44

sumed the Squire, taking hold of her arm. “Our party is all assembled, and we shall want you presently at the dinner-table."

par

“I will have nothing to do with either ties or dinners till my friend is vindicated from this assertion,” said Emily, struggling angrily until she had disengaged herself. are you willing to accompany me?"

66 Ladies,

"Oh, let us oblige her, by all means,” cried Mrs. Chatsworth, who anticipated a new triumph for her malice, by an exposure of Helen, while she was not less curious to ascertain who was her concealed lover.

66

Really, Miss Hartfield, your loud voice has so shocked my nerves," said Lady Crockatt

Eugh! what a twinge in my side!—but my carriage is waiting, and I am ready to drive back to Harpsden Hall, since you make such a point of it. We only left it as we did, out of delicacy to the unfortunate young woman. Give me my drops, Crawley.”

“I am so glad your Ladyship is going back,” exclaimed the latter, "we shall thus find out,

at all events, whom she has picked up for her sweetheart."

The party now made their way to the carriage, Emily still talking loudly and angrily in spite of her Ladyship's delicate nerves; while the Squire, apprehensive that her vehemence and passion might have made an unfavourable impression upon Sir Harcourt, took occasion to observe, that she was as generous and warmhearted a girl as ever breathed, but that it was a pity she had never visited London or the Court, that she might learn to curb her feelings, and not be quite so hot in temper, or hard in the mouth.

"May I be pitted with the small-pox! if I do not like her better as she is," replied Sir Harcourt. "Had she been a Court damsel, she would have learnt the exposure of her friend with an open or concealed triumph; she would have admitted that there was too much reason to believe her guilty; and had the inculpated nymph been also a disciple of the Court, she would probably have been jus

tified in making the admission. Your sister is worthy to have a friend, and I hope Miss Trevanian will prove herself worthy of her generous defender. Sir Ambrose, suffer me to kiss thy best cheek! for let me blood if thy new wig be not piquant and degagé; its expression is that of perfect suavity and blandness; thy sword-knot is urbane and jaunty; while the garniture of thy waistcoat is alto gether dainty, imaginative, and debonair. Excuse me, your point de Venise frill should fall on this side, or it conceals an embroidering that does honour to your taste by its amenity."

During the occurrence of this scene at the Rookery, Adeline, losing all patience at the protracted absence of Helen, could no longer deny herself the consolation of paying a visit to her dear darling Arcadius, in the summerhouse; where she learnt, with infinite dismay, that Reuben considered his retreat to have been discovered.. He had distinctly recognized Lady Crockatt and Mrs. Chatsworth, though he felt confident, from his own instant disappearance, that they could have seen nothing

more of him than his hat. This however, he was well aware, was quite sufficient to excite suspicion, and lead, in all probability, to his apprehension; for he never dreamt of being taken for a concealed lover. In the anticipation that he would assuredly be betrayed to destruction by the gossiping females who had so unluckily obtained a glimpse of him, he would have made an instant escape; but it chanced that Captain Trevanian, having been ordered across the country with a troop of horse, had called at Harpsden Hall to visit his family; and Reuben, upon peeping through the wood-house door, saw the soldiers so dispersed about the front of the building and the skirts of the road, that to attempt a flight at that moment would infallibly ensure his seizure.

While they were in deep and anxious consultation how he might best secure himself from the perils that were now closely environing him about, Adeline saw, from the summer-house window, Lady Crockatt's carriage again driving up towards the house, and instantly concluded that she had either returned to give information

to the soldiers, or that she had brought officers in the coach for the purpose of arresting her lover. Overcome by the imminence of the danger, she uttered two or three French exclamations, and appeared in some danger of fainting; but presently recovering herself, she whispered in an agitated manner, "Quick! quick! follow me. I can perhaps conceal you in the house."

Reuben grasped his pistols with the intention, in the first instance, of making a bold push for his escape, hopeless as it seemed in the immediate presence of a troop of horse; but recollecting that his seizure at the present moment might compromise Adeline, and perhaps implicate her family, while there was a chance of avoiding these consequences if he could only remain secreted till night-fall, he concealed his weapons under his cloak, and signified to his fair companion, with a sort of desperate resignation, that she might dispose of him as she thought fit. Followed by Reuben, she accordingly hurried along the evergreen walk, which, skirting the large piece of water, reached nearly up to the back entrance of the mansion, and was