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noble-spirited father, ever the advocate and champion of liberty, were now among us, with what fervour would he embrace our cause, with what alacrity would he point out to his son the path that he should pursue-with what pride would he see him enlisted beneath the sacred banner of political and religious freedom !"

It is always difficult to resist the impetuous oratory of a man who obviously speaks under the impulse of a profound conviction. By sen timent and reflection, strengthened by the whole course of his classical reading, Reuben was an ardent friend of liberty; when, in addition to their suggestions which already prompted him to obey the call of patriotism, his filial piety, the master passion of his soul, whispered to him, that by doing so he should be acting in conformity with the will and the injunctions of his father-that his duty sanctioned his inclinations —the question was decided in his own mind, and the first impulse became the final and fixed purpose of his heart. Precipitate, however, as he did not in his supposed obedience to

he was,

a lost and perhaps a deceased father, forget him who had supplied his place. He demanded time to consult with, or at least to sound his uncle, pledging himself to come to a decision within a few hours, and to present himself at the Duke's head-quarters in the afternoon. Fludyer, who in the course of their previous acquaintance had obtained a sufficient insight into his character to know the chord that vibrated to his heart's core, congratulated him on his having proved himself worthy of the patriotic stock from which he sprung, adverted to the probability that his father might still revisit the shores of England, to bless him for his present resolution, and reminding him that there was no time to be lost if he would get the start of his friend Charles, who would quickly join their standard, he put himself again at the head of his troop, and marched out of the park, taking with him the captured brass can

nons.

Short as this conversation had been, when Reuben was left to his own reflections, and measured it by its effect upon his feelings, he

could hardly believe that it had not been of much longer duration. His whole soul was in a tumult, for when he no longer marked the enthusiastic countenance, and listened to the emphatical and seductive energy of his friend, he became conscious that he had pledged himself to a desperate enterprize which nothing but success could justify, while nothing but the death of its abettors could expiate its failure. The more perilous, however, the undertaking, the greater would be the glory of its prosperous achievement; the call of his country was imperative; the eloquence of Fludyer had done its work; he fancied that he heard the voice of his father urging him to enrol himself among the patriot band, and he proceeded to the house to sound his uncle, touching the prudence of a measure which he had already fully resolved to adopt.

For the reasons already stated, Goldingham expressed his perfect conviction that the Duke's adventure would fail, and that it was not even desirable that it should succeed; declaring his determination to take no active part on either side, but to remain at Goldingham Place, and

await the result of a struggle, which could not be long protracted, since the monarch of three kingdoms could scarcely require a greater number of days in dispersing and destroying such a mere handful of invaders. Undismayed by this disheartening prophecy, Reuben persevered in his purpose, resolving, however, not to compromise his uncle by communicating to him his intentions, but to disappear instantly, in order to encourage the belief among the servants and neighbours that he might have been forcibly carried off by the troop that had taken possession of the brass cannons, without his having had conference with Goldingham. With this view he hurried to his room, collected his little store of money, stole down the back stairs, made his way to the plantations in the Park, leapt the fence, and ran across the country in the direction of Lyme, at which place he had learnt from Fludyer it was the intention of the invaders to remain until the following morning. Whatever discouraging impressions had been left upon his mind by his uncle's predictions were speedily dissipated as he approached the town, towards which the whole population of

any

the country seemed to be flocking with every demonstration of enthusiasm and joy. The craggy hill, at whose base it is situated, was thickly thronged with spectators and partisans, flags were flying from the mast-head of all the vessels in the harbour, as well as from the steeple of the church, whose bells were ringing a merry peal; every street in the place, and even the windows and tops of the houses appeared crowded with the Duke's friends; troops were seen forming and parading around the harbour; the sounds of trumpets and other martial music floated upon the air, mixed with the chiming of the bells, the occasional acclamations of the multitude, and salvos of firelocks; while the whole cheerful and motley scene, the town, the surrounding country, the shipping, and the ocean, stood sparkling in the radiance of a sunny morning in June. It was impossible not to sympathize with such an association of spirit-stirring sounds and objects, not to catch the enthusiasm by which all seemed to be inspired; and Reuben's inflammable temperament was little likely to resist the in

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