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to have swifter wings than ever, so quickly did he bring the day when the last word was spoken, the last loving look exchanged, the last kiss given and received. Then Alice, poor maid! was left to weep; while Andrew took his way with all speed for London, from which port he set sail for France.

CHAPTER XVI.-ALICE'S DIARY. A SPY IN THE TOWN. December 21st, 1641.-I fear that I am growing impatient and ungrateful, too ready to overlook all the mercies of my lot, too quick to recognise whatever is unpleasing. I have had one small letter from Andrew, written just before he sailed; it was entrusted to Sir Harry Vane, who could not forward it until this week. But what strange news Sir Harry's own letter conveyed, of a long debate which lasted eighteen hours, in the House of Commons, concerning a petition of remonstrance to the King. His Majesty has returned from Scotland, and is at Hampton Court. The debate

was very violent, "and truly," says our friend, "some present had come to blows, but for Mr. Hampden's calm and sagacious speech; it was well the motion was carried, for Mr. Cromwell declared to Lord Falkland as we left the House that unless it had been so, he would have sold all and gone to America." Sir Harry has before spoken of this Mr. Cromwell, and says that there is more in him than those members imagine who are so sarcastic over his slovenly toilet and the ill shape of his garments.

There is nothing talked of now but the disputes between the King and the House; and, even in our own town, is much excitement and difference of opinion, some siding with the King, and others with the Parliament. There is also a great outcry against the bishops, and there are almost daily riots in London. I am glad my father is at home; I should be in constant fear, though he says that is not a word for a soldier's daughter to speak.

Aunt Lister is well pleased with Will's choice of a wife, and hopes the marriage may not be long delayed. I once hoped that Will would have proposed to Dorothy, but now I think that she would not have listened to such a thing; so it has been all for the best.

December 22nd.-To-day there has been some disturbance at the Town Hall. A gentleman presented himself before the Mayor with letters from the King, and calling himself Sir John Savage. No one recognised him in the council, until my father coming in, and, having seen him in York and London, innocently addressed him as "my lord."

"This is Sir John Savage," said Master Barnard.

"Your pardon," replied father, who, on seeing the royal seal, guessed that all was not open and fair, "but I am well acquainted

with the person of the Earl of Newcastle." Whereupon there was a great exclaiming, until the mayor obtained silence, and the Earl acknowledged that for certain reasons he had thought it wise to conceal his identity, and he prayed the council to excuse the deceit he had practised, since it had arisen from no unworthy motive. But this secrecy and the purport of the letters he had brought created considerable uneasiness in the minds of all present, for, though His Majesty used many flattering terms for his people in Hull, he commanded that the keys of the ports, magazines, and blockhouses be instantly delivered to this said Earl. After his lordship had withdrawn, my father says there was a warm discussion; some would have complied with the King's request, but the Mayor and a large majority of the members, knowing the wishes of Parliament and that another governor had been chosen, determined to wait for further directions from London. By my father's advice, cousin Will invited the Earl to accept of his hospitality until the council had framed a fitting reply to the King, and as Will's guest he will have very little chance of disaffecting the minds of the people against the Parliament.

December 27th.- To all serious persons this has been a very solemn Christmas. How earnestly did Mr. Nye pray for "peace and goodwill," and how little we seem likely to enjoy of either. Kate, I know, will be feeling very downcast, remembering last year's happy gathering, when her grandmother was in her place amongst them, and seemed likely to live for years. Will says that Sir Guy is sadly altered, and wanders about the house as if ever in search of his wife, so that at last Kate has written to persuade Ralph to return.

The Earl of Newcastle is still in Hull, waiting to receive the keys, which the Parliament have requested may be delivered to Sir John Hotham. Master Barnard, who wishes to preserve unity in the town, has sent a petition to the King, beseeching him to settle the matter agreeably with the House; but we are already divided, especially since Captain Legge came, and exerted himself to form a party to support the Earl.

January 4th, 1642.-Yesterday morning poor Sir Guy Hildyard was found dead in his bed, "from excess of grief," says the apothecary; but "from a broken heart," would say the poet. Kate was indeed thankful that Ralph had arrived two days before, and knew his grandfather's last wishes.

Will's courtship has been rather a gloomy one, and at present I am not in a much brighter case myself, having had no tidings of my betrothed since he left the English shore.

January 18th.-The Earl and Captain Legge have been summoned to Westminster, to the relief of the Mayor and his supporters, who foresaw difficulties by their continuance here; and Will is not

sorry to be rid of his guest. Some who had at first countenanced the Earl forsook his cause when they heard a rumour that the King had charged six members of Parliament with high treason. Father was greatly incensed, for the names of Mr. Pym and Mr. Hampden were amongst the number-two of the most upright and godly gentlemen in the kingdom. It is said that the Queen advised his Majesty to take this step. If so, it is useless to think of separating him from bad advisers. 'Tis a sore pity that one whom he loves so fondly-and fears also-should influence him to his undoubted loss and damage. A letter from Sir Harry Vane has caused quite a commotion to-day, for he plainly affirms that the King is in treaty with foreign powers to subdue the country. The town is being secured, and the bulwarks repaired, and all suspicious houses have been searched. In a private epistle to my father Sir Harry refers to the impeachment of the members. Says he, "Lady Carlisle reports that the Queen urged his Majesty to go and arrest them in person, saying, 'Go, you coward, and pull the rogues out by the ears, or never see me more.'" Her ladyship, who fears neither man nor woman, would have remonstrated; but just now she is out of favour with the Queen. However, being a friend of Mr. Pym's, she immediately sent to warn him of his danger, and so the members all escaped.

January 19th.-To-day Sir John Hotham, with his son, and 800 soldiers, came to the gates; but the Mayor had notice of their approach, and ordered that they should be refused admittance, declaring that if they did not retire they should be treated as enemies. As they had been sent by order of Parliament, my father advised their reception; but there being many friends to the King in the town, and some amongst the aldermen, it was voted that the Mayor should continue to be the governor.

January 28th.-The town is full of soldiers, and as closely guarded as if we were expecting a siege. How will all this end? Sir John and his forces were admitted by order of the House, the Mayor and his friends finding themselves exposed to the charge of treason if they refused. The gates were quickly thrown open, when Master Barnard heard that threat. Ralph (now Sir Ralph) has been appointed lieutenant to one of the Yorkshire train bands, and is to bring his troops to Hull shortly.

February 12th.-Sir Ralph and his men are quartered in the Manor Palace, and he sleeps in the room where he was born; but the palace is not a fit place for his sister to live in, and Aunt Lister is much disturbed at the thoughts of Kate's loneliness in that great Hall; she does not see why the wedding need be deferred. Will is always uneasy, and no wonder, with such commotions in the country, and our own town looking like a fortress.

February 18th.-Ralph fetched Kate yesterday. She is to stay with us until her marriage, which is to be in about a month. Even had she not been so recently bereaved, such is the state of public affairs, no one would be inclined to make merry on this occasion. Her recent troubles have softened Kate. She is much less haughty in manner, and I must say that this new gentleness sits very becomingly upon her. The Queen is going to Holland with the Princess Mary, who is betrothed to the Prince of Orange. The King has withdrawn his charge against the members, but the delivery of Hull into the hands of Sir John has mightily displeased him.

I am weary with waiting, and longing for a letter from Andrew. When Ann comes to lament to me over this long silence, I try to cheer her, and find abundant reasons for the delay; but alas! they do not suffice to allay my own fears. When Ralph first came he was very cold and distant towards me, but since Kate's arrival he has resumed something of his old friendliness. They both go with us to hear Mr. Nye, as do some of Sir John's soldiers, so that the mean little room where we used to meet became too small, and obliged us to hire a larger one in Dagger Lane. The ordering of wedding clothes has made Kate and me very busy, and Janet says she is glad that something is going to happen at last; it seemeth to me that something happens most days now, and it is a curious change from politics and threatened invasion, to the making of satin gowns, the sorting of piles of snowy linen, and the attorney's tedious details about marriage portions and dowries.

CHAPTER XVII.-WILL LISTER TAKES HOME A BRIDE.

On the first day of March, the Colonel's house in High Street put on its best appearance, for Kate was to be married that morning in the drawing-room. Only a small number of intimate friends had been invited, for Sir Guy Hildyard's recent death forbade any public display on this occasion."

The Colonel, whose hair was silvering very fast, tried to smooth out, for one day at least, the lines of care from his still handsome face, and for that reason he avoided all conversation with Master Crowle before the ceremony, knowing it would soon turn on the present state of affairs, and betook himself to the side of Mistress Crowle, the comeliest matron in Hull. The bridegroom stood apart, listening for the coming footsteps; his manners were shy but not without a certain dignity, and altogether Will was much improved in mind and body since we first met him. Dame Lister, flurried and nervous, praised the early spring flowers to Mr. Nye,

who stood waiting in his gown and bands; and round the hearth several others talked in low tones.

The door opened at last, and all eyes turned that way as Sir Ralph, dressed in a suit of ruby velvet, slashed with white silkwith ruffles and collar of the choicest lace-led in his sister, attired in a rich white satin gown. Her black hair-curling like her brother's, and scarce longer than his-almost hid her fair neck; and through the folds of her veil her dark eyes shone proudly as Sir William advanced to her side. Alice and Dorothy, her maids, followed, also robed in white, with knots of violets in their hair and bosoms.

Alice tried to rejoice with Kate, and to banish from her mind all thoughts of self; but how could she forget Andrew Marvel at such a moment, with everything to remind her of her vows? And when they knelt down the conviction came with overpowering force, that he would never return, that she might wait and wait, but it would all be in vain; and the solemn stillness of the room was broken by such a bitter sob, that Kate trembled as if an evil omen had been whispered in her ear. The Colonel glanced towards his darling, and his own eyes moistened to see her crouching attitude, and the convulsive clasp of her hand. But when they rose from their knees Alice had regained composure, and Ralph, who had not dared to look at her, was surprised to hear her wish Kate joy in her usual sweet, clear voice. But the bride was not so self-possessed; the tears streamed down her cheeks as she embraced her friend, and said, "My joy will be full when I know that Alice is as happy as I am this day." Then her other friends pressed round with warm congratulations, and there was a confused murmur of cheerful talk until they adjourned to the dining-room. The feast spread here was worthy of Winstead Hall itself.

A row up the river in Sir William's barge, which had been painted and cushioned anew, wiled away the afternoon, and early in the evening he led his new wife home. Dame Lister took up ber abode with Alice for a few weeks, that the bridal pair might spend their honeymoon alone.

Not many days after the wedding Ralph called upon his sister, and found her, like a good housewife, sitting with her own maid at work.

"I have come for a gossip, Dame Katherine," said he, significantly, and when Cicily was dismissed he asked, "Has Alice heard anything of Marvel?"

"No; have you?" said Kate, eagerly.

"Indeed, not I; but I tell you, Kate, little cause as I have to wish that fellow any good, I would be glad to carry her some tidings of him. I can't bear to see her with that patient look of endurance

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