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"The groom desired me to say, yesterday," said the footman, "that the General's black Valencia t would be the better now for exercise."

“Well, then, I will try the charger," said the ne Warden.

"Like the doughty churchmen of old," observed Mr. Everard, "who, whether in battle, or following hi the chase, were ever nobly mounted."

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"All which magnificence well became, a priestne hood transmitted from those who went forth with ve but scrip and staff," cried Katherine Graham, as he she followed Geraldine, to equip for her ride; and, le without waiting for the Warden's reply, - that "magnificence, however reprehensible in the clergy, had never been a dogma of their faith."

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CHAPTER VI.

A dim and mighty minister of old time,
A temple shadowy, with remembrances
Of the majestic past!

HEMANS.

"I AM rejoiced, Mr. Everard, that your secret lies on this side of the heath," said Miss Carrington, as, after a long canter on the turf, they all but retraced their steps, and again approached the town and Manor Hall of Elverton. "I am rejoiced that you have made us turn our horses' heads this way; for, as I am sure you would not risk our entering the town, you are going to climb the Abbey Hill, and visit the ruins."

"Everard," cried the Warden, if such be your intention, you must excuse my being your fellowclimber. Both Valencia and myself see the peril of attempting it, at our sober time of life. We will ruminate on the turf below; and, if your antiquarian research should exhaust our patience, we can slowly return home by the way we came."

"But is it really dangerous, Mr. Everard?" said Geraldine, who loved difficulties on horseback much less than in argument. "I have little physical courage, and this new way up to the Abbey does, indeed, appear very steep."

"Not a bit, not a bit! give your horse the free rein, till he reaches those furze bushes; then turn him sharp to the left. Now for it! who is for glory follow me!" and the energetic old man struck boldly up the steep ascent, followed closely by Katherine;

and, after some hesitation, by Geraldine and the grooms. As in most things, the first difficulties were the only formidable ones; and, after reaching the little platform pointed out by Mr. Everard, and stopping there for an instant to congratulate themselves, and pat the favourite horses, they followed him, as he directed, up a natural or long-disused path, the gradual ascent of which allowed them to take hasty glances at the wide expanse of rich champaign country beneath them. "On! on!" was,

however, the impatient cry of their leader; and they obeyed, till fairly under the Abbey walls. They were then allowed to rest, and to contemplate one of the most magnificent prospects ever spread before the eye of man.

And this is your secret, Mr. Everard," said Geraldine, half delighted, half disappointed; "this view does indeed exceed that from any other part of the ruins, and is quite magnificent. I can scarcely believe but that in the extreme horizon I can trace the sea."

"You do, you do!" cried Mr. Everard, rubbing his hands in transport; "you see from hence the western coast: but observe what a succession of faintly defined distances,-what a rich middle ground, the tinted heaths warming and relieving the greens; and then to reflect what figures once occupied the fore-ground, moving round the hallowed building, of which just a window-frame, or ivied buttress, would contrast with the smiling landscape. Now Geraldine, my girl, you must draw all this for me, and place me some holy man, engaged in orisons, just within the Abbey; for now we will go within, and decide whether a crumbling breach, or fretted window-arch, shall frame the future picture."

They now entered, with their horses, into a little ruined court, whence no access to the rest of

the building was discoverable, but where Mr. Everard alighted, and lifted the ladies from their horses.

“I see that your one secret contains many,” said Katherine Graham, as they in vain searched for a communication with the interior of the building. Mr. Everard's eyes sparkled; but he did not attempt to aid them in their perplexity.

"Let us look more into these niches,” said Geraldine, striking as firmly as she could on the stone pedestal; which, however, seemed part of the solid building, and gave forth no hollow sound. "I am delighted," continued she, "to find that the secret has a reference to this venerable and venerated pile; for greatly as I love the simple magnificence of nature, my enjoyment in it is not complete without some association of past or future times in the history of man."

"Well," cried the happy Mr. Everard," will you give up the search ?" and, without waiting the reply, he beckoned the servants to him, and, with their assistance, succeeded in turning, on its concealed and well-constructed pivot, the pedestal of one of those very niches which Geraldine had fruitlessly attempted; when, to the joy of the lovers of adventure and romance, steps were seen beneath, and a faint light, from some other egress, discovered the secret communication with the interior of the ruined Abbey.

"I am quite ready to follow you," cried Geraldine, as Mr. Everard turned round for applause at this opening to a new adventure. "I shall dream of this for nights to come: this is really a secret ; but how did you discover it?"

"Ah! that I cannot reveal; therefore you must suppose it chance, or the aid of the saints, who are bound to befriend the lovers of the olden time, for that was their golden age. No one cares for the

saints now-a-days. I do not think there is a spice of poetic feeling left in England. I found my way up here one day; because, having spied a bit of rare geranium growing just on the platform, and having - urged my horse up to it, I then followed that obvious little path, which seems in fact to be no secret to the children of the town, who have, perhaps, formed it in their wanderings round the Abbey. This outer court was once, I am inclined to think, part of the covered building. But come down now with me to my hidden treasures; we can still talk there." So saying, Mr. Everard, bending his person considerably, stepped into the small aperture, and descended the stone steps, followed by his willing companions, whom he introduced into a small but exquisitely worked chapel,—the ornaments of which had not only escaped the ravages of time, and the still ruder assaults of reformation zeal, but exhibited a freshness and beauty which excited the astonishment, as much as the admiration of the visitors. The light fell from apertures in the carved ceiling, and was sufficient to show the white marble altar, and basrelief of the Lamb that was slain,' and the 'Sealed Book,' described in the Apocalypse. The workmanship of this drew from the usually severe critic, Mr. Everard, unbounded praise, followed by regrets that the large picture above the altar, of which he had had a full view the other day, when the sun was at the meridan, should now be nearly obscured. "It is an undoubted Leonardo da Vinci," cried he, "and in admirable preservation. I would not have you miss seeing this Virgin and Child for any thing. Well! can you climb?" at length added he, laying his hand on the altar, and planting his foot firmly on the most projecting part of the basrelief. Geraldine shrank back. "What! my little amazon, afraid of climbing?" cried he; "here,-I will show you how easy it is:" and, with the spring

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