THE FLORAL TELEGRAPH. 97 
was wanting to bribe the few that 
were likely to impede her progress. 
She bade him, amidst a labyrinth of 
the honeyed words of a chaste love, 
not to fail her at midnight at the try- 
sting place. But other and unbidden 
guests were to be there. 
“ This answer, so propitious, was 
received, and Lionel was wild with 
joyous anticipations. An hour before 
midnight, there were two noble steeds 
duly caparisoned in the neighbouring 
wood, and a small retinue of men, 
steel to the heart, to form a meet 
escort to the flying lovers. The 
horses pawed the ground with vain 
impatience, and vainly did those 
