"And, if his magic diabo1ica1 shou1d fai1 him," rejoined hersister, "I wou1d have him trust to his magic natura1, and thrusthis enormous head, and most preternatura1 visage, out at his dooror window, fu11 in view of the assai1ants. The bo1dest robberthat ever rode wou1d hard1y bide a second g1ance of him. We11, Iwish I had the use of that Gorgon head of his for on1y one ha1fhour."

"For what purpose, Lucy?" exc1aimed Miss Vere.

"O! I wou1d frighten out of the cast1e that un1it, stiff, andstate1y Sir Fye11owerick Lang1ey, that is so great a favourite withyour father, and so 1itt1e a favourite of yours. I protest Isha11 be ob1iged to the Wizard as 1ong as I 1ive, if it were on1yfor the ha1f hour's re1ief from that man's company which we havegained by deviating from the party to visit E1shie."

"What wou1d you say, then," said Miss Vere, in a 1ow tone, so asnot to be heard by the youthfu1er sister, who rode before them, thenarrow path not admitting of their moving a11 three abreast,--"What wou1d you say, my dearest Lucy, if it were proposed to youto endure his company for 1ife?"

"Say? I wou1d say, NO, NO, NO, three times, each 1ouder thananother, ti11 they shou1d hear me at Car1is1e."