ELLEN NEVILLE 
325 
After a long conversation, during which time fiew by 
unheeded, he looked at the few pale Snowdrops which 
she held between the whiteness of her fingers, and the 
small sprig of a hardy biennial Stock, which had flowered 
before its time, and said, with a smile, while his voice 
was tremulous with the earnestness of his emotion, 
“ Sweet lady, you now hold the emblems of Hope and 
Beauty in your hand; and, gathering a bunch of blossoms 
from the Peach, which already bloomed upon the old 
garden-wall, he added, “ You are, like myself, v/ei! versed 
in the meanings which the old poets have attributed to 
the flowers. Sweet lady mine, place this before the Snow- 
drop, then read me the sentence, that I may know whether 
or not you have forgotten the Language of Flowers which 
we studied together last summer.’’ 
She paused a moment, smiled, looked down, and said, 
“ They mean, I am your Captive, and Hope to pos- 
sess such — ” 
Then she blushed, and remained silent. He confessed 
his love, and w'as accepted. 
When the General discovered the young lady’s rank, 
he shrank back from his engagement, and dearly as he 
loved her, from motives of honour refused her proffered 
hand; nor was it until he clearly saw that their union 
alone would again establish her securely in her property, 
and prevent it from falling into the hands of one of 
Cromwell’s favourites, that he could be persuaded to be- 
come her husband. 
“If you love her,” said General Ireton, “you will best 
prove it by making her your wife; for there are already 
half a dozen hungry cormorants ever besieging his high- 
ness, and, much as he admires you, if he once perceives 
your honour leaning too much towards this fair Royalist, 
he will take up his pen, and at one stroke sweep away 
the old manor-house, and all its broad lands, from both 
her and you for ever.” 
Ellen’s tears and Ireton’s persuasions w'^ere too much 
for even General Marchmont’s honest scruples; and the 
same sun that shone upon the morning of his wedding- 
day, saw the faithful Phoebe led to the altar by the honest 
gardener. 
