"We'll do ye no harm," replied the gipsy, "but we want ye to go with us." "Where and for why ?" asked the gamekeeper. "I could tell you where," replied Bill; 66 but that I was told not to do. As to the why I know nothing, and care nothing about it." "Then move not an inch nearer," rejoined Tom Brainshaw, "or" A whizzing bludgeon was now sent over the heads of the repulsed crowd, and it crashed against the gamekeeper's forehead with a force that might have felled a giant. His gun dropped from his shoulder, and, staggering for a moment, he fell backwards upon the floor more powerless than an infant. "Ye set of limping curs!" cried Carew, pushing his way through the band with no gentle manner. "Ye set of limping curs!" repeated he, "is this the way to obey my orders ?" "He threatened-" "Threatened!" ejaculated the king. "If I thought a threat would have stopped ye, I would have sent the women." "You said we were to be careful in not harming him," replied the abashed Bill, pointing to the inanimate gamekeeper. "But I gave no instructions about being so over-careful concerning yourselves," rejoined his majesty. "I think he's dead as hashed victuals," remarked Bill, kneeling down and examining the rigid features of the prostrated Tom Brainshaw. "You're not asked for your opinion nor your thoughts," returned Carew, feeling the keeper's pulse. "Raise him between four of ye, and follow me." CHAPTER X. "The ample proposition that hope makes In all designs begun on earth below, Fails in the promis'd largeness: checks and disasters As knots, by the conflux of meeting sap, Infect the sound pine, and divert his grain, Tortive and errant, from his course of growth." "WE must be early at the vicarage this morning," said aunt Deborah, sipping her tea some two hours earlier than her custom, "or Grace will not wait for us. In truth, I much doubt whether she will as it is." "I have little fear of her breaking her promise," replied Blanch, "as she was led to believe Mr Merton's plans for the defence would be made known to her previous to her going to the court." "To the court, indeed!" exclaimed aunt Deborah. "What a dreadful determination to hear this man's trial!” 66 Nothing was left untried in the endeavour to dissuade Grace from being present," rejoined Blanch. "No, child, certainly all was done within our united powers of persuasion," returned the old lady, "to little, or, I may say, to no purpose." "It will be a sad ordeal for her to pass,' said her niece. "I quite tremble at the thought." "And it must prove a sad one for all of us, child," responded aunt Deborah. "More so, much more so for Grace, it is true ; but" and she shook her head mournfully" to think of such a dreadful affair from the beginning, and now, almost to the end, makes one shudder with cold, although it's but the middle of summer." "I could not but think Mr Merton entertained little hope last night of the prisoner's acquittal, although he spoke so cheerfully concerning it in Grace's presence," observed Blanch. "Such was my impression," replied the old lady. "His manner was but in ill accordance with his words," continued she. "There was not even a smile upon his lips." "What, then, do you think he meant relative to acquainting us with his plans of defending the prisoner ?" inquired Blanch. "Nothing more than, as he said a few days ago, the employing of the most efficient lawyer that comes the circuit to do the best he possibly can for him," returned aunt Deborah. "That's my belief, child." "If such be the case," added Blanch, "I fear he stands but a sorry chance." "In truth, child, 'tis useless to deny-but see," she continued, with surprise, "here |