X.

To Rollingate,[174] flew swift, as flew the mail,

From Westonbury Hall, the direful tale.

Lord Mountjoy donn’d his spectacles and read!

Then for a moment scratch’d his hoary head—

Inclined to think it never could be true,

And half-inclined to doubt dear Lady Prew.

But never could his lordship entertain

The least degree of wrath, nor yet disdain,

Towards his son;—“no! time, alone, will prove