In the northern part of Lincolnshire, not two miles from the sea, I had once to cross a trackless moor late on a winter's evening-not a house or tree was in view, nor did I meet with any living creature till I came up to some half-starved cattle, when it oc

126

REWARD FOR RIGHT CONDUCT.

Chap. 30.

curred to me that, on entering the common, I had left the gate open. The cattle might stray, I thought, and cause much trouble to the owners. I determined to return (though I had come nearly a mile) and shut the gate. It was well I did so, for I found a man had been hallooing me back, as I had taken the wrong turn, which would have led me far away, and, probably, I should have been benighted. When put into the right road, I considered this incident as a pointed reward for my good intentions, and, I may say, it ruled my conduct in after-life. A storm coming on I looked round for any habitable place into which I could creep, rather than hazard any more mistakes in such a desolate country. I found shelter in a lone public house, kept by widow Brown, the resort of a savage set of boors, employed in the fens, called "dyke cutters." I felt rather uncomfortable amongst such a rough set, as it was possible they might be disposed to cut my throat. Two of the most impertinent marched into my room and volunteered their company, as I was a stranger. Fortunately, an old traveller was shortly after driven in by the storm, and claimed quarters for the night. This put me greatly at my ease, and my visitors took themselves away. Our first object was supper, which

the hostess cooked in the room where we sat. With some famous Hollands gin, smuggled on the coast, we were made happy, while the storm was furiously raging without. When these unpleasant gentry had

retired, I much enjoyed the company of my travelling friend, who entertained me with his adventures, and some interesting tales. One, in particular, he related of Lady Norris, whose name he never repeated but with a musical crescendo, that not a little alarmed me, my imagination having been much excited by the dyke cutters."-It was as follows:

66

"In the wilds of Scotland there stood a lonely castle belonging to Lady Norris, who lived in the eastern wing, the only part that was habitable. Its situation was out of the world-buried in dark pine forests. The Lady was rich, and attended by a few old servants. In these baronial halls you often pass through a suite of rooms to the most remote one in the edifice. It was here that Lady Norris slept.-On kneeling down to prayers, she espied the hob-nailed shoes of a man under the bed. Undismayed, she went on with her prayer, rose, and took off her jewels and laid them on her toilette, got into bed and feigned sleep. For a while, nothing stirred. After a time the robber stepped out and secured the booty; but not finding her purse he went to the bed-side and whispered in her ear, Lady Norris! Lady Norris !' Not stirring, he spoke in a louder tone, 'Lady Norris !' Still appearing too dead asleep to be awakened, he shouted, 'Lady Norris!' so as to make the castle ring with the loudness of his voice. The echoes alarmed the villain, and he made off with the jewels. As he retreated through the rooms, she

nimbly got out of bed, and, stepping with the lightness of a doe, locked the furthermost door after him, and all the others as she fled back to her chamber, and violently rang the bell, to awake the servants. She heard the imprecations of the miscreant, as he was bursting through the doors she had locked,―returning to murder her; and just as he was crawling through the panel of the last, the villain was secured, and the lady was saved from death.”

CHAPTER XXXI.

LIONEL AND LOUISA.

I met at dancing school the all-engaging and beautiful Louisa-her native grace shone through that grave demeanour in which her religious education had clothed her. Her highly accomplished mamma had given a refinement to her manners, usually attained only by mixing with the polite world. She showed genius in drawing and poetry, but, from the secluded habits of the family, had never been brought into contact with fashionable life. Some subscription concerts were set on foot in Leicester, and, being a novelty, were warmly countenanced, the avowed object being music.

* Card and dancing assemblies were advertised every fortnight throughout half the year, to which the Dissenters did not subscribe.

APOLLO.

129

The serious Dissenting families, for the first time, joined in the amusement, though the entertainment was to end with a ball. My father prevailed upon the parents of Miss Louisa to allow her to make her entrè in public on this occasion, with her friend Miss R. Our recluse, like a nun released from the cloister, was elated with the novelty of the scene, in which she found herself. A hundred whispers ran round the room, Who is she? How very beautiful!" The concert being over, all the seats had to be removed, to provide a space for dancing. Our steward, Lionel-a high-born gentleman of engaging manners-was denominated the Apollo of our town. Young men of fashion then vied with each other in their taste for dress. Fine figured men, handsomely dressed, gave a gaiety to an assembly that we have no notion of at this day: except by the clergy, a black coat was never worn I remember well the coat of the gay Lionel was a light grey mixture, approaching to white, with a black silk collar and silver cord buttons; black satin small clothes, with sky-blue ribbed silk stockings, that showed a handsome leg. At the knee-band was a small diamond buckle, and a more large and costly one ornamented the toe of the shoe. Rich lace ruffles set off the hand, and a cocked hat surmounted a head of hair dressed in the height of the French fashion. Our Apollo claimed the hand of the lady to dance. We had not then, either waltzes, quadrilles, or galopades. The only