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aetarne fete taBlengast eer 47tf 1710. 74, Ene the world and all its sickening vanities are shut upon me for ever, let me finish, for you, my beloved friend, the Jong recital I have engaged in. After Orleans quitted me, I employed myself in packing up the few valuable ornaments which belonged to me. The time approached fast in which I was to quit for ever the towers of my fathers; I had to cross the large western hall; the rays of the setting sun shed a golden light through the storied window, and VOL. Iv. B fell a . SIELY OF Raby. (Pel on the pictures of my angestors. I \thought they secmed to reproach and Took wistfully on me:—* AM I ex. claimed, “ the Jong-foretold prophecy, whose actoniplishment has been so anxiously hoped for by the Nevilles, in Cicely shall not be fulfilled! from some other branch may spring kings and mt- Jers—blot my name from amongst you, ye lords of Raby !” I quitted the hall, my soul filled with sadness, and entering my own apart- ment, endeavoured to shake off the im- pression, I threw open my casement: « Why sits this heaviness at my heart? whilst Orleans was with me I felt it ne. The gale of spring blew on me; its balmy freshness stole on my gladdened senses, and threw a transitory calm upon them. I thought of the promised cot- tage, as the birds carolled forth their evening-song. , E saw Jaques pace, with trembling steps, CICELY OF RABY. $ steps, his white hair floating with the wind, towards the wood, where.the duke had told me the horses which were to bear us were concealed. Spite of love, spite of all my resolution, tears found “their way when I lost sight of the ve- nerable Jaques. Already the sun was sinking beyond the hills which bounded the park, and ere midnight—yes, long ere midnight, was I to quit the Castle of Raby, where oft I had anxiously watched, as I now , did, the setting luminary. My father seemed present to my view; kneeling, UT cried—* Aid me, every saint! so long the guardians of the house of Fitz-Mal> dred, the protectors of Raby! give me resolution to sustain this trying season, or at once frustrate every plan I have aid!” J heard the trampling of horses, and yesuméd my station at the window.— “This,” said I, “is no longer the pace Be of 4 CICELY OF RABY.. of lord Westmoreland—it is that of my brother Richard.” A troop of horsemen appeared; they gallopped into the court; they wore the badge of the Nevilles; their leader lifted his helmet, and I beheld in him sir John ; Neville, the warden of the western. marches, the eldest son of Jord West- moreland! “Alas thought 1, “some disaster has befallen my father; what brings, at the head of an armed troop, the heir of Raby?” . T was not Jong in suspense. My brother leaped off his steed; the duke of Oricans appeared. A conversation, which lasted but a few minutes, took place be- tween them, when iny brother holding the reins of a horse, which was brought into the court by a page, the prince, vaulted on the saddle. I ‘had not power to speak, or even move, as-he cast his eyes where I stood, and laying his hand on his heart, hastily bowed in agonizing silence, CICELY OF RABY, 5 silence, while his countenance wore an air of distraction. .The whole party gallapped off with the same celerity they had advanced to Raby, taking the road which, in-an hour's time, I should have gone. : Amazed, confounded, lost in conjee- ture, I kept my station till my aching eyes could no longer distinguish the trodp which accompanied the duke. The sound of their steps still was heard; they grew fainter and fainter: I scarce breath-" ed lest I should lose the last. echo, Tong after it had faded on my ear, I yet ima- gined, at intervals, I heard them. Father Francis entered my apartmenty newly returned from his little journey. “Ah! why, I conjure you tell me, is the duke carried hence so guarded 2” *« Alas! my cbild, I know. not. Be- hold, this is the order brought, by your brother, for his delivery. It is signed by the king,-and countersigned by the BS earl,