CHAPTER VI.
You shall have no worse prison than my chamber, Nor jailer than myself.
-- THE CAPTAIN.
The command which Lady Peveril laid on her domestics to arm themselves, was so unlike the usual gentle acquiescence of her manners, that Major Bridgenorth was astonished.

"How mean you, madam ?" said he; "I thought myself under a friendly roof." "And you are so, Master Bridgenorth," said the Lady Peveril, without departing from the natural calmness of her voice and manner; "but it is a roof which must not be violated by the outrage of one friend against another." "It is well, madam," said Bridgenorth, turning to the door of the apartment.

"The worthy Master Solsgrace has already foretold, that the time was returned when high houses and proud names should be once more an excuse for the crimes of those who inhabit the one and bear the other.

I believed him not, but now see he is wiser than I.Yet think not I will endure this tamely.

The blood of my brother--of the friend of my bosom--shall not long call from the altar, 'How long, O Lord, how long!' If there is one spark of justice left in this unhappy England, that proud woman and I shall meet where she can have no partial friend to protect her." So saying, he was about to leave the apartment, when Lady Peveril said, "You depart not from this place, Master Bridgenorth, unless you give me your word to renounce all purpose against the noble Countess's liberty upon the present occasion." "I would sooner," answered he, "subscribe to my own dishonour, madam, written down in express words, than to any such composition.