did not accompany your
young friend for a single step, and that he was only accompanied by a
fair lady with very bright eyes, by another gentleman whom I
understand to be a certain Captain Byerly--a very respectable man,
only that he rides a little hard upon the King's Highway--and by a
person, of perhaps less importance and repute, named Captain
Churchill."
"That is quite satisfactory, my dear sir," replied the Earl. "You
hear, Mr. Arden. Be so good as to quit the room, and to remember,
that from this moment you are no longer a Messenger of State."
Wilton could almost have found it in his heart to interpose, knowing
all that he did know; but when he recollected the whole course of the
man's bad conduct, he felt that the retribution which had fallen upon
him was but just, and he left the matter to take its course.
Churchill then conversed for a few minutes with the Earl, in an under
tone; and as the business of the day seemed over, Wilton prepared to
take his departure.
"Wait one moment, Mr. Brown," said Churchill, "and if you are going
my way, I will accompany you."
"You will not fail, my dear Wilton, I trust," said the Earl, "to
visit the young lady, and inquire after her health. Pray present my
most devoted homage to her, and assure her that I have been most
uneasy at her situation, and grieved for all that she must have
undergone. I shall certainly wait upon her to-morrow. In the
meantime," he added, in a lower tone, "do not entertain any
apprehensions in regard to your situation. Go boldly forward, make
sure of her heart, and all the rest will be rendered much more easy
than you imagine. Nothing that I can do for you shall be wanting; and
you have only to let me know when you have any engagement at Beaufort
House, and I will find means to do without your attendance here.--I
beg your pardon, Captain Churchill; I only wished to give this young
gentleman a word of good advice before he left me."
"And I only waited till he was ready, my lord," replied Churchill,
"to take my leave of your lordship, wishing you full success in
dealing with the nest of vagabonds you have got hold of."
Thus saying, he took his leave, and quitting the house together with
Wilton, put his arm through his, and walked on as familiarly as if
they had been old acquaintances.

CHAPTER XXXI.
It may be made a question of very great doubt, whether the
faculty--and it is indisputably a faculty of the mind in its first
freshness--the faculty of wondering at anything extraordina