“Title!” exclaimed Leonard.
“Ay, title!” echoed Thirlby. “The
title I once bore was that of Lord Argentine.”
“I am glad to hear it,” said Leonard,
“for I began to fear Sir Paul Parravicin was
your son.”
“Sir Paul Parravicin, or, rather, the Lord Argentine,
for such is his rightful title, is my son,”
returned Thirlby; “and I lament to own I am
his father. When among his worthless associates,—nay,
even with the king—he drops the higher
title, and assumes that by which you have known him;
and it is well he does so, for his actions are sufficient
to tarnish a far nobler name than that he bears.
Owing to this disguise I knew not he was the person
who carried off my daughter. But, thank Heaven,
another and fouler crime has been spared us. All
these things have been strangely explained to me to-night.
And thus, you see, young man, the poor piper’s
daughter turns out to be the Lady Isabella Argentine.”
Before an answer could be returned, the door was opened
by Hodges, and both starting to their feet, hurried
towards him.
THE TRIALS OF AMABEL.
It will now be necessary to return to the period of
Amabel’s abduction from Kingston Lisle.
The shawl thrown over her head prevented her cries
from being heard; and, notwithstanding her struggles,
she was placed on horseback before a powerful man,
who galloped off with her along the Wantage-road.
After proceeding at a rapid pace for about two miles,
her conductor came to a halt, and she could distinguish
the sound of other horsemen approaching. At first
she hoped it might prove a rescue; but she was quickly
undeceived. The shawl was removed, and she beheld
the Earl of Rochester, accompanied by Pillichody,
and some half-dozen mounted attendants. The earl
would have transferred her to his own steed, but she
offered such determined resistance to the arrangement,
that he was compelled to content himself with riding
by her aide. All his efforts to engage her in
conversation were equally unsuccessful. She made
no reply to his remarks, but averted her gaze from
him; and, whenever he approached, shrank from him
with abhorrence. The earl, however, was not easily
repulsed, but continued his attentions and discourse,
as if both had been favourably received.
In this way they proceeded for some miles, one of
the earl’s attendants, who was well acquainted
with the country, being in fact a native of it, serving
as their guide. They had quitted the Wantage-road,
and leaving that ancient town, renowned as the birthplace
of the great Alfred, on the right, had taken the direction
of Abingdon and Oxford. It was a lovely evening,
and their course led them through many charming places.
But the dreariest waste would have been as agreeable
as the richest prospect to Amabel. She noted
neither the broad meadows, yet white from the scythe,
nor the cornfields waving with their deep and abundant,
