had to communicate; and, after a short pause, she added that a letter had arrived from her father, and that my parents would present themselves the following morning to accompany her home again to Aust. As she said this, she fixed her bright but tearful eyes upon me, as if to read my thoughts; and Sir Maurice, who till that moment, had occupied himself in tracing figures with the point of his sheathed sword upon the leads between his feet, looked up, and regarding me also, said "Thou, Herbert, art also to leave us. How wilt thou like it ?" I replied, that sooner than quit him, and be subject to the sight of a certain Master Rufus Mull, I would suffer death; and that, as God was my judge, I would rather have fallen in the fray that night, than be forced to leave the castle. "How liked you, Herbert, the treatment Hugh received? S'death, but I thought my brother would have slain him where he stood, when he talked of his gentility and dared him to punishment; but 'tis best as it is. Say shall I ask thy father to let thee tarry with me as page, or rather as esquire, aspiring to the honour of knighthood? By my faith, and the light of thy cousin's eyes" (turning to her with a smile), "we will promote that request, and doubt not, Herbert, we may succeed. But now the hour wears late, and see sweet Isabel," (I had never heard him call her so before), "thy handmaiden, Annette, comes to tell thee so, and thou, above all others, must be in need of rest, not only from the terror of this evening, but to befit thee, alas ! for thy journey to-morrow." Then kissing her hand, but with the profoundest respect, he beckoned me to follow, and in the Donjon-keep we separated, each repairing to his respective apartment. Before I closed my eyes, ay, before I laid my head on my pillow, the resolution was formed, that rather than return to Aust, I would rebel against my father's authority; as even a dereliction of filial duty would be less painful than the detested presence of the execrable Rufus. To such an extent did this antipathy instigate me, that I deliberately determined to throw myself upon the wide world, rather than again witness the hateful wretch urge his loathsome suit to my reluctant cousin, or hold pacific intercourse with him, who, through the mere brute force of age and sinew, had foiled me in personal conflict. Having immutably, as I believed, adopted this resolution, my mind grew more composed, and I after sank into a deep and refreshing soon slumber. CHAPTER V. Heaven in thy good cause make thee prosperous ! Fall, like amazing thunder, on the casque Of thy adverse, pernicious enemy. SHAKSPEARE. MORNING arrived, and with it came my parents, who were received with great courtesy by Lord Berkeley and his sister. While they were engaged in talking to my mother, Sir Maurice called my father aside, and taking him into the recess of one of the windows, began the request which so nearly concerned my future fate. Heavens! how I watched the varying expression of their countenances, as either hesitation or concession predominated over the features of my parent. At last, they beckoned me to approach, and my father, laying his hand on my shoulder, asked me if I should like to live with Sir Maurice as his page or esquire? He paused, and seemed to expect my probable answer with a sigh, nor did I keep my excellent sire long in suspense, but at once declared that my greatest ambition was to do so. Much conversation relating to the matter then ensued, with which I will not fatigue my readers; it being finally settled, that henceforth I should be considered as enrolled under Sir Maurice's banner. The time of departure had now arrived; Lord Berkeley escorted my mother to her horse, while I hastened on before to hold it in readiness; Mistress Shipward followed with my father; and, last of all, came Sir Maurice and Isabel. As we reached the court-yard, Black Will was busily assisting Annette to her horse, and, at a glance it was obvious that there was a kindly sort of understanding subsisting between them; but the strictest formality in a |