Page:Allan the freebooter, or, The witch of Glenross (2).pdf/14

14 quit this place, let me instantly depart for Glenross." "Oh! the virgin!" returned Bridget, “I fear it will be a long time lady, before you see Glenross, you are a prisoner here for life!" "For life!" (repeated Helen), "Yes, lady, for life! No female that enters these caverns ever again quite them, except upon two occasions, to be married, or be buried, and in the first place they go no further than a little chapel in the centre of the forest, and instantly return; for should they attempt to escape, our men are all sworn, and must plunge their dirks into the bosom of the fugitive;" (Helen shuddered), "And the priest—Oh! he is a holy man, and lives in a hermitage close by, devoted to a life of penance, he belongs to the clan of our lord, and is a great friend of his, moreover," "Your lord!" interrupted Helen, "What did I say my lord?" replied Bridget, in confusion, "our Captain, I meant.” “Well, no matter, can I see this Captain?" "Oh yes, I dare say you can my lady, I will go and enquire."

He was a man, who appeared about six-and-twenty, tall, muscular, and formed with such symmetry, that his every movement was easy and graceful, and during the repast which had been previously prepared, he glanced his eyes towards her, and the heart of the experienced Helen felt their power, and surrendered itself without a struggle for liberty.

As soon as their repast was finished, the Captain entreated to know what unfortunate accident had forced her to assume the disguise he saw her in, and when she assured him, it was the dress she had worn from her birth, his looks expressed her astonishment. In as concise a manner as possible, she then informed him, that her twin brother dying in his infancy, her mother dreading the excess of her lord's grief and disappointment, had yielded to the entreaties of her nurse, and substituted me, her female infant, in his room: she added, that the continual attention necessary to conceal the secret, had undermined the health of her mother, to whom she was going when his men siezed, and brought her to the cavern. He then enquired her name; from habit, she