t trepidation,
and retreating rapidly to the door; "but I have heard that the fiends
are mighty malignant to all lookers-on not initiated."

While he spoke, fast gushed the smoke, heavily heaved the fairy hammers,
up and down, down and up, sank or rose the column, with its sullen
sound. The young man's heart sank to the soles of his feet.

"Indeed and in truth," he stammered out, "I am but a dolt in these
matters; I wish thee all success compatible with the weal of a
Christian, and bid thee, in sad humility, good day:" and he added, in a
whisper--"the Lord's forgiveness! Amen!"

Marmaduke then fairly rushed through the open door, and hurried out of
the chamber as fast as possible.

He breathed more freely as he descended the stairs. "Before I would
call that gray carle my father, or his child my wife, may I feel all
the hammers of the elves and sprites he keeps tortured within that
ugly little prison-house playing a death's march on my body! Holy Saint
Dunstan, the timbrel-girls came in time! They say these wizards always
have fair daughters, and their love can be no blessing!"

As he thus muttered, the door of Sibyll's chamber opened, and she stood
before him at the threshold. Her countenance was very pale, and bore
evidence of weeping. There was a silence on both sides, which the girl
was the first to break.

"So, Madge tells me thou art about to leave us?"

"Yes, gentle maiden! I--I--that is, my Lord of Warwick has summoned me.
I wish and pray for all blessings on thee! and--and--if ever it be mine
to serve or aid thee, it will be--that is--verily, my tongue falters,
but my heart--that is--fare thee well, maiden! Would thou hadst a less
wise father; and so may the saints (Saint Anthony especially, whom the
Evil One was parlous afraid of) guard and keep thee!"

With this strange and incoherent address, Marmaduke left the maiden
standing by the threshold of her miserable chamber. Hurrying into the
hall, he summoned Alwyn from his meditations, and, giving the gittern
to Madge, with an injunction to render it to her mistress, with his
greeting and service, he vaulted lightly on his steed; the steady and
more sober Alwyn mounted his palfrey with slow care and due caution.
As the air of spring waved the fair locks of the young cavalier, as the
good horse caracoled under his lithesome weight, his natural temper of
mind, hardy, healthful, joyous, and world-awake, returned to him. The
image of Sibyll and her strange