As the earl entered, Father Norham advanced to meet him, and saluting him affectionately, gave him his benediction. This little ceremony over, Lord Derwentwater addressed himself to Dorothy, expressing his delight at seeing her, and thanking her for her kindness in accompanying the countess on the hazardous expedition.

“I only hope you will have no cause to regret your obliging compliance with her wishes,” he said. “I hope you will stay with her here, for I really think you will be better off in this house than in the general's quarters.”

“Oh! yes, Dorothy will stay with me I'm quite sure,” cried the countess. “I can't part with her.”

Dorothy gladly assented to the arrangement, which indeed was very agreeable to her, and this matter being settled, the earl again addressed himself to Father Norham, and told him he was happy in being able to offer him such excellent accommodation.

“You shall have as good a room as you have been accustomed to at Dilston,” he said.

“I beg your lordship not to trouble yourself on my account,” replied the priest. “I care not where I am lodged.”

Just then, Newbiggin came in and announced General Forster and Mrs. Scarisbrick, and next moment the general made his appearance with the young widow.

While he presented her to the countess and his sister, the priest retired to the further end of the room.

Both ladies were very much struck by Mrs. Scarisbrick's beauty and liveliness. She did not seem more than five-and-twenty. She was a blonde, with very fine eyes and pretty features, and had a graceful figure, set off by a charming dress.

She appeared exceedingly good-natured, and was certainly very desirous to please. Indeed her manner was so engaging that both ladies were delighted with her. The only thing that surprised Lady Derwentwater was that she could tolerate such a man as Forster.

“I hope your lordship and Miss Forster will like Preston,” she said after her presentation to them by the general. “We will do our best to amuse you. In spite of war's alarms, a good deal is going on. To-night there will be a grand ball at the town-hall. I have no doubt it will be a very gay affair. All the officers will be present.”

“And some of the loveliest women you ever beheld,” said the general. “I never knew what beauty was till I came to Preston.”

“Don't mind what the general says,” observed Mrs. Scarisbrick. “He thinks too much of us.”

“I can't think too much of you,” sighed Forster.

“Ah! you flatter,” said the widow. “However, if Lady Derwentwater and Miss Forster will honour the ball with their presence, they will be able to judge for themselves.”

“Shall we go to this ball?” said the countess to the earl.

“By all means,” he replied. “It will be very numerously attended. In addition to the officers, all my gentlemen soldiers will be there.”

“Yes, there will be plenty of military,” observed General Forster. “Your ladyship may think I am jesting, but I assure you there is not an officer or a trooper in the Northumbrian regiments, who isn't in love.”

“Beginning with the general himself,” remarked the countess.

“Yes, I own the soft impeachment,” he replied.

Mrs. Scarisbrick affected not to hear the observation, and said to Lady Derwentwater:

“I must congratulate your ladyship on the house you have got. 'Tis the best in the place.”

“So I fancied,” said the countess. “Sir Henry Hoghton must have been very sorry to quit it.”

“He was driven out by General Forster's approach,” laughed Mrs. Scarisbrick.

“Do you know him?” inquired the countess.

“Intimately,” replied Mrs. Scarisbrick; “and like him very much. But he has one great fault. He is a Whig and a Hanoverian.”

“Then I presume you are a Jacobite?” said the countess.

“As ardent a Jacobite as your ladyship,” replied Mrs. Scarisbrick.

“I know you are very well informed, Mrs. Scarisbrick,” observed Lord Derwentwater. “What think you of the news that General Wills has arrived at Wigan?”

“I don't believe it,” she replied. “Had it been the case, I must have heard of it. There are all sorts of disquieting rumours at present—but General Forster needn't trouble himself about them.”

“I don't,” said Forster, emphatically.

“You may depend upon having early information from me,” said Mrs. Scarisbrick. “I have friends at Wigan who will be sure to send me word if anything is to be apprehended. You may therefore rest quite easy.”

“Nevertheless, I think you ought to advance tomorrow, general,” observed Lord Derwentwater.

“To-morrow!” exclaimed Mrs. Scarisbrick. “I am sure Lady Derwentwater will never consent to that.”

“I would if there were any necessity for the step,” rejoined the countess.

“But there is none—none whatever!” said Mrs. Scarisbrick.

“You say you are a particular friend of Sir Henry Hoghton, Mrs. Scarisbrick,” remarked Lord Derwentwater. “May I ask whether you have heard from him since he left?”

“I had a letter from him this very morning, she replied.”

“Indeed!” exclaimed the countess and Dorothy.

“I showed it to General Forster, as he will tell you,” pursued Mrs. Scarisbrick. “But Sir Henry doesn't say a word about General Wills.”

“Not very likely he would,” remarked Dorothy.

“There I differ with you,” said the general. “I am certain he would.”

“So am I,” said Mrs. Scarisbrick. “Besides, I have other correspondents as well as Sir Henry, and I am confident they would have sent me information of so important a circumstance.”

“Then you think we may rest easy for the present.” observed Dorothy.

“Perfectly,” said Mrs. Scarisbrick. “You shall have timely information of any danger from me.”

“No need to send a spy to Wigan to watch the enemy's movements,” observed Forster, with a laugh. “I get all the information I require without trouble.”

“So it seems,” remarked Lord Derwentwater. “But I again counsel an immediate march on Wigan.”

“Nay, nay, let us rest quietly here for a day or two, and enjoy ourselves,” said Forster. “We can't have better quarters. Preston has a hundred recommendations that no other place possesses. And since the countess has joined us, I shouldn't have thought your lordship would desire to move. What says your ladyship?” he added, appealing to her.

“I should certainly like to remain here for a day or two, if it can be done with safety,” she replied.

“It can—I'll answer for it,” said Forster; “and since I am responsible for any mistake, you may be sure I shall be careful.”

“Trust to me,” said Mrs. Scarisbrick. “Depend upon it I will procure information of the enemy's movements.”

“Is she to be relied on?” whispered Dorothy to the earl.

“I cannot tell,” he replied in the same tone. “But your brother is so bewitched that he will never move. You must look after him.”