stance, raising her head. "Where have I been? I am ill-very ill-do not leave me!" But weeks passed by before she was again able to see Henry Molyneux. Illness had seized upon her as its victim; and, in the delirium of long fever, her attendants trembled to hear shrieks of terror mingle with her wild words. CHAPTER VII. "Full many a glorious morning have I seen With ugly rack, on his celestial face." SHAKESPEARE. THE parish-church bells of Castle Byborough were flinging far around their hearty peals, and these were again briskly answered by merry sounds from the old ivy-clad steeple of Pennersley. Many a villager trudged to his work with a gay favour in his hat; or, like the state-coachman of a new lord mayor, with a bunch of such flowers as winter allowed, thrust into his button-hole. All wore the beaming front which pro-. claimed the knowledge of some joyful novelty. None bore a brighter favour, or displayed a more choice nosegay at the breast than Ralph Jennings, as, with light step, and lighter heart, he left a knot of gossips under the village elm-tree, and stepped hastily forward towards the Retreat, to forestall, if possible, the announcement which rumour must soon convey to the family of Colonel Grey. He was gratified at the chance of being bearer of welcome tidings to Albert Grey. Many a hard, but honest hand, did he check his footsteps to grasp on the way, and with many a good neighbour did he exchange congratulations on the fortune that had fallen to the village. Occupied with his reigning thought, he arrived at the Retreat; and, to his great joy, found that Albert Grey was at home. Ralph Jennings had no small difficulty in curbing his impatience to proclaim the grateful news until he had made the usual inquiries after Miss Grey's improving health; for weeks had elapsed since her last and overexciting interview with Henry Molyneux. "But, Jennings," said Albert Grey, after thanking the honest farmer for his wonted interest in Constance, "what means your gay dress? it is not a revel-day!" "Oh, no, sir! our revel does not come till Whitsuntide," replied the young farmer, eyeing his nosegay with evident satisfaction; "but We have just I bring news good news. learned it at the village, and we have set the bells to work to speak out our minds upon the matter. Do you not hear them? Hark, sir!" Albert Grey had heard the distant bells, but expressed his ignorance of the cause of their right merry peal. "Should your honour like to hear it?" inquired Ralph, gratified with his possession of the pleasant intelligence. There is a racy interest in playing with another's curiosity; in tantalising with the triumphant superiority derived from a knowledge of a secret; in flirting and coquetting with a friend's legitimate desire to learn it, as a cat delights to coquet with the sprightly, but uncomfortable mouse, before she finally receives it into the tranquillity and repose of her bosom. "If the news is beneficial to you, Jen "it nings," replied Albert Grey," it will give me sincere pleasure." "Not to me only, your honour," responded Jennings; "but to every parishioner, good and bad, rich and poor." "Indeed!" said Albert Grey; "then you must gratify my inquisitiveness." 66 Ay, sir, I expect that it will gratify you, and Miss Grey, and the colonel; and that was the reason why I have come across the fields, that I might have the pleasure of telling it with my own lips," answered the yeoman, with a look of satisfaction. "News has just been spread, from Squire Auget's, down at the Haye, that my lord has presented the living of Castle Byborough and Pennersley to that good young gentleman, Mr. Molyneux. My lord, you see, sir, only heard of the old rector's death, by a letter from London, last night; and would not so much as go to bed until he had sent a handsome note to the Haye, giving the living to Mr. Molyneux. You see, sir, the old rector was never known here, and they say he was rather an odd one; so that the village ringers don't trouble to toll for him |