"
"What do you mean?" demanded Walter, swelling with passion.
"Do not feign, maiden. Thy heart is rejoicing that the enemies of
the righteous are escaped."
"You are not wrong there, sir," said Walter.
"I tell thee," said the captain, sternly, "thy joy shall be turned to
mourning. Thou shalt see thy mother thrown into a dungeon, and thou
and thy sisters shall beg your bread, unless--"
Walter could not endure these empty threats, and exclaimed, "You know
you have no power to do this. Is this what you call manliness to use
such threats to a poor girl in your power? Out upon you!"
"Ha!" said the rebel, considerably surprised at the young lady's
manner of replying. "Is it thus the malignants breed up their
daughters, in insolence as well as deceit?"
The last word made Walter entirely forget his assumed character, and
striking at the captain with all his force, he exclaimed, "Take that,
for giving the lie to a gentleman."
"How now?" cried the rebel, seizing his arm. Walter struggled, the
hood fell back. "'Tis the boy! Ha! deceived again! Here! search
the house instantly, every corner. I will not be balked a second
time."
He rushed out of the room, while Walter, rending off the hood, threw
himself into his mother's arms, exclaiming, "O mother dear, I bore it
as long as I could.
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