owd divided itself on dispersing from the archery-ground, and soon found himself in a part of the holiday scene a

on, Marmaduke started to behold what seemed to him the heads of giants at least six yards high; but on a nearer approach these formidable apparitions resolved themselves to a company of dancers upon stilts. There, one joculator exhibited the antics of his well-tutored ape; there, another eclipsed the attractions of the baboon by a marvellous horse that beat a tabor with his forefeet; there, the more som

hough low, clear, well-tuned, and impressive, forcibly arrested the attention of young Nevile; for at that day, even more than this (sufficiently apparent as it now is), there was a marked distinction in the intonation, the accent, the modulation of voice, between the better bred and better educated and the inferior classes. But this difference, so ill according with her dress and position, only served to heighten more the bold insolence of the musical Bacchantes, who, indeed, in the eyes of the sober, formed the most immoral nuisance attendant on the sports of the time, and whose hardy license and peculiar sisterhood might tempt the antiquary to search for their origin amongst the relics of ancient Paganism. And now, to increase the girl's distress, some half-score of dissolute apprentices a

e, at that period.] This movement, discomposing his mantle, brought the silver arrow he had won (which was placed in his girdle) in full vi

said the other, lowering his bludgeon, and doffing his cap. "Gentle sir, forgive

fingers. "She has enchanted him with her glamour. Foul is fair! Foul fair thee, young springal, if thou go to the nets. Shadow and goblin to goblin and shadow!

ss me, my

ses I tr

usic, a

was life

his new charge; and in a few moments the Nevile and the maiden found themselves, unmolested and unpursued, in a deserted quarter of the ground; but still the scream of the timbrel-girls, as they hurried, wheeli

" asked the Nevile, soothingly, "b

my serving-woman, and had already got more than I dared hope, when those wicked timbrel-players came round me, and accused me of taking the money from them. And then they called an officer of the ground, who asked me my name and holding; so when I answered, they

le, "did they give to you

s spent his means in studying what he say

oked upon a scholar, unless in the Church, with mingled awe and abhorrence

to say, as he caught the bright eyes and arch, intelligent face lifted

with a slight disdain in her face and voice. "But

simplicity of the child; and of such contrasts, indeed, was that character made up. For with a sweet, an infantine change of tone a

rn, but I can refill the

l of inferior degree, and perhaps doubtful repute. Even in our own day such an exhibition would be, to say the least, suspicious; and in that day, when ranks and classes were divided with iron demarcations, a young gallant, whose dress bespoke him of gentle quality, with one of opposite sex, and belonging to the humbler orders, in broad day too, was far more open to censure. The blood mounted to his brow, and halting abruptly, he s

l that you are ashamed of your goodness. But my

maduke, interested in her

on that altered the whole character of her face-"the beggar ate

reduced

ame half-scorn on her lip that it had before betrayed; "

said the Nevile,-"fit only for monks and shavelings. But still, for

e felt an uncomfortable sensation of remorse and disapproval at having suffered her to quit him while there was ye

outh; for that day seems not to come gradually, but to be a sudden crisis, an abrupt revelation. The buds of the heart open to close no more. Such a day was this in that girl's fate. But the day was not yet gone! That morning, when she dressed for her enterprise of filial love, perhaps for the first time Sibyll Warner felt that she was fair-who shall say whether some innocent, natural vanity had not blended with the deep, devoted earnestness, which saw no shame in the act by which the child could aid the father? Perhaps she might have smiled to listen to old Madge's praises of her winsome face, old Madge's prediction

y broken, indeed, as such laws ever must be) confined to nobles. Though his surcoat was but of cloth, and the colour dark and sober, it was woven in foreign looms,-an unpatriotic luxury, above the degree of knight,-and edged deep with the costliest sables. The hilt of the dagger, suspended round his breast, was but of ivory, curiously wrought, but the scabbard was sown with large pearls. For the rest, the stranger w

faithless lover? Tush! love renews itself i

her. She had lost all clew to her way homeward, and she saw with horror, in the distance, the h

ce was that of command, and the poor girl involuntarily obeyed it. She related her misfortunes, her persecution by the tymbesteres,

anguage and her dress moved his curiosity. "And," said he, "thy protector left thee, his work half done; fie on his chivalry! But I, donzel, wear the spurs of knighthood, and to succour the distre

ldhood had passed in a court, her eye, accustomed to rank, at once perceived the high degree of the speaker. The contrast betwee

alteringly, "what can reward the

weet virgin!-for such

hrong. He felt none of the young shame, the ingenious scruples of Marmaduke, at the gaze he encountered, thus companioned. But Sibyll noted that ever and anon bonnet and cap were raised as they passed al

o his disdainful face, exclaimed, "Tradest thou, too, for kisses? Ha, ha! life is short,-the witch is outwitched by thee! But witchcraft and death go together, as pe

to converse with his young companion, and artfully to draw out her own singular but energetic and gifted mind. He grew more

ars and nearer to her in station; but in showing himself ashamed to be seen with her, he had galled her heart, and moved the bitter tears of her pride. What had the stranger done? Nothing but reconciled the wounded delicacy to i

as refined his taste, but who has survived enthusiasm, upon the downcast cheek that blushed beneath his gaze. "Farewell!" he said; and the girl

uttered to himself, with a melancholy smile upon his lips, "Now might the grown infant make to himself a new toy; but an innocent heart is a britt

hese birdis br

lies in pa

ion, has the following lines in the very

I pray, in

ese birdis bri

overs and t

lies in pa

ter of the space, he was agreeably surprised by encountering Nicholas Alwyn, escorted in triumph by a leg

about it, until I get a ware of my own, when the more of ye that like to talk of such matters the better ye will be welcome,-always provided ye be civil customers, who pay on the nail, for as the saw saith, 'Ell and tell makes the crypt swell.' For the rest, thanks are due to this brave gentleman, Marmaduke Nevile, who, though the son of a knight-banneret who never furnished less to the battle-field than fifty men-at-arms, has condescended to take part and parcel in the sports of us peaceful London traders; and if ever you can do him a kind turn-for turn an