discipline," said Peter gruffly. "March!"

But instead of marching across the hall, the recruits huddled up one
after the other, like a flock of geese, whom Jacobina might be supposed
to have set in motion, and each scraping to the ladies, as they
shuffled, sneaked, bundled, and bustled out at the door.

"We are well guarded now, Madeline," said Ellinor; "I fancy we may go to
sleep as safely as if there were not a housebreaker in the world."

"Why," said Madeline, "let us trust they will be more efficient than
they seem, though I cannot persuade myself that we shall really need
them. One might almost as well conceive a tiger in our arbour, as a
robber in Grassdale. But dear, dear Eugene, do not--do not leave us
this night; Walter's room is ready for you, and if it were only to walk
across that valley in such weather, it would be cruel to leave us. Let
me beseech you; come, you cannot, you dare not refuse me such a favour."

Aram pleaded his vow, but it was overruled; Madeline proved herself a
most exquisite casuist in setting it aside. One by one his objections
were broken down; and how, as he gazed into those eyes, could he
keep any resolution, that Madeline wished him to break! The power she
possessed over him seemed exactly in proportion to his impregnability to
every one else. The surface on which the diamond cuts its easy way, will
yield to no more ignoble instrument; it is easy to shatter it, but by
only one substance can it be impressed. And in this instance Aram had
but one secret and strong cause to prevent his yielding to Madeline's
wishes;--if he remained at the house this night, how could he well avoid
a similar compliance the next? And on the next was his interview with
Houseman. This reason was not, however, strong enough to enable him to
resist Madeline's soft entreaties; he trusted to the time to furnish him
with excuses, and when Lester returned, Madeline with a triumphant air
informed him that Aram had consented to be their guest for the night."

"Your influence is indeed greater than mine," said Lester, wringing his
hat as the delicate fingers of Ellinor loosened his cloak; "yet one can
scarcely think our friend sacrifices much in concession, after proving
the weather without. I should pity our poor patrole most exceedingly,
if I were not thoroughly assured that within two hours every one of
them will have quietly slunk home; and even Peter himself, when he has
exhausted his bottle, will be the fir