oice was heard to call,
And thrice the raven flapped his wing
Around the towers of Cumnor Hall."

It was pleasant to turn from a scene of such confiding love on one
part, and base hypocrisy on the other, to look upon the honest
countenance of Magnus Troil, who, with his daughters on each arm--the
stately, dark-eyed Minna, and the no less lovely Brenda--were now
approaching me. Behind followed Norna of the Fitful-head, in earnest
conversation with the Pirate Cleveland. As I looked upon her tall,
majestic person, her countenance, so stern and wild, rendered more so,
perhaps, by the singular head-dress she had assumed, and her long hair
streaming over her face and shoulders, I could no longer wonder at the
power she had obtained over the minds of the ignorant peasantry and
fishermen of Jarlshof.

"Whist! whist! Triptolemus!" quoth Mistress Barbara Yelloway, pulling
the sleeve of the Factor, "dinna be getting ower near the hellicat
witch--wha kens but she may be asking for the horn o' siller, man."

This speech had the desired effect; and the trembling Triptolemus
hastily placed the bold front of Baby between him and the object of
dread.

Here, too, was Mareshal Dalgetty--and nothing but the respect due to
so much beauty as was here assembled, I felt sure, could have
prevented the appearance of his brave charger, Gustavus, also upon the
scene. He was accompanied by Ranald of the Mist.

With her little harp poised lightly on her arm, sweet Annot Lyle
tripped by the side of the moody Allan, striving by her lively sallies
to break the thrall of the dark fit which was about to seize upon him.

Fair Alice Lee, and the brave old knight, Sir Harry, did not escape my
notice--nor Master Wildrake, or the gay monarch, Charles, still under
the disguise of Louis Kerneguy; and whose shuffling, awkward gait, and
bushy red head, caused no small mirth in the assembly, as wondering to
see one of so ungainly an appearance in such close attendance upon the
lovely Alice.

"Old Noll" had grouped around him in one corner the
"Devil-scaring-lank-legs," the "Praise-God-barebones," and the
"smell-sin-long-noses" of the day; but not finding any thing very
attractive in that godly company, I passed on to where Isabella of
Croye and the gallant Quentin Durward were holding earnest
converse--not aware, unfortunately, that the snaky eye of the Bohemian
was watching all their movements.

I quickly stepped aside as I saw the miser, Trap