"O bear with me, bear with me!” replied Sir Sigismund; "for to thee alone can I pour out the tortures of my soul." Come, come," returned the other.

66

"Oh, Fabian!" sighed out Sir Sigismund; and she then heard their receding steps.

"Fabian!" echoed the heart of Eleonora; "is it in his breast that Sir Sigismund reposes the secrets of his soul? is it in him alone that he places confidencefrom him alone that he seeks consolation, when blest with the society and affection of so engaging a woman as Lady Thomasine?"

From various points which she had witnessed in Sir Sigismund's conduct, she was convinced that there was some mystery which enveloped his character-still she believed him amiable, but unhappy; and he therefore shared her warmest pity.

When the steps of Sir Sigismund and his companion were no longer audible,

she

she turned hastily into a path which led to the castle, by an opposite direction to the one which they had taken; and having reached her chamber, she resolved to quit it no more that night.

CHAP. V.

"By this, the northern waggoner had set
His sevenfold teme behind the stedfast star,
That was in Ocean waves yet never wet,
But firme is fixt, and sendeth light from far
To all that in the wide deep wandering are:
And cheerful Chanticlere, with his note shrill,
Had warned once, that Phoebus' fiery carre

In haste was climbing up the eastern hill;
Full envious that Night so long his room did fill."

SPENCER.

"Mark where yon ruin frowns upon the steep,

The giant spectre of departed power!

Within those shadowy walls, and silent chambers,
Have stalk'd the crimes of days long past."

THE first intelligence which Eleonora received, on rising in the morning, was, that the messenger who had been sent to Framlingham Castle, with the tidings of Saint Ethelbert's unexpected return, was come back. By him Sir Sigismund had re

ceived

ceived a most pressing entreaty from Lord Henry Fitzroy, for himself, and his family, immediately to make their promised visit to Framlingham castle; urging, that as they had agreed shortly to visit him, he wished them to hasten the period of their setting out, in compliance with his impatience. to behold Saint Ethelbert, who would of course accompany them into Suffolk; and alleging that he was detained by matters of importance, from bearing in person those congratulations on his preservation to his uncle, which he wished to render him.

Enclosed in the epistle which contained this invitation, it was observed that Sir Sigismund had received from Lord Henry a second letter, of which the contents appeared greatly to interest his feelings; and having again and again perused it, he declared his intention of complying with Lord Fitzroy's request; and the third day from the present was accordingly fixed upon, for the commencement of their journey towards Framlingham Castle. F 5

Having

Having permitted to the perusal of Lady Blunt that letter of Lord Henry's which spoke solely of Saint Ethelbert, and the pleasure which he anticipated from their visit, Sir Sigismund put it into the hand of Eleonora, who, however free her heart might be from vanity, still read with satisfaction the handsome and flattering terms in which he had included her in his invitation. The only reluctance which she experienced at the idea of quitting her present abode, was lest any communication relative to the fate of her beloved father should be forwarded to it by Cyprian, and that, by her absence, she might experience so considerable a delay in its receipt, as to render it of little value at the time it might reach her. But this objection Sir Sigismund over-ruled, by promising to leave it in strict charge to one of his domestics, immediately to dispatch after them a courier, with any packet which might arrive for her. He lamented that she was unacquainted where to address Cyprian,