253 THE puritan's daughter. 



was none ; and as to causing grief and sorrow to the crop-eared cur, her 

 father — what mattered that to him ! Did be not wish all the ill that could 

 befall their race ? and if he touched them in a vital part, so much the 

 better : they had forced him to play at hide and seek in his native land ; 

 his life even was sought by these same Puritans, and why, therefore, 

 should he pause a moment to consider their feelings. 



And had he no compunctions for the fair creature, whose love he had 

 gained, and the purity of whose affections should have stifled all evil 

 thoughts against her ? Can it be in nature for man to look upon that 

 being whose heart and soul are devoted to him, who lives but for him, 

 and whose every hope and fear are centred in his well-being, and yet feel 

 no commiseration for her ; nor think an instant of the long sad years 

 of anguish and suffering he entails upon her ; to see the upraised finger 

 of scorn pointed towards her, whose only crime has been in " loving not 

 wisely, but too well," and not pause ere he casts upon her an overwhelm- 

 ing load of misery. Alas ! it has ever been the same, for man is so 

 selfish in his nature, that he rarely he?ds the feelings of those he seeks 

 to ruin. 



It was a few months after the first interview between Grace Desrick 

 and Mark Eveleigh, that the inhabitants of Broomsgrove were one even- 

 ing aroused from their usual state of quietude by a loud knocking at the 

 outer gate. So unusual a summons at that hour brought nearly all the 

 servants to the gate ; and their surprise was nothing diminished at per- 

 ceiving merely two horsemen. One of them was a man of rather pow- 

 erful form, and somewhat above the middle height, and by his dress 

 and appearance evidently of the Puritan party. His horse was of the 

 most perfect black, and seemed impatiently waiting for admittance. 

 The other was of the same party, and might have been the servant, or, 

 perhaps, a higher grade, for it was hard to distinguish the rank by his 

 dress. 



The gate was no sooner opened than they both entered ; and the one 

 who had the appearance of being the master, dismounting from his horse, 

 carelessly threw the reins to his companion, who received them with 

 much respect. He desired to be conducted to Sir Ralph Desrick, which 

 was instantly done, as Sir Ralph had himself come forward to ascertain 

 who so unusual a visitor could be. 



The master of the house himself showed the way to his library, and 

 the guest, without being requested, threw himself into an easy chair 

 beside the fire, and seemed for a few moments to enjoy the warmth 

 without regarding his host. His request that some refreshment might 

 be provided was almost instantly complied with, and of which, after a 

 long formal prayer, he ate sparingly. As soon as he had finished his 

 frugal meal, the attendant was ordered to withdraw with the remains of 

 the repast, and the host and his visitor found themselves face to face, 

 having as yet scarcely exchanged more words than the nature of the 

 stranger's request required. Sir Ralph waited patiently until the other 

 should break the silence, which he shortly did. 



" It appears, then, I am not known to Sir Ralph Desrick." 



Sir Ralph thought it was a face he should have known, and yet 

 could not say where or how. But he replied, it was so little he had 



