mere conviction that she was so near him, and that he had crossed her path, caused her heart to beat quick and her limbs to tremble, though she thought there was no absolute ground for immediate alarm.

But in this, Arabella was mistaken; for it might be either that things in this world do generally run counter when we would most desire them to run smooth; or that the demon of discord, who had so lately exerted his influence over the mob in the market-place, had been exorcised thence by the Mayor, and had resolved to be avenged, by stirring up strife some where else, that evening, in Canterbury, or by whatever other train of ill-luck the reader may choose to imagine; but, certain it is, that a second, and ultimately a more serious cause of alarm, now gave birth to a second uproar

How this exactly happened Arabella could not tell, for she had turned her head aside the moment she recognised the Friar; Gammer Plaise's visual organs had long been dimmed by age, and Tommy was totally blind; so, no one of them could see how the affair began, the first knowledge of it being communicated to them by their sense of hearing. A loud crash upon the pavement was followed by one united loud and tremendous cry, uttered by all the persons about the canopy, and the words "Seize him! seize him! secure the wretch! he has rushed upon the Friar; he has knocked down the pyx," met their ear.

In a moment the populace took the alarm, and hurried round this new scene of action; for any public disturbance, either for a good or a bad cause, is sure never to want witnesses, since curiosity and the excitement of an uproar seem to be feelings inherent to all generations. Arabella, her guide, and the old woman were again stopped in their progress, and fairly hemmed in by the mob, and they now learned a confused account of the cause of this disturbance.

It appeared that an old man, in great haste, had sud denly issued from a by-street, at the very moment the Friar was passing the corner of it beneath the canopy, and that this man had either willingly, or (as he averred) unwittingly, in his extreme haste, dashed under the canopy in question, and brushed past the elbow of the Friar, with

such violence as to cause that holy man to drop the pyx from his hands. This was of course tumbled on the ground, and the top of it was broken, when, to add to the disaster, a villainous cur that followed close at the old man's heels, thinking perhaps that his master wished him to interfere, laid hold of the top of the broken pyx, and carried it off in his mouth, in the sight of every one assembled, scampering down the street, unharmed by a volley of stones sent after the animal as the readiest means of knocking out his brains.

The dog, however, escaped, and the vengeance which had hitherto been chiefly directed against this canine offender, was now levelled at his master, who was held by the collar, accused and abused with such vehemence by all present, that scarcely a word he uttered, while attempting his defence, could be heard, and, without farther ceremony, the Friar ordered him off in custody of some of his own people to the house of Sir John Baker, Justice of the Peace, there to undergo his examination, and to plead whatever he might have to urge in mitigation of his offence.

"As sure as I live, granny," said Tommy, as he once more set forward to guide his party through this unlucky journey, "that old man was Abel Allen; I knew his voice in a moment, notwithstanding all the din they made about him; and I would wager a silver sixpence, if I had it, that the dog was Pincher. Poor Abel will get into a world of trouble; for Friar John, I am sure, hates him because he serves Parson Wilford."

Little more was said, and in a few minutes Tommy Completed his pilotage, and, going up to the door of a small house that stood in a respectable street of Canterbury, he rapped upon it with the end of a switch which he carried in his hand. The door was opened, and Tommy, Arabella, and his granny, passed through into the passage.

CHAPTER IV.

As soon as the little party arrived within Widow Littlewit's house, Tommy made the inquiry if Master Edward Wilford might be at home. The good widow replied in the negative, but said that he was expected home every minute, and that his servant, Abel Allen, had been sent in haste to another part of Canterbury to order horses for Master Edward, who was going off on a journey, she believed, that night. Arabella listened attentively to this discourse, and now ventured to express her desire to be allowed to remain in the house till Master Wilford's return, as she wished particularly to speak with him that evening.

Tommy, whose mind was engrossed by the danger that threatened his grandmother should she be retaken, for the present thought of nothing else, and said very innocently to the widowę "I know, good Dame Littlewit, you are not one of those wicked people who like to give up their neighbours to be burnt, and to be put into prison, because they won't do what God forbids them,—to kneel down and worship images,' and serve the Pope as if he were God Almighty.'

"The Lord forbid !" replied Widow Littlewit-(laying a strong emphasis on the word Lord, which now, in common discourse, was used by those who wished to show by their language that they were Reformers and not Papists)" The Lord forbid! All Canterbury knows me, though sometimes I have hid what I am from certain folks; yet I have often wondered that they let me and my poor baby bide in peace. But I am poor; and though I don't go to mass, yet I see a watch upon my tongue; for, as brother Allen says, a close tongue makes a wise head; and be prudent, Sister Littlewit,' says he, and there's no call for you to be talking to others about logical affairs, unless they first propose religious talk to you.' And so I keep the house and hold my peace, and so I suppose that

I owe to a close tongue, being still suffered to use it with. my head on my shoulders."

"I wish granny had done so, too," cried Tommy, "and then she might have been safe now. But she never

would hold her peace when any body named the Queen, or Bonner, or any of those cruel people."

"I be

"I hold my peace!" said the old Gammer. dumb, when the wicked go by my door that they have bathed with the blood of my son-my only son-and thy father, thou poor, dark child! And if I did hold my peace, the very stones would cro upon them."

"Now, do let me speak, granny," said Tommy," and you shall talk as fast as you like by-and-by; only do let me tell all about it to good Widow Littlewit, and I am sure she will hide you if she can for the present, for there is no going back to Wellmaster for you. You see, good Widow Littlewit, that we were taken up for heresy, and for witchcraft, and-"

made use of the word who, on hearing it, inAnd you don't say so?" Tommy; "and it is as They took us up; but the

ved us, and rolled the the kennel: and so I

Tommy, who could never separate the idea of himself from that of his grandmother, had we, which deceived the widow stantly exclaimed, "Good Lord "Yes, but I do" continued true as that I am one-blind people going home from market catchpole and the constable brought granny here, to ask you to hide us for the night, till the search prefer us for I didn't know what else to do and so I am sure you won't turn us out. And the lady here, who know has a thing over her face, is a fine grand lady, though she be come with granny and me, and she will tell you all about what she wants when Master Edward comes home. But pray don't talk more now, but lose no time to hide granny.'

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I will do my best," reprodao widow ; " and that's all a poor woman can do; though my house is a poor house to hide in, for I have but one tidy room, the little wainscot parlour; and I have no hiding-holes at all, not so much as a dark closet big enough to hold a baby; and my door has no strong bolts and bars; though if it had, and I made them fast, they would not be fast long, if hal

berts and bills came afore them with a Justice's warrant stuck at the end of each of them.--But here, step into the little parlour, and lock the door when you get in. It is the lodger Master Edward's room; and if any body comes, I can then swear safely, you know, that I dare not go into it; and, if he comes himself, you have nothing to fear, and he won't disturb you."

"Have you no other room," said Arabella, "in which we could enter till his return?"

"None upon earth," replied the widow. "But don't feår Master Edward; for heart! his father is in trouble up at the Castle youder; and Master Edward is as kind a soul as ever broke read, though somewhat moloncholly, and not much give to say more words than he can help. So do step in, and I'll befriend you all for the love of the true Church King Edward's Catechism; for 'tis pity innocent people should come to harm because they do none."

. The honest widow was something loquacious, and, being in the habit of keeping a watch over her tongue, as she herself declared, when in doubtful company, she held it but a fair remuneration to muge herself in the pleasure of hearing the sounds of her own voice, when she could do so with a full confidence in the good faith of her auditors; so that, though abella had once or twice attempted to speak, the widow talked so fast and so freely, she could not get in a word. am sure," cried Dame Littlewit, in a tone of alar Imemang Lheard some

body at the door; so do get into the room before any body can hear you talk sofas (though nobody was speaking but herself), and I will do the best I can to conceal you. I'll hide you, I warra t."

The honest woman bused them all into Master Edward's apartment; and having heard them turn the key in the inside, she ast o see who might be at the door. Arabella, who could not help feeling a little abashed even before old Gammer Plaise, at her thus seeking young Wilford, now endeavoured to account for it; and said with truth, that she was desirous to speak to him, before she went to visit his unhappy sister in Canterbury Castle,