uncertain whom it might contain. It stopped however at the door, before his purpose could be fully explained. A moment after Mr Pleydell called out, « Here is our Liddesdale friend, I protest, with a strapping young fellow of the same calibre.» His voice arrested Dinmont, who recognised him with equal surprise and pleasure. « Odd, if it's your honour, we'll a' be as right and tight as thack and rape can make us.”

But while the farmer stopped to make his bow, Bertram, dizzied with the sudden glare of light, and bewildered with the circumstances of his situation, almost unconsciously entered the open door of the parlour, and confronted the Colonel, who was just advancing towards it. The strong light of the apartment left no doubt of his identity, and he himself was equally confounded with the appearance of those to whom he so unexpectedly presented himself, as they were by the sight of so utterly unlooked-for an object. It must be remembered that each individual present had their own peculiar reasons for looking with terror upon what seemed at first sight a spectral apparition. Mannering saw before him the man whom he supposed he had killed in India; Julia beheld her lover in a most peculiar and hazardous situation; and Lucy Bertram at once knew the person who had fired upon young Hazlewood. Bertram, who interpreted the fixed and motionless astonishment of the Colonel into displeasure at his intrusion, hastened to say that it was involuntary, since he had been hurried hi

ther without even knowing whither he was to be transported.

<< Mr Brown, I believe !» said Colonel Mannering.

« Yes, sir, the same you knew in India; and who ventures to hope, that what you did then know of him is not such as should prevent his requesting you would favour him with your attestation to his character, as a gentleman and man of honour.»

« Mr Brown-I have been seldom-never so much surprised-certainly, sir, in what passed between us, you have a right to command my testimony.»>

At this critical moment entered the counsellor and Dinmont. The former beheld, to his astonishment, the Colonel but just recovering from his first surprise, Lucy Bertram ready to faint with terror, and Miss Mannering in an agony of doubt and apprehension, which she in vain endeavoured to disguise or suppress. « What is the meaning of all this?» said he, « has this young fellow brought the Gorgon's head in his hand?—let me look at him.-By heaven!» he muttered to himself, « the very image of old Ellangowan the witch has kept her word."> Then instantly passing to Miss Bertram, « Look at that man, Lucy, my dear; have you never seen any one like him?»

Lucy had only ventured one glance at this object of terror, which, from his remarkable height and appearance, at once recognised the

supposed assassin of young Hazlewood, and excluded, of course, the more favourable association of ideas which might have occurred on a closer view. « Don't ask me about him, sir; send him away, for heaven's sake! we shall be all murdered!>>

« Murdered! where's the poker?» said the advocate in some alarm; « but nonsense, we are three men besides the servants, and there is honest Liddesdale worth half-a-dozen to bootwe have the major vis upon our side-however, here, my friend Dandie-Davie-what do they call you?-keep between that fellow and us for the protection of the ladies.»

« Lord! Mr Pleydell! that's Captain Brown; d'ye no ken the Captain?»

"

Nay, if he's a friend of your's we may be safe enough; but keep near him."

All this passed with such rapidity, that it was over before the Dominie had recovered himself from a fit of absence, shut the book which he had been studying in a corner, and, advancing to obtain a sight of the strangers, exclaimed at once upon beholding Bertram, « If the grave can give up the dead, that is my dear and honoured

master!»

« We're right after all, by heaven! I was sure I was right, said the lawyer; « he is the very image of his father. - Come, Colonel, what do you think of, that you do not bid your guest welcome? I think I believe-I trust we're right

never saw such a likeness-but patience-Dominie, say not a word. Sit down, young gentleman.> << I beg pardon, sir; if I am, as I understand, in Colonel Mannering's house, I should wish first to know if my accidental appearance here gives offence, or if I am welcome?»>

Mannering instantly made an effort. «Welcome? most certainly, especially if you can point out how I can serve you. I believe I may have some wrongs to repair towards you-I have often suspected so; but your sudden and unexpected appearance, connected with painful recollections, prevented my saying at first, as I now say, that whatever has procured me the honour of this visit, it is an acceptable one.">

Bertram bowed with an air of distant, yet civil acknowledgment, to the grave courtesy of Mannering.

<«< Julia, my love, you had better retire. Mr Brown, you will excuse my daughter; there are circumstances which I perceive rush upon her recollection."

."

Miss Mannering rose and retired accordingly; yet as she passed Bertram, could not suppress the words, « Infatuated! a second time!» but so pronounced as to be heard by him alone. Miss Bertram accompanied her friend, much surprised, but without venturing a second glance at the object of her terror. Some mistake she saw there was, and was unwilling to increase it by denouncing the stranger as an assassin. He was

known, she saw, to the Colonel, and received as a gentleman; certainly he either was not the person, or Hazlewood was right in supposing the shot accidental.

The remaining part of the company would have formed no bad group for a skilful painter. Each was too much embarrassed with his own sensations to observe those of the others. Bertram most unexpectedly found himself in the house of one whom he was alternately disposed to dislike as his personal enemy, and to respect as the father of Julia; Mannering was struggling between his high sense of courtesy and hospitality, his joy at finding himself relieved from the guilt of having shed life in a private quarrel, and the former feelings of dislike and prejudice, which revived in his haughty mind at the sight of the object against whom he had entertained them; Sampson, supporting his shaking limbs by leaning on the back of a chair, fixed his eyes upon Bertram, with a staring expression of nervous anxiety which convulsed his whole visage; Dinmont, clothed in his loose shaggy great-coat, and resembling a huge bear erect upon his hinder legs, stared on the whole scene with great round that witnessed his amazement. eyes

The counsellor alone was in his element, shrewd, prompt, and active; he already calculated the prospect of brilliant success in a strange, eventful, and mysterious law-suit, and no young monarch, flushed with hopes, and at the head of gallant army, could experience more glee when