Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 3 of 3)

d trappings of approaching festivity were, of course, changed for those of mourning. But who shall describe the consternation of this affectionate mother, when the astounding

knowledge of the utter impossibility of such an accusation having the slightest foundation in truth, was a kind of upholding to her spirit, inasmuch as it appeared also impossible to her mind, that any being cou

ly, and often turned quite round, she was incapable, at the time, of

rs. Dorothea, that Lady Arden's wishes we

which was so far fortunate, as she was, on the present occasion, a great support t

ked where she would choose to go. "Wher

of the gaol; she looked at

s rejoicings, for the coming of age of her twin sons, were not yet taken down.-Now, one son lay a quarter of a mile distant, with

d, Lady Arden alighted from the carriage with a firm step, and entered the d

word uttered on either side, they rushed into each other's arms. In continued silence the mothe

parent, our hero soon assumed a noble firmness. He had already passed

s not, there cannot be, a shadow of danger in the position in which I stand; although public opinion, I am told, is against me. Is it not," he added, in an altered tone, "a degrading vie

cality of legal proof be wanting; in a land, one of the boasts of which is, that no man is required to prove his own innocence, but that all are by law innocent until proved guilty; in such a land it must be quite impossible that, on mere appear

effort to converse, said, "How much we are struck with the merest common-places, when they happen to

oof of the peril in which he stood, she could not look at Alfred, his lofty carriage, the nobleness of his brow, and force her imagination to associate with h

return to Arden, and subsequent death. As he drew up in array the extraordinary circumstances, inexplicable to any one but himself, on which the accusation against him was

explanations would be all-sufficient," he re

on the guileless expression of his parted lip, as to comfort her h

le, my affectionate, my noble Alfred!" She paused, and, by the workin

hey are so mad," she added, in a hurried tone of subdued agony, "they shall saw these arms asunder before they take him

I have no fears-no fears-no fears-I say I have no fears-it is quite, quite impossible!" Even while reiterating that she had no fears, her vo

d to be carried home, and conveyed to bed, where the kindhearte

redulous amazement, and of proud defiance of the accuser, than of despair or even of apprehension in the feelings both of Lady Arden and of Alfred. They were both at present m