"They have entered the court-yard, my Lord," was the reply; "but they refuse to proceed farther till they have seen youthree of them wear their helmets barred; and these are most impatient for your coming." "I will be with them instantly," said Lord Fitzroy, and the messenger retired. Once more Lord Fitzroy addressed Eleonora "I cannot quit you, beloved Eleonora, without knowing my doom-if not Sir Hildebrand's, there still exists in your heart the image of some preferred being which excludes the probability of mine being admitted there is it not thus? Oh yes! too surely your eloquent silence explains the wretched truth" A third time the door was opened, and the messenger approaching Lord Fitzroy, said—“One of the strangers, my Lord, sends you this ring." "Great God!" exclaimed Lord Fitzroy, as he fixed his eyes upon it, "can it be possible that he--" He checked him self, self, and waving his hand to the messenger to leave the apartment, turned towards Eleonora, and said "Whatever my fate, lovely maid, may thine be happiness— Fitzroy will ever be thy friend." He then quitted the library, and Eleonora retired to her chamber. CHAP CHAP. IX. "For here have been Some six or seven, who did hide their faces Even from darkness." SHAKESPEARE, "What great ones do, the less will prattle of." Ar the supper-table Eleonora was joined by Lady Blunt only.-"I should not have partaken of this meal, my love," she said, "but that I knew you would else be constrained to pass the hour alone, as Father Saint Ethelbert has retired, according to his usual custom in an evening, to his own apartment, and Lord Fitzroy and Sir Sigismund are engaged with some guests who are just arrived-strangers they are called in in the castle; and so indeed they appear, but they are not strangers to us-one of them, in particular, far the reverse." Fearful of appearing too curious, if she advanced any question relative to these mysterious personages, Eleonora forbore to comment on Lady Blunt's words. In a few moments Lady Thomasine spoke again" It was my intention, Eleonora, to have passed this morning alone with you in your apartment, and have given you information of some events which it may yield you comfort to be made acquainted with; but I was not entirely recovered from the indisposition which last night oppressed me, and I did not feel my strength equal to the exertion of a long conversation; I am not at all more adequate to the undertaking to-night; but to-morrow I will breakfast with you your closet, and give you the communication to which I have been referring. The arrival of these strangers adds materially to L 5 in the the sum of what I was already prepared to impart to you." "You have awakened my surprise," replied Eleonora, "and I shall indeed be very impatient to see you in the morning.' 99 "Do not let my hints deprive you of any part of your slumbers," returned Lady Blunt; "rely on me, that what I have to communicate wears at least the appearance of good, if it does not produce the reality." "O Madam," exclaimed Eleonora, "only deign to inform me now, whether this appearance of good refers to my dear father?" "At present not at all," answered Lady Blunt ; "what events the progress of a chain of circumstances may produce, I cannot determine." When the cloth had been some minutes removed, Lady Thomasine requested Eleonora to suffer her to retire to rest, that she might be the better enabled by repose to fulfil |