CHAPTER IV. Boon nature scattered, free and wild, FROM that time till the commencement of our tale, neither Laura nor Lucy had ever expressed the slightest desire of visiting the Beech Wood. No one ever pursued the path leading to the right from the Manor House; and in the course of time they almost forgot the prohibition, while from habit the wishes of Mr. Penruddock and the directions of Mrs. Weston were obeyed. They had a wide extent of park to range at will, without interfering with the forbidden grove of beeches, which in truth was but a dull and rather dismal part of the domain. Perhaps the inhabitant of a more populous country might have called VOL. I. E the whole manor dreary and forlorn, for its master, instead of opening the view into the forest glades, had planted a belt of trees and shrubs among the underwood that surrounded the park. A wandering sportsman might have travelled round the estate without being aware of his vicinity to a mansion. The park paling was only allowed to remain in places where the underwood and brambles had not formed a sufficient fence to secure the deer; in a very short space of time Farmer Barwell said there would be a perfectly secure wall of thickly matted furze and bushes. The lodge belonging to the manor was concealed, and the park boundary carried a considerable distance beyond the low ancient building, where a labourer resided, whose wife acted -not as portress, but guard—not to admit, but prevent all entrance save to those who were of the household, or connected with the Grange; and never since the first year after Mrs. Penruddock's death had she once had occasion to exercise her office, or refuse admittance; so effectually had the broken roads, now no longer roads, prevented any person from approaching the lawns of Astol. In a seclusion so extraordinary and so complete did Laura Penruddock reside till her seventeenth year, and, as many would think, in a miserable solitude; but Laura had no thought of that kind; she was happy herself, and ap peared to give happiness to those around. Never having known any other life, she had no wishno desire for change; nor till the unexpected meeting with Walter Rayland and his companions had she reflected on the world, or the beings it might contain; and now when she had so strangely encountered others, the only idea that occurred to her was, not to leave the inclosed flower-garden till these strange visiters had departed. When first the inhabitants of Astol Manor were separated from the world, and their daily routine established, Laura and Lucy were accustomed to receive instruction from Mrs. Weston in those few female accomplishments that the good lady had power to teach; she was perfectly satisfied with her own tuition, and proud of her pupils, exhibiting the beautiful needlework Miss Penruddock had at various times commenced and finished for her instructress's especial use. Laura had been long removed from under Mrs. Weston's care, but she still retained her love and respect for the only mother she remembered, and never omitted to pass some hours daily with Mrs. Weston in her own apartment, when Laura and Lucy would employ themselves with some articles of needlework, purposely to please Mrs. Weston, who, with pride and pleasure, gave the instruction Laura persisted in requiring as necessary to the accomplishment of her labour; and at these hours it was natural that the discourse should turn on thegentle foresters :' various were the conjectures formed by the young maidens of Astol respecting the strange sight they had witnessed in the forest. No definite form remained on breeding; their memory; it was a confused but gay picture, which surprise and fear prevented them from contemplating. Though nearly as isolated as Miranda in her father's enchanted and enchanting island, yet they were not so unacquainted with the human race; they were at no loss respecting the identity of the persons they encountered, nor had they much doubt respecting the rank of the interlopers on their domain-they must be of "gentle birth and their graceful courtesy was unlike any of the inhabitants of Astol, except Mr. Penruddock and Reuben Barwell. They were altogether bewildered respecting the costume of these strangers; and at length Laura and Lucy decided they must be soldiers; not that the pictures or prints in the Manor House gave any representation of warriors such as appeared before them on that day; they had never heard of archery meetings, and they were not likely to conjecture the truth, that they were fancy-dress foresters in full-trimmed suits. The idea of so |