ered, and without any experience of the world, or my hopes would
not have risen so high.

"Never fear, Mr Riddle," said I, as I parted from the old sailor.
"I'll manage, by hook or by crook, to get Mark set free, so tell Mrs
Riddle and Mary to keep up their spirits."

When I reached the Hall, I walked boldly up to the front porch, and gave
a sturdy pull at the bell. A powdered footman opened the door. In a
firm voice I asked to see Sir Reginald.

"He is at breakfast."

"Then say Mr Richard Cheveley has called, and begs to see him on an
important matter."

The footman gave an equivocal smile down at me, and went into the
breakfast-room at one side of the Hall.

I heard a lady's voice say--

"Oh! Do let him come in."

The servant reappearing, showed me into the breakfast-room, in which
several ladies were at one end of a well-covered table. Lady Knowsley
was seated, presiding at the tea-urn, with several young ladies on
either side, and Sir Reginald at the foot.

I made my bow as I entered. Lady Knowsley held out her hand without
rising, and Sir Reginald turned partly round in his chair and gave me a
nod, then went on eating his breakfast, while the young ladies smiled.
The footman placed a chair for me in a vacant place at the table.

"You have had a long walk, and must be ready for breakfast," said Lady
Knowles, in a kind tone.

"Thank you, I took some on my way," I answered, not wishing to loose
time by having to repeat an operation I felt that I could not perform in
the presence of so many young ladies with my accustomed appetite.

"You must have got up another appetite by this time," observed Sir
Reginald. "Come youngster! Here is an egg and some ham. Julia, cut
him a slice of bread, and Lady Knowles will supply you with tea. Fall
to, now, and let me see what sort of a man you are."

Thus pressed, I was compelled to eat what was set before me, which I did
without any great difficulty. Sir Reginald was too polite to ask me the
object of my visit till I had finished. He pressed me to take more, but
I declined, and I then told him that I had heard that Mark Riddle had
been taken poaching with some other lads who had led him astray.

"That is your opinion, Master Cheveley," observed Sir Reginald, with a
laugh; "why the fellow is the most arrant young poacher in the
neighbourhood. My people have been aware of it for a long time, but
have hitherto been unable to capture him."

"I hope that th