ecret of the hou

thou hast been

curious humou

ler's tattle-a

aiting-woman o'

key to each d

PL

ious old steward and Mrs. Lilias sat in the apartment of the latter personage, holding grave converse on the important event of

abigail, sipping her glass; "an

ard, gravely; "I wish the

hich they call the little Herod, (more shame to them for giving the name of a Christian to wood and iron,) and has rowed himself by himself to the farther side of the loch,

r of the household, "in the which case, I am fre

not the very cockles of your heart rejoice at the house bei

lies as has been my lot, will be in no hurry to rejoice at any thing. And for Roland Graeme, though

ad. He might have been the ruin of our poor dear mistress," (here she used her kerchief,) "body and s

ss requireth not this pity at your hands, being in all respects compe

looked when young master took his leave. My mistress is a good lady, and a virtuous, and a well-doing

and say nothing. Besides that, my lady is utterly devoted to Sir Halbert,

most apt to find quiet at home, that's all; and my Lady's lonesome situation is to be considered,

wished a favourite to pass away the time, depend upon it, the time will not pass lighter now that he is gone. So she

her drink, for so many years? I have known many a lady as high as she is, that never thought either of a friend or favourite beyond thei

y silver hair, or golden chain, that will fill up the void which Roland Graeme must needs leave in our Lady's leisure. There will be a learned young divine with some new doctrine-a learned leech with some new drug-a bold cavalier, who will not be refused the favour of wearing her col

and thither, and look better after the affairs of his household. There will be a papestrie among us next, for what should I

red of popery, and that he was very jealous to conceal them. But you will find the Catholic under the Presbyterian cloak as often as the knave under the

ently," she said, "before they be the

ess Lilias," said the steward

r whatever has once borne the shape of them, one inch above my instep, were they diamonds instead of gold.-But t

master's brother," sa

e; "but is that a good reason why he should p

red the sententious major-domo; "but ye

asperity; "but I believe, Master Wingate, if one were to speak to you a

ed the steward, "supposing that I

"God bless us!" added, "I wonder, Master Wingat

f power enough to shake any throne in Christendom. Then, though our Scottish king be, God bless him, a true Protestant, yet he is but a boy; and here is his mother that was our queen-I trust there is no harm to say, God bless her too-and she is a Catholic; and many begin to think she has had but hard measure, such as the Hamiltons i

on us like a storm, or of the woman Mary again making the royal seat of Scotland a throne of abomination? No marvel that you are so civil to the cowled monk, Father Ambrose, when he comes hither

r malison either, but only because I respected my master's blood. And who can answer, if Mary come in again, whether he may not be as stout a tree to lean to as ever his brother hath proved to us? For down goes the Earl of Murray when the Queen comes by her own again; and good is his luck if he ca

ss's bread, to say nothing of my master's, so many years, that you could live to think of her being dispossessed of her own Castle of Avenel, by a wretched monk, who is not a drop's blood to her in the way of relation? I, that am but a woman, would try first whether my rock

to apologize and to explain, although internally extremely offended at the unreasonable view, as he deemed it, which it had pleased Mistress Lilias Bradbourne to take of his expressions; and mentally convinced that her disapprobation of his sentiments aros

he sapient major-domo to the duties of his own department. They parted with less than their usual degree of reverence and regard; for the steward felt that his worldly wisdom was re