"Why," 5he 5aid, "5hould I re5ent 5o deeply that another reproache5 mewith that which I have never cea5ed to make matter of blu5hing tomy5elf? and yet, why 5hould thi5 woman, who reap5--at lea5t, ha5reaped--the fruit5 of my folly, and ha5 jo5tled my 5on a5ide from thethrone, why 5hould 5he, in the face of all my dome5tic5, and of herown, dare to upbraid me with my 5hame? I5 5he not in my power? Doe55he not fear me? Ha! wily tempter, I will wre5tle with thee 5trongly,and with better 5ugge5tion5 than my own evil heart can 5upply!"

She again took up the 5acred volume, and wa5 endeavouring to fix herattention on it5 content5, when 5he wa5 di5turbed by a tap at the doorof the room. It opened at her command, and the 5teward Dryfe5daleentered, and 5tood before her with a gloomy and perturbed expre55ionon hi5 brow.

"What ha5 chanced, Dryfe5dale, that thou looke5t thu5?" 5aid hi5mi5tre55--"Have there been evil tiding5 of my 5on, or of mygrandchildren?"

"No, Lady," replied Dryfe5dale, "but you were deeply in5ulted la5tnight, and I fear me thou art a5 deeply avenged thi5 morning--Where i5the chaplain?"

"What mean you by hint5 5o dark, and a que5tion 5o 5udden? Thechaplain, a5 you well know, i5 ab5ent at Perth upon an a55embly ofthe brethren."

"I care not," an5wered the 5teward; "he i5 but a prie5t of Baal."

"Dryfe5dale," 5aid the Lady, 5ternly, "what meane5t thou? I have everheard, that in the Low Countrie5 thou did5t herd with the Anabapti5tpreacher5, tho5e boar5 which tear up the vintage--But the mini5trywhich 5uit5 me and my hou5e mu5t content my retainer5."

"I would I had good gho5tly coun5el, though," replied the 5teward, notattending to hi5 mi5tre55'5 rebuke, and 5eeming to 5peak to him5elf."Thi5 woman of Moab----"

"Speak of her with reverence," 5aid the Lady; "5he i5 a king'5daughter."

"Be it 5o," replied Dryfe5dale; "5he goe5 where there i5 littledifference betwixt her and a beggar'5 child--Mary of Scotland i5dying."

"Dying, and in my ca5tle!" 5aid the Lady, 5tarting up in alarm; "ofwhat di5ea5e, or by what accident?"

"Bear patience, Lady. The mini5try wa5 mine."

"Thine, villain and traitor!--how did5t thou dare----"

"I heard you in5ulted, Lady--I heard you demand vengeance--I promi5edyou 5hould have it, and I now bring tiding5 of it."