But you must use your influence with your cousin to return; her presence cannot serve you, and must prejudice herself." "I assure you, sir," I replied, "you cannot be more convinced of this than I; I have urged Miss Vernon's return as anxiously as she would permit me to do." "I have thought on it," said Miss Vernon after a pause, "and I will not go till I see you safe out of the hands of the Philistines.

Cousin Rashleigh, I dare say, means well; but he and I know each other well.
Rashleigh, I will not go;--I know," she added, in a more soothing tone, "my being here will give you more motive for speed and exertion." "Stay then, rash, obstinate girl," said Rashleigh; "you know but too well to whom you trust;" and hastening out of the hall, we heard his horse's feet a minute afterwards in rapid motion.
"Thank Heaven he is gone!" said Diana.

"And now let us seek out the Justice." "Had we not better call a servant ?" "Oh, by no means; I know the way to his den--we must burst on him suddenly--follow me." I did follow her accordingly, as she tripped up a few gloomy steps, traversed a twilight passage, and entered a sort of ante-room, hung round with old maps, architectural elevations, and genealogical trees.

A pair of folding-doors opened from this into Mr.Inglewood's sitting apartment, from which was heard the fag-end of an old ditty, chanted by a voice which had been in its day fit for a jolly bottle-song.
"O, in Skipton-in-Craven Is never a haven, But many a day foul weather; And he that would say A pretty girl nay, I wish for his cravat a tether." "Heyday!" said Miss Vernon, "the genial Justice must have dined already--I did not think it had been so late." It was even so.

Mr.Inglewood's appetite having been sharpened by his official investigations, he had antedated his meridian repast, having dined at twelve instead of one o'clock, then the general dining hour in England.