y scoff at her simple faith in a nature so
vain and fickle. 'The tongue's not steel, yet it cuts,' as the proverb
saith of the slanderer."

"No! scandal spares her virtue as woman, to run down her cunning
as witch! They say that Hastings hath not prevailed, nor sought to
prevail,--that he is spell-bound. By Saint Thomas, from a maid of such
character Marmaduke Nevile is happily rescued!"

"Sir Marmaduke," then said Alwyn, in a grave and earnest voice, "it
behooves me, as true friend, though humble, and as honest man, to give
thee my secret, in return for thine own. I love this girl. Ay, ay! thou
thinkest that love is a strange word on a craftsman's lips, but 'cold
flint hides hot fire.' I would not have been thy rival, Heaven forefend!
hadst thou still cherished a hope, or if thou now wilt forbid my
aspiring; but if thou wilt not say me nay, I will try my chance in
delivering a pure soul from a crafty wooer."

Marmaduke stared in great surprise at his foster-brother; and though, no
doubt, he spoke truth when he said he was cured of his love for Sibyll,
he yet felt a sort of jealousy at Alwyn's unexpected confession, and
his vanity was hurt at the notion that the plain-visaged trader should
attempt where the handsome gentleman had failed.--However, his blunt,
generous, manly nature after a brief struggle got the better of these
sore feelings; and holding out his hand to Alwyn, he said, "My dear
foster-brother, try the hazard and cast thy dice, if thou wilt. Heaven
prosper thee, if success be for thine own good! But if she be given to
witchcraft (plague on thee, man, sneer not at the word), small comfort
to bed and hearth can such practices bring!"

"Alas!" said Alwyn, "the witchcraft is on the side of Hastings,--the
witchcraft of fame and rank, and a glozing tongue and experienced art.
But she shall not fall, if a true arm can save her; and 'though Hope be
a small child; she can carry a great anchor.'"

These words were said so earnestly, that they opened new light into
Marmaduke's mind; and his native generosity standing in lieu of
intellect, he comprehended sympathetically the noble motives which
actuated the son of commerce.

"My poor Alwyn," he said, "if thou canst save this young maid,--whom
by my troth I loved well, and who tells me yet that she loveth me as a
sister loves,--right glad shall I be. But thou stakest thy peace of mind
against hers! Fair luck to thee, say I again,--and if thou wilt risk thy
chan