t them, and rendered obstinate in his intention by the pique he
had felt at Glumford's caution, Lord Ulswater, tightening his rein
and humming with apparent indifference a popular tune, continued his
progress till he was within a foot of the republican. Then, checking his
horse for a moment, he called, in a tone of quiet arrogance, to Wolfe to
withdraw himself on one side till he had passed.

The fierce blood of the republican, which the least breath of oppression
sufficed to kindle, and which yet boiled with the remembrance of Lord
Ulswater's threat to him two nights before, was on fire at this command.
He stopped short, and turning half round, stood erect in the strength
and power of his singularly tall and not ungraceful form. "Poor and
proud fool," said he, with a voice of the most biting scorn, and fixing
an eye eloquent of ire and menaced danger upon the calmly contemptuous
countenance of the patrician, "poor and proud fool, do you think that
your privileges have already reached so pleasant a pitch that you may
ride over men like dust? Off, fool! the basest peasant in England,
degraded as he is, would resist while he ridiculed your arrogance."

Without deigning any reply, Lord Ulswater spurred his horse; the
spirited animal bounded forward almost on the very person of the
obstructer of the path; with uncommon agility Wolfe drew aside from the
danger, seized with a powerful grasp the bridle, and abruptly arresting
the horse backed it fearfully towards the descent. Enraged beyond all
presence of mind, the fated nobleman, raising his whip, struck violently
at the republican. The latter, as he felt the blow, uttered a single
shout of such ferocity that it curdled the timorous blood of Glumford,
and with a giant and iron hand he backed the horse several paces down
the precipice. The treacherous earth crumbled beneath the weight, and
Lord Ulswater spurring his steed violently at the same instant that
Wolfe so sharply and strongly curbed it, the affrighted animal reared
violently, forced the rein from Wolfe, stood erect for a moment of
horror to the spectator, and then, as its footing and balance alike
failed, it fell backward, and rolled over and over its unfortunate and
helpless rider.

"Good heavens!" cried Glumford, who had sat quietly upon his dozing
horse, watching the result of the dispute, "what have you done? you have
killed his lordship,--positively killed him,--and his horse, too, I dare
say. You shall be ha