to rush towards
the spot, when the voice was again audible, and apparently at her side.
Slowly the hood of the pilgrim was uplifted. He threw off his disguise;
but oh, how changed was the once athletic form of Sir William
Bradshaigh! With a wild and piercing shriek she flew towards the
outstretched arms of her husband; but ere they met, a figure stepped
between, barring their approach. It was the ungainly person of Sir
Osmund Neville.

"Nay, nay, seek thy leman elsewhere, thou gay palmer. It were a brave
honour, truly, to graft me with thy favours." With this brutish speech
he was proceeding to lay hands on the lady, who stood stupefied in
amaze, and bereft of power to offer the least resistance.

"To me this insult! I'll chase thee from thy lair!" exclaimed the
incensed Sir William.

Roger de Cliderhow at this moment suddenly approached, and in great
alarm. He whispered Sir Osmund.

"'Tis Sir William!--Thou hast no time for parley. If his coming get
abroad we are undone. Call thy men hither, and let him be conveyed away
privily. The dungeon will tell no tales. I'll summon them. If the
servants get a whisper of the matter, I'll give out he is an impostor."

Fearful of encountering the glance of his injured lord, this worthy
withdrew in great precipitation.

It was but the work of a moment. Sir Osmund had taken the precaution to
prevent all egress, so that Sir William and his lady were, in fact,
prisoners, at the mercy and discretion of a cruel and cowardly foe.

Sir William had thrown off his cloak and the remainder of his disguise.
He now stood proudly erect before the supplanter, who was somewhat
stunned by this unexpected issue.

"I defy thee to the combat; hast thou the grace to give me a weapon, or
art thou as cowardly as thou art presuming?" tauntingly inquired Sir
William.

"Impostor! wouldst have me believe every wish that folly genders? To the
proof!" sullenly replied Sir Osmund.

"What says the Lady Mabel? Let her decide," returned the other.

"She!" cried the ingrate, with a contemptuous sneer; "her wits are so
set upon it, that she would worship any ill-favoured lout that should
call himself her husband."

"'Tis false! unblushing as thou art." The lightning kindled in the
lady's eye as she spoke. Sir Osmund quailed beneath her glance.

"Am I mad?" she continued; "ay, if thy wish could have goaded me to it.
Thou hast heaped on me tortures, indignities, cruel as thy relentless
nature could de