laboured, as it were, by the main force of her hands to keep herself collected and still; she doubled her fingers like the talons of a bird, as though they grasped some tangible support; she set her teeth together and sternly closed her eyes, from which, however, she could force no tear. She would have sprung up, and leaped at once from the agony of this endurance into the worst certainty of fate, had not anxiety in the all-important process on which her companions were avowedly employed, proved stronger than even the suffering which we have but faintly painted, and kept her in the forced stillness of intense ambition.

At length the old cracked bell, which hung in the damp belfry of the chapel, close to the castle walls, struck the first toll of midnight. The sound, as any sound would have been, was an inexpressible relief to Elinor. "Oh God!" murmured she, in an under breath of infinite enjoyment, as if a load were heaved from her heart.

"Some other word, fair mistress, an' it please you," muttered the beldam, with a scowl; "had that been said aloud, our labour was marred for the moon's next quarter.

Elinor raised her head, cast a fearful glance towards Bolingbroke, to discover if he had caught her incautious apostrophe; but he gave no sign of consciousness, and she sank again on the couch.

CHAPTER II.

ELEVEN more hoarse and cheerless chimes spoke out the hour's completion.

"How works the charm, Dame Margery ?" asked the hollow voice of the sorcerer. Elinor thrilled convulsively at its deep tone, while the beldam replied,

"The spell works well,

"Twas mixed in "

Elinor's accustomed ear supplied the rhymed cadence, which the hag did not completely pronounce, but mumbled with an indistinct sound, between a chuckling laugh and a spiteful imprecation.

"Hast stirred it as ordered, gossip ?"

"Thrice times three rounds, in inverted motion of the left hand, my master."

""Tis well! shake in the mandrake apples' rind, preserved by the recipe of Ernestus Burgranius."

A bubbling noise in the mixture told that a new ingredient was added.

"Does it work, Mother Jourdain ?" asked Bolingbroke.

"The yellow froth rises towards the edge," replied the hag.

"Excellent well! Now the curled hair of a wolf's tail, found good by the Sage Mizaldus. Stir, stir it

I hear it fizz, Dame Margery.

round the skillet.

Now let a swallow's liver

feed the charm! The dust of a dove's heart! Scrapings from asses' hoof! 'tis learned Rebeus's remedy. Is all in, dame? does it work?" "The posset is gluey and unctuous-it boils to the brim, good Master Rolingbroke."

"Then sparingly sprinkle the master-portion

of the charm, the divine powder, the pulverized specific; three pinches, dame; now stir, quick, quick, ere the skillet o'erflows."

A black smoke rose up as this item was added, and the beldam laughed outright with joy, at seeing her work go on so bravely.

"Cover the skillet, Margery, and keep the posset to a gentle simmer; the philter is complete!" exclaimed the wizard, while Elinor again started up, and a fervent glow of hope for the success of this potent preparation flushed through her frame.

" cried

"Would that his grace were come," she, aloud. "Kind Bolingbroke, runs he no risk? Is he safe to-night ?"

"If the stars spell aright, and I can rightly read them, gentle Elinor, Duke Humphrey runs no risk on flood or field; he is doomed to die in his bed."

"And quietly, Bolingbroke! oh, say so, for love of my good lord-or of me, Bolingbroke ?" "Elinor, I may not now dissert too deeply on