The Weird of the Wentworths, Vol. 1

ike, from hea

through those

glances see

t cannot hide

ong her b

d flow her r

ch clustering

ive her neck ca

ng the King's road with an orderly behind him. He reined his coal-black charger before a hands

her, the Ea

e-my Lord bade me ask you to wait for him-m

ou fellow," addressing h

udy-a warm, comfortable little room. On the escritoire in the centre of the room lay many official letters, and state papers-several blank warrants signed by authority lay on one

ng the room. No sooner was he gone than the

e's bow," he muttered, as he folded up the warrant and put it inside his cigar-case. Scarcely had he done so

ng els

rrah, n

ion to the word he drew a small chess-table to the fire: on this he placed the wine and biscuits; he then seated himself in an easy chair-placed his feet

oom to the window, which looked out on a side street running up from the sea,-make some masonic sign to s

ptain, striking his sword on th

r of the apartment opened, and

laimed, "you make yo

the curt reply, as h

you wait

been here," looking at his watch-"however

levée or would hav

s the

renewed his youth since last summer. Is there a

ad, they'll catch it 'in the Bay of Biscay O!' if it is blowing like this," said th

Captain had stayed some seconds at the window, evid

ok-quick-ther

s she gone?" exclaimed the Ea

again, I'll be bound-talk of

id the Earl, who dearly l

rtains-get your glass quick, she'll be back in

tightly over her breast, showed off her figure to perfection. Her hair, black as the raven's wing, and platted in two broad bands, was drawn back behind her small, prettily-shaped ears, from which dropped sparkling pendants, and tied by a scarlet ribbon which contrasted well with the ebon locks it bound;-two tresses were suffered to esca

ass; confound it! there, she is gone, and I have not had

" said the Earl, regardles

that,"

w more of her than yo

pretty, whatever she is. Egad, what eyes! I could have lit my pipe at them! Now to my mind she is a far jollier girl than even y

sworth, a high born Scotch lady? Compare Ellen with a

anything else; she has taken my fancy I know, and I shal

d what she is. Pierre, my valet, will fi

Wentworth's weak point," he muttered to himself, and then said aloud, "And now, as she doesn't seem inclined

and another. Ah! here's Smith, my secretary," said t

f health and strength. He walked like a king-and such he was, or was soon at least to be, already king in everything but name; his ful

tworth? How d'you do, my bully

never was more flourishing, and am r

d the Regent, filling a bumper, and draining it off to their health. "W

ur Royal Highness, suit

boon fellows-let's have a merry time of it. I

hen ran upstairs again, put on his fur skin busby, and mounted his h

d not the strength to stand the test of time; and the fancy, short-lived as it was violent, soon died away, and he became tired of her who had given her all for his sake. He also found it a most expensive affair, but this was not Juana's fault, but was due to the Captain's guile, who made her the medium by which he drew his brother's purse to a frightful extent, finding a little ready money was the very best means he had in his power of silencing the clamour of his creditors, and keeping brutal duns quiet. After about three weeks the Court returned to town, and the Earl and his brother hastened also to London in order to be present at the marriage of their sister Lady Edith to the Marquis of Arranmore. The ceremony, graced by the presence of royalty itself, came off with great éclat, and the happy pair started at once for the South of Europe, to spend their honeymoon at the Villa Reale at Naples, under