and on the other fide the cottage had hitherto limited her walks. The way was through lanes bounded by elms, which, though not yet in full leaf, were fo clofely interwoven in the bank with a luxurious growth of holly, that nothing was to be seen beyond them-till on a fudden the road, ascending a steep hollow way, opened to a kind of common field, forming the top of a high promontory, commanding an immenfe extent of fea, and, for many miles, the indented cliffs of the western coaft.Such was its elevation, that Althea had no notion how it was poffible to defcend to the water. With anxious eyes fhe furveyed the expanfe of ocean; it was indeed a "fhiplefs fea," neither boat nor any larger veffel was to be feen, and the feared the people Marchmont had expected might have difappointed him.

The child now fhewed her a narrow and rugged defcent, made by cutting

the red clay and ftones, of which the cliffs are here compofed, into a fort of rude fteps. Here Althea difmiffed her guide, bidding her return immediately home; and then, with lefs fear than fhe might at another time have felt, defcended to the margin of the fea.

On reaching it, fhe found herself under an almost mural range of rocks, compofed of dark earth, and broad ftrata of reddish-coloured ftones, horizontally arranged, as if by the hands of man. The place where fhe had defcended seemed the only practicable part; for a little farther on the height became tremendous, and the face of the rock perpendicular towards the top, while beneath it was eaten by the water into deep caverns: from one of these fhe expected to see Marchmont appear-but, for some time, fhe looked around her in vain.

Vaft maffes, fallen from the cliffs, were scattered between them and the water at the tide of ebb. With the tide

of

of flood, thefe pieces, worn into grotefque and giant fhapes, were halfcovered by the waves. Already the rifing water broke rippling round the most remote craggs-to their rude furface, clams, limpets, and muscles adhered, among the fea-weed that grew ftreaming about them. All was wild, folitary, and gloomy; the low murmur of the water formed a fort of accompaniment to the cries of the fand-piper, the puffin-awk; while the screaming gull, and the hoarfe and heavy cormorant, were heard, at intervals, ftill louder. Althea, as fhe fat on a fragment of stone, furveying the fcene and liftening to thefe noifes, could have fancied herself thrown by fhipwreck on fome defert coaft, where fhe was left to folitude and despair.

The tide rofe flowly in fo calm a morning, yet it was now fo high,

that it seemed certain the hour could not be far off when Marchmont ex

pected the boat. Again fhe feared fome difappointment, fome accident; and, quitting her rugged feat, went on towards a part where the view along the fands was lefs impeded by broken rocks. Two perfons foon after appeared, one of whom she knew to be Marchmont. As foon as he perceived Althea, he fprang forward to meet her; while the other person, who was, fhe thought, his fervant, retired out of fight.

CHAP.

CHAP. IX.

Ecco quel fiero iftante!

IN approaching Althea, the various emotions that agitated the mind of Marchmont were vifible on his countenance and manner." How very good you are, Mifs Dacres, thus to honour me!" faid he-" But I must not attempt to express my gratitude; indeed to do fo is out of my power:-I am afraid I have made you wait?-I ought to account for fuch an additional intrufion on your time and humanitybut the boat which is to take me from hence, perhaps for ever, will very

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