THE EARL'S DAUGHTER.

1

THE

EARL'S DAUGHTER.

BY

THE AUTHOR OF AMY HERBERT," GERTRUDE,' "THE
CHILD'S FIRST HISTORY OF ROME," ETC.

EDITED BY

THE REV. W. SEWELL, B.D.

FELLOW OF EXETER COLLEGE, OXFORD.

Life,

is energy of Love,

Divine or human; exercised in pain,
In strife, and tribulation; and ordained,
If so approved and sanctified, to pass,

OTHE

Through shades and silent rest, to endless joy.

THIRD EDITION.

VOL. I.

The Excursion.

LONDON:

LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS,

PATERNOSTER ROW.

THE EARL'S DAUGHTER.

CHAPTER I.

THERE was an unusual stir in the old cathedral town of It was neither a market-day, nor the anniversary of a public fête; neither the season of the annual visitation, nor of any public meeting; yet the narrow footways were thronged, and knots of idlers stood inconveniently at the corners of the streets, making their remarks upon the few carriages which enlivened the generally dull town, or noticing with interest the occasional approach of the rows of neatly dressed school children, who, with orderly steps and serious looks, were bending their way to the open square in which stood the great entrance to the cathedral. Gravity, indeed, was the pervading deportment of all the assembling crowd; but a deeper, more reverent, and anxious feeling might be traced upon the features of some, who, fully aware of the difficulties of a Christian life, were about to witness the renewal of those vows by which the ignorant and untried, the weak and the erring, in the midst of a sinful world, and about to enter upon the scene of its temptations, pledge themselves in the sight of an All Holy God, to be His in spirit, in truth, and for ever. It was the day appointed for the Confirmation of all within the diocese of who had attained

B