The boatmen were very willing to go: the Greek villagers were very glad to get rid of the whole party; Charles and Mary were all anxiety to depart; and in half an hour from the time of their arrival, they were on board, and had got clear of the shore. Whether they were pursued or not, they never correctly ascertained, but Charles was led to imagine that such was the case, from a noise and bustle on the shore immediately after they had put to sea, which seemed to indicate that their escape had been made but in good time. They however were now safe, and sitting with her hand clasped in that of her cousin, Mary enjoyed, during their progress over the waves, that calm silent repose of happiness which succeeds, when danger and sorrow have passed away, and left peace and security behind.

It was the first dawn of day when they reached the island, and on returning home, they found that lady Anne had not been nearly so much alarmed for their safety as

they had expected, in consequence of some Greek boatmen who had seen them land at the village during the storm having assured her of their safety; but when she heard all that had happened, she accused herself for having suffered Mary to go, and Mary for having gone, and Charles for having persuaded her; and finally vowed that she would return directly to England, and never again set her foot out of her native country while she breathed.

Neither Charles or Mary very strenuously opposed her determination, for to each a return to England proffered infinitely more of pleasure than any prolongation of their stay abroad. There all Charles's hopes were centred; and Mary was anxious to rejoin her brother.

During her separation from Charles, she had been kept a strict prisoner to the harem of the pacha; but from her ignorance of the language, was not so well calculated to investigate all its secrets as lady Mary Montague; neither indeed did her

agitation

agitation of mind admit of the wish. Immediately on being introduced into this sanctum of eastern jealousy, she had been surrounded by the group of girls who had afterwards conducted her to the kiosque. The arrival of a stranger amongst them may well be supposed to create an unusual interest, where few events are known to ruffle the even tenour of their existence, and surrounding the fair prisoner, they asked each a thousand questions before they perceived she did not understand them, and then appeared greatly surprised at her ignorance of the Turkish language, but nevertheless continued their interrogatories, without minding whether they were answered or not. At length the pacha himself made his appearance; he however did not trouble her with any inquiries, but continued staring at her in placid silence for some minutes, and then appearing satisfied, turned and left the apartment, without once opening his lips to any that it contained.

The indignation of lady Anne Milsome at the conduct of the pacha was not a little, and she threatened to write to lord Strangford, that his treatment of her niece and Charles might be represented to the divan. From this however she was dissuaded, though the high entertainment which the idea gave to Charles almost induced her to put it in execution, on purpose to shew him that it was not so ridiculous as he thought.

Her terror at travelling had now become so great, that she looked forward to even their voyage to Naples with such alarm, that Charles proposed they should alter their route, and proceed by the shorter way of Tarento, and keeping entirely to that side of Italy, return to France without again crossing the Apennines.

СНАР

CHAPTER VII.

L'éclat vous plait, vous mettez la grandeur
Dans des blazons; je la veux dans le cœur.
L'homme de bien, modeste avec courage,
Et la beauté spirituelle et sage,

Sans biens, sans nom, sans tous ces titres vains,
Sont à mes yeux les premiers des humains.

NANINE.

The Elopement.

HIGHLY did Charles's heart beat to return to England; and every league that they proceeded on their journey seemed to give the prospect more pleasure. All his arrangements to facilitate their progress, were made with a promptitude and accuracy which would have done credit to a commissary; and he would often say laughingly to Mary, that they should overtake her brother, who, proceeding by