"Peace, young gentleman," said the Father, re- I pelling him with a wave of his hand; "be assured I do not act without warrant-nothing can pass betwixt Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Redgauntlet that I am not fully entitled to know."

would appeal to the existing government?-That can at no rate be permitted-we will rather detain you at Fairladies by compulsion."

"You will probably," said Fairford, "first weigh the risk of such a proceeding in a free country." "I have incurred more formidable hazard," said the

"It may be so," said Alan, extremely angry; "but though you may be these gentlemen's father confes-priest, smiling; "yet I am willing to find a milder sor, you are not mine; and in breaking the seal of a letter intrusted to my care, you have done me". "No injury, I assure you," answered the unperturbed priest; on the contrary, it may be a service.' "I desire no advantage at such a rate, or to be obtained in such a manner," answered Fairford; restore me the letter instantly, or"

46

'As you regard your own safety," said the priest, "forbear all injurious expressions, and all menacing gestures. I am not one who can be threatened or insulted with impunity; and there are enough within hearing to chastise any injury or affront offered to me, in case I may think it unbecoming to protect or avenge myself with my own hand."

expedient. Come; let us bring the matter to a compromise."-And he assumed a conciliating graciousness of manner, which struck Fairford as being rather too condescending for the occasion; "I presume you will be satisfied to remain here in seclusion for a day or two longer, provided I pass my solemn word to you, that you shall meet with the person whom you seek after-meet with him in perfect safety, and. I trust, in good health, and be afterwards both at liberty to return to Scotland, or dispose of yourselves as each of you may be minded?"

"I respect the verbum sacerdotis as much as can reasonably be expected from a Protestant," answered Fairford;"but, methinks, you can scarce expect me In saying this, the Father assumed an air of such to repose so much confidence in the word of an unfearlessness and calm authority, that the young law-known person, as is implied in the guarantee which yer, surprised and overawed, forbore, as he had in- you offer me.' tended, to snatch the letter from his hand, and confined himself to bitter complaints of the impropriety of his conduct, and of the light in which he himself must be placed to Redgauntlet, should he present him a letter with a broken seal.

"That," said Father Buonaventure, "shall be fully cared for. I will myself write to Redgauntlet, and enclose Maxwell's letter, provided always you continue to desire to deliver it, after perusing the contents.' He then restored the letter to Fairford, and, observing that he hesitated to peruse it, said emphatically, "Read it, for it concerns you."

This recommendation, joined to what Provost Crosbie had formerly recommended, and to the warning, which he doubted not that Nanty intended to convey by his classical allusion, decided Fairford's resolution. "If these correspondents," he thought, "are conspiring against my person, I have a right to counterplot them; self-preservation, as well as my friend's safety, require that I should not be too scrupulous.' So thinking, he read the letter, which was in the following words:

"I am not accustomed, sir," said the Father, in a very haughty tone, to have my word disputed. But," he added, while the angry hue passed from his cheek, after a moment's reflection, "you know me not, and ought to be excused. I will repose more confidence in your honour than you seem willing to rest upon mine; and since we are so situated that one must rely upon the other's faith, I will cause you to be set presently at liberty, and furnished with the means of delivering your letter as addressed, provided that now, knowing the contents, you think it safe for yourself to execute the commission."

Alan Fairford paused. "I cannot see," he at length replied, "how I can proceed with respect to the accom plishment of my sole purpose, which is the liberation of my friend, without appealing to the law, and obtaining the assistance of a magistrate. If I present this singular letter of Mr. Maxwell, with the contents of which I have become so unexpectedly acquainted, I shall only share his captivity."

"And if you apply to a magistrate, young man, you will bring ruin on these hospitable ladies, to whom, in all human probability, you owe your life. Ye "DEAR RUGGED AND DANGEROUS, cannot obtain a warrant for your purpose, withon "WILL you never cease meriting your old nick- giving a clear detail of all the late scenes through name? You have springed your dottrel, I find, and which you have passed. A magistrate would oblige what is the consequence?-why, that there will be you to give a complete account of yourself, before hue and cry after you presently. The bearer is a pert arming you with his authority against a third party; young lawyer, who has brought a formal complaint and in giving such an account, the safety of these against you, which, luckily, he has preferred in a ladies will necessarily be compromised. Á hundrec friendly court. Yet, favourable as the judge was dis- spies have had, and still have, their eyes upon this posed to be, it was with the utmost difficulty that mansion; but God will protect his own."-He crosse cousin Jenny and I could keep him to his tackle. He himself devoutly, and then proceeded.-"You can begins to be timid, suspicious, and intractable, and I take an hour to think of your best plan, and I wil fear Jenny will soon bend her brows on him in vain. pledge myself to forward it thus far, provided it be I know not what to advise the lad who carries this not asking you to rely more on my word than your is a good lad-active for his friend-and I have pledged prudence can warrant. You shall go to Redgauntlet my honour he shall have no personal ill-usage--I name him plainly, to show my confidence in you Pledged my honour, remark these words, and remem--and you shall deliver him this letter of Mr. Maxber I can be rugged and dangerous as well as my well's, with one from me, in which I will enjoin him neighbours. But I have not insured him against a to set your friend at liberty, or at least to make no atshort captivity, and as he is a stirring active fellow, I tempts upon your own person, either by detention a see no remedy but keeping him out of the way till this otherwise. If you can trust me thus far," he said. business of the good Father B- - is safely blown with a proud emphasis on the words, "I will on my over, which God send it were!-Always thine, even side see you depart from this place with the most should I be once more perfect confidence that you will not return armed with powers to drag its inmates to destruction. You are young and inexperienced-bred to a profession also which sharpens suspicion, and gives false views of human nature. I have seen much of the world, and have known better than most men, how far mutcal confidence is requisite in managing affairs of conse quence.'

CRAIG-IN-PERI.."

"What think you, young man, of the danger you have been about to encounter so willingly?"

་་

As strangely," replied Alan Fairford, "as of the extraordinary means which you have been at present pleased to use for the discovery of Mr. Maxwell's purpose.

Trouble not yourself to account for my conduct," said the Father; "I have a warrant for what I do, and fear no responsibility. But tell me what is your present purpose."

"I should not perhaps name it to you, whose own safety may be implicated."

"I understand you," answered the Father; "you

He spoke with an air of superiority, even of authority, by which Fairford, notwithstanding his own internal struggles, was silenced and overawed so much, that it was not till the Father had turned to leave the apartment that he found words to ask him what the consequences would be, should he decline to depart on the terms proposed.

GOOD FRIEND,

"We send you hither a young man desirous to know the situation of your ward, since he came under your paternal authority, and hopeful of dealing with you for having your relative put at large. This we recommend to your prudence, highly disapproving, at the same time, of any force or coercion, when such can be avoided, and wishing, therefore, that the bearer's negotiation may be successful. At all rates, however, the bearer hath our pledged word for his safety and freedom, which, therefore, you are to see strictly observed, as you value our honour and your own. We farther wish to converse with you, with as small loss of time as may be, having matters of the utmost confidence to impart. For this purpose we desire you to repair hither with all haste. and thereupon we bid you heartily farewell. P. B."

"You must then, for the safety of all parties, re- "Surely," replied the priest, smiling at the young nain for some days an inhabitant of Fairladies, where lawyer's readiness, "in the eye of those who acwe have the means of detaining you, which self-pre-knowledge the justice of the attainder-but that do servation will in that case compel us to make use of. not I. However, sir, here is the guarantee-look at Your captivity will be short; for matters cannot long its contents, and do not again carry the letters of remain as they are-The clould must soon rise, or it Uriah." must sink upon us for ever.-Benedicite!" Fairford read these words:With these words he left the apartment. Fairford, upon his departure, felt himself much at a loss what course to pursue. His line of education, as well as his father's tenets in matters of church and state, had taught him a holy horror for Papists, and a devout belief in whatever had been said of the punic faith of Jesuits, and of the expedients of mental reservation, by which the Catholic priests in general were supposed to evade keeping faith with heretics. Yet there was something of majesty, depressed indeed, and overclouded, but still grand and imposing, in the manner and words of Father Buonaventure, which it was difficult to reconcile with those preconceived opinions which imputed subtlety and fraud to his sect and order. Above all, Alan was aware, that if he accepted not his freedom upon the terms offered him, he was likely to be detained by force; so that, in every point of view, he was a gainer by adopting them. A qualm, indeed, came across him, when he considered as a lawyer, that this Father was, probably, in "You will understand, sir," said the Father, when the eye of law, a traitor; and that there was an ugly he saw that Alan had perused his letter, "that, by crime on the Statute Book, called Misprision of Trea-accepting charge of this missive, you bind yourself to son. On the other hand, whatever he might think or suspect, he could not take upon him to say that the man was a priest, whom he had never seen in the dress of his order, or in the act of celebrating mass; so that he felt himself at liberty to doubt of that, respecting which he possessed no legal proof. He therefore arrived at the conclusion, that he would do well to accept his liberty, and proceed to Redgauntlet under the guarantee of Father Buonaventure, which he scarce doubted would be sufficient to save him from personal inconvenience. Should he once obtain speech of that gentleman, he felt the same confidence as formerly, that he might be able to convince him of the rashness of his conduct, should he not consent to liberate Darsie Latimer. At all events, he should learn where his friend was, and how circumstanced.

Having thus made up his mind, Alan waited anxiously for the expiration of the hour which had been allowed him for deliberation. He was not kept on the tenter-hooks of impatience an instant longer than the appointed moment arrived, for, even as the clock struck, Ambrose appeared at the door of the gallery, and made a sign that Alan should follow him. He did so, and after passing through some of the intricate avenues common in old houses, was ushered into a small apartment, commodiously fitted up, in which he found Father Buonaventure reclining on a couch, in the attitude of a man exhausted by fatigue or indisposition. On a small table beside him, a silver embossed salver sustained a Catholic book of prayer, a small flask of medicine, a cordial, and a little tea-cup of old china. Ambrose did not enter the room-he only bowed profoundly, and closed the door with the least possible noise, so soon as Fairford had entered.

'Sit down, young man," said the Father, with the same air of condescension which had before surprised, and rather offended Fairford. "You have been ill, and I know too well by my own case, that indisposition requires indulgence.-Have you," he continued, so soon as he saw him seated, "resolved to remain, or to depart?"

"To depart," said Alan, "under the agreement that you will guarantee my safety with the extraordinary person who has conducted himself in such a lawless manner towards my friend, Darsie Latimer."

"Do not judge hastily, young man," replied the Father. "Redgauntlet has the claims of a guardian over his ward, in respect to the young gentleman, and a right to dictate his place of residence, although he may have been injudicious in selecting the means by which he thinks to enforce his authority.' "His situation as an attainted person abrogates such rights," said Fairford, hastily. VOL. IV.-4 I

try the effect of it before having recourse to any legal
means, as you term them, for your friend's release."
"There are a few ciphers added to this letter," said
Fairford, when he had perused the paper attentively,
-"may I inquire what their import is?"

They respect my own affairs," answered the Father, briefly; "and have no concern whatever with yours."

"It seems to me, however," replied Alan, "natural to suppose”

"Nothing must be supposed incompatible with my honour," replied the priest, interrupting him; "when such as I am confer favours, we expect that they shall be accepted with gratitude, or declined with thankful respect-not questioned or discussed."

"I will accept your letter, then," said Fairford, after a minute's consideration, "and the thanks you expect shall be most liberally paid, if the result answer what you teach me to expect.'

"God only commands the issue," said Father Buonaventure. "Man uses means.-You understand, that, by accepting this commission, you engage yourself in honour to try the effect of my letter upon Mr. Redgauntlet, before you have recourse to informations or legal warrants?"

"I hold myself bound, as a man of good faith and honour, to do so," said Fairford.

"Well, I trust you," said the Father. "I will now tell you, that an express, despatched by me last night, has, I hope, brought Redgauntlet to a spot many miles nearer this place, where he will not find it safe to attempt any violence on your friend, should he be rash enough to follow the advice of Mr. Maxwell of Summertrees rather than my commands. We now understand each other."

He extended his hand towards Alan, who was about to pledge his faith in the usual form by grasping it with his own, when the Father drew back hastily. Ere Allan had time to comment upon this repulse, a small side-door, covered with tapestry, was opened; the hangings were drawn aside, and a lady, as if by sudden apparition, glided into the apartment. It was neither of the Miss Arthurets, but a woman in the prime of life, and in the full-blown expansion of female beauty, tall, fair, and commanding in her aspect. Her locks, of paly gold, were taught to fall over a brow, which, with the stately glance of the large, open, blue eyes, might have become Juno herself; her neck and bosom were admirably formed, and of a dazzling whiteness. She was rather inclined to embonpoint, but not more than became her age, of apparently thirty years. Her step was that of a queen, but it was of Queen Vashti, not Queen Esther-the bold and commanding, not the retiring beauty,

Father Buonaventure raised himself on the couch,

"How be fully revealed-or it will sink into rain," he added, in a solemn tone, "and then explanation will be of little consequence.-Adieu, sir; I wish you well."

"The visit we have been just honoured with, my young friend, has given you," he said, "more secrets "Why, no. That is a road which you may travel to keep than I would have wished you burdened with. as heretics; but as Scotsmen, I would only send you The lady is a person of condition-of rank and for-three-fourths of the way-and that is back to Scottune-but nevertheless, is so circumstanced, that the mere fact of her being known to be in this country, would occasion many evils. I should wish you to observe secrecy on this subject, even to Redgauntlet or Maxwell, however much I trust them in all that concerns my own affairs."

sensations of shame and degradation, Darsie permitted kept the centre of the troop, two men riding before Cristal Nixon to place over his face, and secure by a and two behind him, always, as it seemed to Darsie, string, one of those silk masks which ladies frequently having their eye upon him, to prevent any attempt to wore to preserve their complexions, when exposed to escape. He could see from time to time, when the the air during long journeys on horseback. He re-straight line of the road, or the advantage of an asmonstrated somewhat more vehemently against the cent permitted him, that another troop of three or four long riding-skirt, which converted his person from riders followed them at about a quarter of a mile's the waist into the female guise, but was obliged to distance, amongst whom he could discover the tall concede this point also. form of Redgauntlet, and the powerful action of his gallant black horse. He had little doubt that GreenMantle made one of the party, though he was unable to distinguish her from the others.

In this manner they travelled from six in the mornexchanging a word with any one; for he loathed the very idea of entering into conversation with Cristal Nixon, against whom he seemed to feel an instinctive aversion; nor was that domestic's saturnine and sullen disposition such as to have encouraged advances, had he thought of making them.

The metamorphosis was then complete; for the fair reader must be informed, that in those rude times, the ladies, when they honoured the masculine dress by assuming any part of it, wore just such hats, coats, and waistcoats, as the male animals themselves madeing until nearly ten of the clock, without Darsie's use of, and had no notion of the elegant compromise betwixt male and female attire, which has now acquired par excellence, the name of a habit. Trolloping things our mothers must have looked, with long square-cut coats, lacking collars, and with waistcoats plentifully supplied with a length of pocket, which hung far downwards from the middle. But then At length the party halted for the purpose of refreshthey had some advantage from the splendid colours,ment; but as they had hitherto avoided all villages lace, and gay embroidery, which masculine attire then exhibited; and, as happens in many similar instances, the finery of the materials made amends for the want of symmetry and grace of form in the garments them-tance from the farm-houses to which they belong. selves. But this is a digression.

and inhabited places upon their route, so they now stopped at one of those large ruinous Dutch barns, which are sometimes found in the fields, at a dis

Yet in this desolate place some preparations had been In the court of the old mansion, half manor-place, made for their reception. There were in the end of half farm-house, or rather a decayed manor-house, the barn, racks filled with provender for the horses, converted into an abode for a Cumberland tenant, and plenty of provisions for the party were drawn stood several saddled horses. Four or five of them were from the trusses of straw, under which the baskets mounted by servants or inferior retainers, all of whom that contained them had been deposited. The choicwere well-armed with sword, pistol, and carabine.est of these were selected and arranged apart by But two had riding furniture for the use of females-Cristal Nixon, while the men of the party threw the one being accoutred with a side-saddle, the other with a pillion attached to the saddle.

Darsie's heart beat quicker within him; he easily comprehended that one of these was intended for his own use; and his hopes suggested that the other was designed for that of the fair Green-Mantle, whom, according to his established practice, he had adopted for the queen of his affections, although his opportunities of holding communication with her had not exceeded the length of a silent supper on one occasion, and the going down a country-dance on another. This, however, was no unwonted mood of passion with Darsie Latimer, upon whom Cupid was used to triumph only in the degree of a Mahratta conqueror, who overruns a province with the rapidity of lightning, but finds it impossible to retain it beyond a very brief space. Yet this new love was rather more serious than the scarce skinned-up wounds which his friend Fairford used to ridicule. The damsel had shown a sincere interest in his behalf; and the air of mystery with which that interest was veiled, gave her, to his lively imagination, the character of a benevolent and protecting spirit, as much as that of a beautiful female.

themselves upon the rest, which he abandoned to their discretion. In a few minutes afterwards the rearward party arrived and dismounted, and Redgauntlet himself entered the barn with the green-mantled maiden by his side. He presented her to Darsie with these words :

"It is time you two should know each other better. I promised you my confidence, Darsie, and the time is come for reposing it. But first we will have our breakfast; and then, when once more in the saddle, I will tell you that which it is necessary that you should know. Salute Lilias, Darsie."

The command was sudden, and surprised Latimer, whose confusion was increased by the perfect ease and frankness with which Lilias offered at once her cheek and her hand, and pressing his, as she rather took it than gave her own, said very frankly, "Dearest Darsie, how rejoiced I am that our uncle has at last permitted us to become acquainted!"

Darsie's head turned round; and it was perhaps well that Redgauntlet called on him to sit down, as even that movement served to hide his confusion. There is an old song which says

-"when ladies are willing,,

At former times, the romance attending his shortA man can but look like a fool;" lived attachments had been of his own creating, and And on the same principle Darsie Latimer's looks at had disappeared soon as ever he approached more this unexpected frankness of reception, would have closely to the object with which he had invested it. formed an admirable vignette for illustrating the pasOn the present occasion, it really flowed from external sage. "Dearest Darsie," and such a ready, nay, eager circumstances, which might have interested less sus-salute of lip and hand!-It was all very gracious, no ceptible feeling, and an imagination less lively than doubt-and ought to have been received with much that of Darsie Latimer, young, inexperienced, and en- gratitude; but, constituted as our friend's temper was, thusiastic as he was. nothing could be more inconsistent with his tone of feeling. If a hermit had proposed to him to club for a pot of beer, the illusion of his reverend sanctity could not have been dispelled more effectually than the divine qualities of Green-Mantle faded upon the ill-imagined frank-heartedness of poor Lilias. Vexed with her forwardness, and affronted at having once more cheated himself, Darsie could hardly help muttering two lines of the song we have already quoted:

He watched, therefore, anxiously to whose service the palfrey bearing the lady's saddle was destined. But ere any female appeared to occupy it, he was himself summoned to take his seat on the pillion behind Cristal Nixon, amid the grins of his old acquaintance Jan, who helped him to horse, and the unrestrained laughter of Cicely, who displayed on the occasion a case of teeth which might have rivalled

ivory.

Latimer was at an age when being an object of general ridicule even to clowns and milkmaids, was not a matter of indifference, and he longed heartily to have laid his horsewhip across Jan's shoulders. That, however, was a solacement of his feelings which was not at the moment to be thought of; and Cristal Nixon presently put an end to his unpleasant situation, by ordering the riders to go on. He himself

"The fruit that must fall without shaking

Is rather too mellow for me."

And yet it was pity of her too-she was a very pretty young woman-his fancy had scarce overrated her in that respect and the slight derangement of the beautiful brown locks which escaped in natural ringlets from under her riding-hat, with the bloom which exercise had brought into her cheek, made her even

letter to Mr. Redgauntlet, with an obeisance, and then retired to the end of the barn, where the other attendants were sitting or lying upon the straw, in order to get some refreshment.

more than usually fascinating. Redgauntlet modified | he had had a rough and rapid ride. He delivered a the sternness of his look when it was turned towards her, and, in addressing her, used a softer tone than his usual deep bass. Even the grim features of Cristal Nixon relaxed when he attended on her, and it was then, if ever, that his misanthropical visage expressed some sympathy with the rest of humanity.

"How can she," thought Latimer, "look so like an angel, yet be so mere a mortal after all?-How could so much seeming modesty have so much forwardness of manner, when she ought to have been most reserved? How can her conduct be reconciled to the grace and ease of her general deportment?"

The confusion of thoughts which occupied Darsie's imagination, gave to his looks a disordered appearance, and his inattention to the food which was placed before him, together with his silence and absence of mind, induced Lilias solicitously to inquire, whether he did not feel some return of the disorder under which he had suffered so lately. This led Mr. Redgauntlet, who seemed also lost in his own contemplations, to raise his eyes, and join in the same inquiry with some appearance of interest. Latimer explained to both, that he was perfectly well.

"It is well it is so," answered Redgauntlet; "for we have that before us which will brook no delay from indisposition-we have not, as Hotspur says, leisure to be sick."

Lilias, on her part, endeavoured to prevail upon Darsie to partake of the food which she offered him, with a kindly and affectionate courtesy, corresponding to the warmth of the interest she had displayed at their meeting; but so very natural, innocent, and pure in its character, that it would have been impossible for the vainest coxcomb to have mistaken it for coquetry, or a desire of captivating a prize so valuable as his affections. Darsie, with no more than the reasonable share of self-opinion common to most youths when they approach twenty-one, knew not how to explain her conduct.

Sometimes he was tempted to think that his own merits had, even during the short intervals when they had seen each other, secured such a hold of the affections of a young person, who had probably been bred up in ignorance of the world and its forms, that she was unable to conceal her partiality. Sometimes he suspected that she acted by her guardian's order, who, aware that he, Darsie, was entitled to a considerable fortune, might have taken this bold stroke to bring about a marriage betwixt him and so near a relative.

Redgauntlet broke the letter open with haste, and read it with anxious and discomposed looks. On a second perusal, his displeasure seemed to increase, his brow darkened, and was distinctly marked with the fatal sign peculiar to his family and house. Dar sie had never before observed his frown bear such a close resemblance to the shape which tradition assigned it.

Redgauntlet held out the open letter with one hand, and struck it with the forefinger of the other, as, in a suppressed and displeased tone, he said to Cristal Nixon, "Countermanded-ordered northward once more!-Northward, when all our hopes lie to the south-a second Derby direction, when we turned our back on glory, and marched in quest of ruin!" Cristal Nixon took the letter and ran it over, then returned it to his master with the cold observation, a female influence predominates,"

64

But it shall predominate no longer," said Redgauntlet; "it shall wane as ours rises in the horizon. Mean while, I will on before-and you, Cristal, will bring the party to the place assigned in the letter. You may now permit the young persons to have unreserved communication together; only mark that you watch the young man closely enough to prevent his escape, if he should be idiot enough to attempt it, but not approaching so close as to watch their free conversation."

"I care naught about their conversation," said Nixon, surlily.

"You hear my commands, Lilias," said the Laird, turning to the young lady. "You may use my permission and authority to explain so much of our family matters as you yourself know. At our next meeting I will complete the task of disclosure, and I trust I shall restore one Redgauntlet more to the bosom of our ancient family. Let Latimer, as he calls himself, have a horse to himself; he must for some time retain his disguise.-My horse-my horse!"

In two minutes they heard him ride off from the door of the barn, followed at speed by two of the armed men of his party.

The commands of Cristal Nixon, in the mean while, put all the remainder of the party in motion, but the Laird himself was long out of sight ere they were in readiness to resume their journey. When at length But neither of these suppositions was applicable they set out, Darsie was accommodated with a horse to the character of the parties. Miss Lilias's man- and side-saddle, instead of being obliged to resume ners, however soft and natural, displayed in their ease his place on the pillion behind the detestable Nixon. and versatility considerable acquaintance with the He was obliged, however, to retain his riding skir, habits of the world, and in the few words she said and to reassume his mask. Yet notwithstanding this during the morning repast, there were mingled a disagreeable circumstance, and although he observed shrewdness and good sense, which could scarce that they gave him the heaviest and slowest horse of belong to a Miss capable of playing the silly part of the party, and that, as a farther precaution against a love-smitten maiden so broadly. As for Redgaunt-escape, he was closely watched on every side, yet riding let, with his stately bearing, his fatal frown, his eye of threat and of command, it was impossible, Darsie thought, to suspect him of a scheme having private advantage for its object ;—he could as soon have imagined Cassius picking Cæsar's pocket, instead of drawing his poniard on the Dictator.

While he thus mused, unable either to eat, drink, or answer to the courtesy of Lilias, she soon ceased to speak to him, and sat silent as himself.

They had remained nearly an hour in their haltingplace, when Redgauntlet said aloud, "Look out, Cristal Nixon. If we hear nothing from Fairladies, we must continue our journey."

Cristal went to the door, and presently returned and said to his master, in a voice as harsh as his features, "Gilbert Gregson is coming, his horse as white with foam as if a fiend had ridden him."

Redgauntlet threw from him the plate on which he had been eating, and hastened towards the door of the barn, which the courier at that moment entered; a smar jockey with a black velvet hunting-cap, and a broad belt drawn tight round his waist, to which was secured his express-bag. The variety of mud with which he was splashed from cap to spur, showed

in company with the pretty Lilias was an advantage which overbalanced these inconveniences.

It is true, that this society, to which that very morning he would have looked forward as a glimpse of heaven, had, now that it was thus unexpectedly indulged, something much less rapturous than he had expected.

It was in vain that, in order to avail himself of a situation so favourable for indulging his romantic disposition, he endeavoured to coax back, if I may so express myself, that delightful dream of ardent and tender passion; he felt only such a confusion of ideas at the difference between the being whom he had imagined, and her with whom he was now in contact, that it seemed to him like the effect of witchcraft. What most surprised him was, that this sudden flame should have died away so rapidly, notwithstanding that the maiden's personal beauty was even greater than he had expected-her demeanour, unless it should be deemed over kind towards himself, as graceful and becoming as he could have fancied it, even in his gayest dreams. It were judging hardly of him to suppose that the mere belief of his having attracted her affections more easily than he expected, was the cause of