CHAPTER VIII.

THE CHAIN BROKEN.

I 'gin to be a-weary of the sun,

And wish th' estate o' the world were now undone.
MACBETH.

WHEN the penitent, Hubert Neville, left the knight in that state of consternation, which his declaration was so well calculated to produce, it appears that he went immediately from Crosby-house towards the Guildhall of the city, for the purpose of disclosing the conspiracy in which he had himself been engaged against his master. In his way he met Ralph Hanslap, who, on arriving at Winchester-house, had been told that the bishop was gone on a special summons to the king at Windsor.

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Of their meeting and greeting we are furnished with a long and circumstantial account. Many questions were asked and answered, little relevant to the current of our narrative; none of them, however, without an object, at least on the part of the penitent.

Hubert Neville, like the fox in the fable, having lost his own tail, was devoutly zealous to induce others to cut off their's also. Not that we question the sincerity of his repentance, by making so unfeeling and so flippant a remark, as some of the rigidly righteous may perhaps be pleased, in their Christian charity, to call it; we only insinuate, and that too in the most indirect mode possible, that, let a man be as fervent as flame in his apostacy, whether it be from virtue or from vice, he will still be desirous of the countenance of his companions. And it happened that Hubert Neville found Ralph Hanslap in the most susceptible state for receiving, with due effect, the impression of his

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admonitions. Ralph had fostered his resentment to seed it had prospered beyond expectation and having come to maturity, and been shed, he felt, at the time of their meeting, as if his portion in the world's business was at an end; no person, therefore, could be in a finer condition for becoming a sainter gratified in his sin, warm, glowing, and ex ulting from the satisfaction of his revenge, could a man who had served hell so well not think himself free to aspire to the enjoyments of heaven ?pied sig 9233_15_1910)

Accordingly, after those interchanges of old companionship, which the reader can better imagine than we have time to write, when Neville told him of the change wrought by the plague on his heart, and of the guilty obduracy of Sir Amias, they resolved to return together, in order to try what their united exhortations might yet effect. In this, to do Ralph justice, the Chronicler seems to suspect there was a lurking of affec

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the fraudulent devices of his patron, he nevertheless desirous to spare him, for p from the ignominy of public retribution. T it happened, as we have said, that the two sinners and young saints walked arm in a if not innocently hand in hand, back Crosby-house.er amps of ooit Hoammi

The porter at the gate being accidenta absent from his post, they ascended the st that led into the hall, and thence procee to the gallery where Hubert Neville had Sir Amias standing. He was not, howe there, nor was any other person.

They halted and conferred together on propriety of Ralph Hanslap entering knight's apartment, which communicated w the gallery, and the door of which stoo little open.

It was agreed that Ralph Hanslap should go in, and he went forward with that intention.

When he had approached within three or four paces of the door, he stepped softly and listened, and then halted.medīt akiva "He is not within," said he; "shall we wait till he come?" la réquest I will inquire at the servants," replied Hubert Neville, "if he has gone out, I don't think he has, for I left him in a state that would rather make him shun than incur the observation of others."

A slight rustle within the room, followed by a low and slow murmur, ending with a a sigh, told them, that, notwithstanding the silence, Sir Amias was there.

Ralph Hanslap looked to his companion, and moved one step from the door, as he said in a whisper

"Let us wait; he is thinking of your words. I have never before heard him utter any thing so dismal.