For the first time in his life Radcliffe's gaze sank before his daughter, and he would have passed her without speaking had she not stopped him.
"Father! dear father!" she cried, "I know whither you are going--and for what purpose.

Do not--do not join them." [Illustration: _Guy Fawkes preventing Sir William Radcliffe from joining the Conspiracy._] Sir William Radcliffe made no reply, but endeavoured gently to push her aside.
She would not, however, be repulsed, but prostrating herself before him, clasped his knees, and besought him not to proceed.
Making a significant gesture to Sir William, Garnet walked forward.
"Viviana," cried the knight, sternly, "my resolution is taken.

I command you to retire to your chamber." So saying, he broke from her, and followed Garnet.

Clasping her hands to her brow, Viviana gazed for a moment with a frenzied look after him, and then rushed from the gallery.
On reaching the chapel, Sir William, who had been much shaken by this meeting, was some minutes in recovering his composure.

Garnet employed the time in renewing his arguments, and with so much address that he succeeded in quieting the scruples of conscience which had been awakened in the knight's breast by his daughter's warning.
"And now, my son," he said, "since you have determined to enrol your name in the list of those sworn to deliver their church from oppression, take this primer in your hand, and kneel down before the altar, while I administer the oath which is to unite you to us." Garnet then advanced towards the altar, and Sir William was about to prostrate himself upon a cushion beside it, when the door was suddenly thrown open, and Guy Fawkes strode into the chapel.
"Hold!" he exclaimed, grasping Radcliffe's right arm, and fixing his dark glance upon him; "you shall not take that oath." "What mean you ?" cried Garnet, who, as well as the knight, was paralyzed with astonishment at this intrusion.