de of this roofless room, where both their voices once
sounded. Oh! as I gaze calmly on these mute warders on the
walls, I cannot paint you my feelings of the sense of
injustice and wrong, a refining, a resenting sorrow--my
heart bleeds at the thought of the cruel axe, and I am
punished for its laws that no longer exist. I pray not to be
horror-stricken at the thoughts of the past ambition and
power of princes who cast destruction over our house, and
made us spectacles of barbarity. But, nevertheless, many
great and Christian men the Lord hath raised out of the
house of Radcliffe, who have passed away; and now, oh!
Father of Heaven! how wonderfully hast Thou spared the
remnant of my house, a defenceless orphan, to whom no way is
open but to Thy Fatherly heart. Now Thou hast brought me
here, what still awaits me? 'Leave Thou me not; let me never
forget Thee. Thou hast girded me with strength into the
battle. I will not therefore fear what man can do unto me.'

"These are my thoughts and resolutions. But I am struggling
with the associations of this lone, lone hearth--with no
fire, no father, no mother, sister or brother left--the
whole is heartrending. I quit you now, my kind friends; I am
blind with tears, but this is womanly weakness.

"Twelve o'clock the same day. My tears of excitement have
yielded to counter-excitement. I have just had an intrusive
visitor, who came to inquire if it is my intention to remain
here. I replied in the affirmative, adding earnestly, 'I
have come to my roofless home,' and asked 'Who are you?' He
answered 'I am Mr. Grey, the agent for her Majesty, and I
shall have to communicate your intention.' I answered,
'Quite right, Mr. Grey. Then what _title_ have you to show
that her Majesty has a right here to my freehold estates?'
He replied, 'I have no _title_.' I then took out a parchment
with the titles and the barony and manors, and the names of
my forty-two rich estates, and held it before him and said,
'I am the Countess of Derwentwater, and my title and claim
are acknowledged and substantiated by the Crown of England,
morally, legally, and officially; therefore my title is the
title to these forty-two estates.' He has absented himself
quietly, and I do hope my lords will not leave my case now
to