bring the highest price the state of the market will admit, and this is surely no time to expect it-I will take the responsibility upon myself."

Glossin left the room and the house too with secrecy and dispatch; and it was probably well for him that he did so, since our friend Jock Jabos was already haranguing a numerous tribe of bare-legged boys on the propriety of pelting him off the estate.

Some of the rooms were hastily put in order for the reception of the young lady, and of her father's dead body. Mannering now found his farther interference would be unnecessary, and might be misconstrued. He observed, too, that several families connected with that of Ellangowan, and who indeed derived their principal claim of gentility from the alliance, were now disposed to pay to their trees of genealogy a tribute, which the adversity of their supposed relatives had been inadequate to call forth; and that the honour of superin

tending the funeral rites of the dead Godfrey Bertram (as in the memorable case of Homer's birth-place) was likely to be debated by seven gentlemen of rank and fortune, none of whom had offered him an asylum while living. He therefore resolved, as his presence was altogether useless, to make a short tour of a fortnight, at the end of which period the adjourned sale of the estate of Ellangowan was to proceed.

But before he departed, he solicited an interview with the Dominie. The poor man appeared, upon being informed a gentleman wanted to speak to him, with some expression of surprise in his gaunt features, to which recent sorrow had given an expression yet more grisly. He made two or three profound reverences to Mannering, and then, standing erect, patiently waited an explanation of his commands.

"what a

"You are probably at a loss to guess, Mr Sampson," said Mannering, stranger may have to say to you?"

"Unless it were to request, that I would

undertake to train up some youth in polite letters, and humane learning-but I cannot I cannot-I have yet a task to perform."

"No, Mr Sampson, my wishes are not so ambitious. I have no son, and my only daughter, I presume, you would not consider as a fit pupil.'

"Of a surety, no. Nathless, it was I who did educate Miss Lucy in all useful learning,-albeit it was the housekeeper who did teach her those unprofitable exercises of hemming and shaping."

'Well, sir, it is of Miss Lucy. I meant to speak-you have, I presume, no recollection of me?"

Sampson, always sufficiently absent in mind, neither remembered the astrologer of past years, nor even the stranger who had taken his patron's part against Glossin, so much had his friend's sudden death embroiled his ideas.

"Well, that does not signify-I am an old acquaintance of the late Mr Bertram,

able and willing to assist his daughter in her present circumstances. Besides, I have thoughts of making this purchase, and I should wish things kept in order about the Place; will you have the goodness to apply this small sum in the usual family expences?"-He put into the Dominie's hand a purse containing some gold. "Pro-di-gi-ous !" exclaimed Dominie Sampson. "But if your honour would tarry"

"Impossible, sir-impossible," said Mannering, making his escape from him. "Pro-di-gi-ous!" again exclaimed Sampson, following to the head of the stairs, still holding out the purse. "But as touching this coined money"-

Mannering escaped down stairs as fast as possible.

"Pro-di-gi-ous!" exclaimed Dominie Sampson, yet the third time, now standing at the first door. "But as touching this coined"

But Mannering was now on horseback,

and out of hearing. The Dominie, who had never, either in his own right, or as trustee for another, been possessed of a quarter part of this sum, though it was not above twenty guineas," took coun‐ sel," as he expressed himself, "how he should demean himself with respect unto the fine gold" then left in his charge. For tunately he found a disinterested adviser' in Mac-Morlan, who pointed out the most proper means of disposing of it for contri buting to Miss Bertram's convenience, being no doubt the purpose to which it was destined by the bestower.

Many of the neighbouring gentry were now sincerely eager in pressing offers of hospitality and kindness upon Miss Bertram. But she felt a natural reluctance to enter any family, for the first time, as an object rather of benevolence than hospitality, and determined to wait the opinion and advice of her father's nearest female relation, Mrs Margaret Bertram of Single

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