ELLEN NEVILLE, 
155 
sation of one who was every way her equal, and 
whose name had never been mentioned but with 
respect, even by the Royalists, against whom he 
had drawn his sword. With such ease did he 
glide from one subject to another, that, to the great 
astonishment of Phoebe when she came up, she 
found them seated side by side in the old summer¬ 
house, he reading, and the Lady Ellen listening 
with delight to the beautiful passages which he 
kept quoting from the “ Mask of Comus ” Many a 
happy hour did the General and the Lady Ellen 
afterwards spend together ; he remaining in entire 
ignorance respecting her rank and station, saving 
that her whole family, with the exception of her¬ 
self, had perished during the wars ; hut as any 
further allusion to the subject seemed to cause the 
lady pain, the young General kindly forbore to 
question her. 
As the winter approached the affairs of the 
nation called General Marchmont up to London, to 
meet the assembled parliament, and during that 
period he frequently corresponded with the. Lady 
Ellen, for her image was ever uppermost in his 
thoughts ; and no sooner did the early spring come, 
and he was released from his duties, than. he 
hastened back on the wings of love to the ancient 
manor-house. The Lady Ellen was walking in the 
pleached alleys of the garden when he alighted 
