t, had
just exclaimed,--

"Has not the word of the Lord come to me, as to Elisha in the third
year? and shall I not do His bidding?"

"Thou art a wonder in Israel, doubtless," said Burrell, literally
jumping from his seat, and that so rudely as nearly to overturn the
pulpit arrangement of the unsparing minister; "but I must salute my
worthy friend, whom I am sorry to see looking so ill."

"Perform thy salutations, for they are good," said the preacher,
adjusting the chair still further to his satisfaction, "and after that I
will continue; for it is pleasant repeating the things that lead unto
salvation."

"You would not, surely, sir," said Lady Frances, coming forward and
speaking in an under-tone, "continue to repeat poor Lady Cecil's funeral
sermon before her husband and daughter?--they could not support it."

"You speak like the seven wise virgins," replied Fleetword, putting one
of his long limbs to the ground, as if to descend; and then as suddenly
drawing it back, he added, "But the Lord's servant is not straitened;
there are many rivers in Judah, so the faithful may drink at another
stream."

"I wish you would come with me," said Lady Frances, rightly interpreting
the entreating look of Constantia: "or rather, come with _us_, for I am
sure Mistress Cecil has much to say to, and I have much to hear from,
you: we will leave Sir Robert and Sir Willmott to talk over the affairs
of this great nation; temporal matters must be attended to, you know:
and though"--she looked for a moment at Burrell, whose countenance had
not yet regained its usual suavity--"I am sorry to be the means of
depriving Sir Willmott of much necessary instruction--I have no doubt
you will make up the deficiency to him at some future time."

CHAPTER XII.

The soote season that bud and blome forth brings,
With green hath clad the hill, and eke the vale,
The nightingale with fethers new she sings,
The turtle to her mate hath told the tale,
Somer is come, for every spray now springs.
* * * * * * *
And thus I see among these pleasant things,
Eche care decay; and yet my sorrow springs.

SURREY.

It may be readily imagined that Burrell remained in a state of extreme
perplexity after the receipt of Dalton's letter, and the departure of
Ben Israel. He saw there was now but one course that could preserve him
from destruction, and resolved to pursue it:--to cajole or co