streams of water, and the witch's threats decided him to feed. Hunger and fear are excellent casuists.

66

Saul," said Hunger, "feasted with the witch of Endor.". 66 And," quoth Fear, "the salt which she sprinkled upon the food showeth plainly it is not a necromantic banquet, in which that seasoning never occurs. "And, besides," says Hunger, after the first spoonful, "it is savoury and refreshing viands."

66 So ye like the meat?" said the hostess.

"Yea," answered the Dominie, "and I give thee thanks -sceleratissima!-which means Mrs. Margaret."

'Aweel, eat your fill; but an ye kenn'd how it was gotten, ye maybe wadna like it sae weel." Sampson's spoon dropped, in the act of conveying its load to his mouth. "There's been mony a moonlight watch to bring a' that trade thegither," continued Meg,—“ the folk that are to eat that dinner thought little o' your game-laws."

"Is that all?" thought Sampson, resuming his spoon, and shovelling away manfully; "I will not lack my food upon that argument."

"Now, ye maun tak a dram."

"I will," quoth Sampson-"conjuro te—that is, I thank you heartily," for he thought to himself, " in for a penny, in for a pound;" and he fairly drank the witch's health in a cupful of brandy. When he had put this copestone upon Meg's good cheer, he felt, as he said, "mightily elevated, and afraid of no evil which could befall unto him."

"Will ye remember my errand now?" said Meg Merrilies; 66 I ken by the cast o' your ee that ye're anither man than when you cam in."

"I will, Mrs. Margaret," repeated Sampson stoutly; "I will deliver unto him the sealed yepistle, and will add what you please to send by word of mouth."

"Then I'll make it short," says Meg. "Tell him to look at the stars without fail this night, and to do what I desire him in that letter, as he would wish

That Bertram's right and Bertram's might
Should meet on Ellangowan height.

I have seen him twice when he saw na me; I ken when he was in this country first, and I ken what's brought him back again. Up, an' to the gate! ye're ower lang here-follow me."

Sampson followed the sibyl accordingly, who guided him about a quarter of a mile through the woods, by a shorter cut than he could have found for himself; they then entered upon the common, Meg still marching before him at a great pace, until she gained the top of a small hillock which overhung the road.

"Here," she said, "stand still here. Look how the setting sun breaks through yon cloud that's been darkening the lift a' day. See where the first stream o' light fa's-it's upon Donagild's round tower-the auldest tower in the Castle o' Ellangowan-that's no for naething!-See as it's glooming to seaward abune yon sloop in the bay-that's no for naething neither. Here I stood on this very spot," said she, drawing herself up so as not to lose one hair-breadth of her

uncommon height, and stretching out her long sinewy arm, and clenched hand-" Here I stood, when I tauld the last Laird o' Ellangowan what was coming on his house; and did that fa' to the ground? Na-it hit even ower sair! And here, where I brake the wand of peace ower him-here I stand again—to bid God bless and prosper the just heir of Ellangowan that will sune be brought to his ain; and the best laird he shall be that Ellangowan has seen for three hundred years. I'll no live to see it, maybe; but there will be mony a blithe ee see it though mine be closed. And now, Abel Sampson, as ever you lo'ed the house of Ellangowan, away wi' my message to the English Colonel, as if life and death were upon your haste !"

So saying, she turned suddenly from the amazed Dominie, and regained with swift and long strides the shelter of the wood from which she had issued, at the point where it most encroached upon the common. Sampson gazed after her for a moment in utter astonishment, and then obeyed her directions, hurrying to Woodbourne at a pace very unusual for him, exclaiming three times, "Prodigious! prodigious! pro-di-gi-ous !"

CHAPTER THE FORTY-SEVENTH.

It is not madness

That I have uttered; bring me to the test,

And I the matter will re-word; which madness
Would gambol from.

HAMLET.

As Mr. Sampson crossed the hall with a bewildered look, Mrs. Allan, the good housekeeper, who, with the reverent attention which is usually rendered to the clergy in Scotland, was on the watch for his return, sallied forth to meet him-"What's this o't now, Mr. Sampson, this is waur than ever!-ye'll really do yoursell some injury wi' these lang fasts-naething's sae hurtful to the stamach, Mr. Sampson ;-if you would but put some peppermint draps in your pocket, or let Barnes cut ye a sandwich."

"Avoid thee!" quoth the Dominie, his mind running still upon his interview with Meg Merrilies, and making for the dining parlour.

66

;

Na, ye needna gang in there-the cloth's been removed an hour syne, and the Colonel's at his wine but just step into my room-I have a nice steak that the cook will do in a moment."

“Exorciso te!" said Sampson,-"that is, I have

dined."

"Dined! it's impossible-wha can ye hae dined wi', you that gangs out nae gate?"

"With Beelzebub, I believe," said the minister.

"Na, then he's bewitched for certain," said the housekeeper, letting go her hold; "he's bewitched, or he's daft, and ony way the Colonel maun just guide him his ain gate. Wae's me! Hech, sirs! It's a sair thing to see learning bring folk to this!" And with this compassionate ejaculation, she retreated into her own premises.

The object of her commiseration had by this time entered the dining parlour, where his appearance gave great surprise. He was mud up to the shoulders, and the natural paleness of his hue was twice as cadaverous as usual, through terror, fatigue, and perturbation of mind. "What on earth is the meaning of this, Mr. Sampson?" said Mannering, who observed Miss Bertram looking much alarmed for her simple but attached friend.

"Exorciso," said the Dominie.

66

How, sir?" replied the astonished Colonel.

"I crave pardon, honourable sir! but my wits".

"Are gone a wool-gathering, I think-pray, Mr. Sampson, collect yourself, and let me know the meaning of all this."

Sampson was about to reply, but finding his Latin formula of exorcism still came most readily to his tongue, he prudently desisted from the attempt, and put the scrap of paper which he had received from the gipsy into Mannering's hand, who broke the seal and