wild wood; The flowers in my heart that are

e-ver in bloom. And shall I no more, at the

dawn's first a- - dorn - ing, Ex - ult in the freedom of

mountain and shore ? O days all a spring-time! O

hours all a morning! O ye roses of life, that will

bloom never more!

He was on the point of renewing the air, when the sound of two persons, whispering on the outside of the hedge which enclosed the garden, attracted his attention, and particu

larly the expression of "That's he," which

he distinctly heard.

The impression he had received of his uncle's conduct, and the state of his mind and feelings at the moment, made this brief phrase peculiarly emphatic; but before he had time either to give the alarm, or even to draw his sword, a wide cloth was flung over him, and in a moment he was lifted by several hands, and placed before a man on horseback, who instantly rode away.

He was sensible that any attempt to discover the cause of this treatment, by speaking to his conductor, would be unavailing, and accordingly he remained silent, in the hope of gathering something from the conversation of the party; for he soon perceived that there were several in company: but they went on in silence till they reached the brink of the river.

When he heard the rippling of the waters, he expected to be thrown in; but his appre

hensions in this respect were soon quieted by the sound of a boat approaching, into which he was immediately placed, and conveyed to the opposite shore, where other men and horses were ready to receive him. Without the cloth being removed which had been flung over him, his arms were tied down to his sides, and he was again set on horseback as before.

In that condition he was conveyed several miles, and he heard, by the noise of the horses' hoofs, that he was passing a drawbridge, and under the vaulting of a gateway. In a moment after the reverberation of the trampling convinced him that he was within the area of a wide court; and the horses then stopping, he was lifted from the saddle and carried into a room, where his arms were untied, and the cover in which he was wrapt removed.

"No harm is intended, so make yourself comfortable," said a strong and stern fellow, who, with several others of a similar sullen physiognomy, were standing around him,

while another man in the garb of a domestic placed a light on a table.

“Where am I, and for what am I brought here?" said Rothelan, with a cool and resolute air. "It is plain you do not seek my life; but why am I a prisoner ?"

"We have executed our orders," said the same soldier who first spoke, turning to his fellows, who, without making any reply, immediately began to retire.

"I demand again some explanation," exclaimed the prisoner.

"You can get none from us," said the soldier gruffly, "we have but done our duty." "On whose orders then ?"

"It's no part of them to tell you," was the answer; and with these words, the others having in the meantime retired, he also left the room, and closing the door, which opened outwards, fastened it with a chain and bar.

B 2

CHAPTER IV.

THE SAND-GLASS TURNED.

Thrice he steppit east the hall,
And thrice he steppet west,
And long and dismal was the sigh

That heaved his loaded breast.
But ne'er in shrift to holy man
Would he his sorrows tell;

And he lived with men companionless

As a hermit in a cell.

SIR EVERARD.

In the meantime Ralph Hanslap had received a summons to appear before the Bishop of Winchester. It came upon him and his patron the more unexpectedly, as they were both persuaded that the Lady Albertina and her son had, as well as all the witnesses, perished of the plague; but the impression it pro duced on the one was very different from its effects on the other.