But the greater part hesitated.
"They come to us in all peace and security," said Mareschal-Wells; "let us first hear what account they give us of this mysterious affair.

If Miss Vere has sustained the slightest insult or injury from Earnscliff, I will be first to revenge her; but let us hear what they say." "You do me wrong by your suspicions, Mareschal," continued Vere; "you are the last I would have expected to hear express them." "You injure yourself, Ellieslaw, by your violence, though the cause may excuse it." He then advanced a little before the rest, and called out, with a loud voice,--"Stand, Mr.Earnscliff; or do you and Miss Vere advance alone to meet us.

You are charged with having carried that lady off from her father's house; and we are here in arms to shed our best blood for her recovery, and for bringing to justice those who have injured her." "And who would do that more willingly than I, Mr.Mareschal ?" said Earnscliff, haughtily,--"than I, who had the satisfaction this morning to liberate her from the dungeon in which I found her confined, and who am now escorting her back to the Castle of Ellieslaw ?" "Is this so, Miss Vere ?" said Mareschal.
"It is," answered Isabella, eagerly,--"it is so; for Heaven's sake sheathe your swords.

I will swear by all that is sacred, that I was carried off by ruffians, whose persons and object were alike unknown to me, and am now restored to freedom by means of this gentleman's gallant interference." "By whom, and wherefore, could this have been done ?" pursued Mareschal.--"Had you no knowledge of the place to which you were conveyed ?--Earnscliff, where did you find this lady ?" But ere either question could be answered, Ellieslaw advanced, and, returning his sword to the scabbard, cut short the conference.
"When I know," he said, "exactly how much I owe to Mr.Earnscliff, he may rely on suitable acknowledgments; meantime," taking the bridle of Miss Vere's horse, "thus far I thank him for replacing my daughter in the power of her natural guardian." A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equal haughtiness; and Ellieslaw, turning back with his daughter upon the road to his own house, appeared engaged with her in a conference so earnest, that the rest of the company judged it improper to intrude by approaching them too nearly.

In the meantime, Earnscliff, as he took leave of the other gentlemen belonging to Ellieslaw's party, said aloud, "Although I am unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that can authorize such a suspicion, I cannot but observe, that Mr.Vere seems to believe that I have had some hand in the atrocious violence which has been offered to his daughter.