anger. He had heard much of her beauty, and
likewise of her uncertain humours. Each fancied the opposite party
impregnable; and this alone, if none other motive had arisen, formed a
sufficiently strong temptation to begin the attack. Kate was
particularly punctual at church, and once or twice he caught an
equivocating glance towards the warden's seat, and he really did at
times fancy he should like to play at "_taming the shrew_." Kate was
sure the stranger slighted her. He treated her, and her only, with an
air of neglect she could not altogether account for, and she was in
month's mind to make the young cavalier crouch at her feet. How this was
to be contrived could only be guessed at by a woman, and we will not let
the reader into all the secrets of Kate's sanctuary. Suffice it to say,
that in so harmlessly attempting to beguile her prey into the snare,
the lady fell over head and ears into it herself. In a word Kate was in
love! And this was the more grievous, inasmuch as her lofty bearing
hitherto would not allow her to whisper the matter even to her own
bosom; and the pent-up and smothering flame was making sad havoc with
poor Kate's repose.

She had ofttimes suspected the state of her heart; but instead of
sighing, pining, and twanging her guitar to love-sick ditties, she would
fly into so violent a rage at her own folly that nothing might quell the
disturbance until fairly worn out by its own vehemency. No one suspected
the truth--yes, one forsooth--gentle reader, canst thou guess? It was no
less a personage than our one-shouldered friend Timothy Dodge! How the
cunning rogue had contrived to get at the secret is more than we dare
tell. Sure enough he had it; and as certain too that another should be
privy to the fact--to wit, Edward Kelly the seer. Dodge was a fitting
tool for this intriguer, and well able to help him out at a pinch.

Affairs were in this position when our story commenced. Rodolf had
formidable auxiliaries at hand, had he been disposed to make the attack;
but his stay was now short--Kate was petulant and perverse--the siege
might be tedious. Just on the verge of relinquishing he met Kate, as we
have before seen, going to church. He caught her for the once completely
off her guard, and the rich blush that ensued set a crowd of odd fancies
jingling through his brain. It was just as the old chimes were ringing
their doleful chant from the steeple, but these hindered not a whit the
other changes th