of the flower-garden, that nothing short of the attraction of happy reminiscences would have directed the steps of the lady up the ascent of the old terrace. Foreign to the design of the garden of which it formed the boundary, and to feed whose fountains the embanked reservoir was intended, nothing had been done for the adornment of the spot. All-all was as of old! The old gray carp still lay basking in the limpid waters; a collection of curious reeds, cultivated at one extremity, were throwing up their feathery bloom into the sunshine; and though the old quince-tree at the further extremity revealed at present no mellow fruitage amid its denser summer verdure, there was in compensation the exquisite fragrance of a low hedge of sweet brier and honeysuckles that skirted the canal, having been planted on the spot in consequence of the escapade of Arther and Anne, in order to preserve both Lord Lovell's aged carp and juvenile visiters from further misadventure.

"I shall be happier here than in Rutlandshire," mused Lady Lovell, when, after a prolonged sojourn on the spot, she bent her steps, with flushed cheeks and in a softened mood of mind, through the fragrant dusk of a June evening towards the house. "The grounds of Dalesdene lie too low for health; this place hath a freer air-a drier site. That fine old library promises ample funds of entertainment. Yes! I shall be more cheerful here than in Rutlandshire."

Nor were these comfortable prognostications disappointed. Both the lady and the lady's household rejoiced in the change. Old Gervas had lost, by the death of his infirm master, his occupation at Dalesdene, and was glad to quit the place; while Mistress Corbet and Dame Audrey gloried in beholding their beloved charge intent upon assuming at least the outward tokens of her noble condition.

"Since this hateful marriage must needs hang like a clog of lead upon her young existence," said the good gouvernante to Elias Wright, at the old notary's first visit to their new residence, "let her at least enjoy the worldly honours of her position. In these kingless and courtless times, small account belongs to titles of worldly distinction, but personal recreation need not therefore be unattainable. While the Protector amuses his leisure by playing the charioteer with his team of Friesland horses in Hyde Park, surely my Lady Lovell may be permitted to enjoy her rides a-coursing on Black Maud, or divert herself with repairing and re-establishing yonder ruined mews, without offence in the eyes of God or man. The sport imparts vigour to her frame, and cheerfulness to her mind."

"It may serve at least to distract careful thoughts," interrupted the good old man ; " she was ever a mad rider. Before your precepts had trained the wilful child into the gentle woman, I have seen her drive her father to distraction, good sooth, by clearing the hedge as neatly as the best foxhunter in the shire. Long may she content herself with such pastimes! Even sobered as city life hath become under the guidance of the Lord Protector, I were loth that this fair and friendless creature should be tempted Londonward by the perilous pleasures of the capital."

CHAPTER X.

For three years or more after the inauguration of Lady Lovell, did the prayers of her worthy ex-guardian prove propitious. The heaviness of mind arising from the daily spectacle of her father's miserable plight, had given place to the impulses of cheerfulness and health. Sufficient excitement awaited her in the delight of promoting the welfare of those committed to her care; and in due time she resumed her former occupations and studies. Virgil, though venerated as an ancient friend, was made to yield his place upon her favourite bookshelf to the sterling poets of her own country; and with Shakspeare and Spenser, Milton and Marlowe, she associated those minstrels of France, whose witty lucubrations were at that time scattered upon the princely court of Louis XII., like sparks from some glittering firework. Graver studies were not wholly neglected; but though theology and philosophy had their share in her respect, as well as their allotted stations in the old library, it may be inferred that so bright an eye lingered oftener on the fascinating pages of the Arcadia, or the biting verses of Despréaux, than on the rugged records of spiritual controversy, or the doctrines of the schools.

Old Elias Wright was sometimes heard to enlarge, on his return to his prime domicile at Oakham, upon the miraculous gifts of the accomplished lady, whom he represented to his wondering granddaughter as transcending the fair and hapless pupil of Roger Ascham. He announced her as uniting the learning of Lady Jane Grey with the piety and discretion of the matrons of Holy Writ; and it was precisely while indulging in one of these eulogistic rhapsodies, that, on the eve of one of his occasional visits to Northamptonshire, the old gentleman was startled by the perusal of the following epistle.

"Lovell House, Oct. 4, 1657.

"In the expectation of my dear old friend's arrival on Friday next, according to engagement, I feel it an act of justice to apprize him that he will find settled, if not exactly under my roof, at least 'within my gates,' a military officer, a gentleman of ancient descent, to whose domestication with me he may perhaps be moved to take exception. Lest, however, the intimation should determine him in tenderness of conscience to deprive me of the society of my sweet young friend Hope, (whom I hereby remind him of his promise to have with us as a sometime guest,) I must be permitted to assure my kind guardian that, though known to the country round, the domiciliation of my new friend at Lovell hath produced neither scandal nor disapproval. My neighbours seem to coincide in my opinion that my deserted condition leaves me at full liberty to select my fireside companions.

"Before you pronounce a different opinion, dearest sir, see and judge for yourself. I prognosticate that on this, as on other occasions, you will not have courage to find fault with the domestic arrangements of your faithful friend and loving ward,

"A. LOVELL."

Profoundly grieved by the levity with which this fearful backsliding

from her eminence of virtue was announced, old Elias determined to persevere in his plan of visiting the unfortunate culprit, not with any purpose of misplaced leniency, but in order to bestow upon her the admonitions which, in spite of her emancipation from his authority, he felt entitled to offer to the daughter of his friend. He could have wept over her fall; but for the recollection of having sometimes seen her humour inspired by gleams of her former childish mirthfulness, so as to induce the hope that she might be making sport of his credulity.

Nevertheless, as his two granddaughters were now under his control-his aged partner having sunk before him into the grave-the prudent Elias bestowed his pretty Hope and Rachel with their uncle Shum, rather than hazard their encounter at Lovell House with some disbanded captain, one of the locusts by which, since the cessation of the civil wars, the country had to its cost been overrun.

For the first time since the settlement of Lady Lovell in Northamptonshire, Elias approached the gates of Lovell House with a feeling of reluctance. The very pacing nag on which he had oftentimes before performed the little journey seemed to participate in its master's repugnance, being fairly knocked up before he reached within five miles of his destination; so that it was a welcome sight when he descried on the high road the coach and six with its outriders, which announced that his dutiful charge had either come or sent before to do him honour. He trusted that the equipage alone had been despatched to meet him. The feelings of pain and embarrassment with which he saw the velvet footstep let down, advised him of the anguish of spirit he should experience on beholding, in tarnished glory, the hitherto peerless and unblemished Anne.

Happily for his self-possession, she was alone in the spacious coach she had not insulted her venerable monitor by the presence of her minion. Grieved, however, was he to behold how little her countenance was abashed by the consciousness of shame. Her bright eyes shone more resplendent than ever. Her coral lips unclosed more frequently to disclose her pearly teeth and adorn her cheek with dimples; and as to her deportment, it was alternately that of a woodnymph and a queen! The finely developed form of Lady Lovell now attested the zenith of womanly beauty; and her face was bright with genius as the earth with summer sunshine.

Master Wright had premeditated to launch, the first moment of their meeting, into the subject uppermost in his thoughts; but this point, he soon discovered, lay not at his own discretion. The moment he was seated by her side, his fair companion opened upon him one of those batteries of female loquacity which, though reserved like certain other batteries to be fired off on occasions of public display, are as unsilenceable as more warlike engines. Her ladyship had news to relate how the Dowager Lady Lovell (compelled two years before to fly from England by the sequestration of her Shropshire estates) had taken refuge in a convent of Ursulines at Bruges, wherein her unquiet spirit was creating such broils as to call down the interposition and reprimand of the archbishop. Then, ere Elias could interrupt her with inquiries touching the sources of her information, she

beset him with prattle of the latest news from court; the approaching marriages of the two daughters of the Protector with the Viscount Fauconberg, and the grandson of Oliver's faithful friend the Earl of Warwick-predicting from these concessions to the aristocracy, that the kingly crown recently rejected by his highness would not always be so coldly repulsed.

"It seems that Whitehall is becoming almost as censorious and full of prate as in the rampant days of monarchy," said she, with a merry laugh." How judge you of my lord protector's buffooning it so idly, as to thrust burning embers into the boots of his pretty playmate, old Ludlow, to punish him for his sluggardliness of a morning, when on a visit at Hampton Court? Once a man,' quoth the proverb, twice a child!' Methinks our godly governor inclineth anew to leading-strings."

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After smiling away Master Wright's reprehensions of the rashness of her discourse, Lady Lovell secured herself further from his reprimands by relating the high festivities she had recently enjoyed with her noble neighbours at Apethorpe House with her friends at Laxton Hall—and the worshipful knight at Barnwell Castle. Presbyterian or episcopalian-royalist or leveller-I have not a neighbour whose door encloseth not hospitality at my coming," said she. Nay, I sometimes progress so far as Kimbolton, Boughton, or Drayton Manor, to vary my cheer, and keep up friendly fellowship with those who mean me kindly. For what influence ought politics to obtain over the feelings of a poor weak woman, whose best of judgment availeth no further than the fattening of her turkeys, or cutting of her hay; and whose notions of good government are neither with those who did illegally slay a king, nor those who would unlawfully assassinate a chief magistrate! I would fain behold both more and less of liberty established in this island, than is likely to chance within half a dozen generations to come; and, conscious of the impotency of my aspiration, the name of king or kaisar, protector or parliament, never (save in colloquy with a friend so sure as my kind guardian) is suffered to escape my lips. Helpless as my poor father, my impunity lies in the same spirit of caution which influenced his blameless life. Even the rash and freespoken soldier with whom I pass my existence," added Lady Lovell, stealing an inquiring glance at old Elias, " is not privileged to broach the forbidden subject in my presence. We should else lead an ill life together."

The old gentleman, instantly laying hold upon the text, was about to commence his homily, when, as at that moment they entered the stately gates of the park, he was startled by perceiving, perched on a grassy knoll, yet half hidden in a thicket of feathery beeches-a modest mansion-a newly-raised erection, which might have been mistaken for an ornamental building intended to close some vista from the house, had not Lady Lovell, following the direction of his eyes, announced it to be the residence of her new favourite.

"I would ask you to stop with me on our way, and admire the elegance of an elevation designed by my accomplished self," said she; "but that I am pretty sure my friend must be at the great house, impatiently awaiting our arrival. Ay, there he is, in sooth, in my

flower-garden, whipping off the heads of my hollyhocks with his riding wand, and taking advantage of his influence over my feelings, to play the spoiler."

Master Wright was now too indignant for words. When, lo! as he attempted to conceal his emotion by affecting to look forth and catch an early view of this libertine object of an unprincipled attachment, his eyes fell upon a figure scarcely less corpulent than that of his brother-in-law Hosea; while a red jovial face, set off to advantage by the jaunty feather of a slouched hat, scarcely in character with the half-military cut of his riding-suit, announced a Romeo of somewhat extraordinary presentment.

"Thou'st made good speed, sweet niece," cried a cheerful voice, as the old soldier advanced to hand Lady Lovell from her coach. "I expected thee not till dinner, and the last quarter hath not yet chimed o' the clock. Master Wright, my honest friend, I hold it a good day that enables me once more to clap hands with thee. Our last meeting chanced in an unseemly place, where, but for the aid of this good girl, I might until this hour have abided; or, I should say, her aid, backed by thy patient assistance in bringing me the last instructions of my poor brother in her behalf, whereby I knew that prejudices of my nephew and his brimstone of a mother were groundless, and that I wronged not the name of Lovell by accepting succour at her hands."

During this exposition, Master Wright found himself conducted between Lady Lovell and her frank-spoken but wordy companion through the porch into the great hall, where the latter, after pausing suddenly, and examining from top to toe what changes the lapse of five weary years might have affected in the person of the venerable notary, to whom he stood so largely indebted, exclaimed in a voice of gratitude," Body o' me, but the air of the old Grange hath given thee the complexion of a spark of five-and-twenty! Thou'rt younger by half, man, than when thou didst wrangle so convincingly in my behalf with the Lords Commissioners at Westminster. My name's not Dickson Lovell, but thou art heartier than ever."

The alarms of the good old guardian thus happily brought to a conclusion, right glad was he to pledge a cup of welcome with the burly knight, to whom, on the expiration of the imprisonment to which his sentence was commuted, he had been the means of rendering important service; and Mistress Corbet, as she sat simpering over her knitting-needles during their half-hour of wearying for dinner, could not choose but admire the wonder with which Master Wright listened to Sir Richard Lovell's narrative of his niece's successful negociations with government for the rescinding of his sentence of banishment.

Faith, the girl hath grown a finer diplomâte than old Cottington, and a better lawyer than Ned Hyde," cried he. "Were she a stauncher supporter of the hereditary principles of the House of Lovell, I should not mind proposing to make a chancellor of her, if ever the king should enjoy his own again. I'd wager the judgment under her ladyship's coif against all the wisdom housed under the wide wig of Harry Bennet!"