Many arguments were used to prevail upon the lawyer to accept Titley's proffered hand of amity, but without success. After more laughing, Fiddylee, who began to exhibit symptoms of cross intoxication, was permitted to depart; and, as he wended his way down the broad gravel drive towards his office in the village, he discovered several double stars, and remarked that there were at least two moons shedding their pale light upon field and flower. VOL. I. F CHAPTER VI. THE MYSTERY. "Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate: Life every man holds dear; but the dear man It was the beginning of autumn. The sun had sunk in his purple-clouded glory, and the last golden rays were fading from the windows of the grey-mossed church, peeping from a clustering grove of trees, as Agnes hastened alone from the hall towards the humble edifice. She was muffled in a coarse woollen shawl; and wearing a close cottage bonnet, no one could recognise her, except by catching a glimpse of her features. At every third or fourth step she turned round with an anxious gaze; then, as if satisfied that no one saw her, again she hurried forward. In one hand she carried a letter, and a small purse filled with gold; while the other wiped away the tears that were coursing down her cheeks, only to make room for others succeeding. A sob of anguish escaped her quivering lips as she lifted the latch of the gate leading into the churchyard, and, leaning against a tombstone, the stifled grief was given vent to in a flood of tears. In a short time she became composed; the remaining traces of her sorrow being only in her inflamed eyes, and an occasional sob, which, despite of her exertions to suppress it, burst from her heaving bosom. "Poor fellow!" she exclaimed, " he must not see me thus. It would add to his affliction." Advancing towards the church-door, she sat upon a circular bench under the dark branches of a yew-tree which shaded the entrance. The shadows of evening were closing over the landscape, and the cawing rooks wheeled in lofty flight round the nest-covered limbs of the ancient trees. The ringdove with rapid wing hastened to the interior of the grove, and the bat whirled its strange form round and round the church, rejoicing in the approaching reign of darkness. A nightingale commenced singing at intervals her melancholy strain, and a glowworm's lamp flickered faintly upon the moss-bank. An old white owl peered from a hollow in the yewtree, and, stretching forth his long wings, stole silently from his lurking place: when clear of the tree, he gave a long loud screech, which broke frightfully the stillness of the place, and made Agnes start with fear. Perceiving the cause, as the nocturnal disturber slowly flew within a few feet of the ground, she smiled, and resumed her seat. "Did the old croaker frighten you, Agnes ?" said a voice close to her. "Oh! Charles! dear Charles!" exclaimed Agnes, springing from the bench, and rushing into the arms of a tall slender young man, who pressed her affectionately to his breast. "How glad, how delighted I am that you are here," she said, kissing him. "I began to think that you would not come." "I am now at least a quarter of an hour before the appointed time," replied he, leading her to the bench, and taking a seat by her side. The person who said this appeared from his youthful figure to be about twenty-three years of age; but his face was stamped with lines which gave him an older look. The ravages of care, disease, or dissipation, were palpably carved in his bloodless features; but, from a full, bloated expression in the eyes, the latter seemed the most probable cause. He was admirably proportioned, and his face must have been once very handsome. His eyes were black and large, and his lips had that haughty curl which invariably evinces the high and daring spirit. Long dark hair hung about his neck, and a short moustache crisped itself upon his upper lip. In his manner there was sorrow and recklessness blended together, which puzzled the observer to decide whether he was a victim to mental distress, or the empty shell of some heartless libertine. His dress consisted of a travelling costume. His |