teenth chapter of Jeremiah was the portion of Scrip ture which he selected; in which, under the type of breaking a potter's vessel, the prophet presages the desolation of the Jews. The lecturer was not naturally eloquent; but a strong, deep, and sincere conviction of the truth of what he said, supplied him with language of energy and fire, as he drew a paralled between the abominations of the worship of Baal, and the corruptions of the Church of Rome -so favourite a topic with the Puritans of that period; and denounced against the Catholics, and those who favoured them, that hissing and desolation which the prophet directed against the city of Jerusalem. His hearers made a yet closer application than the lecturer himself suggested; and many a dark proud eye intimated, by a glance on Julian, that on his father's house were already, in some part, realized these dreadful maledictions.

The lecture finished, Bridgenorth summoned them to unite with him in prayer; and on a slight change of arrangements amongst the company, which took place as they were about to kneel down, Julian found his place next to the single-minded and beautiful object of his affection, as she knelt down, in her lowliness, to adore her Creator. A short time was permitted for mental devotion; during which, Peveril could hear her half-breathed petition for the promised blessings of peace on earth, and good will towards the children of men.

The prayer which ensued was in a different tone. It was poured forth by the same person who had officiated as chaplain at the table; and was in the tone of a Boanerges, or Son of Thunder-a denouncer of crimes—an invoker of judgments—almost a prophet of evil and of destruction. The testimonies and the sins of the day were not forgotten-the mysterious murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was insisted upon-and thanks and praise were offered,

that the very night on which they were assembled, had not seen another offering of a Protestant magistrate, to the blood-thirsty fury of the revengeful Catholics.

Never had Julian found it more difficult, during an act of devotion, to maintain his mind in a frame befitting the posture and the occasion; and when he heard the speaker return thanks for the downfall and devastation of his family, he was strongly tempted to have started upon his feet, and charged him with offering a tribute, stained with falsehood and calumny, at the throne of truth itself.

He re

sisted, however, an impulse which it would have been insanity to have yielded to, and his patience was not without its reward; for when his fair neighbour arose from her knees, the lengthened and prolonged prayer being at last concluded, he observed that her eyes were streaming with tears; and one glance with which she looked at him in that moment, showed more of affectionate interest for him in his fallen fortunes and precarious condition, than he had been able to obtain from her when his worldly estate seemed so much the more exalted of the two. Cheered and fortified with the conviction that one bosom in the company, and that in which he most eagerly longed to secure an interest, sympathized with his distress, he felt strong to endure whatever was to follow, and shrunk not from the stern still smile with which, one by one, the meeting regarded him; as, gliding to their several places of repose, they indulged themselves at parting with a look of triumph on one, whom they considered as their captive enemy.

Alice also passed by her lover, her eyes fixed on the ground, and answered his low obeisance without raising them. The room was now empty, but for Bridgenorth and his guest, or prisoner; for it is difficult to say in which capacity Peveril ought to VOL. I.-13

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regard himself. He took an old brazen lamp from the table, and, leading the way, said, at the same time, I must be the uncourtly chamberlain, who am to usher you to a place of repose, more rude perhaps than you have been accustomed to occupy." Julian followed him in silence up an old-fashioned winding stair-case, within a turret. At the landing-place on the top, was a small apartment, where an ordinary pallet-bed, two chairs, and a small stone table, were the only furniture.

"Your

bed," continued Bridgenorth, as if desirous to prolong their interview, is not of the softest; but innocence sleeps as sound upon straw as on down."

"Sorrow, Major Bridgenorth, finds little rest on either," replied Julian. "Tell me, for you seem to await some question from me, what is to be the fate of my parents, and why you separated me from them?"

Bridgenorth, for answer, indicated with his finger the mark which his countenance still showed from the explosion of Julian's pistol.

"That," replied Julian, " is not the real cause of your proceedings against me. It can not be, that you, who have been a soldier, and are a man, can be surprised or displeased by my interference in the defence of my father. Above all, you can not and I must needs say you do not, believe that I would have raised my hand against you personally, had there been a moment's time for recognition.'

"I may grant all this," said Bridgenorth; but what are you the better for my good opinion, or for the ease with which I can forgive you the injury which you aimed at me? You are in my custody as a magistrate, accused of abetting the foul, bloody, and heathenish plot, for the establishment of Popery, the murther of the King, and the general massacre of all true Protestants.'

"And on what grounds, either of fact or sus

picion, dare any one accuse me of such a crime?" said Julian. I have hardly heard of the plot, save by the mouth of common rumour, which, while it speaks of nothing else, takes care to say nothing distinctly even on that subject."

"It may be enough for me to tell you," replied Bridgenorth, "and perhaps it is a word too much

that you are a discovered intriguer-a spied spy -who carries tokens and messages betwixt the Popish Countess of Derby, and the Catholic party in London. You have not conducted your matters with such discretion, but that is well known, and can be sufficiently proved. To this charge, which you are well aware you can not deny, these men, Everett and Dangerfield, are not unwilling to add, from their recollection of your face, other passages, which will certainly cost you your life when you come before a protestant jury."

"They lie like villains," said Peveril," who hold me accessary to any plot, either against the King, the nation, or the state of religion; and for the Countess, her loyalty has been too long, and too highly proved, to permit her being implicated in such injurious suspicions."

"What she has already done," said Bridgenorth, his face darkening as he spoke, "against the faithful champions of pure religion, hath sufficiently shown of what she is capable. She hath betaken herself to her rock, and sits, as she thinks, in security, like the eagle reposing after his bloody banquet. But the arrow of the fowler may yet reach her the shaft is whetted-the bow is bended—and it will be soon seen whether Amalek or Israel shall prevail. But for thee, Julian Peveril-why should I conceal it from thee?-my heart yearns for thee as a woman's for her first-born. To thee I will give, at the expense of my own reputation-perhaps at the risk of personal suspicion-for who, in these

I

days of doubt, shall be exempted from it-to thee, say, I will give means of escape, which else were impossible to thee. The staircase of this turret descends to the gardens-the postern-gate is unlatched-on the right hand lie the stables, where you will find your own horse-take it, and make for Liverpool-I will give you credit with a friend under the name of Simon Simonson, one persecuted by the prelates; and he will expedite your passage from the kingdom."

"Major Bridgenorth," said Julian, I will not deceive you. Were I to accept your offer of freedom, it would be to attend to a higher call than that of mere self-preservation. My father is in danger -my mother in sorrow-the voices of religion and nature call me to their side. I am their only child their only hope-I will aid them or perish with them."

"Thou art mad," said Bridgenorth-aid them thou canst not perish with them thou well may'st, and even accelerate their ruin; for in addition to the charges with which thy unhappy father is loaded, it would be no slight aggravation, that while he meditated arming and calling together the Catholics and High Churchmen of Cheshire and Derbyshire, his son should prove to be the confidential agent of the Countess of Derby, who aided her in making good her strong-hold against the Protestant commissioners, and was dispatched by her to open secret communication with the Popish interest in London."

"You have twice stated me as such an agent,” said Peveril, resolved that his silence should not be construed into an admission of the charge, though he felt that it was in some degree well founded"What reason have you for such an allegation?”

"Will it suffice for a proof of my intimate acquaintance with your mystery, replied Bridge