, settle into an expression of deep seriousness, such as they seldom wore. It seemed to her as if the family likeness to his gallant but unfortunate father increased, when the expression of their countenances became similar in gravity. The Earl had no sooner perused the

dispatches, which he did with great attention, than he rose and said, 'Julian, come with me.'

The Countess looked surprised. 'I was wont to share your father's counsels, my son,' she said; 'but do not think that I wish to intrude myself upon yours. I am too well pleased to see you assume the power and the duty of thinking for yourself, which is what I have so long urged you to do. Nevertheless, my experience, who have been so long administrator of your authority in Man, might not, I think, be superfluous to the matter in hand.'

'Hold me excused, dearest mother,' said the Earl, gravely. The interference was none of my seeking; had you taken your own course, without consulting me, it had been well; but since I have entered on the affair—and it appears sufficiently important I must transact it to the best of my own ability.'

'Go, then, my son,' said the Countess, and may Heaven enlighten thee with its counsel, since thou wilt have none of mine.—I trust that you, Master Peveril, will remind him of what is fit for his own honour; and that only a coward abandons his rights, and only a fool trusts his enemies.'

The Earl answered not, but, taking Peveril by the arm, led him up a winding stair to his own apartment, and from thence into a projecting turret, where, amidst the roar of waves and sea-mews' clang, he held with him the following conversation.

'Peveril, it is well I looked into these warrants. My mother queens it at such a rate as may cost me not only my crown, which I care little for, but