Heaven, that rendered the King's course of license fruitful, had denied issue to his bed of wedlock; and in the gloomy and stern character of his bigoted successor, we already see what sort of monarch shall succeed to the crown of England.

This is a critical period, at which it necessarily becomes the duty of all men to step forward, each in his degree, and aid in rescuing the country which gave us birth." Peveril remembered the warning which he had received from Alice, and bent his eyes on the ground, without returning any reply.

"How is it, young man," continued Bridgenorth, after a pause--"so young as thou art, and bound by no ties of kindred profligacy with the enemies of your country, you can be already hardened to the claims she may form on you at this crisis ?" "It were easy to answer you generally, Major Bridgenorth," replied Peveril--"It were easy to say that my country cannot make a claim on me which I will not promptly answer at the risk of lands and life.

But in dealing thus generally, we should but deceive each other.

What is the nature of this call?
By whom is it to be sounded?
And what are to be the results?
for I think you have already seen enough of the evils of civil war, to be wary of again awakening its terrors in a peaceful and happy country." "They that are drenched with poisonous narcotics," said the Major, "must be awakened by their physicians, though it were with the sound of the trumpet.