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forsooth, while they practice, the old vices? Good God! Have I denied the Holy Father and foresworn confession only to see the fire-brand and the axe in the hands of those who were to break our bonds? And what sort of bonds were they, Ralph? Whom did they gall? Or did they gall any one before the quarrel began amongst the bishops? Oh, it is from that quarrel that all our misery has arisen-Would that you had never filled my head with your nonsense! that I had never heard the preaching of the Pole A-Lasco, or the gentle seductive words of our guest; I had then been an orthodox believer instead of tormenting myself with the thought of having bartered away my soul for a bit of bad silver! for just like this coin"-and she flung it down upon the table "just like this coin are the new doctrines; at the last day heaven will reject

f

them, and we shall find ourselves taken in then

precisely as we are now."

“And all this," said Ralph, sitting down ex

hausted, by the torrent of her words; " all this

is for the sake of a paltry piece of money which you happen to fancy is not good! It is true," he added, in a conciliating tone, as the anger flashed from her eyes," it is true, that the coin is really not good-it has the full weight, but not the proper purity of metal. It originated with the Protector Somerset, who issued this sort of money to pay the army which was then in the field against the Scots and Catholics. Since then it has got into circulation, and from the troops passing through the country has come down to us. But do not let that fret you too much, dame ; it is always in the power of the inn-keeper or the tradesman to gain in the price of his goods what he loses in the mode of payment."

"You do but half understand me," replied the wife, somewhat softened; " it is true I am vexed at this unexpected cheat; but say, yourself, is it not enough to distract us when we find ourselves deceived by those we have trusted, and trusted more perhaps than was fitting? If they outreach us in lesser things, why not in the main

point also ?-And then the woman!-the poor woman! My hair stands on end when I think on the words of the soldier who was dragging her to the stake. What! is it thus they outrage others for not thinking with themselves, they who pretend to deliver man from bondage?—And do we not daily see numbers of poor wretches stealing past here, scarcely daring to enjoy the relief that is offered to them by humanity ?-Even now-God be praised, he is in safety!"-and she pointed to the vacant place by the fire,-" Even now I have seen another of these oppressed creatures seeking a refuge beneath our roof and again driven forth. to wander. If an angel had not taken him into his guard, he must have fallen into the hands of the barbarians."

"It is no angel, my good woman, that saved the poor fugitive," exclaimed Fagius, who now entered the room; "it is one of those whose extravagant zeal you have abused with zeal no less extravagant."

The hostess seemed ashamed, but Fagius with

out noticing it continued ;

"I know the man well; it is Day, Bishop of Chichester. He was concealed by Mary in her castle, and she has not sent him abroad without some object. Rely upon it, the matter with which she has intrusted him weighs heavily in the scale that is to decide the fate of England. I must turn my back upon this trembling island; and do you be upon your guard, lest it slip from beneath your feet. Farewell," he repeated, looking to Ralph as he went out; at the same time he drew him aside a few paces and pressed a sealed paper into his hand.- "This is the last stay that I know of for you and others who profess the reformed religion. To Hatfield! To Elizabeth!-You understand?" he added emphatically; then giving his right hand to Partridge, he mounted his horse that waited to carry him to the nearest sea-port.

THE harp and the violin were silent, and night mantled Sion House in its shadows. Still, however, the pale lamp-light glimmered in one window which looked out from a round tower on the white freestone of the castle-yard. Over this the storm was sweeping; the casements trembled as if shaken by violent blows, and the wind howled through the fastenings. So loud was the uproar that it completely drowned the sound of a stranger's footing, who, slowly and carefully ascended the winding stair-case, followed the dark passage, and at length reached the chamber, guided by the light from its half-open door. He entered, } and sank at the feet of the loveliest of her sex, nk at the

who, with suppressed delight and feigned displeasure, withdrew the hand that he ventured to cover with burning kisses.

"Think not, Richard," said the lady, in an