called, in such loud and harsh accents as awakened every echo in

the vaulted chapel, "Forbear!"
All were mute and motionless, till a distant rustle, and the

clash of swords, or something resembling it, was heard from the
remote apartments. It ceased almost instantly.

"What new device is this?" said Sir Frederick, fiercely, eyeing
Ellieslaw and Mareschal with a glance of malignant suspicion.

"It can be but the frolic of some intemperate guest," said
Ellieslaw, though greatly confounded; "we must make large

allowances for the excess of this evening's festivity. Proceed
with the service."

Before the clergyman could obey, the same prohibition which they
had before heard, was repeated from the same spot. The female

attendants screamed, and fled from the chapel; the gentlemen laid
their hands on their swords. Ere the first moment of surprise

had passed by, the Dwarf stepped from behind the monument, and
placed himself full in front of Mr. Vere. The effect of so

strange and hideous an apparition in such a place and in such
circumstances, appalled all present, but seemed to annihilate the

Laird of Ellieslaw, who, dropping his daughter's arm, staggered
against the nearest pillar, and, clasping it with his hands as if

for support, laid his brow against the column.
"Who is this fellow?" said Sir Frederick; "and what does he mean

by this intrusion?"
"It is one who comes to tell you," said the Dwarf, with the

peculiar acrimony which usually marked his manner, "that, in
marrying that young lady, you wed neither the heiress of

Ellieslaw, nor of Mauley Hall, nor of Polverton, nor of one
furrow of land, unless she marries with MY consent; and to thee

that consent shall never be given. Down--down on thy knees, and
thank Heaven that thou art prevented from wedding qualities with

which thou hast no concern--portionless truth, virtue, and
innocence--thou, base ingrate," he continued, addressing himself

to Ellieslaw, "what is thy wretched subterfuge now? Thou, who
wouldst sell thy daughter to relieve thee from danger, as in

famine thou wouldst have slain and devoured her to preserve thy
own vile life!--Ay, hide thy face with thy hands; well mayst thou

blush to look on him whose body thou didst consign to chains, his
hand to guilt, and his soul to misery. Saved once more by the

virtue of her who calls thee father, go hence, and may the pardon
and benefits I confer on thee prove literal coals of fire, till

thy brain is seared and scorched like mine!"
Ellieslaw left the chapel with a gesture of mute despair.

"Follow him, Hubert Ratcliffe," said the Dwarf, "and inform him
of his destiny. He will rejoice--for to breathe air and to

handle gold is to him happiness,"
"I understand nothing of all this," said Sir Frederick Langley;

"but we are here a body of gentlemen in arms and authority for
King James; and whether you really, sir, be that Sir Edward

Mauley, who has been so long supposed dead in confinement, or
whether you be an impostor assuming his name and title, we will

use the freedom of detaining you, till your appearance here, at
this moment, is better accounted for; we will have no spies among

us--Seize on him, my friends."
But the domestics shrunk back in doubt and alarm. Sir Frederick

himself stepped forward towards the Recluse, as if to lay hands
on his person, when his progress was suddenly stopped by the

glittering point of a partisan, which the sturdy hand of Hobbie
Elliot presented against his bosom.

"I'll gar daylight shine through ye, if ye offer to steer him!"
said the stout Borderer; "stand back, or I'll strike ye through!

Naebody shall lay a finger on Elshie; he's a canny neighbourly
man, aye ready to make a friend help; and, though ye may think

him a lamiter, yet, grippie for grippie, friend, I'll wad a
wether he'll make the bluid spin frae under your nails. He's a

teugh carle Elshie! he grips like a smith's vice."
"What has brought you here, Elliot?" said Mareschal; "who called

on you for interference?"
"Troth, Mareschal-Wells," answered Hobbie, "I am just come here,

wi' twenty or thretty mair o' us, in my ain name and the King's
--or Queen's, ca' they her? and Canny Elshie's into the bargain,

to keep the peace, and pay back some ill usage Ellieslaw has gien
me. A bonny breakfast the loons gae me the ither morning, and

him at the bottom on't; and trow ye I wasna ready to supper him
up?--Ye needna lay your hands on your swords, gentlemen, the

house is ours wi' little din; for the doors were open, and there
had been ower muckle punch amang your folk; we took their swords

and pistols as easily as ye wad shiel pea-cods."
Mareschal rushed out, and immediately re-entered the chapel.

"By Heaven! it is true, Sir Frederick; the house is filled with
armed men, and our drunken beasts are all disarmed. Draw, and

let us fight our way."
"Binna rash--binna rash," exclaimed Hobbie; "hear me a bit, hear

me a bit. We mean ye nae harm; but, as ye are in arms for King
James, as ye ca' him, and the prelates, we thought it right to

keep up the auld neighbour war, and stand up for the t'other ane
and the Kirk; but we'll no hurt a hair o' your heads, if ye like

to gang hame quietly. And it will be your best way, for there's
sure news come frae Loudoun, that him they ca' Bang, or Byng, or

what is't, has bang'd the French ships and the new king aff the
coast however; sae ye had best bide content wi' auld Nanse for

want of a better Queen."
Ratcliffe, who at this moment entered, confirmed these accounts

so unfavourable to the Jacobite interest. Sir Frederick, almost
instantly, and without taking leave of any one, left the castle,

with such of his attendants as were able to follow him.
"And what will you do, Mr. Mareschal?" said Ratcliffe.

"Why, faith," answered he, smiling, "I hardly know; my spirit is
too great, and my fortune too small, for me to follow the example

of the doughty bridegroom. It is not in my nature, and it is
hardly worth my while."

"Well, then, disperse your men, and remain quiet, and this will
be overlooked, as there has been no overt act."

"Hout, ay," said Elliot, "just let byganes be byganes, and a'
friends again; deil ane I bear malice at but Westburnflat, and I

hae gien him baith a het skin and a cauld ane. I hadna changed
three blows of the broadsword wi' him before he lap the window

into the castle-moat, and swattered through it like a wild-duck.
He's a clever fallow, indeed! maun kilt awa wi' ae bonny lass in

the morning, and another at night, less wadna serve him! but if
he disna kilt himsell out o' the country, I'se kilt him wi' a

tow, for the Castleton meeting's clean blawn ower; his friends
will no countenance him."

During the general confusion, Isabella had thrown herself at the
feet of her kinsman, Sir Edward Mauley, for so we must now call

the Solitary, to express at once her gratitude, and to beseech
forgiveness for her father. The eyes of all began to be fixed on

them, as soon as their own agitation and the bustle of the
attendants had somewhat abated. Miss Vere kneeled beside the

tomb of her mother, to whose statue her features exhibited a
marked resemblance. She held the hand of the Dwarf, which she

kissed repeatedly and bathed with tears. He stood fixed and
motionless, excepting that his eyes glanced alternately on the

marble figure and the living suppliant. At length, the large
drops which gathered on his eye-lashes compelled him to draw his

hand across them.
"I thought," he said, "that tears and I had done; but we shed

them at our birth, and their spring dries not until we are in our
graves. But no melting of the heart shall dissolve my