specting women! With a verdict in her favour, all that was left the ill-used wife was either to sue for a restitution of conjugal rights, which, with the fiendish woman still in the house and in the ascendancy, was impossible, or to be content with a deed of separation, in which a certain comparatively small sum was to be doled out to her, the cause of all this misery and scandal revelling in every luxury that a fond dotard could bestow on her. Great were the rejoicings at Riversdale and throughout the county when the verdict in favour of Lady Hovingham was known. The neighbouring village of Sedgeford was illuminated in rather a primitive manner, tallow candles taking the usual place of gas. jets, a bonfire blazed on an elevated mound near the market place, and squibs and crackers furnished the pyrotechnic exhibition. The unjust treatment Lady Hovingham had received through the infamous false charges brought against her had excited the indigna tion of all within the circle of her acquaintance, rich and poor, high and low, and curses loud and deep were hurled against her defamers. Lord Hovingham's sycophants denounced Mary Green as a false witness, proceedings were threatened against her on a charge of perjury. They, however, were never carried into execution, and so little was her character damaged by the evidence she had given, that she found no difficulty in getting a situation in a clergyman's family in the neighbourhood of Riversdale. Time circled on—another year had passed away. At Riversdale the roses were yet in bloom, and the clematis and honeysuckle twined between the latticed windows of the old hall. Every object around breathed the fragrance of flowers-the charms and sweets of Nature. The heat of summer had not parched the park or meadows, and autumn's yellow tints had just tinged the shadowy lea. Wearied with London life, where he had hoped to distract his mind by dissipation, Hovingham retired to this retreat-a prey to the fever of disappointment and regret, baffled in his attempt to rid himself of his wife, but still more effectually made wretched by the desertion of all his relations and friends. Joanna Melvill endeavoured in vain to attract to Riversdale the families which resided in her neighbourhood, though she herself saw the obstacles and dangers of her attempt. The relations and friends of Lady Hovingham had revealed many of her past errors, and a thousand calumnious reports were propagated against her by those who warmly espoused the cause of the deserted wife. Hovingham shuddered at the humiliation she was about to brave, and endeavoured to dissuade her from her project. His representations were useless. He wounded her pride by his fears, even though he was cautious in expressing them; still she became more eager to regain her position in the world. She, however, failed to obtain any success, and bitterness mingled with rage was the result. CHAPTER XII. Be brave, for your leader is brave, and vows reformation; there shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny; and the three-hooped pots shall have ten hoops. I will make it felony to drink small beer; all shall eat and drink on my score, and I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers, and all shall worship me as their lord. SHAKESPEARE Henry V1. Alas! but here the vilest passions rule; |