This Lady Peveril would not permit, and Bridgenorth left the castle.  The arrival of Sir Geoffrey from London with news that the council had sent a herald with the king’s warrant for the Countess of Derby’s arrest, made flight to the Isle of Man imperative.  Bridgenorth, with a number of the old Roundheads, attempted to prevent the escape, but were beaten off by Sir Geoffrey and his men, and the countess embarked safely for her son’s hereditary dominions, until the accusation against her for breach of the royal indemnity by the execution of Christian could be brought to some compromise.

Before leaving Martindale, the countess called Julian to her, and kissing his forehead said:  “When I am safely established and have my present affairs arranged, you must let me have this little Julian of yours some time hence, to be nurtured in my house, held as my page, and the playfellow of the little Derby.”

Five years passed.

Major Bridgenorth left his seat of Moultrassie Hall in the care of his old housekeeper and departed to no one knew whither, having in company with him his daughter, Alice, and Mrs. Deborah Debbitch, the child’s early nurse at the castle.

Lady Peveril, with many tears, took a temporary leave of her son, Julian, who was sent as had been long intended for the purpose of sharing the education of the young Earl of Derby.  The plan seemed to be in every respect successful, and when, from time to time, Julian visited the house of his father, Lady Peveril had the satisfaction to see him improved in person and in manner.  In process of time he became a gallant and accomplished youth, and travelled for some time upon the Continent with the young earl.

III.—­The Island Lovers

Julian, leaving the earl to go on a sailing voyage, assumed the dress of one who means to amuse himself with angling.  Then, mounted upon a Manx pony, he rode briskly over the country, and halted at one of the mountain streams, and followed along the bank until he reached a house where once a fastness had stood, called the Black Fort.

He received no answer to his knocks, and impatience getting the upper hand, Julian opened the door, and passed through the hall into a summer parlour.

“How now—­how is this?” said a woman’s voice.  “You here, Master Peveril, in spite of all the warnings you have had!”

“Yes, Mistress Deborah,” said Peveril.  “I am here once more, against every prohibition.  Where is Alice?”

“Where you will never see her, Master Julian—­you may satisfy yourself of that,” answered Mistress Deborah.  “For if Dame Christian should learn that you have chosen to make your visits to her niece, I promise you we should soon be obliged to find other quarters.”

“Come now, Mistress Deborah, be good-humoured,” said Julian.  “Consider, was not all this intimacy of ours of your own making?  Did you not make yourself known to me the very first time I strolled up this glen with my fishing-rod, and tell me that you were my former keeper, and that Alice had been my little playfellow?”