o such needless jealousy. On consideration, I perceive, at
once, that she would not, could not, act or think in any way unworthy of
herself." He bowed profoundly, as he spoke, to Constantia, who clung
still more closely to Major Wellmore's arm, and could hardly forbear
uttering the contempt she felt; at every instant, her truthful nature
urged her to speak all she thought and knew, to set Burrell at defiance,
and hold him up to the detestation he merited: but her father, and her
father's crime! the dreadful thought sent back the blood that rushed so
warmly from her heart in icy coldness to its seat; and the high-souled
woman was compelled to receive the apology with a drooping head, and a
spirit bowed almost to breaking by intense and increasing anguish.

"And you are satisfied with this!" exclaimed the Cavalier, striding up
to her; "you, Constance Cecil, are satisfied with this! But, by Him
whose unquenchable stars are now shining in their pure glory over our
heads, I am not!--Coward! coward! and liar! in your teeth, Sir Willmott
Burrell! as such I will proclaim you all through his majesty's
dominions, by word of mouth and deed of sword!"

"Walter, Walter!" exclaimed Constance, clasping her hands.

"I crave your pardon, Lady," said Burrell, without altering his tone;
"but do not thus alarm yourself: my sword shall not again be drawn upon
a low and confirmed malignant. Sir," turning from his opponent and
addressing the stranger, "heard you not how he applied the forbidden
title of majesty to the man Charles Stuart; shall I not forthwith arrest
him for high treason?--runneth not the act so, formed for the renouncing
and disannulling of the pretended title of the late man's progeny?"

"Perish such acts and their devisers!" shouted the Cavalier, losing all
prudence in the excitement of the moment. "Let the lady retire, while we
end this quarrel as becomes men!"

"Heed him not, heed him not, I implore, I entreat you!" exclaimed
Constance, sinking to the earth at the feet of Major Wellmore, by whom
the hint of Burrell was apparently unnoticed; "the lion takes not
advantage of the deer caught in the hunter's toils, and he is
distraught, I know he is!"

"I am not distraught, Miss Cecil, though I have suffered enough to make
me so: what care I for acts formed by a pack of regicides!"

"Young man," interrupted the old officer with a burst of fierce and
strong passion that, like a mountain torrent, carried all before it,
"