few to hates, they attained the deserted and now reinous guaid-horse. Ta brokea walls of the lit câce served to conceal them from the in.is, on of whom was Kec ,, a drowsy watch at the lower gate Cistle; whilst another seated on the stone steps which conared with the parapet of the wing in full security, with his enelia made a sin to Pev. then showed him, to his

ding and exterior wall was usket peacefully grounded by 1 to move with silence and *. from e window of the high water, with four Castle was built; and access to it by a ladder the ruin.

tion ! zu god-room, a boat, for it was 2 under the clin on which A. far' or sensie that he was to ha onsiderable height placed at the window an wa both displeased and alarmed -s of the sentinels, who had suffer d without cbservation or alarm viven. d not call the officer of the g DC, 27 show him how easily HVA rength, ad although reported impre ? resolu inen. Fenella seemed to gu ness of observation when

re a

1

.h.

1

i

her a ring. She laid one hand on s tim, A
or on our own 1p3, as if to enjoit turbuatane
ta, ted by the direct authority of the Cou:
at wit.. the internal res Aution to lose
As senti
or is to th. Earl, concerning the
Estle was expost on t point.

time, he descended the ladder with some n. auto were unequal, broken, wet, and slippery: ..

last s
re he

in the ste n of the boat, made a sid

turned to take farewell of his guid
nella the slid down, tin desconded

aid, the bou being already pushed off, vi

He

of it with incredible agility, and seated hrself de ild express either remonstrance or spise. d the a once more to pin to the precarious land ngthrow into his com.tenance a part of the displeasure My fel.. davoured * › make her comprehend the neces to mistress. Fenella folded her arms, and looked mile which completely expressed the de.erIver was extremely embarrassed he Je Countess, and interfering with her plan, by herwise he was much tempted to have done. cidit, no species of argument which he could

› Fk.!' to make the least impression; and the question

office, how, fshe went on with him, he was to rid himself of so

い

nt a compin, and provide, at the same time, ona security.

4te matter a decision; for, after lying on 1ete, and whisperg among themselves in Tow in to pull stoutly, and were Loon at goe Cist from the Castle. The posibility of the sentnels sending

few minutes, they attained the deserted and now ruinous guard-house. The broken walls of the little edifice served to conceal them from the sentinels, one of whom was keeping a drowsy watch at the lower gate of the Castle; whilst another, seated on the stone steps which communicated with the parapet of the bounding and exterior wall, was slumbering, in full security, with his musket peacefully grounded by his side. Fenella made a sign to Peveril to move with silence and caution, and then showed him, to his surprise, from the window of the deserted guard-room, a boat, for it was now high water, with four rowers, lurking under the cliff on which the Castle was built; and made him farther sensible that he was to have access to it by a ladder of considerable height placed at the window of the ruin.

Julian was both displeased and alarmed by the security and carelessness of the sentinels, who had suffered such preparations to be made without observation or alarm given; and he hesitated whether he should not call the officer of the guard, upbraid him with negligence, and show him how easily Holm-Peel, in spite of its natural strength, and although reported impregnable, might be surprised by a few resolute men. Fenella seemed to guess his thoughts with that extreme acuteness of observation which her deprivations had occasioned her acquiring. She laid one hand on his arm, and a finger of the other on her own lips, as if to enjoin forbearance; and Julian, knowing that she acted by the direct authority of the Countess, obeyed her accordingly; but with the internal resolution to lose no time ir communicating his sentiments to the Earl, concerning the danger tc which the Castle was exposed on this point.

In the meantime, he descended the ladder with some precaution, for the steps were unequal, broken, wet, and slippery; and having placed himself in the stern of the boat, made a signal to the men to push off, and turned to take farewell of his guide. To his utter astonishment, Fenella rather slid down, than descended regularly, the perilous ladder, and, the boat being already pushed off, made a spring from the last step of it with incredible agility, and seated herself beside Peveril, ere he could express either remonstrance or surprise. He commanded the men once more to pull in to the precarious landingplace; and throwing into his countenance a part of the displeasure which he really felt, endeavoured to make her comprehend the necessity of returning to her mistress. Fenella folded her arms, and looked at him with a haughty smile, which completely expressed the determination of her purpose. Peveril was extremely embarrassed; he was afraid of offending the Countess, and interfering with her plan, by giving alarm, which otherwise he was much tempted to have done. On Fenella, it was evident, no species of argument which he could employ was likely to make the least impression; and the question remained, how, if she went on with him, he was to rid himself of so singular and inconvenient a companion, and provide, at the same time, sufficiently for her personal security.

The boatmen brought the matter to a decision; for, after lying on their oars for a minute, and whispering among themselves in Low Dutch or German, they began to pull stoutly, and were soon at some distance from the Castle. The possibility of the sentinels sending a