love me-you love me-alas! how can it be? What shall I say what shall I say?'

'Say only, my dear, that you will love me in return.'

Then there arose in my mind, doubtless sent by Heaven, the memory of certain words spoken by Mr. Hilyard concerning the Church of England-how that it was as ancient as the Church of Rome, and as safe, and yet unstained by the blood of martyrs. Also, I seemed to see before me the awful form of the Bishop, tall and menacing, beckoning me

away.

Speak, Dorothy, my dear-oh, Dorothy, speak! Why are you trembling? Merciful Heaven! have I said anything to terrify this tender heart? What troubles my love ?'

'Oh, Lord Derwentwater, it is—the Mass!' He let my hand fall, and for a moment he was silent. Then he began again, hotly:

'The Mass! Is it a Mass shall part us? Why, child, I love thee so well that I will give up Church and all for thy sweet sake if thou wilt not give up thy Church for mine. The Mass against thy hand! Nay, I too

will become of the English Church. hast converted me already.'

Thou

Was there ever so fond and true a lover? But I remembered again what he had said, months before, at Blanchland.

'No, no,' I replied, 'you cannot. Other men, smaller men, may change their faith, but you must not. Remember what you told

me once

'Doth my sweet Dorothy remember even

my idle words ? All my words are idle except my last-that I love thee.'

'Do I remember them, my lord ?—as if I could ever forget them! You said, without knowing then what the words might some day mean, that I could persuade you to anything except what concerns your honour, and that your honour is concerned with your faith. Never-never shall it be said that I sought to turn you aside from your honour. My lord, if you seriously think of such a thing, put it out of your mind. Oh! what is a foolish, worthless girl compared with the career and the history of a great lord like yourself?'

He would have replied to this in the same

hot strain, for there was now in his eyes the hot flame of love that will not be deniedthe masterful look which frightens women, and compels them (yet I think he would never have compelled me to accept the sacrifice he offered)-but Mr. Howard stepped between us. He had, I suppose, entered unseen, and heard the last words.

'I thank you, young lady,' he said, 'in the name of a greater even than his lordship; the Holy Church thanks you. I would that all her daughters were as noble and as truly great as yourself. My lord, your passion is honourable, as becomes your rank. You would neither do yourself, nor ask Miss Dorothy to do, what in her conscience she would not approve.'

Lord Derwentwater answered not.

You,

If

'Part here, my children,' Mr. Howard continued; enough has been said. my lord, can afford to wait six months. your passion be what you think it to be, six months is a short time indeed for meditation and endeavour to make yourself worthy of this young lady. And for you, Miss Dorothy, I pray you to read the books which I shall

give you. Believe me, you have my prayers, my earnest prayers, and those of the two saintly ladies of this house. In six months my lord, if he be in the same mind, and unless you have already sent him away, will look for your reply.'

Lord Derwentwater, without a word, fell on his knee again, and kissed my fingers. Then he left the room with bowed head.

'Not the chief of the Radcliffes only, but also his wife and his children and grandchildren must remain in the ancient Catholic Faith,' said Mr. Howard gravely.

And then I understood, for the first time fully, that the passion of my lord, however vehement, would never, by those greater than himself, be allowed to imperil his adherence to the old religion. Alas! just as poor Frank had said, 'You play with us, you feast with us, you sport with us; but you will not allow us to fight for you, or to make laws for you, to administer justice to you.' So I thought bitterly that I might say, as a Protestant, to the Catholics, 'You play with us, you feast with us, you make love to us; but you will not marry us.'

CHAPTER XVIII.

A CASE OF CONSCIENCE.

So, after a long ride of three days, we arrived again at Bamborough-what things had I seen since last we left the Manor House!—and in the quiet life as of old I had leisure to read and reflect upon the tracts and books given to me by Mr. Howard. In so far as they spoke of obedience to authority, then truly I was entirely at one with his friends, because I had always been brought up to submit myself dutifully to those in authority, and especially my spiritual pastors and masters. Yet I was thankful that our own rule was so light and our yoke so easy to be borne compared with the practices imposed upon the faithful in that other flockas fasting throughout Lent, and on Fridays, and on many other days in the year. But