news of the warrant issued against Lord Derwentwater. He rode all the way from London to warn his brother; the messenger charged with his arrest was already at Durham.

'Why?' asked my lord. 'What have I done that they should arrest me ?'

• You are the Prince's companion and cousin,' replied his brother. 'Is not that enough? They think they will strike the Prince by striking you.'

'Faith' said Lord Derwentwater, smiling. They know not his Highness who think he can be struck through another.'

After receiving this disquieting intelligence, my lord sat for a good while in silence, and we women waited patiently to hear his conclusion. Then he rose, and began to walk up and down the room in grave thought. We sat still with never a word.

'Wife,' he said, at last, hast thou any counsel for thy husband?'

She shook her head at first. But he kissed her tenderly, and bade her speak what was in her mind.

'I know,' she said, taking his hand and

kissing it, 'your great love for your children and your wife. You would not rashly do aught to imperil those you love. This I know

full well, and am thankful therefor. Butoh, my lord!-remember the days when we were little at St. Germain's, and you were a page of the Prince, and I, with my schoolfellows, did all that women can-prayed for him daily. Should it be said that Lord Derwentwater, when the chance came to bring the King to his own again, hung back, and left to others the honour? Nay, my lord' (she threw herself upon his neck)—

I know it is thy life, as well as thy fortune, that hangs upon this chance. Thy life-oh, my dear lord! my dear lord! and mine with it !'

Sweetheart!'-my lord folded her tenderly in his arms-' were there a chance, believe me, Derwentwater would be the first. Yet, I doubt I doubt whether the chance be not a forlorn hope. It is already a fortnight and more since we had tidings of the insurrection, and as yet nothing hath been done, so far as we can tell. Patience, therefore. Let not thy quick woman's wit jump to the con

clusion that the business is done before we know if it be well begun.'

Then he turned to me and said, with his sweet smile, in which present friendship was combined with the memory of the past:

'Fair Dorothy, we have had many talks in the former time over this and other matters: give me thy counsel.'

'Oh, my lord!' I said, moved to tears by the sight of this tenderness,' what have I to say which her ladyship hath not already better said? Yet I pray your lordship to do nothing rashly, and to think always of your wife and tender children.'

And at that moment the nurse opened the door and brought them in two little creatures with fair curling locks and blue eyes. The elder, who could walk, broke from his nurse's arms and ran across the floor with outstretched hands, crying to his father. The Earl caught him up and kissed him fondly. When he set the boy down again, his eyes were filled with tears.

I am

My mind,' he said,. 'is made up. to be arrested, who have no knowledge of any plot at all. I will surrender.'

He looked at his wife; but she cast down her eyes, and he left the room.

'He will surrender!' said Charles. 'What, without a blow?'

'He will surrender,' said the Countess, ' and I who looked to see him riding gallantly at the head of his regiment

I have since that day often considered the case. I think, now, that he was right. For, if he surrendered, it was only one man the less (because he would never force his own people into the service); and, if he did not surrender, he would have to become, like Tom, a wanderer and fugitive, until he was forced, as Tom was forced, into taking up

arms.

But in this, as in everything else, fate was too strong for him. He repaired that same day to the house of Mr. B――n, Justice of the Peace (I repress his name for pity, because his repentance must since surely have been as great as his fault was astonishing). magistrate, after hearing what his lordship had to say, refused (illegally) to accept his surrender (whereby he brought my lord to his death), and persuaded him to return to his 35

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own house again. This my lord did in great heaviness.

The stars,' he said, in their courses fight against me. All are of one mind. They say my death is sought. They will not suffer me to surrender. What next-ah! Dorothy,

what next?'

One thing was certain, that, if he did not surrender and would not be caught, he must go into hiding. And this he did. And for nearly three weeks, the great Earl of Derwentwater became a fugitive, living I know not exactly how or where, but in hiding always. And for us who remained behind there was nothing left but to pray and to hope. If we women were Jacobites before, judge what we were now, when all our hopes depended on success! Charles stayed with us, waiting. He was full of courage and of heart, yet even he confessed that London was strong for the Protestant Succession- but London would come round. As for our armies! They should drive King George's troops before them like cattle; why, Lord Mar had with him already 12,000 men, and still they came flocking in-it did one good, at