"Keep off!" ejaculated Roupall, securing the ear-rings, and placing
himself in a posture of defence--"Keep off! I know ye of old, Robin
Hays, with your griping fingers and strong palms! Never quarrel with a
man because he doesn't understand ye'r delicacies, which are things each
makes in his own mind, so that no one else can taste 'em. I meant no
harm; only, mark ye, ye sha'n't throttle me for nothing the next go; so
keep off; and I'm off, for sides o' flesh and sides o' iron are astir up
there; so this is no place for me. I shall be off, and join King
Charlie: he's much in want of strong hands, I hear, and who knows but
the time is coming when 'the king shall enjoy his own again?'"

"Do but bury _that_!" said Robin: "I would stay and do it, but that I
must to the Nest at once."

"No, no," replied Roupall, striding away in an opposite direction; "let
it stay where it is, to poison ravens and the carrion-birds. It is
fitting food for them. They had nobler banquets at Naseby and at
Marston."

CHAPTER V.

Down, stormy Passions, down; no more
Let your rude waves invade the shore
Where blushing Reason sits, and hides
Her from the fury of your tides.
* * * * * * *
Fall, easy Patience, fall like rest,
Where soft spells charm a troubled breast.

HENRY KING.

We believe that even those who are anxious to learn if the Protector
travelled in safety to his place of destination, and what he did when he
arrived there, will scarcely murmur at the delay which a brief visit to
Constantia Cecil will necessarily occasion.

We must not leave her alone in her sorrow, which, of a truth, was hard
to bear. A temporary respite had been afforded her by the terrible
events of the evening; it was, however, a respite that was likely, in
her case, only to bring about a more fatal termination. What was to
prevent Sir Willmott Burrell from branding her father--from publishing
his crime, now that he was to receive no benefit by the terrible secret
of which he had become possessed? Although she might be preserved from
the dreadful and dreaded doom of marrying a man she could neither regard
nor respect, it was equally certain that an eternal barrier existed
between her and the only one she loved--a barrier which not even the
power of Cromwell could break down or remove. It has been said, and said
truly, that there are few things reason can discover with so much
certainty and