1829.3 « Tale of the Reign of Mary. 3C3 



panion start ; " utter not such abominations, nor insult the purity you 

 know not how to respect. She is penny less and deserted ; what" more 

 can even your enmity desire ?" 



"Pennyless! and, in sooth, am not I the same, who have sacrificed 

 friends and name for your sake ? She and her brat may humble their 

 proud spirits and beg, as many honest folks have." 



'•' Peace," cried WharnclifF, even more loudly than before ; " you for- 

 get we have no time to lose. Those things must be sold. Your' friend, 

 the Jew, is doubtless already astir." 



'•■ What have we here t" said Mrs. Paine, busily unfolding the packet, 

 without replying to his words. " Ha ! a bible ! and in the mother 

 tongue. Would it was safe out of my keeping." 



" The sooner the better," said her companion, " since we must be 

 gone, and that without delay." 



"■ "What \" returned the woman, staring at him with well affected hor- 

 ror, " would you have me subject myself to a charge of heresy, by being 

 seen with this pestilent production in my possession.!" IMonster ! would 

 you have me burnt at the stake }" 



" You may trust safely to your friend the Jew," replied Wharncliff, 

 composedly. 



" May I, in sooth?" returned Mrs. Paine; " why, he would hang me 

 for sixpence." 



" Xot if you would give him a shilling to break the bargain," said 

 Walter. " But no more — you are wasting precious time." 



" What is the meaning of all this }" continued his companion, without 

 paying him further attention, and who, even whilst declaring her pre- 

 tended terrors, had been narrowly examining the volume, and had now 

 turned to the first page, where the names of Esther and her mother 

 were inscribed, with the date of the gift. As slie read the short para- 

 graph, a sudden thought apparently flashed on hei brain, for her terrors 

 were instantly forgotten, and her countenance was illumined by an 

 expression of bitter exultation, not unnoticed by WharnclifF. But she 

 allowed him no time for remark, and suddenly closing the book, sprang 

 up, and taking her mantle, said, in a hurried Voice, " Well, well, I have 

 trusted the Jew in worse matters, and if there be danger, Walter, I 

 willingly dare it for you. These silver mountings are of value, and we 

 shall have need of all we can collect." 



So saying, she prepared to depart, and, assuring him of her speedy 

 return, hastily left the chamber. Nor did she fail in her promise. Her 

 bargain it appeared was soon completed ; and in another half hour the 

 guilty fugitives had commenced their journey to a distant clime. 



Poor Esther, worn out by watching and sorrow, slept in the mean- 

 time by the side of her child ; and the tardy sun was high above the 

 horizon when she again awoke to a recollection of her misfortunes. Her 

 first thought was her husband's crime, and with that came the sense of 

 litr own utter destitution. But sleep had calmed the violence of her 

 grief, and perceiving that her child still slept, she took the produce of 

 the ])receding day's labour to procure the morning's meal, ai.d left her 

 cheerless dwelling. 



Her little barters were soon made, and something like delight once 

 more animated her pallid countenance as she spread the scanty provi- 

 rnons before her child, and felt that she yet possessed the power to main- 

 tain him. But tins gleam of pleasure was not destined to be of long 



