and kept your secret from your father's bosom."

"You forbade me to speak of him," replied Mildred, in a low and sobbing
voice, "and banished me from your presence when I but brought his name
upon my lips."

"He is a villain, daughter; a base wretch that would murder my peace,
and steal my treasure from my heart."

Mildred covered her eyes with her hands, and trembled in silent agony.

"I have received letters," continued Lindsay, "that disclose to me a
vile plot against my life. This same Butler--this furious and fanatic
rebel--has been lurking in the neighborhood of my house, to watch my
family motions, to pry into the character of my guests, to possess
himself of my sacred confidences, to note the incoming and the out-going
of my most attached friends, and thereupon to build an accusation of
treason before this unholy and most accursed power that has usurped
dominion in the land. I am to be denounced to these malignant masters,
and to suffer such penalties as their passions may adjudge. And all this
through the agency of a man who is cherished and applauded by my own
daughter!"

"My dear father, who has thus abused your mind, and led your thoughts
into a current so foreign from that calm judgment with which you have
been accustomed to look upon the things of life?"

"Can you deny, Mildred, that this Butler followed Tyrrel to the Dove
Cote; lay concealed here, close at hand; sought by discourse through
some of his coadjutors with Tyrrel's servant, to learn the object of
Tyrrel's visit; and offered gross outrage to the man when he failed to
persuade him to betray his master? Can you deny this? Can you deny that
he fled precipitately from his hiding-place when he could no longer
conceal his purpose?--and, knowing these things, can you doubt he is a
villain?"

"He is no villain, father," said Mildred, indignantly. "These are the
wretched forgeries of that unworthy man who has won your confidence--a
man who is no less an enemy to your happiness than he is a selfish
contriver against mine. The story is not true: it is one of Tyrrel's
basest falsehoods."

"And Butler was not here; you would persuade me so, Mildred?"

"He was in the neighborhood for a single night; he journeyed southwards
in the course of his duty," answered Mildred, mildly.

"And had no confederates with him?"

"He was attended by a guide--only one--and hurried onwards without
delay."

"And you met him on that single night--by accident, I su