the knaves on the head; and yet, since they began the fray, we should keep the law on our side.'

'Were it not better,' said Peveril, if by any means these men could be induced to quit the island?'

Surely,' replied the Earl; but that will be no easy matter-they are stubborn on principle, and empty threats will not move them. This stormblast in London is wind in their sails, and they will run their length, you may depend on it. I have sent orders, however, to clap up the Manxmen upon whose assistance they depended, and if I can find the two worthies themselves, here are sloops enough in the harbour-I will take the freedom to send them on a pretty distant voyage, and I hope matters will be settled before they return to give an account of it.'

At this moment a soldier belonging to the garrison approached the two young men, with many bows and tokens of respect. 'How now, friend?' said the Earl to him. Leave off thy courtesies, and tell

thy business.'

The man, who was a native islander, answered in Manx, that he had a letter for his honour, Master Julian Peveril. Julian snatched the billet hastily, and asked whence it came.

'It was delivered to him by a young woman,' the soldier replied, who had given him a piece of money to deliver it into Master Peveril's own hand.'

Thou art a lucky fellow, Julian,' said the Earl. 'With that grave brow of thine, and thy character

for sobriety and early wisdom, you set the girls a-wooing, without waiting till they are asked; whilst I, their drudge and vassal, waste both language and leisure, without getting a kind word or look, far less a billet-doux.'

This the young Earl said with a smile of conscious triumph, as in fact he valued himself not a little upon the interest which he supposed himself to possess with the fair sex.

Meanwhile the letter impressed on Peveril a different train of thoughts from what his companion apprehended. It was in Alice's hand, and

contained these few words :

'I fear what I am going to do is wrong; but I must see you. Meet me at noon at Goddard Crovan's Stone, with as much secrecy as you may.'

The letter was signed only with the initials A. B.; but Julian had no difficulty in recognising the handwriting, which he had often seen, and which was remarkably beautiful. He stood suspended, for he saw the difficulty and impropriety of withdrawing himself from the Countess and his friend at this moment of impending danger; and yet, to neglect this invitation was not to be thought of. He paused in the utmost perplexity.

'Shall I read your riddle?' said the Earl. Go where love calls you-I will make an excuse to my mother-only, most grave anchorite, be hereafter more indulgent to the failings of others than you have been hitherto, and blaspheme not the power of the little deity.'

'Nay, but, Cousin Derby-said Peveril,

to say.

and stopped short, for he really knew not what Secured himself by a virtuous passion from the contagious influence of the time, he had seen with regret his noble kinsman mingle more in its irregularities than he approved of, and had sometimes played the part of a monitor. Circumstances seemed at present to give the Earl a right of retaliation. He kept his eye fixed on his friend, as if he waited till he should complete his sentence, and at length exclaimed, 'What! cousin, quite à-lamort! O, most judicious Julian! O, most precise Peveril! have you bestowed so much wisdom on me that you have none left for yourself? Come, be frank-tell me name and place or say but the colour of the eyes of the most emphatic she or do but let me have the pleasure to hear thee say, "I love!"-confess one touch of human frailty— conjugate the verb amo, and I will be a gentle school-master, and you shall have, as father Richards used to say, when we were under his ferule, "licentia exeundi.

Enjoy your pleasant humour at my expense, my lord,' said Peveril; I fairly will confess thus much, that I would fain, if it consisted with my honour and your safety, have two hours at my own disposal; the more especially as the manner in which I shall employ them may much concern the safety of the island.'

"Very likely, I dare say,' answered the Earl, still laughing. No doubt you are summoned out by some Lady Politic Wouldbe of the isle, to talk over some of the breast-laws; but never mind-go,

and go speedily, that you may return as quick as possible. I expect no immediate explosion of this grand conspiracy. When the rogues see us on our guard, they will be cautious how they break out. Only, once more, make haste.'

Peveril thought this last advice was not to be neglected; and, glad to extricate himself from the raillery of his cousin, walked down towards the gate of the Castle, meaning to cross over to the village, and there take horse at the Earl's stables, for the place of rendezvous.

CHAPTER XVI

Acasto. Can she not speak?

Oswald. If speech be only in accented sounds,
Framed by the tongue and lips, the maiden's dumb;
But if by quick and apprehensive look,

By motion, sign, and glance, to give each meaning,
Express as clothed in language, be term'd speech,
She hath that wondrous faculty; for her eyes,

Like the bright stars of heaven, can hold discourse,
Though it be mute and soundless.

OLD PLAY.

AT the head of the first flight of steps which descended towards the difficult and well-defended entrance of the Castle of Holm-Peel, Peveril was met and stopped by the Countess's train - bearer. This little creature-for she was of the least and slightest size of womankind-was exquisitely well formed in all her limbs, which the dress she usually wore (a green silk tunic, of a peculiar form) set off to the best advantage. Her face was darker than the usual hue of Europeans; and the profusion of long and silken hair, which, when she undid the braids in which she commonly wore it, fell down almost to her ankles, was also rather a foreign attribute. Her countenance resembled a most beautiful miniature; and there was a quickness, decision, and fire, in Fenella's look, and especially in her eyes, which was probably rendered yet more alert and