www my earnest prayer that we may meet in Heaven, never to part again." would come home to-morrow!" clusion that years might yet pass ere they would meet. And well she could foresee how long and weary suspense would make the time that would elapse ere his arrival; it was in vain that she tried, with resignation and patience, to await it. She felt that, having nothing to occupy her mind, she should be the victim of sorrowful spirits, from which nothing could rouse her but his return. Flora, too, had touched upon a chord which she was herself surprised should have affected her-she could not have believed it would have moved her, but it did; her faith in Wat had been unshaken by a single doubt, but when Flora mentioned Fell's story of the wonders of the continent-although she regarded it as a fable-there was in it an approach to truth which rendered it in a modified degree possible. "I pray most earnestly to Heaven you may have your fondest wishes realised," said Flora, fervently. "I have no doubt you will, for you have always been so very good; and I trust I may too, though I do not deserve them as well as you do. I hope Michael holds me in his heart as Wat does you, and I am sure I do him as you do Wat. Oh, Violet, if they should be on their way home now, and had never seen or been beguiled by any of these lovely foreign maidens, but turned their eyes and hearts from their fascinations, and remembered only us, wouldn't it be delightful! I think you may be sure of Wat; and I don't believe Michael would lightly forget me-oh, no, I am sure he wouldn't. I believe they are both the most constant, dearest creatures in the world-don't you? They can't be long before As far as her own heart was concerned, no being they return home now, can they? Only consider, in the world could interfere with, share, or shake the five years, which is the same as five years and a half, impression Wat had made upon it; she had hitherto for they only remained in England a few days, and believed that he bore the same feeling of truth; but what can they want away all that while? I feel sure, when Flora's words recurred to her mind--and they somehow, they are coming home;" here she clapped did frequently, in spite of every effort to divest herher hands with delight. 'Perhaps they'll be home self of them, or laugh at them as absurd-she began 1535 in a week-perhaps to-morrow! Oh, how delightful; to reason upon the difference there might exist what thousands of things we shall have to talk about, between man's nature and woman's, and whether it all about our adventures and theirs too. I shall was possible for the former to possess the same never leave off chattering for a week. Oh, that they enduring, clinging, unchanging love as the latter. She began to wonder whether, after a separation of five years, engaged in scenes of turmoil and bloodshed, her image might not be in some degree weakened in his mind; and surrounded at the celebration of the victories with high dames, the loveliest imagination could picture, all regarding him with their kindest glances and fairest smiles-for she deemed him so surpassingly gallant in his appearance, that they could not refrain from singling him out to be honored with their favors-whether his mind would not be dazzled by the beauty and the station, and his memory of her who was far, far from him, so nearly effaced by what was before him, as to make him forget all he had sworn to remember, and unite himself with one who might be fairer in person, more culti{vated in mind, but who could not possess the same devoted attachment to him that she did. Then would she dismiss it from her mind; and calling up numerous traits of his high principle, cast away the thought that he would tarnish his soul by forfeiting his truth, for the sake of one who, though she might be high in station and lovely in person, to whom he had not sworn to be true and never change. For a time she would revel in all the pleasure such a reflection gave her; but then, again, they would be displaced by a troop of conjectures, giving strong and feasible reasons for its being otherwise; and thus tossed and harrassed by conflicting thoughts, she rose from her bed unrefreshed. But Violet had no such hope; she, however, said nothing. Fiora, who had some vague notion that coming to Brenchley was more than half-way to seeing Michael, had no sooner hit upon a string of sanguine expectations, than she ran on with her hopes and anticipations, until she almost fancied that when she got back to the cottage she should find Wat and Michael there. They sat there until twilight was merging into night, and then they rose and departed. On arriving at the cottage, Flora cast her eyes around with a faint idea that her hopes might have been fulfilled; but, alas! neither Wat nor Michael were there, nor any indication that they had arrived, and Flora contented herself with the hope that it might be to-morrow or the next day—a week at farthest, and retired with Violet to rest, to dream that she was once again with her own Michael, walking in the most sequestered, but loveliest spot in all Brenchley. Violet, on the contrary, rested ill: the necessity for exertion, mental and bodily, had passed away; everything that could call upon her energies no longer existed; and she had nothing now to exercise her thoughts upon but Wat-to conjecture what his situation might be; whether he had found laurels to be had only for the plucking, or whether he found, as many have, the army, the field of glory, a succession of imminent hazards linked to bitter slavery, productive of hardships, wounds-a scanty pittance, and nothing else. Halbert Evesham had well explained to her the bond which bound the soldier to the King's service, and it was too well known that the more preux and brilliant the soldier, the less his chance of discharge, unless he received it from Death. The position of affairs between England and France rendered it, through Edward's known intention and ambition, a matter of great doubt that the war would terminate for years; and as she was in her own mind satisfied that Wat, aided by the patronage of Sir Walter Manny, would never rest until he had greatly distinguished himself, thereby rendering himself of value to Edward, and his hopes of return in consequence fainter than ever, she could not but arrive at the con She was very sad that day, and several times, albeit she strove to check the tears, she wept almost bitterly. Flora was very much infected by her sadness to even herself shed tears, but she tried a thousand ways to cheer her. They were seated in the afternoon in the little chamber that partly overlooked the village, and Violet, moved by the affectionate earnestness of Flora to rouse her from her melancholy, told her candidly, that although she had the previous day scouted the idea that Wat might in another land find a fair one to compensate his absence from her, it had appeared so feasible, so likely, and he not so very much to blame, that from his very long silence she dreaded that it had come to pass, and he would never return to England, or if he did, it would be to bring his bride with him instead of coming to find her there. Flora listened to her with a sort of horror. She turned faint and pale, and, leaving her chair, knelt before Violet, and looking up in her face, said, with a troubled expression of countenance "But surely, Violet, you do not really think so?" "I wish, dear Flora, I did not," she replied. "Oh, Heaven!" cried Flora, bursting into tears, and burying her face in Violet's lap, "then all my hopes are vanished for ever." "Thine!" exclaimed Violet. "Why thine, Flora? the change in Wat cannot affect thee." { the top of their speed; they were yet some distance, and the features, or even character of them, could not be distinguished; but there was something so remarkable in the coincidence of their appearance at this moment, that Violet was infected with the same belief as Flora, and her heart beat so violently as to be painful. "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Flora, clapping her hands, and waving them out of the window in a paroxysm of intense delight. "It is them!-it is Wat and Michael!-it is Michael! I could tell him anywhere. Ha! ha! ha! he sees us, Violet-he waves his hand. Dear, dear Michael! and he has not wedded a foreign maiden, and gone away with her; I love him, if its only for that. How they gallop along. Oh yes, Violet, it is-I see their faces--it is them. Oh, Heaven be praised! there's Michael, he laughs and knows me. I can't see him now for tears, but I know it is him-my heart tells me so. Oh, Violet, let us run cut and meet them; come, let us run and show them how glad, how delighted, how overjoyedoh, there's no word to express it. Violet, how white you look. Come, Violet, come, dear Violet! Why are you so pale, and your hand so cold?-it is like "Oh, yes, indeed, it does most terribly," she sobbed. "Oh, if you knew as I do how devotedly Michael is attached to Wat; I have heard him, with tears in his eyes, vow he would gladly die to serve him, and I know if Wat cannot stand against the temptation, Michael will be sure to fall. He will be sure to follow Wat's example and come to England with his bride too. Oh, I wish I had never heard Fell's diabolical tales. I wish my tongue had been cut out ere I had mentioned them to you; for all my stay, my dependance, was on what you said; and now you conjecture the worst, what can I do out give myself up to despair. Oh, Violet, I shall be so unhappy now. I—I shall-ob, how I wish there—there—ice. Speak to me-you must not faint, there's a were no-no-maidens any-any-where-but--but in-Bre-Bre-Brenchley," she concluded, sobbing ready to break her heart. Nay, dear Flora, be not too ready to give way to such violent grief before you have something stronger than a mere conjecture of mine to found your sorrow upon," said Violet, cheeringly. "Michael may be very much attached to Wat, but not to the extent of sacrificing you, because Wat was to wed other than me." "Ah!" exclaimed Flora, "I know Michael better; he could not be proof against a temptation Wat could not withstand; perhaps he is already married to some designing, artful, wicked creature, who may be very beautiful, but must be very cunning, and had no right whatever to marry Michael. And as for him, he-but no, I don't think he would-I don't think he would wed another, and so quickly forget me. I would rather hear he was dead, much rather; for then I should know that if I did not have him nobody else { would. Perhaps he is dead-perhaps he is, and that accounts for his long absence. Oh, Violet, if they should both be dead!" dear, sweet Violet! Come, come, think how happy, how very happy we shall be now. Sit down a moment, you will be better in a minute. Oh, when Wat folds you to his heart you will soon have your colour restored. There! there! Oh, Violet, they have come at last! Hark! they have reached the door-the horses stop! Oh dear, oh dear, how my heart does beat! I feel cold, too, Violet, and my eyes are dim-but I will not faint. No, no, I will not welcome my own dear Michael by fainting in his arms." But the poor girl was so overcome by her feelings that she trembled and tottered, and with the greatest exertion could barely keep herself from fainting. Violet, too, was on the verge of swooning; she was as white as marble, and sat almost in a state of stupor, with her hands clasped awaiting his coming. They heard the commotion at the door-they heard the voices--oh, how well they knew their every tone! They heard a voice exclaim, "Where's Flora?" Here, dear Michael, here! here! here!" she shrieked, and darting from the room, was in another instant clasped to his heart, doing the very thing she had resolved not to do, welcoming him by fainting dead away in his arms; if Michael's squeezing her passionately to his breast had been a successful remedy for her recovery, she would have speedily been restored, for he strained her to his heart, and the large tears ran down his cheeks, rendering him As this was a matter that, under the circumstances, was highly probable, and as it was to Violet more grievous than even the thoughts of his wedding a foreign dame, it proved anything but consolatory in her state of mind; and burying her face in her hand, she leaned her arm upon the window-ledge, and gave way to a passion of tears. To see her so very sorrow-incapable of utterance beyond the ejaculation of ful smote the heart of Flora, as if an arrow had been thrust there, and she raised her head again, and, with the kindest words she could employ, sought to alleviate her grief, but Violet was unable to easily recover from her ruth, and Flora was at a loss in what manner to remove her tears. She happened in a moment of silence to cast her eyes down the village, and suddenly she opened them to their widest extent, her heart heat to suffocation-she half shrieked, and pointing out of the window, she cried- "Violet! Oh, Violet, look there! look there! for Heaven's sake, look!-my eyes do not deceive me, do they? See! see!-it must be them! Oh, Holy Virgin be praised!" Violet raised her eyes, startled by Flora's sudden exclamation, and looking in the direction in which Flora pointed, saw a couple of men in military garb, mounted upon war steeds, galloping towards them at "Flora! Flora! my own dear, dear little Flora!" He kissed her cheeks again and again as she lay motionless in his arms; and it was plain to see his hot tears shining on her face. His mother advanced to take her from his arms, but he would not suffer her, and waving her off, he carried Flora into the garden. He seated himself upon a small bench with her in his arms, and hung over her, waiting patiently for the opening of her sweet eyes. Wat, who found some difficulty in disengaging himself from his mother's arms, was so sooner free than he made for the room in which Violet was sitting; he opened the door gently, and entered with a beating heart he saw her sitting there deathly pale, like a statue, watching for his entrance. He no sooner appeared before her than she uttered a cry of joy hysterically, and sprung into his extended arms; he pressed her to his heart with a feeling of happiness so intense, it was scarcely possible to endure it, and he kissed her sweet face and hands, and knew not how to show his extreme felicity in once more holding her in his arms. "Violet, my love!" he exclaimed, when his emotion enabled him to articulate, "this is joy!-this, indeed, is supreme felicity, and a bright reward for all my toil-for my long, long separation from you. Ah, Violet, how constant have been my thoughts of you! -how unceasing my prayers for you! I have worn you in my heart as a tutelary saint, and never found one to move my soul from thee, my beloved; never!" "Dear Wat!" murmured Violet, "I do believe thee. I know that thou'rt all truth and honor, and in all things worthy of my dearest love; and I have always thought thus of thee while thou wert away, and have been true to thee in all things, never meeting with a time when I had a look, or word, or thought for other than you." as of old, and to them I would have flown, dear, dear "I am sure of that," said Wat; "I saw her as I entered. I heard Halbert say, 'this is my dear wife,' and a glance told me the being I am sure she is. But, Violet, I could think of none but you when I came into this dear old place again-even when I hugged my mother to my heart, bless her! I looked round for you, and wondered why you were not there to greet me." "I saw you coming, Wat-Flora's quick eyes detected you and Michael, when your forms were scarce distinguishable, and she pointed you out to me, but my heart was so overcome with emotion, I had not power to move," replied she. "Thou true!" ejaculated Wat, enthusiastically; why, my beloved Violet, I could have easier doubted the truth of my religion, than thought, even in imagination, thou wert untrue. Oh, Violet, how I have longed for this moment to arrive! how have I wearied myself with conjectures and anticipations to foresee the hour when this bliss should come to pass! and it used to make me sad and dull to think how far off the time must necessarily be; but it has arrived, and once more, after an absence of five long years, which, 'mid all the toil, turmoil, and bustle of war, and a camp life, have each appeared an age-I have come back to you, Violet, with a heart as clear and as devoted to you, with a conscience as unstained or "I can have little doubt of it, dear Violet, judging a deed upon it to raise a blush, as before I quitted by my own feelings," returned Wat, fervently. 'My you. I have not quitted the army as I entered it; steed, which is very swift, seemed as we approached for I went in as a simple village youth, who had the village to be in his very laziest mood, and little as nothing but his good sword to speak for him, and II am used to vex him with whip and spur, I used have quitted it as honorably as I could have wished. I have won honors, I have gained laurels, and bear tokens of our good and gallant King Edward's esteem with me; and I have succeeded in my proud ambition of making my name of Wat Tyler one which the peerless Violet Evesham may never be ashamed to wear." 'Oh, Wat! had you never quitted this village," said Violet, turning her eyes fondly upon his, "I should have been but too happy to have borne your name; but now, for thy sake, I am prouder than ever to share thy honors, thy fame, but most of all, dearest Wat, thy love!" 66 'My beloved Violet!" ejaculated Wat. "When you quitted me, dear Wat," continued Violet, "there were many doubts and fears which harassed and haunted me constantly. I loved you, Wat-I knew not until we were separated how dearly-but the incertitude I was in respecting my parents, the mystery connected with my birth, made me have some sorrowful apprehensions whether Heaven would be so bountiful as to grant our union. I had resolved-and weak as I am in many things, I could be immoveable on this point-that if I wedded not you, none other should be my husband. I had some strange forebodings that when I discovered my parents they would wish me to marry one of their own selection. I know not why this thought possessed me; I had no cause, but it clung like a shadow to me, and rendered me more dispirited than any other circumstance in my position. I several times mentioned this apprehension to my dear father, and with the same devoted affection he had ever shewn me, he told me, that if they wished arbitrarily to control my will to the sacrifice of my happiness, there was still his roof and arms open to shelter me " both to urge him on, and even then he kept not pace with my inclinations; albeit, when we reached here, he was covered with foam, and I know his mettle and capabilities so well, that that simple fact convinces me we must have ridden hither furiously. Poor Michael was in a more impatient condition than myself; he vowed that the steeds crawled miserably that they did it purposely, because they were well aware their best speed was never so much needed, and wondered by what freak of Nature they were not gifted with wings, that, upon extraordinary oecasions like the present, they might fly direct to their destination at once, instead of being compelled to keep on the road, and follow every winding and turning it took. Never was human being so anxious to return to their birth-place as he, and never was satisfaction so complete, as when he learned that he had obtained his discharge from the army, although there was no braver man, no gallanter, or better soldier in the camp than he. He is a noble, affectionate soul, and I should regret most sincerely if the cause of his anxiety to return should induce him to seek in the turmoil of war the happiness he expects to find here." Meaning Flora," said Violet, with a smile. "Yes," replied Wat. "No youth can love a maiden more sincerely, more devotedly, I might say, more passionately, than he does her. She has been his only thought, his anxiety, his dream by night, his memory by day; and if she now deceives him-if ever man died of a broken heart, Michael Rycheart will be the man.' "Do you remember, dear Wat, before you left Brenchley, in speaking of Flora's situation, what you said ?" asked Violet, still smiling. "I recollect well what my thoughts were upon the Wat pressed her to his heart for the kind acknowledgment. "You said," she continued, "that if you were successful in persuading him to return, that I should see Flora would be cured of her flirtation." "I was not successful in bringing him back," said Wat, eagerly; "but what was the consequences?" "That your judgment was infallible," replied Violet, "she was so thoroughly cured of her frivolity, that not even the most jealous lover on earth could have found cause to quarrel with her; and I am certain that Michael's hopes and anticipations could not excel hers for him, even if they could equal them. She has explained in so artless a manner, that there could be no disguise or deceit in her story, the motives and influences for her conduct; and, with such a nature as hers, I am not at all surprised at what occurred. Michael, in some degree, had himself to blame for much that happened; but I think they have both had a lesson which will teach them to be happier for the future." "And there exists nothing that should prevent him taking her to his heart as gladly as he did ere they quarrelled ?" exclaimed Wat. Nothing on earth," replied Violet, energetically; "she is in every way worthy of him; and never did I think until lately he might be so proud of her as he may now." Tyler one to be proudly remembered. You cannot do more were you to continue in it all your life. Your station might be raised; you might be made an earl, a duke, but you could not gain more brilliant fame from your achievements than you have obtained; you could not, at least I hope and think not, be happier than were you to leave the perils of the field and live in Brenchley for the remainder of your days. You are of my opinion, Wat, I perceive by the expression of your eyes. You, too, have a discharge as complete as Michael's have you not? Your services to Edward could be no less then Michael's, and he would not, I am sure, withhold from you that which he would grant to him. You have got an entire release, have you not? Tell me, for I cannot bear the suspense of doubting whether a short time may not again part us, and perhaps for ever." -- "I have got a release as entire in all its conditions as Michael's," replied Wat. "Thank Heaven!" responded Violet, energetically. "But if I return to the army I shall be presented with a pair of spurs, and be dubbed Sir Walter Tyler," exclaimed Wat, "whereas I am now but a simple esquire." "Better that by far, dear Wat," said Violet, quickly, "than you should return to the wars and perish for the sake of being made a knight." "You have no ambition, Violet," said Wat, with a smile. "Indeed I have," she replied. "You have!" he exclaimed; "what is it ?" "To be happy," she returned; "I esteem it better "There is one doubt from my heart removed," said to be happy than to be great, as I do to be good Wat, gladly; "there is one piece of happiness I have rather than powerful. In seeking for greater fame gained in coming to Brenchley. I confess I had my than you have gained, in striving to be more exalted misgivings, and for Michael's sake I dreaded to hear than you are, you will not be happier than now, some unpleasant story respecting her, but your intel-perhaps not so happy, and you may, in seeking for ligence has made my heart rejoice. My kind-hearted, sincere Michael!" he exclaimed with a fervent aspiration, "may you be as happy as you deserve to be!" "I hope so too," said Violet, "and I think there is little cause to fear that he will, for I am indeed { deceived in Flora if she does not try her utmost to banish every care, pain, or anxiety from him. You said he had obtained his discharge from the army, dear Wat; does that mean an entire release, or a leave of absence for a term?" "An entire release," replied Wat; "he is free of the army for ever if he pleases; and such is the nature of the document, that, unless by his own free will, he cannot under any circumstances be compelled to enter the army again. Edward can ill spare such gallant { soldiers as him, but in consideration of many services, he has bestowed it upon him instead of rewarding him with promotion." "And-and-have you such a discharge?” inquired Violet, timidly yet anxiously, fearing an answer in the negative. "Would you have me quit the army, and forego all further chance of promotion and honours ?" asked Wat. "I would have honors showered upon you tenfold, aye, a million fold," said she earnestly; "but not at the expense of absence from me, and the hazard of your life. Ah, Wat! I could ill bear to be again separated from you as I have been; you have served your country for nearly six years, I am sure, through all danger and hardships, and that is surely long enough. You tell me you have not left it as you { entered. Ah! I know that well-very well; your noble nature assures me of that: you have won honors you have gained laurels—you bear the tokens of the King's esteem, and have made the name of Wat empty titles, sacrifice the happiness of others; and if you desire to do this, you are changed from what you were." "And you would not have me quit you again, dear Violet ?" he said, fondly, although he smiled at the earnestness with which she uttered her last speech. "No, Wat, unless you really desired it; and then, if you could be happier in being away, I would not prevent you, although it would —" She did not finish her sentence, and Wat would not pain her farther by dwelling on the subject; and imprinting a kiss upon her forehead, he said, in a gentle voice, "And now that all the mystery of your birth is cleared up a story I long to hear-there exists no bar or impediment to our happiness, sweet Violet; Halbert, who would not have controlled your inclination before he knew that you were his child, will not now discover that Wat Tyler is no meet match for thee." "Indeed he will not," said Violet, leaning her head upon his shoulder, and turning her sweet eyes with a soft gaze upon his. "Nor Ghita, thy newly found mother, think you, would be happier if you wedded with one of higher birth and greater wealth than I?" he added. My happiness is theirs, Wat," she replied; "and in this matter they would not bias my wish in the least degree." "And you, Violet; you will not say or think you had rather be the bride of one who is in all respects noble, who loves thee devotedly, but who is far from here, were I to ask thy hand of thee ?" 46 Wat, do you doubt me?" she exclaimed, looking instantly serious, almost painfully so. 66 'Do not be offended, dearest," he replied; "I |