Heiress of Haddon

All close they met again, before the dusk Had taken from the stars its pleasant veil; Close in a bower of hyacinth and musk, Unknown of any, from whispering tale. Ah! better had...

The Courtly hall of Haddon was never quiet for long together, and very soon both the death of the witch and the warning of the locksmith were forgotten amid the preparations whi...

Nor was she to be found! Her father cried, "'Tis but to make a trial of his love!" And filled his glass to all, but his hand shook, And soon from guest to guest the panic spread.

And if the worst had fall'n which could befall, He stood, a stranger in this breathing world, An erring spirit from another hurled; A thing of dark imaginings, that shaped By ch...

It was my fortune, common to that age, To love a lady fair, of great degree, The which was born of noble parentage. And set in highest seat of dignity.

It was with mingled feelings of sorrow, suspicion, and gladness that John Manners received news from Sir Henry de la Zouch, who had gone over to his castle some days before, tha...

He said no more, For at that instant flashed the glare, And with a hoarse, infernal roar, A blaze went up and filled the air! Rafters, and stones, and bodies rose In one quick g...

You might esteem him A child for his might, Or you may deem him A coward through his flight. But if she whom love honours Be concealed from the day, Set a thousand guards on her...

As Edmund drew nearer to Sir Thomas Stanley his heart began to fail him, and when at last he was sufficiently near the knight to have carried out his design, his courage oozed o...

Face to face with the past he stands, With guilty soul, and blood-stained hands; And his deeds rise up against him. Too weak to win, he cannot fly, He begs for life and fears to...

The moon in pearly light may steep The still blue air; The rose hath ceased to droop and weep, For lo! her joy is there. He sings to her, and o'er the trees She hears his sweet...

And whilst the feast progressed apace, The music swelled in joyous strain; But midst the group was one fair face That scarcely hid the look of pain. And ever and anon she looked...

But whatsoe'er his crime, than such a cave A worse imprisonment he could not have. * * * * * But here a roaring torrent bids you stand. Forcing you climb a rock on the right han...

One touch of her hand, and one word in her ear, When they reached the hall-door the charger stood near: So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle bef...

When the landlord of the Cock Tavern thoughtlessly gave his prisoner into the custody of the ostler he put Edmund Wynne in the way of the only piece of good fortune which fell t...

Fear fell on me and I fled. * * * * * I took the least frequented road, But even there arose a hum; Lights showed in every vile abode, And far away I heard the drum. Roused with...

London! the needy villain's general home, The common sewer of Paris and of Rome. Here malice, rapine, accident conspire, And now a rabble rages, now a fire; Their ambush mere re...

Grass did not grow beneath the feet of the good people of Haddon during the week which ensued. Inside the Hall everything was in confusion and disorder. Rooms were being emptied...

The cruel word her heart so tender thrilled, That sudden cold did run through every vein; And stoney horror all her senses filled With dying fit, that down she fell for pain.

There is a spirit brooding o'er these walls That tells the record of a bygone day, When 'mid the splendour of these courtly halls, A pageant shone, whose gorgeous array Like ple...

One sole desire, one passion now remains, To keep life's fever still within his veins. Vengeance, dire vengeance, on the wretch who cast On him and all he had the ruinous blast.

Child, if it were thine error or thy crime, I care no longer, being all unblest; Wed whom thou wilt; but I am sick of time. And I desire to rest.

Far in a wild, unknown to public view, From youth to age, a reverend hermit grew; The moss his bed, the cave his humble cell, His food the fruits, his drink the crystal well; Re...

The autumn winds were howling among the trees and scattering the later leaves in all directions, when, with the fall of twilight, a gentle knock was heard at the door of the hut...

And thou hast loved him! Faith, what next? It had been better far for thee That thou had'st ne'er been born, than this. Brood on thy folly, and return, But when thou hast repent...

I can counterfeit the deep tragedian! Speak, and look back, and pry on every side, Tremble, and start at wagging of a straw. Pretending deep suspicion; ghastly looks Are at my s...

But in these cases We still have judgment that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague th' inventor; this evil-handed justice Commends th' ingred...

But oh, that hapless maiden?-- Where may she wander now, whither betake her, From the chill dew, amongst rude burrs and thistles? Perhaps some cold bank is her bolster now. Or,...

Go, let the treacherous throw their darts And sore the good malign Perjure their conscience, stain their hearts, To gain their foul design. Yet shall right triumph at the end; A...

See how the wily rascal plays his part. With many a groan and many a practised art. Around his victims he the net entwines, Nor rests till he is snared within its lines. But sur...

Yet even now it is good to think, While my few poor varlets grumble and drink, In my desolate hall where the fires sink; Of _Dorothy_ sitting glorious there, In glory of gold an...

The scene of the pastime had been reached, and the preparations for the hawking had already begun. The falconers brought up their birds, the pages gave up their masters' jumping...

It was with a secret sense of misgiving that Manners received an invitation, which he readily construed into a command, to attend the baron in his private room, and it was with...

Manners had heard the rustle of her gown outside the door some time before Lady Vernon had entered, and he shrewdly suspected that she had been listening to the conversation. Th...