. ness of her answer had an apologetic tone | No, not quite that; but-but, Jenny, peoin it. "No; but — but it is some one else. There are lots of people in the gardens just now. That last waltz was very heating." Poor Jenny was conscious of the extreme feebleness of the commencement of her reply, and was trying to improve on it; but Lion did not seem to hear, and his face was so pale, his eyes wore such a strange expression, that Jenny, hardly knowing the reason why, found herself speaking confusedly, and with a kind of hurried deprecation, as though Sybil were somehow to blame, and she would fain excuse her. ple are talking of her- of Sybil. I have heard one or two to-night, laughing at her flirtation, as they call it. By Heaven, I believe you have too," for his eyes were still on her, and her face had grown suddenly scarlet; yet she met his glance bravely. "And if I had," she said, "I should have been above listening to them. Do not you know the worth of vulgar gossip? Why, they would soil an angel here if they spoke of her; and Sybil· "Sybil is no angel; only an innocent girl," said Lion gravely, "and a girl who may make a mistake, like any other, and never know of it till too late. Jenny, you were right, I am jealous; not of this Mr. Vane, or of any other man who may happen to monopolize her for an evening; not of anybody, but for her, for Sybil herself. She belongs to me. Her mother has trusted her to me. She is my affianced wife, and I should be unworthy to possess her, or call myself her lover, if I were not jealous of every word or action which could call spiteful eyes or gossip. "I was very nearly crushed in it my- ing tongues upon her. It is not sufficient self," she said, laughing. "Look at my to defend her when she is blamed. It is poor flowers!" but Lion did not look, and my duty to shield her from the very posthere was no smile on his face as he an-sibility of blame, and to stand between swered, her innocence and those who would drag it down on her like this — " He stopped for a moment with a fierce look in his eyes, which spoke no love for Gareth Vane, and which made Jenny shrink; then added in a quieter tone, "I am going to look for her now," and moving the girl gently on one side, passed out at the French window near which she was sitting, and went striding away across the dewy lawn, and along the winding, rosehung, perfumed walks, startling more than one couple by the sudden apparition of his tall, dark figure, and face set in a white mask of hardly repressed anger and anxiety. "Your sister did not suffer from it at any rate, seeing that she was out of the room, both during it and the previous dance; and not to be found any more than she is now." "How do you mean, Lion?" "I mean that I looked for her. She was engaged to me for it." What, for one of your 'talk-waltzes'? She must have forgotten it then," said Jenny quickly. "How vexed she will be; but every one forgets sometimes. I do, I know. When one's card is full, one gets confused; and Sybil's card is always full. You must make allowance for her popularity," she added, looking up with a smile, which faded before the keen look which Lion's eyes sent down into hers. "Her popularity cannot have been very confusing this evening," he said dryly, "for I do not think she has danced half-adozen times, and three of those I know have been with the same person." Jenny looked up at him, a crimson streak of color in her cheek. He was right. More than one person had been talking of Sybil that night. It had not been possible for Gareth to absorb her in the way he had done without attracting the attention of such a talkative community, even if there had been no previous gossip on the subject; and tongues, which might not have been set going had she been a disengaged young lady, open to be wooed and won like others in the assemblage, wagged with increased and righteous venom when a damsel, known to have already secured the most eligible young clergyman in the neighborhood for her own property, had not even the grace to be content with him, but must needs appropriate into the bargain the handsomest man and best dancer in the room. More severe things were said on this evening than had been spoken before; and Lion, passing some of the gossips and smarting already under a slight feeling of mortification at not being able to find his fiancée for the dance she had promised him, heard the venomous words, and boiled over with indignation. It was not Sybil he blamed. She might not mean any harm, might not have a disloyal thought to him. In his intense love and loyalty to her he would not even glance at the possibility of such an idea; but what right had this man to monopolize her, and cause her to be talked about, and her fair name mocked at by those who were hardly worthy to mention it familiarly? She, too, who had been so sheltered and guarded from the rough touch of the world, that at one-and-twenty she was more like a beautiful, innocent child than a young lady of the period. By Heaven, he would not suffer it! His darling had been entrusted to his protection as well as that of Mrs. Chawler, and if the one did not avail her, the other should. Yet, though he came prepared to exert it, I think the shock was even greater to him than to Sybil, when in the course of his search he came at last on her and Gareth in the lime-tree walk. He did not see the kiss, the bend in the path prevented that, but he saw the close, lover-like position, the sudden start apart; more than all, he saw his love's marked and unmistakable shrinking at his sight-shrinking from him as if for shelter to the other man's side; and the sight went like a knife to his heart, almost depriving him of speech and breath. For one fleeting moment, indeed, the truth flashed upon him in all its fickle, heartless cruelty; but swiftly as it came he flung it from him, and stood at Sybil's side striving to force his face and voice into their wonted pleasantness as he spoke to her. "I was looking for you, Sybil," he said at once. "Did you forget that the last was my dance? Let me take you back to the house." He offered her his arm as he spoke. It had not escaped him, that little gesture by which Gareth drew his closer against her hand as she pressed towards him, and the young clergyman's lips were white with the pain and wrath which he could not speak; but he managed to keep his voice in good control; and Sybil, dazed and reluctant as she looked, had no thought of disobeying. She would have taken her trembling fingers from Gareth's arm, if its tightening pressure had not held them there, and gone with her lover at once. It was his right_to summon her, his right to be angry. She had been engaged to him for the dance after Major Graham's, and of course she had broken the engagement. She seemed to have broken many and most engagements during the last ten minutes. It was all a confused dream of bliss and fear and wrong-doing; but she was awake now, and she would have obeyed and gone with him at once if she had been allowed. Gareth, however, was in one of his most reckless moods. He was not used to suffering other men to take from him anything that he chose to keep, whether it were his own or not; and at the present. moment the contemptuous ignoring of his existence by so much as a glance, combined with a certain amount of proprietorship in Lion's manner to Sybil, irritated him into sudden self-assertion. Perhaps, also for there is a golden thread in most life-skeins, however dark and tangled they may be on the whole- - the involuntary pressure of that slender little figure against his side appealed, more forcibly than any scruples of prudence could withstand, to his tenderness and chivalry. He could not give her up. That light touch of his lips on her brow seemed to have consecrated her to himself, and he kept her hand firmly in his arm as he spoke, ignoring Lion in his turn. "Do you want to go back to the house, Miss Dysart? This next dance is mine, I believe, whatever the last was; and as it will commence almost immediately, it is hardly worth while for me to resign my care of you." That he meant to provoke a quarrel was evident from the insolence and defiance in his manner; and Sybil, who had never seen him in this mood, was terribly frightened; while the dark flush which mounted to Lion's very temples showed that he was perfectly cognizant of his rival's intention. If he still restrained himself, it was from no thought of his "cloth," or of the scandal to his profession, but something else, which, even if these had lost their power, would still have held their influence over him the presence of a woman, and that woman the one he loved. with a pain almost too keen for speech. That she should tremble at being left with him, implied absolute fear of him, her lover, who had never opened bis lips to her except in tenderness and affection. It was with an effort, which made his voice sound cold and harsh, that he addressed her. A man may be driven to forget he is a a roseleaf; and the sensation filled him clergyman. He can hardly fail to remember he is a gentleman; and that remembrance stood Lion in stead now. At that moment he was in such a passion that he could have taken Gareth by the throat and throttled him, without the smallest compunction. It was the thought of Sybil which controlled him, and the sense that it would be lowering to her if he let himself be dragged into a quarrel with another man in her presence. His voice was studiously courteous as he answered. "I am sorry to have to take Miss Dysart away; but I only come as a messenger from her sister. It is she who wants you, Sybil. Will you let me take you to her?" "Is it true that you are engaged to Mr. Vane for the next dance, Sybil?” Sybil hesitated. “I—I hardly remember," she stammered, "but if he said so, I suppose Indeed, Lion, I did not mean to break my engagement to you for the last." Probably not," he said, with a slight compression of the lips. "I never supHe came nearer to her as he spoke, and posed you did. I am going to ask you, Sybil found it impossible to resist. In-however, to break your present one with deed, she had no desire to do so. Gar- Mr. Vane, and not to dance with him eth's active antagonism had set her again this evening." trembling all over; and unable to gauge Lion's character as it deserved, she was afraid of his retaliating in kind; and felt only too acutely that she was not suf ficiently guiltless to be able to act as mediatrix in a dispute between the two men. She was not bad, poor little Sybil; only weak, and just now very frightened and unhappy. She detached her fingers from Gareth's arm and laid them on Lion's before the former could prevent her, if indeed he had any intention of persisting in doing so, and spoke hurriedly, with a pitiful appeal in her blue eyes which made the man she was leaving, and he who owned her, equally bitter at heart. "Is Jenny looking for me? I will go to her directly. I only came out because because it was so hot, and I did not hear your waltz begin. I am very sorry." Gareth turned sharply away. It was more than he could bear to hear that quiver in her voice, and know that it was an appeal to another man's indulgence, and that he had no right to resent it. "I shall find you inside then, Miss Dysart, as soon as our dance commences. Your sister will have done with you then, I hope," he said defiantly, and went away and left them. Poor Sybil was shivering from head to foot; and Lion, left alone with her, let his eyes rest on her with a depth of sor rowful questioning which must have touched her, could she have met them. Through every pulse and limb he could feel the quivering in hers so near him, though the little hand which rested on his arm touched it scarcely more heavily than "Lionel! Her fair, pale race had grown suddenly scarlet, and she made a movement to withdraw her hand from his arm; but there was no indignation in her tone- - he wished there had been. There was only apprehension and appeal; and the consciousness that it was so made his tone harden. "I do not believe for a moment that you would wilfully flirt with any one. Apart from your caring for me, I am sure that you would not descend to such a thing; but you have danced three or four times with this gentleman already. People here have remarked on it, and spoken of you and him in a way which would have been very offensive for you to hear. I should not have mentioned it to you, but that were I not to do so, and to leave you to provoke further comments by your ignorance of those already made, I might be obliged to resent them in your behalf." It was rather a long speech, and it sounded longer from the forced deliberateness of his utterance; but Sybil did not speak, did not flame up as he still halfhoped she would; and he spoke again, this time in a sharper tone of remonstrance, as if begging her to defend herself. "You must feel yourself, that, for a girl who is so shortly going to become the wife of one man to dance time after time with another, and that other a person of Mr. Vane's character, and then to be found wandering about with him in solitary walks away from all the rest of the company must look Good Heaven!" he cried out, appalled even by the sound of his own words, "even in innocence I would never have believed it possible in | head with a tender, caressing touch which you." For the first time Sybil lifted her head proudly and her eyes lightened. would have softened most women's hearts, however incensed against him; but though Sybil's eyes obstinately refused "I do not know what there is against to meet his, and he felt her flinch and Mr. Vane's character," she said warmly. | shiver under his touch, she was not in"Where is he worse than any one else? I have not heard anything against him; and if I had, I should not listen to mere vulgar gossip; I should be above it." censed. The only thought in her mind was, "If he knew all he would never speak to me so," and the weight of shame and remorse it brought with it made her seem cruelly hard and sullen as she murmured, "Please let me go. I am not angry and you have a right to say anything you like to me; but not now-let me go now;" and, bitterly disappointed, he was compelled to hold his peace and allow her What, you can stand up for him!" cried Lion, more deeply wounded at this exhibition of feeling for Gareth in one who had lacked spirit for any defence of herself than he had been before. "Do you care for him so much then? I think it is time I did come forward to protect you from him, a worthless roué and liber- to hurry him back to the house. She tine, whose boast is to have some woman's name always bandied about in connection with his own. Gossip, indeed! If you heard his talk among men you would not need to go to gossip for his character. Perhaps, however, you think But Sybil had snatched her hand from his arm, and burst into sudden tears; and her lover's mood softened on the mo ment. "My dear, forgive me," he said, laying his hand on her shoulder and trying to draw her back to him. "Did I frighten you? Did I speak too bitterly? Indeed I never meant to hurt you. Didn't I say I knew you were blameless; and that it was only through your innocence that that scamp had power to compromise you, or make you talked about? Love, for pity's sake don't cry in that way, or I shall never forgive myself. Surely you know how I love and trust you," and again he would have drawn her to him under the shadow of the lime-trees, but Sybil only shrank further away, and her sobs sounded hysterical. He began to be afraid that some one might come that way and hear her distress; and it was a relief to him when after a moment or two she recovered herself, though she would not look up or let him take her hand even then; and when again he begged her to forgive him, she only answered, "Please let us go home. I would rather go home at once. I am not well; and-and Jenny won't mind." "That I am sure she will not," said Lion eagerly. "I will take you to her at once, and call the carriage. But, Sybil, are you really unwell, or is it only that I have upset you? My dearest, don't look away from me like that. Indeed it was for your own sake," pleaded the poor young fellow, stroking the fair, averted 1695 would not re-enter the ball-room, however, and looking at her pale, tear-stained face he had no desire to press it; but took her at once to the cloak-room, and left her there, without having been able to win one other word or look from her, while he went to seek for Jenny. The music was still swelling and floating over the swift rush and tread of the dancers. The air was fragrant with the scent of roses and heliotrope. It wanted little more than six weeks to the time of his marriage, the day which he had been looking forward to through ten long, tranquil, blissful months; but there was no bliss or tranquillity in his heart at that moment. Was Sybil's love for him really wavering; or what-what had made her turn from him so strangely, so heartlessly? With all his love and trust in her, the question would smite upon him as he made his way among the dancers; and the handsome, mocking face of Gareth Vane rose up suddenly in answer to it, and passed him with a triumphant brightness in the blue, defiant eyes. From The Gentleman's Magazine. THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA. Ar last the day, big, not with the fate of Cato and of Rome, but of England and the Protestant cause, had arrived. After months of preparation the splendid fleet which Philip of Spain destined for the humiliation of the English and the establishment of Catholic ascendency, was ready to quit the harbor and put to sea. It consisted of one hundred and twentynine vessels, well supplied with cannon, and containing provisions sufficient to feed a powerful army for six months. moved to make and undertake this jour ney hath been and is to the end to serve God our Lord, and to bring again to his Church and bosom many people and souls which, being oppressed by the heretic and enemies of our holy Catholic faith, they keep in subjection unto their sects and unhappiness."* On board were twenty thousand soldiers, animated with all the enthusiasm of the fiercest religious bigotry. The plan formed by the king of Spain was that the Armada should sail to Dunkirk, should there embark the Spanish troops in the Netherlands, under the command of the Duke of Parma, then cross over to Margate, land the Spanish army, and at one The purpose of the Armada was made sudden and decisive blow complete the still clearer by the publication of a most conquest of England. The expedition, offensive pastoral letter from one Cardiwhich was thus to crush the might of a nal Allen, a renegade Englishman, who whole nation, was no mere vulgar enter- accompanied the expedition as Archprise, inspired by the usual aims of secu- bishop-elect of Canterbury and legate for lar ambition. It was a crusade, a holy England. In this "roaring hellish bull," war, a religious undertaking. As the as Lord Burghley calls it, or in this "blast Christians in days of old had invaded the or puff of a beggarly scholar and traitor," East to stamp out the power of the infi- as Elizabeth herself politely designates del, so now the Catholic turned his eyes it,† the cardinal certainly does not mince towards England, the head and front of matters. Spain," said he, "does not aggressive Protestantism, and resolved war against Englishmen, but against Eliz to lay her low, so that she no longer could abeth, the usurping heretic, the bastard, give her aid to the foes of Holy Mother the issue of incest, the shame of her sex. Church, then warring against Spain to It is not England," he cries, "but her establish heresy in the Low Countries. wretched queen, who has overthrown the Therefore, her cause being the cause of Holy Church, who has persecuted the heaven, the Armada was to be worthy of pious Catholics, and who has advanced her high calling, and free from those the scum of mankind to the sees of the earthly stains which so frequently dimmed bishops and the livings of God's priests. the lustre of warfare. Her mighty gal- Let the English people, therefore, rise leons bore no names of heathen gods and and welcome their deliverer, and follow goddesses, or of the heroes of Spanish no more the broken fortunes of a mean story, but were christened after the saints. and filthy woman, unless they wish to fall On her decks the discipline of the Church under the curse pronounced by the angel was to be united with the discipline of the against the land of Meroz. In this the navy. Mass was to be celebrated daily, hour of wrath upon Elizabeth and her and all on board were to attend and do partakers," he exclaims, "fight not against homage to the host. All gambling, blas- the souls of your ancestors and the salvaphemy, and licentious talk were to be tion of your wives and children. Fight punished with severity. No women were rather for God's Church and the honor of to accompany the expedition. On the England's knighthood. Fight for Christ, ships touching at a port, the men were for religion, and for the holy sacraments not to be permitted to land. Every care of our faith. The prayers of all Christian was to be taken by the officers to create a people, the blood of the martyred bishops, good feeling between the soldiers and the friars, priests, and laymen shed in this sailors. Quarrels and contentions were your land, cry to God for your victory. to be avoided, and Christian charity and The saints in heaven are interceding for harmony encouraged. It was ordered you. The priests on earth stretch forth that every morning the boys, "according as is accustomed, shall give the good morrow at the foot of the mainmast, and at the evening shall say Ave Maria, and some days the Salve Regina, or at the least every Saturday, together with the Litany." Religion, and not war for its own sake, was the object they had in view. "First, and before all things," proclaimed the Duke Medina Sidonia, the commander-in-chief of the expedition, "all persons are to understand, from the highest to the lowest, that the principal foundation wherewith his Majesty hath been their consecrated hands night and day for you. Our Saviour himself is among you in the blessed Sacrament. Fear not." This disloyal rhodomontade was freely circulated throughout England, but made few converts. However zealous certain Englishmen might be in the cause of the Catholic Church, their first thoughts were concerned for the safety of their country, State Papers Domestic. Edited by R. Lemon. "Rules and ordinances prescribed for May 11, 1588. the conduct, and government of the King of Spain's army at sea." † Ibid., June 24, 1588. |