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Send ea*h orders to DiCK & FITZGERALD, Publishers, 18 Ann St., N. Y, CRAIGALLAN CASTLE A ROMANCE. CHAPTER I. EvKRT one knows the effticts of a sultry nuinmer evening upon the huiuiin coiisti- tutioQ. Muscular action is well nigh sus- pended, ami the iriind sinks under a le- thargic torpor which is not easily dissi- pated. In such a state those who must work do it lazily, and those whocaa avoid exerrion seek tor repose either in actual elunihi^r or in listless apathy ; hut at the time our tale c commodation ; n»w quenching his thirat at some small brook, now plucking an herbaceous plant meet for man, and anon fanning himself with his hat, and groan- ing at the lucklessness of his lot. At length a tew dreary miles brought him in siglit of a tolerably-sized farm-hi)use with a slated roof — an object on which he gazed with some eagerness, and to winch he pressed ibrward with all the ardor which bis jaded frame would admit of Passing the chained dog, who snarled as a matter of course, the first object that presented itself was a sloveidy red-haired servant wench, who, perceiving him, ran into the house excaiming — ' Eh ! here is Kilbadie, the daft min- ister !' Kilbadie thought this ejaculation un- propitious ; nevertheless he marched di- rectly into the kitchen, which displayed an array of culinary utensils more copioua than is commonly to tie Ibuud in the domi- ciles (;f Scotch farmers. I ' Is tliere any work to perform in the ' preaching line'' said the ecclesiastic, for ' it was part ot liis policy to make it appear that he was the p nty conferring rather th in receiving t)ei'etit. ' No, no,' said the .\bigail-in-chief, ' we have plenty of preaching on Su?idays.' ' la tliere no sick [lerson about the place that wants consol.ttion ! nor no children to bantise V continued tlie querist. ' Nothing of tlie kind,' was the re- joinder. ' No marriages to celebrate V persevered the {iriest. ' Oh, maybe there might be something CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. phwre's luy dincebe ; and us tii my huiIk rity, that is all a matter of taste. H you ask an ludejieiideTit what he thinks ot a Quaker, he will say nought ; ifyou at^k a Presbyterian what he thinks of an Inde- pendent, he will say nunirht ; if you ask an Ef.iscopalian what he thinks of aPi-es- byterian, he will say nought; if you ask a Papist v.hat he thinks oi an Episuopalian, he will say nuu^^ht ; if you ask a Uuita o* that bind,' said the nymph, ' but then hie repeated salutations, he made his way ye're no a richt minister.' to the barn, and presenU-d himself among * Am I no?' said Kilhadie, rising in the guests. His | r< sence socm became \»Tath at this allusion to the quality ot his known, and, on ascertaining the accident cloth, ' who has a l)etter richt than me to I which had hrciight him auiongst thun, administer ordinances, 1 would like to i si me of the young men went out and l[u,;w?' uiiniatcred to tiie wants of the horse, ' Oh, ye ken ye dinna preach in a kirk, whom they pronounced to be in n from the idea of dancing; and without and so, the niiuds of the domestics being i delay that spirit-stirring passtime c\)ax- predisposed for jollity, the idea of a mock , menced with something like earnestness, saarringe to be celebrated by the wander- Tlje polka was then unknown ; but Scotch ing priest readily occurred to them. Kil- } reels and country dances 6Up]ilied ita b«idie was iuvitid in, the barn-lloor was j place, and what might have been want- rapidly cleared, and all the arr.mgements i ing in gracefulness wiis more than made made that could be ciiiried into etiect un- . up by eneigy and agility. Almacka der such short warning. Gu-sts, both j never presi nted a more animated scene, From the fair and from the adjacent farms, , nor, we may add, a more healthy assem- poured in, in large numbt-rs, ;aid nothing biy. No puny dandies or delicate missea seemed wanting to complete the sport liut I were on that barn-floor. Every bound the miitrimonial victims. Those who i was performed with bones and sinews re- really were attached to each other, were j dolent with health, and the ruddy cheeka afraid to venture on so open a declaration and sparkling eyes proclaimtd that the of concord ; flirts, as usual, were undecid- j locomotive resources of their owners were, ed ; and, although all things were ready, , like coal-fields advertis d for sale — inex- the joke appeared about to fall to the haustible. The violence of the dancera ground for want of the necessary actors, re-acted on the orchestra ; and fiddle Iowa, ■wh( n a new incident broke in upon the | common and biies, crossed and re-crossed rising embarrassment of the scene. j the catgut till the arms of the artista A traveller, whose borsfe had met seemed but one continuous line, and thoM with an accident wi ich disabled him, was of one of the corps, who happened to be obhged to stek shelter in the farm-house ; blind, had a maddened glare communicat- and ae no one had come forth to answer i ed to his sightless eyeballs, which., had CKATGALLAN CASTLE. he been a Tninstrel of old might have pass- ed fur insjiirati'in. KiHwdie himself wao at last fired with the mania ; and when the m.igic air of 'Jeannie 8 Bawbee' was Btrui'k up, the worthy man rose to his feet, and took part in the melee with an aLicritj which promised to amuse the au- dience t-.)r a long time ; but unfortunately, in executinj^ some of the more rapid move- ments, his gown got entangled, and he fell to the ground ; an incident which oli- cited from liiiu a muttered remark about the evils of conformity to the world. Me.inwhile the traveller neglected not his briro lanto, will be a deduction from my reversion.' The coolness with which tiiis state inent was delivered unnerved the travel- ler , and, beginning to see something like meshes weaving around him, he assumed a more pacific tone. ' But, my good Mr. Grant,' said he, 'your cousin is a pretty girl, and can have no difficulty in getting a husband.' ' A bird in hand, as the pirovetb says, is one thing ; good family connections is another ; and, besides, I like the idea of doing you — it's in the way of business.' ' This effrontery is intolerable Make way, sir, lor my horse, and do your worst. Once r mak- CQg 8o tree vvitli ^iiur friend 8 wardrobe.' ' 1 tt;ll yt)U, sir, get out of the w;iv and do yiiur worst.' ' Uh, certainly, sir ! but, to show you that I have more regard to your interests than you imagine, 1 will give you tlii> piece of advice — do not drive too fast. I rather think that I heard the iiostler sa} ■something at)out one of your liorse s shoes being faulty. Good morning." (jraham examined the animal, and found that one of the shoes had been care- fully removed. Turning back the horse in disgust, he strode across the farm-yard Day was just breaking; and, not readily tinOing his way out, lie accosted a female figure that came gliding past. * Can you show me the way out of this cursed place V said he roughly. ' Certainly, sir,' replied Mary Morison, ■who turned out to be the party spoken to. 'Has anything happened!' she asked, with some hesitation. ' This mock marriage — is it not very hard that one cannot make a j(jke with- out being trepanned?' ' 1 do not understand you, sir,' said Mary, trembling. ' That is the way to the high road.' * Tliauk you. Good-bye, Miss Mori- son.' ' Graham was, as we have said before, a man 'it impulse. When bidding fare- well, Mary dropped a hot tear on his hand — an act ol which an older person, t>r one more accustomed to love matters, could not liave been guilty. ' My go. id girl. Said Graham, and he stopped short. After a pause, during ■which he pressed her towards h-im, '1 love you, Mary ; but I hate your cousin." * So do 1, said the simple Mary. ' He told me, half an hour ago, that you had run away : and he looked so wicked when he told me.' » I married you in jest, Mary, but I mean to do it in earnest.' 'AH right!' said Ludovicko behind them, who, with characteristic good taste, Lad now been playing the part ot eaves- dropper. CHAPTER IT Ocr story must now take a stride of ton years. (Godfrey Graham was one of two Bons— fthe father being arich merchant in the town of Panlton, old and peevish. His desire was that the bulk of his fortune should descend to one of his sons, in or- der that the family name might be per- petuated ; hut ■which of them, whethef (iodlrey or his j'oiinger broKier Jolm. tha siie could not decide. At one time he in- clined to the elder, then he would sud- denly turn his ulTeetions to the other; and v\ hile in this state of vucill.itiim, f.e pur- chased the CMStle and estate of Craijiallan, which, formerly the property of a noble family att:iinte(i for tlieir share in the Re- bi llion of 1745, had hitterlv hilten into de- cay, although still sufficiently imposing to give him a rank and {>ositi* n in the dis- trict considerably above the level of hia brother traders, Thepurtnase was made soon after the occurrence of to's eventfl narrated in the last chapoer, gixj it need scaicely be adiled that Godfrey concealed all knowledge of Mary IviorisiKi fioni hia father. The scene of the m.trriajie lay at tlie distance of more than a hundred niilea Irom Panlton, and as none knew of hia history excejit Mary and Ludovicko, tl.ere was little risk of tlie sec/et being discov- ered. Godfrey had never iit'ipired after his f-i- ther's wealth. Attached to conjmereial [lursuits, as much froia a love of enter- prise as from hope of j,ain, he saw before lam the means of couipetency. and cared little fir anything Iiey(rely to keep up the credit of the family. Tlie brothers maint^iined no correspond- ence ; John, iniiecd. fawned on Godfrey, but he, r^'collfctioi^ f )riiier events, repell- ed him with contempt. But wliat of Mary Morison^ Godfrey Grahawi was not destitute of aflP-ction' to- wards her, and thoui^hts of her obtru(h;d themseivt's in his tiusiest moments. Com- merce could not absorb his whole being; Tliere were times, when sauntering alony; the banks of the buliblirig river that ran thouiih Criigdlin, th;i,t he felt a void which he th aijrlit would be filled up were he to send for th^- quiet, (V)nfiding Miry, and publicly nieogiiise her as his wife, and her child as his son. One is never happy unless the affi-ctions have sonie- tliing to go forth and fasten on. Forth they will go ; and if, like the dove from the ark, they come back empty-handed, disappointment and chagrin is the sure result. In the counting room Godfrey was never dull ; the numerous r;irnifica- tions of his business kept him perpetually oceufiied ; hut at home in the old c;istle, he felt the pressur* of self intolerably heavy. He wis no diner-out, and conse- quently seldom had company. He did not hunt or fish; he cared not for burgh, county, or national politics ; he did not read, unless the perusal of the newspapers can be dignified by that term. Desp lir- Ing of his f ither s consent to the recogni- tion of M iry, and not selfish enough to wish for his death, he made up his mind to the expirition of a long period before (inything could be done ; and at length, when the time did arrive that he became his own master, the usual result took pla(^e, namely, tliat difficulties that seem <»ruail in the distance assume m:ignitude ji the realis.ition. VV;i8 Mary the proper ^rson to iissume the management of Oiaigall m Castle? Were the cir(!U9tances of their in irriage such sus would entitle her to the respect (»f the neighborhood' Coula tticse (;ircumst inees beconcealed if she br-Uij^'it. homf a boy some ten years Old' Hal Ma^v Morison been bold enough to visit him, aU his doutits would have ranished ; bat, lo'ie and fri'^ndless in a distant part of t^ie countv, Mary had long been of opinion, nocwithstviiditig tlie legal explanations of Lua»n-ic(ii<, th it she was not free from guilt , and, regarding her •strangeiaeat frcin Grahfviu uu vii^ juat punishment of heaven, she calmly sfelv mitted to her fate, till Fie against whom she had sinned should bring her husband and her boy together — a junction which she doubted not would dispel the dark night which had so long overshadowed her. Godfrey was about to give in. and 8 raise Ikt, than to iiiiii who wishes to bra».id her and her son with infamy.' 'Dog!'s>ii(l Gudlrey, ' had I hut the power, as I liave the will, I would toss you over the window.' At this inoiut-nt a servant entered with a letter f«ir Mr: Graham. He hastily ran over the contents, and sinking into a tthair, covered his faon with his hands, and ap- peard to siiff t great mental agnny. After a loi'g pause, durinu; which Ludo- rent his conscience. "VTherever he looked, the pale, meek I'acH of Mary pursued him; and wh>n he thought of htr as in a state of hopeless idi'icy, he groaned aloud, and smote himself in very despair. Having sat down in an arbor, he was accosted by his lious' keeper. ' Your niece. Sarah Graham, sir,' said Mrs. M.irtin, ' has come to see you.' ' Ti 11 her to b« uncle, to hear that you spoke to me.' ' Yes, my dear ; but tell them that I spoke to you, because I rather like yott; whilst I_T— I— ' Sarah did not at all comprehend the e« CRAIG ALLAN CASTLE. planatien that was likely to f illow ; and Be«inj^ tlic impnipriiity of sendinu; nii un- friendly uKhSJine l>y an uru«iiplii.-.tic:tted girl^Gudfrfy stojipcd ahurt. ani: out of the town I met a poor wo- man with three very nuked children, and they asked me for sonxjlliing, and I was sorry I had nothing to give them. When I come out here maiuma sometimes gives me money to get a biscuit, for fe.ir t should be hungry on my road ; but I was always so sorry when I did not see you that I could not e;it anything, and I al- ways give the money b:ick to mamma.' ' Could you cat anything now?' ' No, I iim so happy.' ' Well, then, Sarah. Martha will go boi&e part uf the way with you, and she will also give you a flower, and you caa tell your mother to t)uy with this any- tliiiig that she t.'iinks 30U stand in need ; of. 1 do notleei well to-uight — good-bye, my dear child.' I Putting a sttvereign into her hand, Goii- frey aflectionately ki.->sed his niece, and I betook himself to the castle, whil.st Sarah and Mrs. Martha Martin went towarda a I gate in the opposite direction. I ' My troth, hinny,' saiil the matron, 'but you are in luck! I have kent Mr. ' Graham now for ten years, and ye're the i lir:>t o' womankind that ever I saw him I show ony favor to. Folk may speak o' I him as they like, but there s no one the ! like o' him in a' the country side. I have been housekeeper in ye r noble families, but I wadna a'l e him for them a'. There he counted it up, and if there was a sin- gle bawbee wrang, he was like to eat me, and if it was a' richt, then — " Mrs, Mar tin, recollect there is to be nothing bst : ec(jnomy in my establishment!" Noo, ' Mr Graham ne^er looks at ni}' pa'^sfiook, I altho' I keep it ncht fir a" that; but of I course, honest man, weel he kens when ; he is weel served. The soap and the I bread that thae twa lasses would waste, i if I wasna at their lug. would ruin a na- I tion. But there's some comfort saving I for a bachelor. Nane o' your wives for me! Theji would mak their men believe I that they save, but it a' Ka^ng'^ '"•r gowns and ribbons. Noo, there's the road to ! the town. Good niclit, my bonny wo- tuen, and come back soon again.' ' But my uncle diii not bid me do so.' ' Never mjnd that Is that all ye kefl about men? Oh, w . un ! just iisk fur me, and leave me to u..-jage him." CHAPTER III. Our readers will now be introduced into Godfrey Graham's •counting-home ; and, albeit the conversations occurring there ujay not be of the most intellectual character, they nevertheless assist in tJie developement of the story. ' So governor is unwell,' said Bob Jonea to bis fellow laborer in the outer office, Tom Ogle ' VVbat shall uedo to improve the time ? Shall we go a-boating, ridiug, fishing, or what|f' * I m not sure,' replied Tom ; ' but gup- pose we toss in the meantime for pies and porter.' ' Oh, horrid propogiti^in I One would imagine, Tom, that you had been a coal- heaver, lliid vod 8 lid svida and cinder, I Would have seconded Che motion ' 10 CRAIGALLAN CASTUJ- ' Well, sod. and cind. be it. Heads or tails'* ' Heads!' ' T.iils ; done, my boy ; despatch Jo- seph for the article. What can he the laatier with G. G. V ' Can't say,' replied Tom ; ' hut it mnst be something smart, otherwise he is imt the man to i)e at home. I have not mist<- ed liiin out of the office a single day (or five yeMrs.' ' Pi rhiips,' ejaculated Boh, 'he has bust hie blood-vessel.' ' Then it is all up with him ' ' Oh, not at all,' replied Boh. ' I had an aunt who liust a, vessel, and she lived a losfj time afterwards.' 'Now, Boh, no moreg;enealop;y. Take your wiird tor it, and every pot>sihle mir raele has been performed in your family ; and, iiH to your aunt, doubtless she was a pendulous person, and her blood could flow like your own ink ; but, jingo ! if G. G. wore to burst a tube, there would be a jet like a service-pipe. But here's Joseph. Open the hatch, or Trotter, the ancient, will hear the corks. The old Btory . the cup and the lip. Somebody is coming.' The somebody was Mr. Skipton, an ec- centric hrazier, and given, among other pecu'iitrities, to amateur theatricals. ' Messrs. Jones and Ogle, I do myself the honnrof presenting an acconifptagainst your eslahlishment for matters furnished to the sl'ip Minerva, and 1 desire payment thereof.' ' The accompt is not attested by the ca-ptuin, and we can't pay it,' said Mr. Jones, imitating the grimace of Mr. Skip- ton. ' Do you take me for a common mecha- nic?' 'Unquestionably we do.' 'I tell you what it is, Mr. Jones ; were it not that your venerahle employer is presently on a bed of languishiog and mourning, I should go to his chateau and represent your conduct to him. You do not pay it^sir, not because it wants the Rign manual of the insignificant ski[iyier, but because I dec^lined giving you my in- fluence for playing the part of Young JVorval. ' ' That may or may not be, Mr. Skipton ; tout until you get the signature the ac- Cjmpt can't be paid.' 'Do you suppose, boy, that I am to fol- low the ship to Madagascar?' ' As you like ; you slujuld have seen it before she sailed C)r J^Iadagascar. But excuse us, Mr. Skipton, we are rather busy Uiis morning.' / ' Oh, T dare say; how is Mr Grahan this morning?' ' VVe have not heard,' said the impati- ent Mr. Joues. ' Will you go away, Mr. Skir>t..n?' 'No.- ' W hat do you want ?' ' A share of the plunder ;' and. plr.ciog his back to the door, he added, ' i ll wait here till 1 get it." ' Mr. Skipton, we'll joke when the of- fice is shut, but excuse us just now.' ' ]S() joke, gentlemen ; I obscj-ved you? envoy, Joseph, crossing to Jenny Find- ley's.' ' Pooh ; he went over with some empty bottles.' ' And came back with full ones. No equivocation, gentlemen, I stand here for justice.' ' I su[ipose there is no use in denying it, Bob!' ' None.' The. refreshments were accordingly pro- duced and discussed. ' I always,' said Mr. Skipton, 'carry some old accompts in my hat; they are so useful when one enters establishments and unexpectedly finds principals.' ' And so,' said the amazi.d Toni, 'you have no account against the Minerva?' ' None whatever, young man.', ' Well,' said Mr. Jones, ' I owe no ill- will to G. G., and as I don t expect he'll leave us anything, tho' he does kick — ' ' Speak lor yourselt. Boh ; my father and Mr. Graham were schoolfellows.' Mr. Jones put his thun»b on the nassl membt-r, and pressed that again inwards with great fervor. ' W hat will he do with h\8 possessions?' asked Skipton. ' VVIiy," rejoined Jones, ' I know G. G. as well as most peojile, and I tliink one ol two tilings will happen. Either that he will die without a will, like his father, or leave his money to endow an hospital for incurables, or some such thing as that.' ' But.' interposed Skipton, ' he hates long John, his brother, as Satanus hates bolv water. I once saw theiu meet — Norvnl and G/ena/oim was nothing to it. Depend ujion it he^ will make a testament to do his goose. He is a very low indivi- dual, that John, and stands indebted, resting; and owing me four-and-fburpence sterling for a coifi;e-pot, and sundry re- pairs. 1 shall have asinall debt-wiiri'anj out against bim some of these da\8.' 'G. G.'said Mr. Jones, pursuing a train of mental reflection, ' i.>^ a very civ rious person ; he goes on toiling and toil- ing for nu)nev for no earthly purpose that I can see. He does not care for houae, lands, pictures, eport, ladies — ' CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 11 • Or the drama,' adJed Skipton. ' What dues he live fur V ' Echo asks, for whatT answered Skip- ton. ' I pay i.is gardener fifteen shillings a week fur looking aftiT his flowers and fruit. [ never s.iw a pink in his hutton- hole, and when his fruit is in season he never siid '• strawherrj" to nie, or to nny other hodj, that ever I heard of. It is lost money, keeping up his gardens.' ' Nothing of the sort,' said Skipton ; ' I can trace some of the sweetest hours of existenee to Godfrey's orchard anu jiar- terres. I am there every ni^lit, and, like Rohinson Crusoe, lord of all that 1 sur- vey lie has two sweet maitls besides old Martha, and all the swains in the country run after them. When Martha ^oes to hed, the young ladies rise and go to the gariiens to meet their swains. The •agricultural mind is easily friglitened, ami, by a little hallooing and shaking of l»UHhes, I make them t>eliev<; the place is hautiter your employer, his head is too big and his eyes too small to be a gentleman.' ' Are you done, gentlemen !' asked Mr. Rankin, with great coolness. ' If you are, it is my turn to speak. You are all wrong ; ami if I were not so dry, I would show you tliat in a moment. Are you disposed for anything beyond milk and water, any of you V ' I beg you will mention nothing of the kind in these premises,' said Mr. Jones, with great solemnity. ' Why, it is not the first time,' rejoined Mr. Haiikin. ' Pn)balply not, but we have turned over a new leaf.' ' Besides,' interposed Skipton, ' I would not recommend young persons connected with the law to have anythmg to do with alcoholic mixtures. It leads them to the commission of forgery, and then they are hanged, an I bring disgrace on all their friends and kindred. Tnere was Doctor D odds, the divine, hanjred for forgery, and Gd'ieroy. the hanker. Take care, young man, before it will be to(j late.' ' Bah, you goose! Hearken, now— you judge of us fiy your own greasy trade. If Siiipton sells an old woman a leaky tea-pot, she cuts him ; but if you are done by a lawyer, don't you employ the same lawyer to do some other body, you ninnies V ' (jaminon!' said Jones. ' It's that sort of gammon, that Or*- kam sent fur Grant to make /us will.' ' My ng been a faith 'ul servant ; and you at home, and Mr. Trotter here in the counting-room, have ke[)t everything right ; and if any- body is to he left anything, you two must come in for shares.' ' Maybe aye, and maybe no. I've lived in great houses where deaths took place »fore, and never found myself a plack better. When folks come to cross the Jordan they have ither things to think about than legacies ; but as Mr. Graham, honest man, has sent fur a lawyer, doubt- lees he'll do things in a doose way.' • Was Mr. Grant long with him V ' Wha tell't you that Mr. Grant was wi' him ? Sic a place for clasbefi ! Th»t aye comes o' having young hizzies abu()t a boose. Ye canna tik aff your carpet shoon but they maun be clavering. But as I have to tak oot some physic, 1 canna stop here a day.' * Take your time, Mrs. Martin,' con- tinued Mr. Jones, with increasing bland- ness. ' You know that if you walk fast you will soon lose breath, and better, therefore, take a good rest. Has Mr. John been inquiring after him V ' He need na.' ' No ; I suppose there is no chance of anything going in that quarter?' ' I dinna ken,' answered Mrs. Martha, mysteriously. ' There is no saying whaur a plaister may licht ; when the dirt is dry it will rub off. He is fond o' the young lassie, Suiah, and nae wonder; she is a sweet bairn.' ' You astonith me, Mrs. Martin. 1 thought he would not allow that girl to come near bim. I know that I have heen told to tell her that he wbs engaged when she called here.' ' That may be ; but he's fond o' her noo, that's certain.' ' VV hat a pity she is so young !' ' Oh, you black-hearted ne'er-do-weel ! You re like a' the men. Whenever a fiuir lassie is thoeht to hae siller, she is hunted like a partridge in the mountains, by a set o" villains thatwadna gie her a penny to buy a loaf if she was starvin'. Nae wonder that there are so many unhappy marriines. When I was a young woman, it was marry for love and work for silver ; but lack-a-day ! times are sorely changed now ' ' Mrs. tfartha,' said Skipton, ' in Par- liamentary phraseology, I have for some time been trying to uateh your eye, but without (fleet.' ' I have a craw to pluck wi' you, Mr. Skipton. Your milk pitcher is letting out already.' ' Don't interrupt the sentimental turn of the conversation by shop allusions, my dear madam. Send it in first market-day and 111 put it to rights. I intended call- ing on you some of these nights ; but as there is "distress in the castle, I must post- pone my visit.' ' Call on me, Mr. Skipton? that will do.' responded Mrs. Martf a, with a grin. ' What do you think, Mr. Jones ? He cam out last" week and palavered wi' me, and got his tea, and wad hardly stop to tak a glass o' nsberry vinegar wi' me, for fear, as he said, that his mither would miss him. Well, believe me if you like, hut about twa o'clock in the morning I heard an awful din at the back of the castle, and I went roun to ane o' (h« (jkaiqallan castle. u winuers, and there was hini dancing wi' a white bheet ahdut tiiiu, and our twa lua- dam8, and a wheen mair claiujamphrey, ekirliiij; and Itiufiing like show-iolk. But I ttiink I gie cht-m up their feet. My oertie ! thi-y've sleepit under lock and key ever since.' ' My dear Mrs. M irtin, I grieve to think of my hwiiig the innocent cause of any emharj^a heing put on the maidens.' ' O.'i, i dare say I' 'Yiiu are quite rij;ht, Mrs. M irtin. — Ski(itoa is — liillo ! here's tlie carriige — stop ! I'hr-re 8 Grant, the lawyer, and, by jingo ! nut possible — yes! it ts G. G. himselt, muffled to the very nose." 'Stive and guide us !' ejiicultted Mrs. Martha, and lorthwith touk out bottles and all s'Mts of sinidries fr.im her biisket; Skipton repr')ducod the account ag.iinst the Minerna ; Oglo mended his pen ; and Jones iuriously drev? out a bill of lad- ing CHAPTER IV. In a dingy street in Panlton stood the dwellinn-h'Mise of John Graliam. Mean- like ill its exterior Jispeet, it was dismal within, ttie sm dl lobby w;is dark, and haU l'>ng be«'n a stranger to [)aintor pi- per ; the rtoius were low-roofed, and the furniture scanty and old-f.w lioned. It had not the air of a pea-sant hut, where, notwithstanding evident poverty, there is a freshness of look anw me ; but if it had, fteoplo sneered at me, and said that one who could not do well for hiiuself could not do well for any other body. Gitd is my witness, I have often done ill ; but as often have I been willing to do well, but never could find the op- portunity. 1 am doomed, and how I can- not tell When others prospered, I have been unfortunate ; adventures v^hich al- ways turned well out when my father wa» live this way ? We owe the baker, the butcher, and the grocer ; and wheie to alive, and when I did not want monej* 14 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. SuiTe failed when I would hiive been thankful t'> raise a few pounds to pay house rent.' ' Ours is a hard ca«e,' continued ^Irs Graliaiu, still kffping to \wt own line of remark. ' I liave parted with ever}' trin- ket, chains, hrodclu-s, and everything ex- cept my marriage-ring, and it must go nest, i suppose.' ' There s somebody at the door,' said her husband. Mrs. Graham answered to the sum- mons, and came back wringing her bunds. ' It is,' said she, ' the collector of the water-rate ; and he says he has called so often that, if nut paid to-morrow, the pipe will be cut «)ff. That would have been had enough at any lime ; but now that we have parted with our servant we shall be in a pretty state.' ' This is indeed misery,' said John. *I have it I' said his wife. ' Go to Godfrey, and tell kim that if he will pay your debts for this once you will emigrate, and trouble him no more.' ' And where can we emigrate to? If we are to starve, die and rot, why not do it here as well as in AmericaV ' We can work there with our hands, and we can't do that here.' ' But I cannot speak to Godfrey.' ' It is our last shift, and you must do it.' ' T tell you, woman, I cannot do it.' ' Well, Sarah will do it for you.' ' Yes,' rejoined John, with a deep gneer, 'and, like a beggar, be dismissed with another sovereign.' ' John Graham, that sovereign was kindly meant, and kept our house for a week, and I only wish that I had another this night.' ' What a dignified spirit you have got !' ' When one has the prospe(;t of going supperlesa to bed, they can aifurd to drop their dignity.' At this juncture Sarah entered the room. Perceiving her parents to be in a mood that was by lu) means uncommon, she quietly went up to tlie j)iano, opened the case, and proceeded to practice one of her music-lessons. ' Stop that ird'ernal humming !' stiid her father harshly. Poor Sarah ! she had that day been kept in at school for not bning aUe to play over her lessoiis, and tliat from no fault of hers ; for at previous times, as on this occasion, she was not allowed to piactise.when her father whs in bail hu- mor. In how many forms is the Eg\p- tian tyranny of bricks without straw en- acted in this miserable world ! Without one word of remonstrance Surah gently closed the instrument and sat down in a corner. The luxury of a sob was denied her, as her fitlu-r w;ts irritable to extreme sensitiveness ; and vthen the demon pos- sessed him, the slightest sound touched him to the very quick. Sarah kmw this well, and tried hard to sujipress the rising tear, although it was the only means ol relieving a very heavy heart. .Another cause of grief she had, but she dared not express it. As slie was ordered by the assistant teacher into the penal apartment adjoining the school-room, the priiuipal ironically remarked, and loud enough to he heard by all around, ' that there y,ns no use taking much trouble with the girl, as the last two quarters had noi heen paid.' Sirah could have borne the in- sertion of a knife into her T)osoni sooner than that cruel taunt. Of all kinds of sufferers youthful sufferers are the most helpless. When calamity overtakes one in middle or biter life they can command sympathy from former companions, or they can summon philosophy to their aid ; but when misery marks a child as its own it has neither the one resource Ivor the other. John Graham did not dislike his daugh- ter, neither did his wife, although she wotild have greatly preferred that her only child had been of the opposite sex. Worldly crosses, however, had so soured both her parents, that Sarah hardly knew tlie meaning of parental affection Pov- erty, she had the sense to perceive, was at the bottom of all their unhappiness ; and, having no idea that any blame waa attachable either to father or mother, {)ity for them was generally the upper- most feeling in her nature. After another interval of silence, Mrs. Graham again took up the harp ol lam entation. ' Everything,' said she, ' is against us Had we had a boy, he would soon have been (iff our hands, and doing for himself; but a girl is alwavs in the road, moping about the house, and good for nothing in eve-ry way.' ' Don't say that, mother,' answered Sarah, tremblingly ; ' now that Betty hiia left us, I will stop at home and help you. I do not care fj;. On Sa- rali inforiaiiig them of what had taken I place, the f tther thought of her wounded I feeliii;fs, and the mother of the poverty of the family heiiij; noised abroad. After another long pause, John turned to Sa- rah and asked if she would carry a mes- Baiie t(» her uncle. Sarah joyluUy said that she would he glad to do so. ' But,' said her father, ' it is rather a disai^reeahle message, Sarah ' ♦ No had news, I hope?' ' No, it is to ask him a favor,' ' I am sure I shall he glad to do tliat, fatlior ; uncle is so kind, I could ask hiui anything.' ' I am afraid you are very simple, Sa- rah, so notice what I say, and try to un- derstand me. Your mother and I are poor, very poor, Sirah ; we have no money to pay for yt>ur school fees, nor for anytliing else. You will therefore go to Craigallan, and tell your uncle that if he will ho kind en(»ugh to ffive us as much money as will take us t(» .Viaerica, it the last tiiue that ever we shall r,roul)le him. Do you uu- derstan'f me, Sarah ?' ' 1 think I do.' ' Yi)U s-e we have troubled him often before, hut we do not intend doing it again ; and say, also, that you are very wretched and that often, as to-night, you have to go to bed without getting any thing to eat.' ' [ don't care for myself, l)ut I II tell him how unhappy you and mother are.' ' You need not tell him that, he does not like us ; hut tell hiia how unhappy ycm yourself are ; and as he seems fond of you, ho will, for your sake, do something tor the whole of us.' ' If uncle does not like you, then I can- not like hiiu ; and I would rather not go, d.:,ar father, if 1 am to speak about nobody but myseli'.' ' Leave it to lierself to do any way she thinks host,' said the mother, who saw that the secret of Sarah's success with Godfrey l.iy in her ingenuousness, and that if she but understood that he al >ne could help them out of their dilBcukies, Siirah could find ways and means to carry the point. This being settled, this singular family proposed to retire Uj rest, it hein<^ a fea- ture which the aimals of the poor. It remained unanswered, for both hus- band and wife felt that as they had come to a sort of understanding as to the mean* of relief to be pursued, it was a pity to disturl) their newly acquired equanimity by having to answer the demand of some new creditt)r. I'he knocking accordingly went on unheeded, and would have con- tinued so, but the intruder having fiilcd at the door, now assailed the window. John pulled back the shutters, threw up thesish, and called out — ' Who's there?' ' It is me,' said Mrs. Martha Martin. Sarah at once recognised the voice, and having apftrised her father and mother who Mrs. Martha was, the visit was pro- nounced of good omen, and the docir was it once opened. Mrs. Graham muttered something about the absence of her ser- vant. ' I jaloused that, mem,' said Mr*. Martha, ' and that made me try the window. In town or country its a' the same. Idle sluts ! ye canna turn your back, but they are after souje o' their black roads. \e see. Miss Sarah tolled me that ye had had nae hotch-potch this year ; and as we hae mair vegclahlns at the Castle than we can make use of, I brought in some.' ' They will be a perfect treat,' said Mrs. Graham ; ' and we are so much obliged. We are all fond of hotch-potch ; \mt the market veg<^tal>lt;s are so rsmk iind bitter we never tiiink of buying them.' ' Yes, mem,' said Martha; ' and I also called to say that Mr. Graham, puir man, is very ill. The doctor saw him in the morninti, and he was very bad tiien, and I cam' in for some medirine . but instead o' waitin' till I came out, like a wi«e body, ho cam' into town hiiii.sor,.and him half dead, and be has been awfid ill since he cam' out again. I came in wi' the coach, to tell the doctor to come out as fast aa he could. And as the vegetables were ready, I f)rocht them in.' ' Indeed,' said Mrs. Graham, ' is he so ill as all that? we are so sorry. W^hat do you think lias been the matter witij him ?' ' I dinna kt-n, mem ; l)ut 1 think there is something upon his mind.' 'Sirih,' saiii John, 'you must go out to-nmrrow, ;ind Cill for your uni-le.'< * She 11 no be able to see him, sir,' said Martlia, ' lor the doctor forbade anybody but the nurse, or Mr. Grant, the lawyer, to see him.' ' Mr. Grant, the lawyer !' said Joho 10 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE flomewliHfc troubled ; ' he is only newly I cojue to town, and huw can he kntiw j about hini ? My hiotlitT is net jjeneriiliy ' in the habit ol making uj) with stran- ge"-' . I ' No sir, that he is n)t; and this Mr. Grant called one day of his ain accord, ; mad Mr. (Irahani was vfrv anurry with hiin knd gave me particular orders not to let i him in again. But win-never he turned ■ UDWi#!, he si-nt fur Grant the first thing ; ' and he was in the carriage witli him this , very nicht. But maun awa ; the coach : will be on the road Wdo trmu the doctor's ; and I am guun to I'ide hame on the dic- key. Good nicht.' ' Go )d night, Mrs. JIartin, and we are very much obliged to you,' replied Mrs. j Graham, closing the door. Martha's viands wen- in part discussed , ftat evening. The husband and wife; ooHversed apart, that they might not be heard by S;trah. I * Our usual luck !' snid Jyhn. ' Extra- i ordinary chances occurring, and after all, I Bothing coming of them. G'dhey. were proposing to leave a email h-gacy, or annuity, or anything of that kind, to poor Sarah, Grant is just the sort of man to prevent him.' ' It is all up with us,' said Mrs. Gra- ham. ' If he die, we 8lian"t get money to emigrate ; and if he live. Grant will put you in prison, and that will sour him.' 'Bah I" rejoined hergende spouse, 'you are always [irophesying evil.' Tlie poor woman only reflected his own bla(;k forebodings, but consistent man is sometimes displeased when this process take«p place. CHAPTER V. After Godfrey Graham left his niece in IIm manner described in a previous chap- ter, he walkeil about amongjjt some re- mote j)lant.ition8. Soon night began to fall, and, after a short interval of semi d rkness, the moon rose colil and clear and bathed hike and tr^e in silver variance SHiitini'-ntalists often talk about thesooth ing influence t>f nature ; but they are wmng, and mistake cause for effect. When one is in a tranquil mood, we are capalile of recognising and a)'preciating the sedative aspect of nature, and exter- nal tranquillity reacts on nientid serenity, and enliances the chastened state of feel- ing ; hut when man is the victim of strong and rending emntinns, no landscape will ever be able tohush the storu), and cause it to be still. Mind, not matter, must do that. At least this was the experience of Godfrey Graham. The luminary of night momentarily attracted his attention as it ploughed its way through the sable fitJds of the sky, hut it was only for a ujoment, and he agon returned and sat down in the same ar'iiT where he had been during the early jiart of the evening. It was one of those chill nights which in our climate succeed a warm day. Bef"ore feverishly hot, Godfrey now liecame fever- islily cold. A clammy sweat broke out upnn him, his teeth chattered and his hones seemed to freeze in their sockets. He rose to retire for tiie night, but found his limbs unwilling to perform their office; after a desperate eff()rt he contrived to reach the castle, and net into his b«d- chamb''T. Sick and exhausted, he flung himself down on the floor, but slumber refused to relieve his wcrv eyes. One reverie would show him Mary looking at him with the maddened eye of a raving maniac, then an uneasy interval of stupor, and then she would ajrain re-appear, and cast him a h)ok of mild reproach. Shut or open his eyes, turn tl.em to right or left, there was the injured woman. To wards morning a little sleep was (obtained, but on waking he found himself in great pain, and excessively weak. Mrs. Martin was alarmed at hijj a[>{>ear!inc.e, and up- braided him for not going to bed, and also tor not calling her ; and she urged upon him the necessity of calling medical assistance. Godfrey had never consulted a medical man in his life ; but, yielding to the solicitations of Martha, a physician was sent for. In due time Dr. Anthony Fitzgibbon made his appearance. As a matter of course he was dressed in black, had a stich, a gold watch with a seconds ditil, and a mysterious look. lie sat down by the bed-side of his patient, observed his pros- trate appearance, felt his pulse, put hi| ear to the left side of the chest (th« CRATGALLAN CASTLE. 17 •tethoscope was not yet invented), then boaUoning Martlia to the outsile uf the chamber, he asked her if Mr. (Jr ihaiu liad any ndati uis in the Imiise. On heitij^ an- swered in the negitivo, he inquired if they eould nut he sent fur, and on heing inf Tilled aa to the inipraoticiCliility ot that course he cogitated ibr a few mo- ments. ' Is Mr. Graham very ill?' asked the anxi lus Martha. The leei;h shook his head. ' Anything serious, dniDorl' Again the oracle made the horizontal motion. ' My goodness gracious me !' said Mar- tha. ' I thought as much when L saw his blue look.' I'he doctor returned to the sick man alone, and after carefully closing the door, he resumed his seat at the hedsiuntains of diiliculty that cannot be removed — on sucli Death has little power ; they would not live al- ways, and they are cntent to go. God frey Graham had nothing to live for, and therefore was not unwilling that the mor- tal coil should be shuffled off. Ufa here- after he did not think ; people wh) do not think of that during life often ouiit to do so when eternity casts its shadows l)e- fore. He rapidly thi)Ught of the destina- tion of his pro|ierty, should he die with- out making some proper settlement. — Mary might become a pau|)er lunatic, her child and his child a beggar, while Jnhn, his brother John, would inherit all ; and the last thought stung him to the quiox, and determined him to instant decision He accordingly sent for Ludovicko. That worthy was giving orders for the incarcerati(m of John when the message arrived. As was his wont, he turned over in his mind the probable bearings cf the approaching interview on th« matter in hand. The message was a verbal one, brought by a porter, so that he could make nothing of the messenger ; but act- ing with his ha'iitual caution, he desired Rankin to del ly diligence till his return. Ludovicko then set out for Craigallan, and, on being introduced, Godfrey at once pr<»ceeded to business. , ' The doctor, Mr. Grant, says that I .am very unwell ; I cannot believe him, but, to gu;ird against contingencies, I have resolved on settling my afffirs so aa to priwide for Mary and her child.' ' Mr. Graham, you are in that acting as you always do, with the most perfect good sense — on that point most em- phatic. ' ' Do not interrupt me with unmeaning compliments ; I sent t<)r ycm because my settlement will be peculiar, and I know that you will do what others will not do.' Ludovicko grinned at this left-handed tribute, and, with as much suavity as his nature permitted, beckoned his client to go on. ' I believe that M.iry's child will be my heir-at-law, you being able to substantiate the marriage.' ' Of c()urso he will, provided his mother has not lost her marriage lines.' ' t thought you had them.' ' I had them up to the time the child wag born, but when that took place she asked me for them, as she said they would be of use to the ciiild. I objected » iS CRAIG ALLAN CASTLB. aaoch as T could ; hut as she insifited and would t.rke no denial, I vrns oMij^nd to jield, ^ivitlg ht-r evi-ry caution, however, lo take eare of them ; hut now that her Benpes are gnne, it is doubtful if she has observe'] my injunction.' ' J f these are lost, what then?' 'It will be difficult ta prove the mar- riage.' ' In the stable you made it a very easj matter," said Godfrey, ir mieally. ' Then, Wr. Grihaiu, you were not my client; now I am upon honor. Here li^s the difficidty : Kill)adie, the n)inister-lel- low, is crazy, arid his testimony might be Bhaken. Hundreds saw you married, and could swear to you v ere you alive; but, I were you dead, not one of them could \ give OMih that the unknown traveller was Wr. Gi-aliam of Craig.illan, sim-e > ead Had jou visited her then, cohabitation might have been established, but you did not.' ' What can you do, then?' ' Make nut y(air will in favor of your child, and have it so worded that the pro- perty, or whatever else you design, shall go to him whether his parentage be proven or not.' At this juncture the doctor entered, «nd, in virtue of hia office, proceeded at oCce to the bedside. 'Air. Graham,' said Fitzgibbon, warm- ly, ' you must have no more legal omsul- tatioTis, your pulse is worse than it was, and I can easily see that you have been excite*!. Ex«-use me, Mr. Grant, but you are tn-nehing on my department, and 1 will not be answerable for the consequen- ces if Mr. Graham is permitted to speak much, or be agitated in any way.' * I came hero,' rejoined Ludovicko, ' by request; and if the case be urgent, my department will not brook delay any more than yours, doctor. Mr. Graham wishes to make a settlement ; and if he does nut live sixty days after making it, it is liable to be challenged.' ' Sixty days ! I will not answer for Bixty hours !' Godfrey groaned ' Don't be alarmed, sir,' interposed Lu- dovicko, ' the law is liberal. You must live sixty days, or be at kirk or market , and surely, doctor, Mr. Graham is not so bad that he may not do either of these. Are you sure that there is no mistake? Although he has always been pale in the face, he is strong and muscular, and can- not possibly be so near death's door as ye represent.' Godfrey turned himself heavily, and, ▼ielding to an opiate, dozed into elum- ' Mr. Grant,' ?aid the now enraged phf* si> ian, ' this is insulting. I should have considered it utimanneriy had a brother praetitioiier made any 6u<-b remark ; but lor you, ^i^, an unprofcssioinil party, to (question my projiuo^is ! — sir, it in the sanctity of the 8ick-rt)om alone that pre^ vents me from reseritiiig your imperth- nence. You judge, t-ir, b}' vulg ir exter- nal appearance: butconim>'n o'lscrvation, Kir, must have made you lamihar with eases where })eo{ile have dropp, d down dead in the street, sir. I suppose everj tishwi'e hae known instances of that, sir; and is it anything uncommon that a gen- tleman should die in his bed, desjiite thj best medical attendance, after a few days' illness?' ' Doctor, I beg your pardon. I really did not mean ' ' Don't trouble yourself, sir ; this is ao interference that can't be rubbed out by a mere verbal apology.' ' You quite mistake me, doctor ; it wa« from no wish to impugn your professional skill that I made the remark, but merely from anxiety to prevent Mr. Graham from pk which Fiizgib- bon had to reproach his wile for casting on his venerable patient across th« card- table, and many was the hot dispute on the way hoiue as to the probability of anvtbing ever coming their way at all, which disputes generally endeU in the l.idj' castmg her botniet and lioU Roy sh:iwl on the lloor, and then, in the event of a nursery c/neute, exercising di.scipline on the person of Jean Maria ll lyes with double emphasis. To live with his wife after being cut off by Mrs. li.iy*'S would be impossible, and Doctor FitzgiObon saw it. * My dear Mr. Grant,' said the now humbled herbalist, ' forgive me, pray do! The fact is, I once knockeji my head agJiinst the do(tr of the hospital v.hen a Ktu lent, and it disturbed the cereltal cir- cufation ; and hencu, when excited, I am 'ipt to sfteak to my friends with more time that the blessed dili got i matter about the 11 lyeses, consider, Mr. new hats or itocks, the little dears visited Grant, that I h.ivo a sm dl family, and theoll couple, and were rewarded witn a let not anything be between us on that kiss an 1 Bixj.ience each. Every time that! score.' the old vviima.i had hiccup or heartburn, ' Not'..ing shall be,' said Ludovicko ; corns, deafii.^ss, toothac .e, or the all-pre- < but,' thought Lud.ivicko, ' there shalL vading 'n -rvis mess,' had he been called, ' B„t to business, doctor. Any chance of and atteu led Sunday and 8aturda> , sum- i Graham having heard us V mer and winter, nitjiit and day, rain or I t xt r i- i • j i.i. . , , \ ° . , , . ' ;, None. I gave bim a sleer.ingdraught; •now. And what had been his reward? L. a u ■* u . . T , ., ,, i-. ic .w 1 I _^jjjj besides, we have not spoken very Just three guineas (beg pardon — pounds) l^^^^^l ■> per annum, whic. no more paid shoe- i /ji^ j,^^^ j,- ^^^ sleeping.' leather t. an It pa.d the interest ot the | . yes, but he couhfnot change his pulse, national d.ibt. And t us was al . No, , „u- i i • j • » r » ^ . ,1 II I- ir n-. -1 ■ , j' which has improved ajrain.' not exaotU all; lor Mrs. Fitznbbon had » \t . i- . c • t ^ „ ,. , ij' ^ Y'"'ny^^ "'1^1 ' Now, as to his state — any professional CJt a Koo Itov tartan shawl Irom old u u i r» •» i ■ • ■ ft -. 1 . ""*/*' "^'" "'^ humbug? Don t take it amiss. 1 some- Hayes uve years belore, w nca ff.inuent t^: „ ? . u ,„ u i u I./,, •' . , , ', i/ ° times humbug my clients; why should old 11 1, es expected she should Wear when „„,.„,,. i^n „, ' i- .. »t • v- 1 1 . ■ 1 you not do the same with your patients ! visiting Ins house on state occasions. » \r -i . .. i ri j ' . =■ 'uo. ' No deceit, I assure you. Under no Patients had in olden times left money ' circumstances could he have lived long ; to their piiysiciuis, but Dr. Fitzgihb.m but bis midnight caper has accellerated thought those halcyon days had p issed his disfcuse very materially.' away tdi the 11 lyeses cast up. ibey had 1 ' Could he be dressed and go down to no children or near relati.ms. liayes ; his office in the course of the forenoon?' himsell never had any complaints, bat his ; ' Impossible, my dear sir,' Stout spouse had so many th.-t, in all s.ive ! ' Come, doctor, no impossibilities. This her purs-j-strjngs, Fuzgiblion had ahso- is market-day. I 11 have his will done in lute control over her; what, therefore, a tvvinkhng. If be but goes to bis place more hic ly il.au that he should he left a of business, and buys and sells, the settle- em irt leg icy, it not the bulli of the whole ment moy hold good. There is, to be fortune ol tiie pair? Not content with sure, a provision that if a man dies- of having p.»or Fnzgiobon, night after ni>;ht, the s.iine disease that he had about him playing at b icHg immon and drtugbts when be Biijns the document, there maj With old U.tyes, her ladyship would h .ve be a challenge— but you could misti^ Mrs. l^itzgiDbon over to take rubbers of that, could you not ?' whist. I'hen followed suppers of uns.iv- 1 ' Oh, yes. Between ouraolveg, I am ory cheese, stale eggs, and beer villain- not sure of the precise Jieease ; but, from »u»ly acjd, all of which, Mrs. Fiugibbon its indications, bis days are numbered. CRAIGALLAN CASTIxK. And as to diagnosis, call in six members ' of the college, and even at hinposi morion they will have difllrent opiuions.' But hush ! he is waking.' CHAPTER VI. Godfrey Graham's place of businesa contained three apartments ; the outtT office, where Jones and Ogle sat, the mid- dle one where olii I'rotter kept tlie books, and the inner of all, where Ginlfrey had wont to sit in solitary majesty. Coun- selled hy Ludovicko, Godfrey proceeded to his Sanctum, his appearance giving lit- tle or no token that the winding- flieet was high uj^nm his hreast. Having taken | his place there, Ludovicko proceeded to unfold his instructions systematically. j ' You must appear, Mr. Graham,' said that worthy, 'as if nothing can be the matter with you ; you must be rather more strict and attentive to business than usual. My appearance here must be ac- counted for ; and as it so happens that I have the management of the bankrupt es- tate ofGillott, the ch&ndler, who has re-, ceived payment from you for stores con- I fiigm d to him by a Newcastle house, ■which he has not given credit for, that will be a sufficient reason fur your asking Mr. Trotter to show me all the documents connected with the trnnsactions between you and him ; and as it is not possible | that he can produce them in a hurry, I shall have ample time to prepare the set- tlement. In the meantime, have the goodness t(j give me the title-deeds of the Craigallan estate, as I require them for the will.' • Godfrey mechanically opened a desk, and handed Ludovicko a packet of parch- ment papers secured by red tape, and having done this he sank into his chair, and seemed buried in reflection. Like jnost emotional men, he only required a motive in order to induce him to pursue a steady course ; and a motive once jire- Bented, no obstacle was too great for him to surmount. The consciousness of hav- ing injured Mary by a neglect which had driven her into lunacy, and the consider- ation that the ellects of that neglect, go far as she was concerned, were irrepa-- rable, suggested to him the necessity of making ample atonement to her innocent «hild ; and when he thought that eveu this poor recompense might be beyond his power, he sighed at the thought of his procrastination, and, for the first time in nis life, seriously reflected on the impo- toDcy and short-sightedness of man. But there was still hope, and he determined that every effort should be used to carrj out the reinedi.d instructions of Ludo- vicko. With this view he rallied himsell for the purpose ot going into the next apartment to give instructions to old Trotter ; but a sudden tremor came over him, and he fell back like a child. ' Can this be death T" thought Graham. The feeling was chill and unearthly, something that had never l>een felt he- j'ore, but which, when felt, sent new sen- sations throughout the frame. It was us if the process of unrobing the soul bad commenced, and the shivering blast oi death had come in at the first opening : if the first instalment produced such freezing, how would the spirit brave it when flung out peared to fly upward — a hissing darkne^s followed— then sparks came from his eyes, and the unhappy man, making a last effort, fell forward as if to the ground. Thought is invisible ; and it was not until the sound of fulling fell upon the ear of Ludovicko that he was conscious of any change in his client. Ever on the alert to antici- pate contingencies, the wily lawyer had asked the doctor to furnish him with a restorative, in case of any relapse ; and on applying this to the lips of his pros- trate Iriend, he rallied, and gradually came back to consciousness ; and, after a short space, he was so far recovered as to be able to proceed to the outer office, whither he was accompanied by Rankin. The curiosity of Skipton was irresisti- ble ; and, with the view of picking up some intelligence, he returned to tlie of- fice, and to his dismay, was at once con- fronted with Godfrey. He started with dumb astonishment, and was not able tc articulate a single word. Godlrey'g thoughts were otherwise occupied ; but at last he asked Skipton his business. — The poor brazier, however bold at gri- mace among his fellows, was sadly at a loss when the difficulties of actual life presented themselves, and could not an- swer. Old Trott(;r repeated the query, but still Skipton stammered and stuttered. At last Jones took pity on the embarrass- ment of his quondam theatrical associate, and prompted hiro. ' You will be come again about the ac- count against the Minerva, but its no use bothering Mr. Graham ; you know I told you that unless endorsed by the captain we could not, on any account, pay it ' CRAIGALLAN CASTLE.. tl ' Certainly not,' added Godfrey ; ' and look, was the commentary on this reply. ! wonder that my practice in tliis respect shouhi not lie known to everybody that works for me.' ' [ heg pardon,' muttered Skipton, and making a desperate rush toward the, door. ' St >p,' interrupted Godfrey. * How much iocs your account amount to V Skif ton quivered and turned pale. ' How much does your account amount to?' An anwry signal being made by Jones, Skipt-on hesitatingly said — * About five pounds.' ' Well,' said Godfrey, ' take his receipt for three he may be in want of money, and the balance can be adjusted after- wards.' Skipton, before whose mind floated visions of prison and transportation f>r money received under fiilsH pretences, was not for taking the offered sum ; but he had no alternative, and left the t){Bce after eigning the necessary document. ' Some screw loose there,' said the sb.irp Rankin ; but his remark passed un- heeded. The door again opened, and a huge fanner came in, who at once accosted Godfrey. ' Dear me, ^Ir. Graham, T am glad to see you. I heard ye was at Death's door, but ye're no looking very ill after a'. His loays are not like ours. I have come to offlir you some corn ; it's a bonny sam- ple.' ' I buy none by sample. Whenever your corn is weighed, you will be paid by its weight, and 1 will purchase it no other way.' ' But in that way, sir, a coarse corn has no advantage o'er a bonny oat like mine.' ' I care not, that is my way of doing business, and sell or not as you think fit,' answered Godfrey, who was beginning to get tired with the contradiction of his visitors. Again the door opened, and S.irah came timidly in, and was in her turn agiin surprised at seeing hiui, and, Bcizing his hand, escilaimed, ' Dear unele, I'm glad to see you, very clad indeed ; they told mo you were so Ul!" ' I feel rather bettor now, Sarah.' ' But you look pale, uncle, and you would be far better at home among tiie trees and flowers than sitting here among to many pipers.' ' I shall n(jt be long in going home.' * Are you busy just now, uucle V ' Very, my dear ' A single sigh, and a mild, imploring Henry Martyn, the missionary, spoke well when he exeliimed, ' Oh, the over- whelming f)rceof gt-ntleness?' and it was exemplified in the case of Godfrey (Irx- ham, on whom the meek face made its due impression. ' Do you want anything, Sarah ?' said the uncle. ' I wished to speak with you by ■vour- self, uncle ; but, as > ou are busy I will call some other time.' ' There is no time lika the present,' re- plied Goilfrey, and he beck(med her into the middle room where Trotter was in the habit of sitting. ' You must not keep me limg, Strah,' added he, ' as I have a great many things to do.' _' No, uncle, I shall not keep you — five minutes will do. We are poor, very pixfr, uncle ;' and here she looked tremblingly to the door. ' Some nights we go to bed without any supper, and sometimes I go to schotd without having any breakfast ; and I cannot pl.ay and laugh like the other girls — oft(m because I am hungry, and oftener because I feel so bad at heart. And father and mother are also unh)ippy. You will tiiitik it curious in me speaking about myself aiul not about tliein, but they told me to do it, and they said that you Would be kinder if I spoke about my- self; but I cannot di» that, for I am sure they are much more unhappy than I am. You are father's brother, anil I often wish that I had a brother ; it would not be so lonely in the long dark nights if I had a brotber as other girls have, and I would bo very fond of him. But mother says it is better that I have no brotber, as he would starve too ; and [ dare say so it is. for if he got nothing to eat, he might cry, and it would be terrible to hear a little boy cry for that.' _ ' My po(jr girl, I should be glad to as- sist you ; you are too young to know about these things, but I have often as- sisted your father.' ' Oh, yes ; they told me all about that, and they desired me to say that they were very much obliged to you for your kind- ness ; and now, if you would only give them as mui;h as would take us all to America, we would never give you any more tnmble.' ' Well, I will see what can be done, Sarah.' ' rhanks ; many thanks, my dear un- And Sarah» wag dismissed ; and God« frey went in to Ludovicko, wlio, by the aid of the key-hole, had made himself master of the conversation, although h« heard Godfrey's abstract of it with all th* 22 CRAIG ALLAN CASTLE. gravity of one who listens to a new com- 1 rage I could get into one too ; hut thig Biunic.trutn. ' Ir is all huuibug,' said Ludocicko ; 'he merely wisht-N to raise the wind, and has no Uiure thoughts u\' emigration tl)an 1 have. It iM tiiu good news to he true. — Several emigrant ships have been lost, and it' he could go to the bottom too, it were the hest thin^ that could happen.' ' I should like to do something lor the girl ; I am sure she h.is no deceit.' unfarthly coldness of Grant's floors Jie. The more angry tlv.it I get, the coolei ha Ivooini's; ami then, that horriil look of his, it freezes me. But I'll he upsides with him. If he would tell u)e when he is goiiig to do a thirij; off the square, I might go snacks with hiiu ; hut he will let nobody into his conJiilence.' Pursuing this train of r flection, Ran- I kin did not t ike [lartioidur heed as to ids She is out of a h-.v] nest • and, as to footsteps, and, turning acorner, he jump- deceit, if you had only attended to yovir I <>" J"'hn Grahaui. From repeated \isit8 duties as a justice of the {leace, you would havp seen from young heggars how the ▼eriest imps of Siitau can simper and turn up their eyes.' ' Mr. Grant I wish to provide for my niece, and that is enough.' ' Oil, certainly, it is no affair of mine ; but it must just l>e as much as will keep »oul and t>ody together, and no more ; for if it he, the father will get into as deep water as ever.' ' You do not think he will go away, as the girl says?' ' I don I; but there is no harm in try- ing. The settlement is now ready for sig- nature. The legaey to the girl can be inserted afterwards. I shall be one wit- ness, ynd my clerk will be the other. — Bless nje how your hand shakes ! Take time, you have to sign each of the three pages, and it won't do if they are not all alike. That's better. Now I will sign.' And Ludovieko ^igned, and after throw- ing a sheet ul' blotting-paper, as il hy ac- cident, over the body of the deed, he called for Rankin. 'Sign there as a witness.'' Rankin, also, as if by accident, knock- ed aside the bhjtting |)aper, and made I tr\ quick use of his eyes, Ludovicko restored blind k to its place, and emphatically asked him to sign. ' I did not see the gentleman subscribe,' said the cler doggedly. Lord Chatham, in the days of his great- ness, made Lords of the Admirality put their signatures to hlank documents ; and although not so great a man as Lord Chatham, Luilovic o had a touch of the arbitrary about him. He fixed his cold, grey eye on Rankin fur a second time, and then repeated the monosyllahle com- mand in a tone of such peculiar character that the humbled assistant took up the and signed according to order. ' Now, sir, go away to the office ; and if anybody wants me, say that 1 shall be there in an hour.' Rankin took his hat, and skulked out. * He is a horrid fellow,' muttered the lifBrk. ' 'When my old master got into a paid to John soliciting payments of debts entrusted to Gr.int for collection, RaiiMa was not unknown to him ; and John was not sorry to embrace- the ojporturdty in order that he might gain some intelliginco legarfling the rumored will, lie could not have spoken to the chafed assistant at a more fitting opportunity. ' How do ye do, Mr. Rankin ? Verj busy just now, I suppose ? I hear of a gre-at many jobs going your way — wills and such things, eh?' 'Yes, Mr. Graham, we are pretty busy ; how do you find business?' ' Never so bad ; in fact, between you and me, I am going to give it up, and emi- grate, if you gentlemen of the law would allow lae.* ' Emigrate f Ah, let me see. No — yes — dang it, I may do something on my own account. Can you be on honor, Mr Graham ?' ' Certainly.' ' Bright?' ' You may trust me thoroughly ; on oath if you like.' 'AVell, all that T say is, don't emigrate ; things are looking up for you in this coun- A wink is as g(H)d as a nod to a horse. Craigiillan ; I can't say more ' ' But has my brv)ther made a will?' * I dare cot say one word more : only, if you are your own friend do not leave.' ' Thank you, Mr. Ritnkin, I will not.* They separated, the one knowing that he had 8 lid too much, and the other per- plexed about the possible meaning of a hint from such a quarter. Proceeding further up the street, John espied Ludo- vicko ; but knowing that that gentleman always made unpleasant allusions to his obligations, he tried to avoid him, but in vain ; Ludovicko made directly towaids him. ' I am glad I have seen you,' said the lawyer, ' I was just goi'ng to have called on you. You are aware, my dear sir, that your excellent Jirother has done ma the honor to consult me regarding his af- fairs, and he has let me into a small pieot CRAIGALL.VN CASTLE. 23 of family history ; in our profession, we Bometiiues cannot help receiving such communications. Your daughter, a very interesting^ chil'l, has intormed her uncle that you wi.-sh t> emigrate. I had no idea that m ittt rs were so bad with you . of course I knew, as you are aware, that you have be n a little pushed, but I had no cimception that matters had come to BUch an extremity. Your brotiier, al- though much disposed to favor his niece, is yet so incensed at his former losses by you, th.it he was not at tirst disposed to usten to the pruposil; bat, after much persuasion, I have ut last induced him to agree to it, ami I have now the sitisfac- tioa of irtfuriairip; you that he is willing tit pay a sm dl cumpusition to your creditors, defray your passage and outfits, and al-o lodge, in a correspondent's hands at Que- bec or Montreal, a small sum to assist you in getting up t!ie country.' ' Mr. Grant, I beg you will — ' * Nay, no th inks, Mr. Graham ; it is our duty, you know, to assist one an- other.' * You mistake we, Mr. Grant I cer- tainly did intend to thank you, but I also inteufled doing something else.' 'Oh, command me in any way you please.' ' Vou still mistake me ; I have changed ray mind on the subject of emigration. A little teiHpi)rary assistance would be very accepti'de, but not for the purpose of emigration.' * Why have you ch:>nged your mind V said Luilovicko, bis face assuming a re- gret which his inner man did not feel. ' Why,' replied John, with some em- barrassment, ' I have no certiiitity that I shall succeed h.itter there than here.' * No certainty! of course nothing is certain here below,' answered Lud(»vicko, ' but there is hope. Let me advise you to reconsider this, Mr. Graham. At .ill events, 1 shall give you another opportu- nity for reconsideration. I like all such matters to be disi^ussedin writing ; I shill therefore send you a note, which you can answer at leisur.;.' ' It is (»f no use, Mr. Grant, as I have quite m idti up my mind not to go.' ' Very well, sir. Only take this w.irn- ing : tti>! momiMit I show your brotlii-r your de-linatioti, his interest in you anii yours in at an end. Your daughter was oeginning to make an impression on biin ; »ut this will guud you all to the wall to- gether.' ' My brother surely would not have us leave the country when he is so unwell.' ' I thought as much. Ah I the f.hoe pincheB there, doea it 1 Well, I'll be candid with you, Mr. <3ral am. Wereyon to go off quietly, your bioiher may re- member you when he comes to make hi* will ; but refuse his offer, and, believe me.^ not one halfpenny shall you ever re- ceive.' They parted, Ludovicko chuckling that the intervention of ' the brat,' as ho called Sirah, would now be nipp^i in the bud, and John hesitating whether he were right in refusing the emigration grant, and yet satisfied that tlicre was something in Rankin's warning, and something also in Ludovico's keenness for his departure. CHAPTER VII. It wao now ' the timeof witherinfr, tne time of falling leaves,' and thickly did they lie about the wcmmIs and wa'ka o£ Craigallan. And as the season Wiui \fABr ing 80 was the day. 'The eeitinEf Fun with yellow radiance gilded all ttve vale.' while at the extremity of the horizontal view the lone blue sea swept round the landseajie like an ocean giidle ; then came the glittering houses and steeple of Paul- tcm ; then fields of waving corn, ripe for the sickle ; then belts of trees ; then the clear river shrouded from the sun ; then the gardens, with their flowers of ail hues and scents? and then, last of ;ill, these bring us to the towers and turr-ts of tlie old castle, majestic in its very swlit oiness. On such a night and in such a scene a Christian might wish to die ; when, at peace with God and man, he crould gent)j yield his spirit, and take his flight to tho l^etter Imd. But sea, nor ciirth, nor sky were heeded by the lord of Craigallan. He had been in a state of stupor lor many hours ; and it seemed certain that he would fill as a leaf in the fori\st of death, unknowing and unknown. Goifrt-y Gra- ham had belied the prognosis of Or. An- t!ionv Fitzgibbtm so far as time was con- cerned ; the sand had somehow paused in itp) downward career, but it was now fast «b'iing away, and life's fitful lever was all but over. As the pati 'Ut broithed bird, the window was p irt.ly opened • while round his bed-side was the Doctor, Ludoviitko, hij clerk Rankin, and tho fiithful Mirtlia Tne latter al )n*i showed emotion ; the physician from prof>vv of death hy kindly ufiicert, and, ahuve all. by ttie lookn and tuiij^ufi (»f sympathy, fehe wiped the daiuiuy sweaX li-Din the hrow and hands (it the suiferer, and uidurnlully shook her head as resfiiration seemed less and less V) p*-rfonji its office. the physii-ian, ' Godfrey Graham,' pb suiiied KilhaHif, ' Mary Morison i» no more. Ah, y^u may groan — and it vfoa your hand that duii her {rrave ; but know, niiserable ntan. that although she ui»c' f"ior, and not, like you, snrrnunded s\ith this world 8 goods, iier deaih was not like yours. 8!ie had no trouble nor dismay. At h(?r eventide it was light. God iu hia ' Eh, sirs, its a humbling tiling to see I mercy restored her to her judgment ere that I The like o' us in health hae little she entered the shadow of the dark valley ; knowledge o' the sair feeht that he has and none but those whose weary brain ^ust now. But it canna be lang, doctor — It canna be lang ; nature cannot aye Want meat, and drink, and sleep.' The doctjjr civilly motieen scorched like mine Ciin know what it is to be able to look up to the Eternal in his own clear light. Sl4ill I tell you her message word lor word?' ' Do.' To the surprise of all, Godfrey had edged himself up in the bed, and, instincfc with revived vitality, he gazed on Kil- badie. ' She charged me to do so, and I will do jt. "Tell Godfrey Graham," said that now glorified spirit, " that I lived and thought on him till a dream came over me, from whidi I now think I have wakened, although it seems only to die. He little kuows the strength of woman's love. Tell him, too, that going to a God of love, I forgive him ; but, by all the sense of my wrongs, 1 charge him to own and do justice to my boy. Could I V»ut see him before I die, I should indeed be haiipy !" And she died, Godfrey Gra- ham ; and i.' the nussiige I deliver be too late, His will lie dnne. I have travelled a hundred weary miles on foot to deliver it ; and leave all consequences to Him who doeth all things well.' The es< rtion made by the djing man was too moun. lie could not speak, but in answer to Kilbadie's remarks he point- ed to Ludovicl^o, who signalled in return that all was right. Godirey (ell back, and in a brief space the death-rattle was heard, .•»nd the eye stilTened, and the countenance was changed, and an immortal spirit took its flight fr>'m earth. ]t is a tribute paid to mortality, or ra- ther to life, that the onlookers gMze fir some little time after the clay tenement has been roblw-d on took out his watch. ' 1 am afraid,' said the leech, ' thit I must go away. There is a good deal of sickness in the town just now ; and as it never rains but it pours, my lad has run off. You that are in a public way. Mr. (Jrant, conld you recommend me to any well educated youth for my laboratory? he would be boarded in the family. I am sorry for Mr. Graham, he must have had premonitions thsit there was Bomethiii| CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 25 orgatiically wrong, and if people in that condition would only apply in time, it is incredible what the resources of science could do for theui : not, indeed, in the way of radicil cure, hut certainly in the shape of prolonjfing Hie.' ^ ' In health or in disease,' muttered Lu- dovioko, ' a man should never delay the le^al adjuvstment of liis afl'iirs. VVhere there is projierty of any extent to dispose of, tliere are sure to be challenjj;es and delay, and litigations ; whereas, if a man sen is for his agent, and has a regular Btaiiiped document, he may die when lie likes, iind no questiouH asked.' ' Xittl, gentlemen,' said Ivilbidie, ' the one with your ointment, and tlie other with y' his huge ledger when the news was brought to him. He tinished his entry, for your veteran book-keeper cimceives that to be sacred duty under all circumstances ' Nicol and Fleming del)tor to sundries, four fifty-nine, three, ten; f»lio 132m. liless me, tliat's the lodger, not the cash folio. I'here. Ah, well, *h. Grant, man and boy — with fither, with son — five-and- thirty year ! He is a young, r man than me — 1 must S(>on follow. Mr. Jones, will y(m see the books in the safe' — ;ind as poor Mr. Graham in no more, you may shut the office To-morrow we will be here with the shutters on to open the letters.' The old man then proceeded to John's house. ' It's all over, Mr. John.' said poor old Trotter, in a t(me of real grief. ' NVhat is all over V asked John. ' Yro- ther for the last five-and-twenty years, and have yTv.y of all kinds of incoherent thoughts, and not knowing how he would now be aMe to cheek his ledger. John, musing as uncertainly as ever, also went home. Sarah was still sobbing, and was ordered off to bed ; while her lather and mother spent the half of the night ia speculations as to tht; future. Their daughter, Sarah, was differently occupied. One of the most difficult things to teach children is to give thtnu some cimccption of death ; and Wordsworth lias philosophically made this the theme of one of his most beautiful minor pieces. Sarah Graham's ideas of the hist enemy were somewliat different, however, from those of that heroine of ' We are Seven,' and were more akin to those of Juliet, when about to be iumiolated to the tomb of the Capulets. Sarah thoui:;lit with hor- ror of the nailed-down affair, the yawning grave, and the sliuiy worms era wlitii; over a form well beloved ; and then grinning skulls hovered over, and skeletons array- ed in shrouds walked to and fro, and ter- rors, vague and undefined, were conjured up in her wild dreams ; and tlien, as if to soothe the mind of the gentle jjirl, and make her forget her wild iiiiagJMinj;s,good angels smiled upon her ; and tt.»wards mor^ ning she fell into a quiet sleep. CHAPTFJi YIII. WuEN a lord of Craigallan died in the olden time, there was much busstle and pomp. Armed clansmen and retainers, and clansmen and retainers of kinsmen, poured in from all quarters. J'or days defore, and tor daj's sii(!(ee(iing the fune- ral, the wine-cup flowed, arid heer-liarrels were staved, and oxen and sheep slaugh- tered, and huj^e fires burned within the castle, and huger fires without, in order that the great accession ot jjnests might be fed and entertained. Civilization has shorn funeral obsequies of some of their absurdities; and as the late owner of the demesne was but a mercliant, who, ac- cording to heraldry. h;id in) grandfather, or, probably, pruj/enitcr at all, for your true armonial grubbers despr^^ physiolo- gical considerations, there was, (if course a proportionate dimitmiion of eeremrmy in comndlting his ashes to their jiarent earth. One of GodtVey's vessels happen- ed to be in the harbor vif P.iulton, and her flag was hoisted half mast hi^h ; and as she had to be paintetl at any rate, a blue stripe was ordered round her sid< s, which is the nautical color of mourning. The office was. of ciairse, closed ; and ns the hour drew near the nurehants and upper tradesmen of Paubon came out, the farmers and gentry of the neijihborhood also came, and a fl ick of i(ile boys and girls hovered about the primipal enii-anoe-* gate to gaze on the novel sight. The hearse drawn by four fiorses, (irove ur> ; and the mutes, in their grotesque habili* meats, took their etatiun at (he door CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 27 Inside, the mourners met in the drawing- room, and the largest apurtiuent in the castle. John Graham received ttiein ; his manner pr-isenting a curi'ius coiuhination of taciturnity, grave civility, and chur- lialincsH. Ludovicko, as usual, was all iiiipenetrahility ; the doctor aiuiahly indif- ferent ; whilst Rankin put on a most knowing look when out of tlie range of Ludovicko's vision, and once or twice winktid witli a view to catch John's eye ; but apparently the compliment was lost on him, though duly, remarked l>y the Messrs. Jones and Ogle. A prayer was ofil'red up by the clergyman, a glass of wine was haridud round, and then the un- dertaker announced that all was ready. Forthwith the guests entered the mourn- ing-co iclu's, and the cortege was set in motion. The sun was high in the hea- vens, and gladness seemed to Uluuiine the whole face of creation. Birds sang, and leaves dropped, and reapers mowed home — liis turn to-day, theirs to-morrow. After pissing the boundary of the es- tat'e, the funeial pace wsis exchanged for a brisk trot ; and in the space of half an hour the party, animate and inanimate, reached the old churchyard of St. Yar- rold — a spot (.f surp;issing loneliness and beiuty, and more fitted f tr the last-rest- ing-place than any of our gaudy cemete- ries of modern times. Originally the parisji church had been there ; but being in a remote position, and the building much decayed, a new edifice wits ereeted several miles off, and the old one 8>itfered to go to ruin. A new buriid-ground was opened in connexion with the new church, and little therefore, transpired to molest the soHtary reign ot 'the auld kirkyard.' Proprietary ground was held by Godfrey, and that, more than picturesqueness of appearance, determined -John that there the remains of his brother should be de- posited. The place of sepulture was in the mid He of a natural amphitheatre, one Bide l>eing scooped out towards the sea. All the objects on which the onlooker could gaze wtre permanent and enduring in their associ ttions ; around were the everlasting hills — above, the ancient cano- py of the sky — before, old ocean, with its ro.tr, erefathers of the ham- let slet't, to wake no more till that sky •ht uld roll up as a scroll, those hills melt away, and th.it sea give up its dead, and time l)e no niore. The grave was ready, the coffin was lowered, and the most s()lemn of sounds jbe human ear hears in this worM, the gnt sbuvclful of earth ringing hollow ou the lid, sent a tremor to the hearts of tTt« more sensitive ; gradually the sound soft- ened, and soon too ceremony was com plcte. The interested mourn rs drov* back to the castle, the ni>n-intere8ied to their several homes, dung iiside their crape and weepers, and, betaking them- selves to their shops and farms, r< sumed their every-duy lile as il nothing iiad hap- pened. Of all the crowded .ivenues in this world, the most crowded of all is that one which le. ids out from it ; but as theio is no jostling in the path oi death, its ser- mons are unheeded. John, Ludovicko, Trotter, and Rankin, returned to the castle, where they were met ))y Kilbadie, whose presence waa tolerated just because each ot' the parties was too intent on his own thoiigtiis to bo disturbed by ordinary intrusion. Follow ed by the preacher, tlie^ went first to the library, and br.>ke the seals on the desks and drawers, turned out their contents, and rummaged among all sorts of papers. After a hmg search — ' Nothing there,' said John. ' Nothing,' echoed Trotter. They went to the parlor, and examit»ed a small desk. ' Nothing there,' again said John. ' Notliing,' again echoed Trotter. The wiiole house was searched in every conceivable place, and aid was v^iven by Mrs. Martha, who was human enough to have allowed visions of u legacy to float before her eyes for some time back, liut still — ' Nothing,' according to John. * Nothing,' according to I'rotter. John looked hard at Ludovicko, but he might as well have looked on tlie nether mill-stone. Rankin, who had more cause to look, also stared at Ludovicko, but all to no purpose. It was not Joun's busi- ness to prompt the production of a will ; but his suspense was getting intolerable, and he could no longer restr.iin conversa- tion with one who must know something of the mystery. ' T'here appears to be no will here, Mr Grant.' ' Perhaps there may be one in the office,' answered Ludovicko drily. ' Well, certainly if it is there we might have been told in time, and not been hot'liered with a wild-goose chase here all day,' s.iid John, with some asperity. ' I say perhaps it may he there,' replied the lawyer wim provoking coolness. ' You know tUat it is there, sir,' retort- ed John fiercely. ' Again 1 a.iy perhaps — but if you speak in this way, I had belter go. It is no! 28 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. the tone that is generally o^^spivcii to pro- fesf*ional luen on occisions like this.' John Wits nervously anxitms to learn his fiite, and he saw thut if Ludovicko Wert' to go away hi.s suspense might l>e pro- tracted, and ac(!ordin^iy he iip()lnjFi.s<. anise to behave yourself, I shall t.ike jou with me.' ' Man, I despise you ! W'ere I to yield to the ilictates of corrupt humanity, 1 Would KtriKe thee to the ground ; but I leave you to Ilim who will by no means clear the f;uilty. The cry of the orphan never yet tailed to rea<-h the ear of the Ixird of the Sal)bath. I shake the dust off my feet, and leave you and your mo- ney to perish.' ' As you please,' rejoined Ludovicko, taking a long pinch of snuff Whim the party sat dovrn to t;ible, John cojiiously hel[)ed himself to wine, and the exeitement of the bottle added greatly to the feverishness which former- ly possessed him. lie did not seem in- clined to leave the castle in any laste, and his companions tacitly waited till he should give the signal. But his excess was shared in by ntuie of the com}iany ex- ee]>t Rankin, who, pk-dginy; equally with John, begin at last to manifest a loqua- city which required two of LuilovicUo's admonitory looks to suspend. At length, John [iroposed that they should adjourn to the town to exaiuine the offiee. In passing throuj^h tlie outer luill John shiv- •sred, tor evening wns now coming on and the air P-lt chill Lookinsj up to the pins where the slippers formerly were, he es- pied a lartje iur cloak. lie took it down Aod wrapped it round him ; he noticed that Ludovicko had hia eye intently fixed o I him, but he offered no remark. ' Ttiis issfrange.' thoujrht John , ' that lawyer scouiidr- I is so intermedoling that the smdlest trille never escapes him. If there had been a will, he would have been sure to have snubbed me for taking tho cloak.' They went out, and in passing down the avenne, John convulsively seized Ran- kin by the arm. ' My dear, good fellow, for God's sake, do you know anything about it?' ' Mum,' rep)lied the clerk. ' For all the sakes of heaven, tell me !' ' Mum — I signed it.' 'Oh, mercy!' groaned John, and he caught hold of a tree to keep him from lalliing. Kankin caught him in his arms, and, pretending that it was the change of air, a.ssisted him to tlie carriage. Wf.ile doing so he whispered, " Nil d caper andum, Mr. Graham — there's something very queer about all this.' They came to the office, lights were proenred, and Godfrey's official repositories, which were not numerous, were speedily examined, and that most minutely. 'A'o- thinfi," said John. ' Nothing," echoed Trotter. ' What am I to make of all this V stam- mered John. ' Whatever you like,' answered Ludo- vicko. 'Ami my brother's heir T' ' Legally you appear to be so just now ' ' Appear to be so noiv 1 Do not torture me, Mr. Grant. Suppose I were in ^i)6- session ju.siyiOio, would you di?turb me, or make any of your confounded pro- tests?' ' No,' answered Ludovicko, and turn- ing on his heel, walUed off. 'Merciful Heaven!" ejiiculated John, ' I really owni r of Craigall.in — of all my brother's houses and slops V ' Can't say positively, Mr. John,' Siiid old Trotter, who was now the alone auditor, as Rankin disappeared whenever Ludovico took his leave. ' I Jim n<» law- yer, Mr. John, tmt I think if Mr. Godfrey has died without a will, or having made one, and it cannot be found, I should say that, as his brother, you are entitled to all. But good night, Mr. John; allovy me to wish you jov, and go home, for the wind has gone round to tlie east, and I feel my rheumatism coming on.' So old Trotter shook hands with his new Master, and went musinfdly home. ' Very cold,' thought the old aian i ' Five and twenty years in the office wHb CRAIGALLAN CaSTLE. Mr. (Jodfrey, and there, too, and there too, with his father— inaa and hoy in that office. My salary has never l)een very lar^e— have mentioned tlie circuuistanee to Mr. Gjdirey too. lie prouiised to keep it in view ; very odd that lie has not. Don't like Mr. John ; the change will kill me. I ani turning old and stupid; I have gone throe houses past my own door.' "And so the old man retired for the night. Jolin pursued his way homewards, and hnd turned tlie corner leading to his own street, wlu-n he was aroused by a tap on the slioulder. ' All right old youth !' quoth Mr. Ran- kin, M ho w;is evidently under the iiillu- enee of some artideial sti.uulant. _ The new laird, already feeling dignitied in an- tic! pari )n, did not hke the idea of beinjj ' hail fellow ! well met ! on the part of a clerk ; hut he h id still misgivings as to the reality of his succession, and he owed Boiuethiug to Rankin h(;.sides. He there- fine answered the rough salutation with a shiide ot reserve, and nothing more ; and, accustomed to the check-striug, Rankin modilied his tone also. ' I knew how it ■would turn out. Was not I right in say- ing that you should not go to Austra- lia V ' You certainly were, Mr. Rankin, and I was obliged to you. Will you step in for a few minutes, and take a rest before going home V Rankin assented, expecting' that some farther refreshment would be forthcom- ing. ' Well, what newsT asked Mrs. Gra- ham, with eager curiosity. ' No will, Mary.' * Not possible !' * Probable, madam,' said Rankin. ' That is very extraordinary ! What do you mean to do Mr. Graliam^' ' fake possession, my dear.' But you may be prevented or put out.' ' Time enough to go out, raa'ani, when he is put out. Possession is nine- tenths of the law. Nobody who has an eye to possession should ever think of a title. Let him take possession, and let those who want to disturb show their ti- tle. That's the law, and no mistake. You'll see it in Shaw and Dunlop fifty times ; also 3 William and Mary, cap. 70— if there be such a cap.,' addel the clerk in a low tone. Notwithstanding these authorities, John was not f.)nd of taking his law from Ran- kin, but had no objection to take some of his facts. ' But pardon me, Mr. Kankin, did you not siy that you had signed the will '' 'Certainly, my dear sir, what i thought was the will. When a man signs a docu- ment in connexion with a party on the eve of being defunct, it is a lair pn'sump- tion, as tlie sheritf-substitute says, that it is that man's last will and testament ;-— but wiien a man hops the twig, and his man of bu>iness jtroduces no document of a testimintary kind, then the presump- tion is that none was executed, or if exe- cuted, was aftv-rwar.ls destroyed. Agiin, Mr. Uraham, take my advice, and take p.)sse8sion. Go to the castle, Hve there, draw the rents, and enj 'y yourself, till s iiuebody comes forward to show that they have a better right.' • But they might come upon me after ward, and make me nny np ; for, hating me as I know my brothor did, it is not c >nceivable that he has died without a will.' ' Well, bless me ! how should that alarm you ! Sappose they do come upun you ; what can anybody get otf you ? It's ill taking tlie — I beg panlon befire a lady — a certitin garment off a llighlandman. Ex hinilo, &c., as we are used to say at school. I have been at you pretty often for money, but nevi!r could get a rap ; so you cannot be worse than you are !»y be- ing in clover for a year or two in Cr ligal- 1 in. Mm ige well, and you may take the case to the House of L >rds ; and if Provi- dence keeps old Eldon together he will ke^p it there f»r a dozen summers. I might commence business n to sup with him.' Mrs. Graham lov.sl the arguments^ of the clerk, but not the clerk himself. She saw Craigillan within her grasp, and could not brook the idea of their poverty bein" broadly mentioned in tue tone of impudent fimiliarity which Rankin as- sumed. That young gentleman was slow in interpreting lier haughty tosses of the heanght that, hy 8Ugge.sting fluidity, he miglit obtain another antidote to his stomachic derangement. ' Miss Graham ' said Mrs. Graham Vi CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. with great dignity, ' as Christian is asleep, and we nlwa^s n-gird ilio couifnrt of our douie>se [leojile advices that | a master lawyer would have charged ten enineas for ; let me see when they are to De grateful. Certainly no sign of com- mencement to-nigtit. The old woman tosses her head like ^Jacbeth's wife ; liy CHAPTER Xr. Great wns the surprise of the inhabi tants of Paulton when they found thai John (iraliam had estaliiished himself at Craigallan ; atid in due time, as we shiiU see, a material difference took jilacein the behaviour of that (;ommnnity tnwaide the new laird, his wife, and his daughter. Urjjed l)y Mrs. Graham, who in reality was to her hu.sb:ind what Lady Machetb was to her liege lord — John, on the day after the funstices, I am the depute clerk ; and won't 1 sort you next appeal- court, Luekie !' ' Ii ye h id but mentioned your name,' jaid Luckie, drawing the bolt, for the ap- ^al-court kept her in tcrrorem. 'Horror!' said the virtuous Rankin. ' Jones and Ogle here on the very night ihat your Vilessed employer has been bu- ried — and you, SKipton,who has so often cheated him ? Mrs. Findlay, I now see that you keep adisorderly house, and shall repijrt accordingly.' ' What id the news !' asked the two elerks. ' John Graham is your master, that's ail. I have been in the house with him. Mrs. G. offered me a friendly glass but I declined.' onlered the coachman, who, in Godlrey 8 time, had been half butler, half pfistilion, to bring a bottle for supper. This, too, was done ; and under the potent influence of the generous liquor, John's iniiigination warmed, and he saw before him a noble prospect of enjoyment for years to come, were fate to allow him undihturbed pos- se8si(m of the venerable jiile yvhere he was now eiijoying himself John yvent to bed, and dreamt of ea>4y chiiirs, car- riiiges, wine, and gold chains and rings. To-morrow came, and John sat long over the newspapers in the vain hope that some intruder yvould coiue and disturb a state of felicity which he -could not ever and anon help thinking was of a charac- ter too extatic to he permanent. Nobody came. At last John muttered to him- self— ' Mary is right ; nothing like putting a bold face on it. Here, coachman, get the carriage ready, and drive to the office.' ' Yes, sir,' replied coachee, with a pro- found obeisance. The coach rolled along the avenue, came to the public road, and soon neared the town ; but, ' infirm of purpose,' John pulled up the windows, and leant back as he drove through the streets. Arriving at the ofSce, he nodded slightly to Jones and Ogle, who returned !iis s;ilutition8 with deep reverences, and then going into Trotter's room he shook hands with the old man, and finsdly entered Godfrey's sanctum, and took the chair. ' What letters have you this morning, Mr. Trotter'' ' Several, Mr. John ; but none of anj importance.' CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. SI * So I see. Ta future, Mr. Trotter, as it maj not t^e cnnvenit^nt for me to come ia every m irning, I wish them to be sent, unopened, to the c;i.slle ; antter, you vrill please to act as you have hitherto done.' 'Certainly, Mr. John,' said the old man meekly. • II ive you tlie hist balance-sheet by you, Mr. Trotter V ' All ready, t*ir, down to twelve o'clock p. M. of the 31st day of December, 18 — . I have iixv\f, it a p'linc, mm and bi)y, for the 1 ist thirty years, always to have it ready -.vithiu one uiontii of its own date.' ' Ah, quite ri^ht ; let me see it.' And John dev.mred witli greedy eyes the tale of property now all but within his grasp ; the castle and estate of Craig illan, with the farms, juilU, and Hshings thereon, all unencu(u')ered ; tiie houses, shops, ware- houses, and s!ii(is in Paulton ; the bank, insurance, canal, and other joint-stock shares — all mmey-yiclding things ; toge- the.' "Vith the money itself in actual de- posit in the Piulton Shipping B.iuk. ' I hope you Hu 1 all right, Mr. John,' said Trotter. ' Mr. Godfrey has dockuet- ed it, and I trust you will also continue to e.xamine the accounts-' ' No, I shall not have time for that. I mean to devote a good deal of time to the management of the estate, and shall leave your books and ai.'couuts to be examined Dj an accountant.' . Tpotter lo ik^d pale at this announce- ment ; for in Ills eyes the checking of the books looked so 1 irge an item in the cirele of human duty th it he regarded it as lit- tle less th in suicidal f »r any principal to delegate such a m.itter to another. ' liy the hye, Mr. Trotter, have you any monev about you?' ' Yes, Mr. John, I have fifty pounds.' ' That will ilo ; give it me.' ' Certai[ily, if you wish it, Mr. John ; but as sm ill accounts are always coming in^ I never like to be bare. Here is the cheque-book ; perhaps you will be kind enough to draw what you want, and al- low me to ke"p tliis.' John di.I n it like this. The idea of drawing on the bank was a feat which he intended sbould have been the last of his achievements ; but then there was no help. To the Manag;ers of the Paulton Ship- ping Banf^ Di.hit my account with One Hundred Pounds sterling. — JouN Gra- ham. ' There ; s^nd out one of the clerks, and tell him to get four twenties, and the rest in email Dotes,' Jones was the bearer of the interesting document to the bank ' Humph !' s lid the teller : ' new name. Take it to the accountant.' The accountant said nothing, but took it to the mauiig-r. ' Its a queer iiusiness, Mr. Compound,' said the dark head of the establishment ; ' but Mr. Grant, wht) latterly had thv charge of Godfrey Grabaiii's ail'airs, told me at the mineral well, iliis morning, t!iat no will was to bo fmnd ; so that there is no help for it. How he could die intestate, knowing who was to succeed him, will astonish everybody. But give the monny.' And the money was given ; and John, after desiring the coacli to wait at the olB:!e till his return, proceeded to his own dwelling. ' What has kept you V said his gentle mate in no amiable tone. ' How coulu you keep the people in doubt all thig time ^' ' My dear, I have purposely put off time, in order that if anyb idy was coming forward they might have an opportunity for doing so.' * Is that any reason why T should all this time have been kept in doubt, think- ng at one time that you had run oflf to America, and another that you had been put in gaol ? ' Oh, woman, do not torment me ; it is enough that I have suff-redby you in the da\s of adversity, without having my life embittered now that all is right. B« friends, Mary. I have ordered wine from »he cellar ; I have — ' ' Of course that would be your first con- sideration.' ' Be quiet, will you? I have slept at the castle, ord-red the (varri ige, and, what is best of all, have had my drafts on the bank honored. Look here ; it is long since we saw notes like these. Now butcher and grocery stutfs are getting low in the castle, take some money and order some out. Cash in hand, no fear of the larder.' ' Of course. Give me the money ; but not one farthing Dips or Cleaver get.' ' Why not '' ' Why not? How stupid you men are, to be sure ! Here are you not sure if you are heir or not, and yet going to pay ready money to your tradesmen, as if you were a twopenny-halfpenny unemployed cobbler, in bad credit— doing the ver] th>ng to m ike you suspected. If the bank trusts you, won't every other body do it? Come over with me to Dip's shop, and I will show you how to manage these sod of things.' t2 CRAIGALLAN CirVSTLE. John obediently f llowed one wholitei- ally \vii8 his better half. Arrived it Dips ■hop, the dauie at once exhibited the strength of wuuian's mission. ' Air. Dips, send out to the castle thn e of your b'ft hani8,aliundred-wfij;ht ea(;lr or rice, sago, and ta|iii)ca, and some lump and hrown sugar, and six pounds of tea ; everything ()( tlie best, Mr. Dips — and I forget if the pass-buok be with you or aie.' 'The pass-boo'', madam!" said Mr Dips, wliu colored to the very crown of the head, for, being a bald man, his blushes were visible in the highest carnal regions. ' Yes, the pass-book. We owe you Bometliing at present, don't we V O Mammon, what lying and dissimula- tion dost thou cause in this sinful world I Mrs. Joiin Graham had been owing Dips, for teas and groceries, the sum of live jiounds ten sliillings and threepence, with interest thereon, for three years. His shopmen had dunned her with tlieir tongues, and he had dunned her with let- ters, and had set Lud(nicUo Grant un her to boot, and yet, wonderful forgetful- ness ! both parties seeuu d oblivious of their previous transactions. ' She is going to V>e my customer still,' thought Dips, ' and I must humor her cursed impudence.' * If this hsocrilical rascal trusts us,' thought madam, ' the news will he over uU Puulton, and everybody will do it.' 'Passbook, madam 1' continued Mr. Dips. ' Oh, yes to be sure ; well, exact- ly ; yes, I do recollect th(!re was a small balance due l>y the castle fajnily. 1 hope none uf my people (tiasting an indignant scowl at his shopman) troubled you about it.' Mrs. Graham did not deign to reply, but enjoined superiority ot quality and {)romptitude of despatch, and took her eave. The party went up the street, in the direction of Mr. (leaver, the bucher. But what excuse could tliis poor man d^^- vise ? lie had often molested John in in the streets ; and tradition had it that, on one occasion, when fresh from a fair, he had seized the future laird by the col- lar, and called him a cheating humbug. Cleaver had not the face to speak to John, but hiiving by dint, as Mrs. Cleaver after- wards cimfessed, of a well-turned calf, induced an upper nursery-maid to leave a good place, and marry him between terms, he concluded, on this occasion, as he had often done before, that he was not with- out in&uence among the gentler sex. He accordingly left his shoj door, and ran up to the lady. ' Mem, Mrs. Graham — if you pleadQ h^ddy, I came past the castle to-day, anc the lambs there are very big yet , hut J have some frae the south country twic« the size — they are earlier there, you ken — ^just new killed. Will I send out a leg in time for the days dinner, or would you like it better the mnrn?' ' To-day, by all means, Air. Cleaver. ' Yes, mem, said Mr. Cleaver; and h« retreated with all imaginable diligence for John was clearly looking on him with an evil eye. ' Don't you see now how I manage things, Mr. Graham V John admitted what clearly was unde- niable, and they turned back to their own house, and eumnioned Sarah to accom- pany them to Craig. dlan. ' We require some new drenses and bonnets, Sirah and I ; but really the dress-makers, and milliners in small towns are such horrid monsters, I must wait for the next number of the " Lady's Maga- zine, ' and order those things from Edin- burgh or London ; but the bore then is that we cannot get them tried on belbre they are fairly made up.' In proceeding to the office the party en- countered Mr. Rankin, who politely touch- ed his hat, and was about to pass ; but John, with dignified courtesy, held out two fingers to 1dm, with a view, as usual, to sounding as to Ludovicko's inten- tions. ' I hope Mr. Grant is quite well to-day Mr. Moffattr ' Rankin, sir, is my name.' ' Ah. yes ; you are quite right. I have such a short memory. Did you say Mr. Grant was welH' ' I said nothing, sir ; and since your memory is so very short there's little use in saying much.' ' I beg pardon, Mr. Rankin, you are easily offended, indeed. llosv is Mr. Grant?' ' He is from home, and I know nothing about him,' said the clerk doggedly, and he walked on. During the brief interview, Mrs. Gra- ham was suddenly seized with a lit of me- teorohigical research ; for she so gazed ear- nestly on the sky that she never even saw Mr. Rankin. But she heard him ; and Ludovicko's absence inspired her with fresh courage. ' Any more letters, Mr. Troy;cr V ' None, Mr. John.' ' Y'ou will recollect to send out thoM that come by the morning s post. ' ' Yes, Mr. John.' When seated in the coach Mrs. On CEAIGALLAN C.\STLE SS ham found fault with her husband for al- lowing Trotter ti» c-di hiiu ' Mr John.' ' lie knew my brother and me when we were in my fatlier s olfice, and the distinc- tv>n was then neceooary.' ' But it ia not so now, and I v^uld not put up with it.' On arriving at Craigiillan, Mrs. Graham found fault with everything. The park- gate was 8hibf>y, the trees old and rotten-, the cattle dingy, neitlier tish nor fowl — too near Paulton to be in the country, and not near enough to be c.dled in the the town. If one wing was at the sea- side, and the other twenty miles up the country, it might be tolerable ; but, as it presently stood, she had as li^f go to jail. John made a wry fice at this alluHion to an estiblishment which had occ;isionally troubled him in his dreams, and he lieg- ged his wife would not excite unpleasant reflections. Pot)r Mrs. Marth.i Martin was sadly put about by the many com- plaints ot her new mistress ; but her chaf- ed spirit well-nigh burst into resolute merriment when, on entering the draw- ing-room, the lady complained of the shabltiness of the furniture, and proposed that its deficiencies should be made up from her own chatties. Even John, who recollected Martha's visits was ashamed at this sally. ' I have not made up my mind about servants,' said Mrs. Graham. ' I dare say that, mem. When Lord Sulkysnout died, his sister, L;idy Mary Sulkysnout, telled me to carry on my ain arrangements for six months till she had time to think about it.' That speech saved Martha. To have a housekeeper who had been housekeeper to -a lord was something. Mrs. Graham could pick up hints about aristocratic usages which might be serviceable ; and then she could put Martha about her bu- Bioess any time after. ' Her ladyship was quite right, as real ladies always are ; and I shall do the same. You have a cook and kitchen-maid ; that might do very well before, but it won't do now. We shall require a lady s-maid for miss and me, and a tbotman, or say a tiger at first ; and will you see, Mr. Gra- ham, that they have something like livery put on them ! 1 declare the man that drove us to-day was so ill-dressed, that the people on the road must have taken him for a ha<;kney-coarlimaii. When we are out of mourning, Mr Graham, I think the livery must — Miss Graham, will you keep you shouMers back ' — if you stand that way we must got dumb-l)ells for you ' -^oiut be, I say, green coats and red ' plush breeches, with gold hatband ; that will he stylish.' And so on gabhl d Mrs. Graham. As for M.irtlia, she slipped off to meditate. ' I never can livu wi' that woman, it's clean impossible. An upsetting, prideful limmer, that come frie poverty, forgets herself the very minute o' her exaltation. It's the auld story . tak' a begjiar frae a dunghill, and f>ut him on a throne, and wliit will he no do I And what will I do T I am no auld enough to retire ; and I am no young enough to tak' a new place. Ill just fecht on fl)r a time ; its the will o' iVovidence, and may I l)e granted grace to keep frae braking out wi' such a madam, •\nd there's her puir bairn ; I wish sho m ly na be spoiled v\ith the evil exam- ple." Sarah wandered along the flowers, and painfully recalling the first interview she had with her uncle. She stopped out much longer than ^he intended, vainly tryini; to conceal traces of her grief, knowing w^ll how displeasing tears would be to her mo- ther. On returning to the castle, prepa- rati(ms were already making for an early supper, and two bottles of the crusted port were on the table. A tempting repast was spoken of to Sarah, hut she excused herself; and saying she was not weH, peti« tioned that she should be allowed to go to bed. Mrs. Martha appeared for the purpose of conducting her to her new apart- ment. On passing up stairs Martha mo(jd- ily ui'ttionod the candle towards a door ; ' That is where poor Mr. Graham — ' 'Don't mentim it,' said Sirah, v\hu trembled fnim head to foot. ' Mrs Mar- tin, will you do me a favor, a very great favor V ' -Me iiinny I 1 11 do onything yo like.' • \\"i[\ you let me sleep in yjur own room ? for I could not sleep here alone. I would be dead with fright before morn- ing.' ' But what would your mother — I beg pardon Mrs. Graham — say?' ' I can't helji it. When I am old I may sleep by myself ; but I cannot do it just now. Come away. I think I see somo- body ; it is so dismal here.' CIIAPTKR X, ' I .AM going on a journey, and I m.ay not be home for a day or two,' said Ludo- vicko to Rankin one miming. ' When I am away, make up the partnership ac- counts twtween Eel and Skinflint ; draw out an indenture for Swan, the haber- d-.isher's apprentice ; scroll a particular aviTage for the flour thrown overboard tht John and Thomas; aad writo Neil and *^ S4 CTIAIG ALLAN CASTLK. CSamcron's outstanding deMors that, if not [iiijd witiiin a fortnight, diii.'t^m-.- win be uai'd ; and ifyuu hiiv« any time left on your hands, du^t out the book-uiiso. It 19 a di^gr^ice to be seen.' 'Tiin''on my hands,' Si^^l Riinkin sulki ly. ' Ii'you are to be away for a luonih { inij£ht have some ; but il yu are to b^^ away ordy fir a day or two, I Nhall not foe able to do more than one lialt of the things that you mention.' ' No imjnrlinenoc, sir !' And Ludo- vifko turned on his heel to walk off ' Ifany letters should come for you, shall 1 (fjten them mystlf, or give thtMii to anybody to open ? In my old inasttr's time woniebody was always ajipointed to Open tiu-m.' ' Krep them till I come,' wiis tlie mild rejily of LuduvicUo, wlio left the office. ' .Always the way,' ejacnfited the clerk. ' Close as wax ; kecips every ihiiijr; to him- Bell; hut he ean"t always do that. L<"t me see, now that he is clear off. what lie char-^es for his trouhje iti tl-ie Craif^allaii bu>in.-ss. The day-hook entry should throw some lijjht on the nature of the document which I witnessed. Auo;ust, September — ^no, nothinjr whatever. Tfiere is some ioit-rnal mystery here. Grant is not the man to work for nothing; he had a jrre.tt deal of trouble iw the matter, fi-om first to last, and yet tliere is rn) chai-j^'- for it. Can Graham huA'e paiil hiui before lie died! If he did, what did he pay him for' There's the rub. Jones tells me that Jolin, the sneak, has hiid hold of ever\ tiiiiij^, and without challenge. You are a (i.ep one, Mr. Ludovicko Grant, as the tiucket said to ttie well, but 1 shall find \ou out yet ' Following up the.se meditations, Mr. Rankio tried all the desks and drawers in , Lud i\iiko's room, but all were duly se- cured ; he then tried fiis own bunch of ieys on every lock in succession, but to no purpose ; and finally, he overhauled porttolms and blotters, in the hope that Bome loose per ip or memorandum would tumble out, and assist him in finding BOiiie clue to the object of his search ; l>ut this es[ieriuient was als') unattended with ■uccess. The clerk then took (tut a novel from his desk, and taking his position in Bueli a way that he could command the •window, and secrete the volume iu case of Luiioviekos returra — for it was no uncom- mon thing for that gentleman to reappear suddenly, after announcing himself as about to go into the country — his assistant took his depurture from the world of re ality into that of imagination, anu whetted .his capacity fur mYStery-soluiiim by dip- ^ng into detiiila of death-blows and poi- sonings, done by ag'^nts visible and inTit- ihle; and so, le-vit)g the assistant to amuse himself in this way. we must track the foo(8'epH of the prineiptl. Grant l It town oti foot, and f>etook himself to a farm in the neighborhood. On approaching the house he met tho farmer, and assailed him roughly. ' You paid no attention to my letter, Mut(!h.' ' No, sir,' rejnined jMutch, 'T had no- thing to siy to it. I have worked aa hard as mm could work for the last fifteen ye irs. I have had a large family to sup- port, things have gone against me, and I really >r be- ing of the old school, modern improve nients had been but sparingly adopted and having for live years outlived hit partner in life, Andrew jMurray, the agi^l uncle of Ludovicko, was fast sinking into CR.UG.VLLAN CASTLE. ^ dotage. No rival stood forward to shrire the small itiheriuanue with Ludovicko, now that (1 (or M.iry was gone ; and, indeed, had s le heen ;ili^'e tliere would ha^** h en Iittl(! cSiance of u siib.livisi >n, for Ludo- vi'-k I had taken care to cram his uncle and aucit with the story of her apparent Bhj 11'^. Tue aunt, a purist, as ruost wo- ta"i\ of propriety are, hid ni pity for lost inoocMCe : hut the j^rood old uaele tlirew the !a;r robe of clurity over the supposed fall of ds niece, ari u his heart, that blue-eyed, happy cliilt, wbos^ elear, riii^iu;; laugh had so ofceu ui ide his hoiu-ste'id happy. The old mm had m.de ti > will ; he knew that the two cougius, Ludovioko and Miry, were his heirs-at-laAf, and therefore did n tt think it nii!'s3iry tuit any steps should be ta'iy tribute t'lat might be paid to his e ousiu's memory. On attempting to converse with old MuiTiy, his nepti^w f lu id his int'dleet BJiaroered. Ou tlie servant shouting the o lui ! ol" his visit(jr, he muttered some- tliiu^ about , his hiving come after the usu il school vacation. ' If,' continued he, ' he had come soon- er, I coul i have given hiui a p my to ri le on, but it is sold ; hut, Je m, tell the mis- tress tliat he must be hunj»;ry, an I give him some hreid, and some of the new ho- ney. Tell Miry tiiat her cousin has C<>(ue ' ' Never mind him, sir,' said the domes- tic, seeing that Lud ivicko was a'>out to Bpeik.' he 11 no und'rstml you ; bit just let him rin on wi' his havers, and he II Cum'! to himself hy-aud-hy.' There was method in tliedjtage of her Miscer, as Jeia, his servaat, had prediiit- ed. .Seeing no attention paid to Iiis or- jers, he started m iin -.ntarily, aad then 6roKe out, pathetically — ' A'l, (lOd help me ! Mari^ iret is gone, And 1 h id forg »tten it, ;ifid the p )or hiiirn ; b>ti it ivis a mercy that her f ither and motiier died before her, an'l never heard h.T 8. lir mishap. Vou need n i sjie.ik to me, M.irg iret, if M try has done any ■wrong.' * Does he not know of my cousin's ieatb r aaked LudovicbLO. * Yes,' said the domestic, * but he far gets.' * Who did you say w\s dea in reality lie di 1 n it even look up into Jean's face to see if any suale of triumph hovered there, but contented himself with jisking if his uncle evr required thft at- tendance (if a medieil mm; and being assured that he did not, Ludoviirko w;i9 sotiiewh it puzzled as to how long he would have to wair for trie inlieritance. ' lie is not able to man ige his own af- fairs '' 8 li i he. ' Let him alone for tliat,' rejilied the Abigiil. 'lie's aye crying to g't the eirii sold b'dbre it's weel cut, and he kena the price as weel as ever he did ; and he g"ts bimsel' c inied to the hank, and puts the silvi-r in ; hut there is no such i thing ' as getti.ijj him t-i t ik' out a siusjle b iwfiee again. VVe are a' stirved, and things ar6 giun ti wreck wi' his grippiness.' Fulling that m ittf^rs were conducted in this fis'iion, Ludovicko felt an iiuvard y;le im of s itisf.ii;ti m, and took a leisurely survey of the est iblishment. lie found, as the worn m had st itfd, that there waa no little disorder and waste ; but his re- proofs produced nothing from the 1 iborera but the sullen response, that he * was not their master yet ;' and so lie t;ciug claims of judges, amba>is:idors, officers ot" and writing portfolio were pniduced, the : the army aud navy, divines, physicians, contents of which were hastily examined &c. ; and, above all, how sternly hishops' by Ludovicko. Tliey consisted mainly of i and judgf's' wives are sent to tiie bottom tradesmen's accounts, and were of no value. * Had she none besides these V h« in- quired. ' None,' replied the widow ;' except, as I said before, what went away with her.' ' She must have had some besides these, for none of my own letters are hese.' ' Sometimes she burned papers.' * How far is the asylum Irom this?' * Seven miles.' ' Well, I shall go on there to-night, and you can have the boys ready to go with me in the morning as the coach returns. I hope you have never allowed your woman's toolish tongue to talk to the boy about money?' ' Not to him. Who would speak to a bairn?' ' I don't believe you ; there is a lurking devil in your eye ; you have opoken to him ! ' * If [ have, it can't be helped now.' ' For the future, then, not one word ! Do you understand me ? Is the woman mad — why don't you speak?' * I was thinking.' ' What?' ' Don't be so ill-natured. I was think- ing that if there was not some money, you would not be taking such pains to speak to me about it.' ' Ha !' cried Ludovicko, ' that is a sen- sible remark, and you are right to speak of it. Here is my reason ; I ttike the boy for charity, and am to give him an oppor- tunity iif making his bread bj? serving me faithfully as a clerk ; hut am I to have a brat about me who, thinking he has mo- ney, will give himself airs, and will not only not work hiiuself, but corrupt others ? That is my reason ; and tlierefore, if I thought that he h;id any such notions as these, [ should leave him to shift for him- self.' Ludovicko left the widow, and went to the asylum ; but there, too, no marriage- certificate, the object of his search, was to be found. CHAPrER XI In regulating the procedure of levees, processions, and other stately ceremo- of the roll, irrespective of the high position which their liege lords may attain. At a drawing-room of the third Georj;e,it is on record that the spouse uf a Scotch judge was about to receive a salute royal from one of the princesses, when the offici.il in waiting n)ared through a speaking trum- pet, her royal highness being deaf — ' Ditauts of Paul- ton. As clergymen say of tlieir texts, society Jhere tip(»ritaneou8ly divided itself into three several portions, and ciistes of India never were, or ever could be, more absolute. There might be more than three sections, but our business is with three. Lord Byron once constructed a pyramid of the poets ; putting one name on the apex, two divisions with names on the side, and underneath the base wrotd * the many.' Our nusineas, ia like man- ner, does not go below the tertiary strata of the community under description ; we do not ignore inferior ftrmationiJ, but, in the meantime, we have nothing to do with them. In Paulton there were no nobility, no baronets, not even knights, no generals, or admirals, no great landed proprietors. Wfiat elements of discord could, then, by possihility exist: asks the ingenious read- er. Softly. Boswell could not convince Johnson that there were local differences ia the i iffi-rent districts of Scotland, yet great differences there are ; and so the society of a town, to every appearance homogeneous, has its upper, middle, and lower cliisses, defined w ith as much pre- cision as any metropolis in the world. It is a mistake that these same capitals fall into sometimes, to imagine that they are the worUl — whereas the hollow and the true, the make i)elieve and tho earnest, will bo found in the smallest community as well a,s in the largest. Nay, mure, as society is made up of individuals, look , I have often admired the dexterity into your own heart, friend, and then 38 CRAIG ALLAN CASTLE. you will find the world in its shahbinesa »nd in its elevuti' n, just as uiuut, on the otlitr tiaiid, it is a large drawing of the in- dividual Uiind. Tho linf which hedged in the aristocra- cy of Piiulton could not he hirth ; for some of those within its iiiagiu cinle had been the archittjcts ol their own fortune — many of tht-m were of the purest ple- beian blood, only one gem ration removed ; ond although some could boast of being thickir than water, the world, Paulton iiichnled, does often in)ect serum into the Cunsanguine- ous fluid. Take the case -l.f(ig madam, Ibi the time beiiij;, would conime a passport toothers ; and it un- making came to be the order of the day, three h.'lies could any day form a quo- rmn, and blackbidl any candidate « hat- ever. But arhitriiry as these deiion8 did in tile abstract appear to be, tltere scarcely ever was any m-ci 8^iry lor ap- peals, rhe sliade that distiiiguislied the lowest aristocrat roui the highest middle rank must have been intitiitoimallv nice, yet a shade was there, patent to all and acknowli dged ; or if some presumptuous person dare to question the infallibility of his eiclusion, the shout of scom r:iirle8cenee of their children. Accnstom- 9d tf/ see them day by day, heads of fami- lies cannot mark the gradual and all l*oi iuipereepiible stages by which th« ir off- spring livconit! men and women. VV'asti- ingtou Irving has it that the father of ono of his heroines lorgot he had a grown-up daughter till the parting kiss of a hiverat the door fell loud on his startled e.irs. John Graham was ntit awakened in this way; but, as will afterwards be told, he, too, came to know tliat he had a daughter capable of loving and being loved, tjaiah had no relish ior show or buslle. She h;id been well trained in the school of poverty ; and the lessons which had been thrown away on her father and mother had not been lost on her. She had a deep love for nature ; and to be allowed to wander amtmg the woods witli her dog Oscar, or look alter some favorite flowers, were to her more heart-felt sources of en- joyment than all the stuck-up parties at Paulton, or of Paulton people at thfl castle, could convey. ' What a fright that girl Graham is!* said Miss Laura Miller, the daughter of a neighboring clergyman ; ' always romping about like a child with that ugly l)rute oi a dog.' ' Where in the universe could she hava pictg eyes, their lashes distilling dew at every fl ip, the mouth primly screwed up. the feet mincing in their walk, while the little hand grasps and jingles the keys of the pantry ! No ' Dirk brown hair braided o'er A lirow of bpotless wtiiie' can match this. At all events, whatever the milliners and dressmakers of Paulton might and did say, Sarah Graham's beau- ty was recognised on the part of the un- prejudiced. But here it will be said, and perhaps said naturally, Sarah is a heroine ; and therefore, altbmgh the daughter of John and M-iry Graham, parties remarkable for neither mental nor moral beauty, she must, in her capacity of heroine, and in violation of all nature and probability, b© perfection in everything. Surrounded in every shape, she might have physical love- liness ; but where, it may be asked, or how Could she acquire the innocence, Bimpli(-itj and other virtues ascribed to her ? The soil, we admit, was most uncongenial for such products, but there they were ; and our narrative has to do with appearances and transactions, not phenomena. If in- compatibility with nature l)e urged, we ask objectors to explain how it is that from the same earth such different stems should spring, and on the same ilower such varied tints appear ; how the stalk and the flower should spring from the same root ; or why the fairest and sweet- est flowers should be thickly planted with thorns ; or why some flowers sfiuuld yield the aroma of death, and others send forth the (jdors of Paradise ? When these qes- tions are answered, we shall explain how much Sarah Graham differed from her 'parents. CIIAPPER XII. LUDOVICKO'S HRST rKOTEGE. In an attic room, shabbily furnished, lay in bed the youth Edward Turner.— At five o'clock of a cold winter mominj; h« CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 41 lOM, and having with some difficulty ■truck a light by the aid of a flint and tinder-box (lucifers tiad not then been in vented), he proceeded to dress himself — A few boo 8 were strewn about the gar- ret, and a retort, S(.»int-lamp, crucible, and other cheiuical apparatus were placed on a small table, while on the top of a larj^e and clumsy chest were to be seen dried specimens of plants, and several filtering ottles in operation. Edward read and experimented alternately ; and whenever he hecame too cold for either pvoeesss he had recourse to some grotes(jue gymn.wtii-s, and then resumed his studies wlien tne vital current again began to cir- culate. At lialf past seven • he opened the large chest and therein deposited his instruments. He then descended tlie Btairs warily, for the bed room of Dr. An- thony Fif/gibbon, his lady, and two of tlieir children, was underneath his own Blceping-ap.irtment, and woe to him if lie disturi) d any of the fraternity in their sluiubi rs. Afcr groping hia way to the shop he undi 1 the l>olts, and got into the street and tooii oflF the window-shutters ; then he lighted the shop fire, agd also the tire of Dr. Anthony 8 consulting- room ; then he cleaneii, trimmed, and tilled with oil two br iss lamps ; then he swept the door and dusted the counters. By the time these operations were concluded nine o'clock arrived, and with it the learned Anthony, who relieved his assistant for the purpose of allowing him to get break- fast, a meal which EJward received in the kitchen, having for companions thereat tlie nursery and iill-work maids. The morning repast discussed, Etwiird went back to the shop, Dr. Anthony went the round of his patients, and Eiwiird re- mained to compound and sell mdeicines to the customers. After dinner he delivered medicmes to the rich p itients at their 3wn houses ; at nine o'clock the shop W;ts shut, his simple supper followed, and th -n, before retiring to rest, he had his evening studies iu his private l.ibontory. It may excite surprise that the life of which we have sketched the proceedings of a d*y was followed for sever.d years by El ward I'urner with something closely ap|iroiching to happiness and satisfaction. At home tiie youtli had been snubbed by his m tther, in whom the parent had been absorbed in the nurse ; and, constantly 'jcai'ing the praises of his foster brother Bounded, while he himself was always ■neered at, the natural timidity of the boy had sunk down to apissiveness near- ly allied to inanity. But at P.iulton »'ie aepresBiag iuflueDce was removed. True, i he did not receive praise, but he escaped censure. Dr. Fitzgibbon had never had in his est iblishment — and many had, from first to last, been there — a boy who more attentively and intelligently dis- charged his duties. Edward had a great thirst for knowledge ; the compounding of medicines led him to study tne Phar- macopeia, that again led hiiu to chemis- try, and tne latter to botany. A new existence dawned on him as ob- ject after object presei.ted themselves for investigation. AVitb comparatively few helps to aid him, his ingenuity and pow- ers of thought were stimulated ; and iia he judged and experimented for himself, he was rapidly laying the foundation for sound advances in science. The imple- ments of the apothecary supplied liim with the means of chemical analysis to i certain extent ; he borrowed books from all quarters ; and as lor his museum and herbarium, it is sufficient to say that he laid nature under contribution. Rich sa- vans iu large cities are so much accus- tomed to have everything done for them, that they probably could not conceive how a poor boy, in a small town, should make progress iu the study oj' science. Ed- ward would have surprised such philoso- pheis In the summer mornings he traversed the fields tor plants, the ditches Ibr their vegetable and animal productions, the sea-shore for its shell and o/^te; and in winter he arranged and*pirepared the spoils of summer, and all with an energy and j devoteduess of purpose that might have I shamed a chartered society. Fiiagibhon having the geuteelest practice of the town, was desirous that his sliop-l.id should appear genteel too ; and so ho allowed him, in tlie shape of salary, such a sum as, with strict economy, enabled Edward to be well-clothed, and to have something besides for philosophical pur- poses ; wtiich latter, with small rendt- tances regularly sent to his motlier con- stituted the whole of his expenditure. Dr Fitzgibbon winked at the scientific in- vestigations of his assistant. Being him- self an empirical physician he had no taste for such studies, and voted Edward a lad of good di pi»sitions, but of silly luind, who would dabble on with chimeri- cal pursuits and leave the great business of life untouched. Ludovicko having in- quired from lime to time as to Edward's behaviour, the Ifech, after allowing some two or three years for probation, at length answered — ' He has good parts, Mr. Grant, and 1m has indifferent ones.' 42 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. ' Not given ti» company, like my young a:en. I Impe, dictcr!' ' Not in the le;ist ; th<>re nevor was a Btcadivr lad fan Edward. lie keeps no SnnipiUiy. neVL-r lenvi 8 tlie house at nij^ht, aiiiJ is alA-avs at liis pustiri the uinriiifig ; but h<-^ has ni/w-lan^led notions, and hol(is tlieni fonet'itedly. A ge-ntleuian cauje in, the other diiy, while I was enjraged in Consultation, and asked him for sunie- thinji to eure a stomachie complaint, lu- sti-ad ot having recourse to Gregory's Mixture, whidi he knows is my tiheet- aiiclior, he commenced a long inquiry dhout symptoms, and, to my horr- .k to you? You hud no business with her ; whereas in the apo- thecary's she was purchasing ointuient. Komeiniier, too, you are only a clerk — she an heiress.' ' I am as good as she, any day.' 'laieed? Ludovicko Grunt'a nephew as good as J)hn Graham s daughter?— » tliat"s a good joke !' ' 1 tell you, sir, it is no joke ! My fa« tiler was a rich luaii, and my uuele iii ra* [lidly becomii.g one. * Aye, but who was your fatlicr? and how IS your uncle beco.unig rich ! Tneee .ire tlie rubs and the pinchiugs ijf the shoes.' ' I know that my fatlicr was a gentle- m.iii ; and as to my uncle's wealili, ht has made it with bis own hands, and not got it by acci'ient like your master. ' But what authority nave you that your father was a geiitleuian, exci pt an old fool of a nuise, who may have told yoa that to keCf) you quiet; I Oare s.'Vy Pk.iiikin, or any ol us, would tell you the same thing to save our beuos, if you should happen to get into one of your tits. Oh, you need not look sour ; il you are to associate with us it must be on equal terms ; try if your p^nlleuiaidy birth will Carry you into better society When I was your age 1 never got higtieu up than to class with a j prentices ; baf liankin has taken you by the hand too Soon, my jackanapes !' During the address Morison had again worked tiiiuself into a state of excitement higher tlian before ; his swarthy lace as- sumed a hue of blackness ; the cold sweat stood on his forehead, and the veins of the tem[ileii swelled like cords. He waa too angry to sj'.eak ; but seizing a large glass otl the table, he bulled it at the head of his censor. Expecting a missile, Jones was on tlie alert ; and slightly ducking the vessel missed him. But big danger was only aggravated by the es- cape ; for the next moment ^]o^i!?on s[>rang over the table, and seizing his antagij- nist s handkerchief, twisted it so violently that lietore assistance could be rendered, poor Jones' face blackened like that of his assailant, and his eyes rolled iu agony. Kankin and Ogle, seeing that active treat- ment had liecome necessary, lell simulta- neously on Morison. and, causing him to relax his hold, flung him back on his seat. At this juncture the window-sash opened iVom the outsidt!, ami a t.u-a looked in ujion them, first grinning hideously, and then l.uigliing most otistreperously. It was Skipton, the brazier, who i;eiiig re- markahlti for strength and courage, enjoy- ed the /iiclce as excellent pastime. ' I marvel, gentlemen,' said the artifi- cer, ' that your concern for the widow iii'l latherless is so great as to raise such a du>t in tlie hostelry, and so denude the l)ov*ager Ladv Findi'ay of her license. I take It that one of the jusiices hua b«en privy to your doings ! Couiiug round by 44 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. the back entrance, 1 spied a fellow stoop- ing down and listening ; an(i tliinking that he had no business in such a sut'tei- ranean place, I gave him a vt ry polite kick. On starting up his hat fV-ll uff; and as he seemed inclint d to be cttmbaiive, 1 gave hiia a ceremonious slap with mj open piilm, which had the efltct of mak- ing him abdicate. Ecce si^nuin, as Sir John Falstafl'sa^s, here is his helmet?' ' We are dune, sold, defunct, up the Bpout ; the games uj» !' said Kankin. ' What do you mean?' asked Jones, now able to aspirate. ' We may just as well go to Botany Bay at once. Mutch was taken away from the evil that is to come ; but here we aie left to be cut up, nobody knows how !' ' Speak without hypetbolicals, young man,' said Skipton. ' Well, then, that is Lndovicko's hat ! don't you see L. G. in the inside ? He has heard all our conversation, and, l)e- fore Heaven ! he will do for the whole of us before the year is out.' ' This comes of drinking ale,' sighed Ogle. ' This comes of drinking with nincom- poops,' said Morrison, with a scowl. ' If you were not a set of low-born fellows you would not be so frightened. 1 have ] more to fear from my uncle than any one j of you, and I don't care a straw.' And turning on his heel, he walked oil. ' Well done, Hotspur !' said Skipton. • A plague of all cowards, say I. Maiden bring me a tankard, and let it be foaming — for of late your mamma's liquor li.is been flat and unprofitable. And so 1 liad the honor of kicking and smiting your employer, Mr. Rankin! Had I known it at the time I sliould have been a little more emphatic. It is not always that one has an opportunity ol slapping an attor- ney at the hour ' when Margaret s dark and grimly ghost stood up at William's feet,' and when no tipstafl can see, hear, or identify.' ' Low- born fellows V said Jones ; ' low- born, indeed ! The upstart is off without pacing Ids share of the reckoning. I have no objecfions to meet you, Kankin ; buiil' you bring that young whelp with y)u again, 1 will leave the room; mind that!' ' He comes no more with me,' replied Rankin. ' When he was younger I could control him ; but now that he is getting strong he is getting troublesnnie, anO when he flies into these bursts of passion ne does not care for conse-quenees. But, lor all his fire, he is a snake at bottom, i know why he is not afraid of his uncle. — lie happened to be defending him to> night ; and il he could raise himself a sin- gle step with Ludovicko, he would peucb against me in a moment. However, he can do his worst ; he is no clerk, and Grant can get nol>ody to do his work sc well as I for the same salary,' ' Now, gentlemen all, have done with tho.se dirty, professional remarks,' said Skipton. ' Will any of you lend a hand for the " Bride of Lammermoor," tor the benetit of the poor of St. Yarrold ? Mr. Ogle, your Macassar has no effecton ying passion. He first saw Sarah in church ; and he could not recall to metuory any period in his history when, entering that solemn place, he had not cast his eyes upward to the Craigallan gallery. It was so far a justification of his misplaced devotion, sable : the idea of a lilres-ing lier had ne- ver enten-d into his wildest dreams. But there are things, as we all know, laying at the bottom of our minds which wo dare not stir up ; they puss withimt chal- lenge, because we willingly allow them to pass without car beeuiue her ehauijion. In gambolling up and down, the dog drove Borne hard substance into bis loot. In endt-avoring to deaden the pain, he struck it r'jreatfdjy on the ground ; an elibrt which, of course, only aggravated the complaint, and sent the foreign body so far into tlio tool that it completely disap- peared, and the part swelled and it be- Cauie cousidnrably inflamed. Poor Oscar „ _ ju.ide no barking comnlaint, but limped ^T'lmded over a ru.-tie bridge, and, alter on three fnet as fast aft.r Martha as the dancing round Edsvard with the most ob- pain and hi> increasing debility would per- str. perous indications of joy, seized his init. As it was on the homeward, not! ''l^'eve with his teeth, and, in spiie of all on tlie outward part of her embassy, that; J''** effirts to the contrary, detained him Wari ha was m.-st anxious tbr canine dy- 1 until Sarah came across the bridge and fence, the animal had hem sufi'.-ring f,,r i f^i^i'i'^ert d him. When she had made her some t. me h, tore she missed him, and I '^PP^''^**"^'"- <*^«"i' B'^*'in"<^ to think that When she did think of him and turn about I ^« *"i'l sufficiently p.rh.rmed the cere- to look f .r liim, she found the foot beyond \ '"*jn.V <»(' introduction, and accordingly he the (.o«er of remedy. M*^t ^^ ^^^ ^"''^ '^nd resumed Ms tiyninas- 1 -, ,. I M ,1, ,„ 1, ii. r. J tics. Had Edward been an urchin steal- Like baiah. Alarlha was much attacneo ' . 1 . 1 • L . .. 1.11 » I I Jng apiiles, and caujiht in the very act, to ti-e ,;nimal, and she was not I'nlv , ^ ", , ^ , ■ , . .-^ i- . ■' ' fie couiu not have looked more loolish. no rise from seeing his trej.iiiation, which was 80 excessive tlnlt she was somewhat puzzled what to make of liim. ' Oscar seems very grateful for your kindness to him,' said Siirah. ' I hope I am not intruding,' stammered tlie blushing Edward. ' I was merely atVering some botanical sjiicimens when ter , Jie then took a 1 iox of healing oaxi- ment, which iie was carrying to a patient, aiKl, spreiidin;£ it o\er the sore, covered all up with a silk handk.i rchief fun isl ed liy Martha. 0^car so. n felt the soothing t ff. CIS of the a] plication, and licked the hands of his deliverer in token of grati- tude. Edward gently Wii him home, kept him in his mom all night, and n<£t day despatched him, convalescent, in one of the Craigallan carts, which called for him. On returning to the castle, Martha told the story, and dwelt with much unction on the liuujatiity of Edward, and how thoroughly his master had aj proved of liis conduct. In a day or two after, Sarah called for the express purpose of thaiiking Edward for Ids kindness to the dog; fiut, true to his timid character, he rati out of the shop, and left Dr Anthony himself to receive the acknowledgments of her who was ever present in his thoughts, iiight and day. For several mornings Edward had not the ciTurage to go in sight of C'raigall.in ; but at last he could no longer resist the temptation, and ventuied to his old haunts. Oscar and Sarah came tor- ward as usual; but instead of I eeping within the limits of the jjarden, Oscar, on catching a glimpse of tlie strange lorm, . , ., ,• . ,^ . tie coma not nave looKea more looii griexed loi ilie aaonv that Oscar was e\i- ! o i i • • ■ r , ^■^ •J .1 „ J, •. I * I • i barah, not l)cinr men. but poor men are not always low men;' and. tossing his head, Edward walked proudly oil", taking care, in cross- ing tiie tiridge, to empty the contents of his case into the water. ' Is my former poverty always to be cast in my teeth J' muttered Mr. (iraliam with a scowl, as he looked after Edward. Sarah never tliought so little of her fa- ther as slie did now. The calm bearing of the huiiible lad contrasted so strongly with the rudeness of her father, that site felt abased at the idea of the comi)arison. The germ of love was now develof)ed with- in her. That poor but noble-minded youth had been insulted through her un- thinking invitation in the first place, and then had had his feelings more deeply woufided, even after her explanation. And now an interest was excited in him that could not easily be eradicated — an occurrence had happened so marked in its character as indelibly to be registered in the tablets of memory, and to work its efl'ects on the thoughts and intents of the hidden parts of the soul. The few angry words of John Graham had caused liis daughter to cease to be a girl, and chang- ed her into a woman. Thenceforward Mrs. and Mr. Graham took counsel, and Sarah was watched. But the surveillance was uncalled for. Sarah's walks became diminished in their length and frequency : for the cares of life were casting their shadows before. CHAPTER Xiy. On leaving Craigallan, Edward's first emotions were those of rage against Mr. (iraham ; but very soon all feelings of that description w^ere absorbed in pity for Sa- rah. A hundred times he bewailed his rashness in .accepting an invitation which he now thought he ought to have foreseen would sooner or later involve the simple- hearted and benevolent girl in some mis- understanding with her parents, whose haughty and domineering pride was pro- verbial over the whole country. He re- turned to his shop duties in a state of thorough despair ; for he now saw that all intercourse witli Sarah was at an end. No longer dared he be seen among the woods, or wandering by the water-side: nay, he could not even indulge the hope of casting a stolen glance on Sarah in the church, for fear that the lynx eye of some of the family might be upon Mm, and CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 49 seeing the act, bring the Lived girl into farther trimhle. ' [f I bat knew how to leave Paulton, and where to go,' was his co^^itati in, ' I should Iniive it this day.' His wish did not long remain ungrati- fied. I'he dispefitic g«iitleiuan for wh»iiii lie had pn'scritied in detiance of the prin- cifjles uf Dr. Anthony called at the shop that very foreno-jn. ' I want 80(ue more of that medicine, my lid ; the last did me a world tit gnud,' stiidthj stranger, who was a hhifl" ufil man. ' I suppose you intend coming out for It doctor ?' ' i have not the means of coming out for luiy thing.' ' But have you the desire to come out for anything ?"* ' Of that perhaps too much, sir. * Timn whtire there is a will, there is always a way.' ' but I cannot be a doctor without go- ing t .' ' Thought as much. Well, 1 am will- ing to lend you souie imirey to buy books to lulp you on in ycmr studies.' ' I ean not borrow when I do not see how I am to repay." ' Don't talk niinsense I T see how yon can repay, and thit is enough. Here are live pouixls ; jrive me a receipt, binding yours' If to refund when you ure abie and willing; and it I sliouM he Ueape.' Edward now ^aw a way of eseipe, and resolutely did he set about liisdeliveianoe. Th^it night he commenced bis studies with Winter, the schoolmaster, and next morn- ii»g he repaid him in hat inio il c lin, taking Care to get as much Latin introduced into t'le uonvorsation as possible. AN Episode. In a small .cottage between Oaiijallan Cii.>d by the iiedside in speech- less agony. A knock a t le door r. called 50 CRAIGALL^VN CASTLE. feer to her senses, find npeninjr it, Martha Mnrtiii i-.iiiit* ill, aci'onijiaiiifd by a. tjer- \aiit I'liinit.g rt'stinitivi fl. • Many tlianks,' eaiii the mother, 'hut she ran lak naeihinj;. She is jii«t dceing tlie tiairie way hs her ttfr did. and Jack is n<) hire to chwe her eyes. When h»;;_ came hairk Irum ]\\s Jast voyajre he turtn tl dizzy wh( n he saw uiy loi«k. and the Mark rili'iiin on my eap. 1 ;!nuidna hpeak, lait cried and jMiinted to M-ijigy . an(i then he Baw what, we had l^st And he sailed to-da) ; and althiinjrti he ki.ssed her, as he thougNi, for the hist time, he tried to make itit-- hilieve that thfre was nae dan- ger. His ship is lyi'ig sit anrhur in the roads tliere, ar.d he daurna couie on shore to see his last hairn dee. Uh, what poor folk.- h.ie to sufler! 1 should greet my een out, Mrs. Martin, but I canna get one tear, and my ^ery heart is like ta hurst. Oh, piy h.urn^! my jiour h lirn ! ' Ilive ye sent lor Dr. Fitz^ibbon?' ' I have had naehndy to send ; and I never was a.hle to pay liiui Cor Jet'Sie.' 'Never mind payment; I'll pay him mysel'. Kin, Betsy, into the town, and bnng the doetnr as f.ist as y can.' Hetsy's heels, shod with Uiercy, per- formed their office well ; and on arriving: at Dr. Anthony's she liiund the «hop shut, the evening being now advanced, She went round to the kitchen and toM her Btory to her contemporaries in the physi- cian's estaltlishment, who, with lemale pity, listened to her tale, and duly con- veyed it to tiieir majtter. Anthony, how- evf-r, was tired — had been out all day ; — and therefore recommended them to try »ome other doctor. ' These poor people,' said he to his wife, ' have nt> conscience. I attended the child of that sailor before, and am not paid to this hour. The parish wont ptiy when it does not cmpl'-y- To he sure, if Graham himself had sent forme, he might have paid, hut as for this housekeeper, how is sfie to pay ? 1 liave had my time with the poor, let the yimng iellows look after them now ; it will give them prac- tice and keep their hand in.' Betsy ran to another h-evdi, >.e wms in the country ; to a thini, hut he was out among his patients ; atid so the anxious gill could hut only call in at Anthony's kitchen on her way home, and_ tearfully tell ;>f her had suceews, and again implore the influence of the doim sties with their master. It was of no use, t'ney told her. he had of late often refused sin'.ilar appli- cations ; and so Betsy had to retrace her Bteps to the house of mourning. On regaining the cottage, she found the mo- ther and Martha silently attending the bed of death, while the cnild itself WM visiMy declining. In broken accents, Betsy told the story of her unsucce»»ful missi tn. ' iNhiy God have mercy, for man haa none ! said the distressed mother ; and she 8. it down, covering her lace with her I hands, the very frenzy of desp lir beget- j ting an unesuthly c.lmness, now that slie saw the last shred of hope torn from her. Suddenly the door opened, and the hus- band came in. ' is she'living. Molly ?' The mother give a low shriek, and cliisped him in her arms ; and, leading him to the h(^lside, implored the child to look at its hither. ' It's father, Magxy I — father come o'er the sea to see his aiii Maggy ? A'ye, look to father, Maggy.' The poor child lifted its fingers as if to tell that it heard the appeal hut could not resiinnii to it. ' Dinna tell him about Uie doctor, it would drive liim mad,' said tlie mother apart to Betsy. A visilile darkening came over the face of the siiif rer, and the onlookers held their breath so close that th.-y themselves seemed scarcely to live, so awing was the suspense induced by the change and the a[ panntly near approach of the dread Catastrophe. But although the power of death was there, its hour had not Come _ Again, latwever, another blackening swept over the suffused face, and the s !ih)r, in a choking voice, said something about the doctor. ' lie has been sent for, Jack,' said hia wife. Shortly after Betsy left Dr. Anthony's kitchen, Edward came in, and to him the case ol the sailor's child was told. ' 1 am sure, Ned,' said one of the ser- vants, ' I have often heard the poor folk say that you have dore them more goo>- lui.-i>:tl t.» ')j well. A tt'ur gitluTeii in tii« weat/iiT-twateii lace i*I tiie 8,i.ilir. ami lh« li|i,s iit iiiu lu^jtlit^r uiovcii aii it iu riilcut pray> r. • «ii.i.l will reward }■(»«, my honoy uiaij,' eai'J M u'ttia, a tear alou diLuming her -Ad file » lilur clasped Edwatxi by the hand witu his licirii^ tiiigors, iuid ilie grasp was like C>i itul'a vioe ; l)iat he cuuld nut s^icak iiis ilianks. Again tUe door upeued, and ati.alier n{-ig staudd from land, we YiiU t« >in of ud get Lur leave, or Boiue- thiug worse.' Tlie Warning was not anneeeesary ; f t, unhei^d.-d liy the nun ites of the cottaj;e, a vi ilent 8toriu of winll(twed ; while Martha an'i B.itsy r-Muained to watch the child. On re.ichiiig the shore they found that thi- b lat h id been driven np on the sand, but t ■rt.unately had sustained no diniajje. It r quired the effats of all the four to lanneli it again ; and as the storm still rose, the wile agiin renewed her protest ag.iiist thtir embarking. ' O, Jack what w(juld it be to me to fi IV.' a livitig bairn, and lose you? Dear J.ick, >tiy : it may clear up in a little.' ' M.riy, I cannot do it. Joe and I came off without leave. Something may h;ip- p n r.i the bo it. At the turn of the tide til'' brig will Iv'ar off; and if .-^lie goes out to .s- 1 in a night liku this, with twonands nil ort. the wliole will be 1 >st. Go back to ilie 'ion-fr.ii'iing In-r almost sight- less e\es in her eff >rts to citch the looned- for object on the bl i'(> mv place tlian leave a sick bairn by itself in a house like this. And yet linloth not to be wi' my young mistress in such a nicht. The wind makes a fearful noise in the auld Cistle, and if she was comin' to inv room, in I finding me out, wh it could she do? IJiit she has oer mm-klc sense to r.iise ony alarm. G inr soul ur bixiy.' Edwird returned to the mother, and told her iif the child's salety. ' God 'x-j.raised ! But oh, sir, this is a territile Be-i. 1 have sometimes seen the brig s licht since you went away, but the waves iire fo high that I can only catch it at tirnes J>ee, there it is again !' 'So do I. And nuw, as 1 live, there are two lights, one above the other.* ' Diima SJty that, sir ! — dinna say it, for I hiive heen hoping against hope ; and if I was to lie upliited and again cast down, i couldna live after. Look again, sir, for 1 daurna look mysel" !' ' I am not mistaken, there are two. Look quick, before the wave rises again ' ' I see ! I see ! I see ! Blessed be the name ot the Lord *' And the wit« and mother fell down on her knees in grateful adoration. Edward took her home, and then es- corted the two females to the castle, and, refusing to enter, walked wearily into town ; and tumbling into his dark garret, ended the events ot this chequered night. CHAPTER XV. Mr. and Mrs. Graham began at last to discover that they had a daughter, and that if tley did not look sharply after her, bhe would not only asf ociate with ])lel>eian persons, but acquire }ilebeian notions, without ever coming into cimtact with these oflensive persons. She was essi ii- tially vulsur in her mind, at least so thought Airs. Graham, and had foolish ideas ahout poverty not being inherently bad which required immediate attention. ' I am sure, mother, said she one day, ' when we were all f>oor before uncle died, I did not feel myself a bit worse than 1 do" now. Indeed, I rather think I was, upon the whole, happier then ; for I was not so much schooled about propriety, and I was free from all I ind of restraint.' ' Child, you tulk like a fool ! Tn genteel life there is no such thing as restraint; the whole object of gentility is ease ; and if you had proper views you would feel that lofty notions of decorum would be- oorae natural, and the actions flowing from them easy. But the truth is, yo^ have been rather neglected ot late, and therefore you must make up your mind to go Irom home ; and when yon see how other young ladies in your station behave, you will discover the necessity -f giving up all your oddities, if juu mean tore- main in civilised society at all. I have good accounts of Miss Staich's fiidsiiing boarding-e^tahlitihment at St. Da\id's, and we mean to send yoa there for the winter ; and I am very much mistaken if you do not find better associates there than druggists" boys. Many of the young ladies wbo live there have colonels and majors, honorables and right houorahles, for their hrothers, cousins, and fathers; and as relations are allowtd to call on Saturdays, you will in the course t)fthe wintt-r see many people of distinction, su- perior even to those )ou have seen here, although I have always tried to keep our circle select. Ft/r my sake, for your own sake, keep up your dignity, and do not be affronting the family with any ot your out-of-the-way absurdities. Mind that \ou are the only representative of the house. Had 1 ordy had a son, or had you not been a daughter, I should have been Siived a world of trouble.' ' I shall do what I can to please yoo, mother ; espec-ially as I am ghid at the idea of going to vSt. David 8, for it has been very dull here for some tiins. But in order that I may not misunderstand you, pjeaae say what it is that you wish me particularly to attend to.' ' I'hat is ea>*ily done. Associate with none but people of your own rank. OJ above it, and do nothing that will appeal str.mge to them.' 'But has God not made us all, mo- ther?' 'Of course, girl; hut not equally. 1 don't mind patronising poor people, by subscribing for them, or being |Jaceeing itidt|iendent, aud noiwdy can be iu- , dependent without money!' ' liut if people live according to what they have, and don't get into debt, mo- ther, would they not tlien be indepen- dent '' * Of the jiil, cert^iinly, hut no more; and such pt^ople cm never get into socie- ty, unless. they have a vast deal of mo- ney. Vou m ly re^*i in foolish books and liew'spapeis, which now-a-de the subjects of true poetr}'. Edward had been reading ' Uld Christopher,' and knew B(jmetldng of the subject ; he had more than once debated on it in the society re- ferred to by Mr. Ogle ; and,, besides, the natural f/ent ol' his taste led him to ap- preciate Wordsworth ; he therefore heard the plaudits bestowed upon his punj as- sailant with iutinite contempt. • I wonder,' thought he, * if Sarah feels in this matter as these foolish people dor Edwitrd, however, not having had the !)resuuiption, or at)ility, to pay two sibl- ings, and so secure a reserved seat, could Qot gt-t his curiosity settlcHi on that point, and so had to think on. At last Yellow- hair hidshed, and it fell to Mr. Augustas Springfield, younger of that ilk, to i-eply. "Whether it was the eloquence of his learn- ed brother, the heat of the room, the vast auditory in general, or his lather, mother, grandmother, aunt, sisters, and cousins in partiuo wluib as ouy h!y !' and at last, when the time arrived that, in all decency, he should have risen and eonfronted his assailant, Augustus, des- pite of a perfumed white handUerchief, •water and smelling salts, r(»se from his geat, but. so far Irom speaking, took the straightest line for the door, and vanished thereat, leaving his relation :ind his hat hehind him. It was a great pity, ii.r his raven locks had ln-en v\ell curl.'d, and his collar well adjusted, a la Byron, for the accat-ion. Tins heavy blow and sore dis- couragement threw a damper over eviry oii« ; and the show wivs about to come to an end, wlien Mr. R^-joinder, who was being bred to the law, perceived that his reversionary rights were in danger, and h9 moved ue^^urdingly. • Please to observe, Mr. BluBter,' said che very young gentleman, ' tint 7 am prepared to speak, and that I m»ist Bpeak and v\iH s| eak for reply ; otherwise, how can I rejoin V riej(iiiider"fl mother applauded this ad- dress «iih her Ian agiinst her card caKe, and genteel ajiplause followed the di licate ^igna^ 51r. bluster admitted the force of thju argumi-nt. ' But where,' asked the embarrassed lecturer, ' can a substitute be got? Fer- haj.g some of the audience wili be dis- [posed to come forward.' Ellison, the eccentric naanager, once asked if one of his audience would, in the unavoidable al»sence of the engaged p'-rty, Come forward to be eaten by.a Bofien.ian artit*t enguged for one idght oidy ; and, to all appear.tnce, Mr. Bluster was &» likely to receive a favorable resjM)nse a9 Mr. Eliisivn; for^ on the spar of the mo- ment, wly) would venture to seek the bubble reputation at the cannon's moutb of such an august audience ? But sud- denly the demon of ambition entered tFie udud of Edw.ird Turner ; and in r*- ply to Mr. Blusters's invitation, and alter aa awful suspen.se of five mitmtes, during which time there was silence the most pro-found, he stt'pped forward to the green cloth table. Morison tittered and so did ina?iy others ; but these titters saved Edward. When walking along the door, the p(H>r feilow felt as if the sound of hia own footsteps were carrying him to the scafli)ld ; the snt er, however, touched him as keenly as if an exposed nerve had l)een eauteri^ed with hot iron ; his blood was u|>, and he had a bold game to plaj. 'Sarah Graham is here,' thought the aspiring youth. Let me stand high in her opinion now, or be for ever east down. — ■ ller love I many not get, but I shall com- mand her admiration or her contempt.— 1 care not one straw for the whole s[>eo- tators — sfie is there before me alone, and I see nothing and regard nothing but her. t hazard my whole case on this one die. Mr. Bluster regarded the volunteer with a self-complaisant leer, and smiled a.-kaned at his patrons, as much as to say, ' Wo are going to have some fun here, ladies aud gi-ntlemen. Listen, listen '' Edward commenced in a uuxlest yet firm and decided tone. He stated that hum. in nature, so long asit coniinues true to its finer instincts, w:i8 noble in evf the cottage ftod would uphold the poetry ^o be fouo^ CRAmALLAN CASTLE. there as equal, If not superior, to what would be found iti the drawing-rooui. lie took the pt-.us.trit from his g'lin^ fitrth to lal>or in tht^iuoeiirte-hre;itliirig luorii.dowa to his return at pariing d ly, aud showed How {iregiiaat with poetry were the an- nals of toe poor : liow their uiuscul.ir health, redident of life, was poetry ; liow the honeysuckle outside their O'lOins, and the white ui^ss roses, preserved in winter, •within, Were poetry ; how the ringing laugh of their ehililreu hy d ly, and the Biuile of their faces iu sleep, was poetry. Then he wt^nt tm to show that war c luhi nover dev»l.>pe courage dn hum.iu atiec- tion ciuld, iMid recited the case of Molly Arthur stooping over herdying chill, and then pacing tne surl-hciUeu shore iu her eag' r watching lor her husband. Lastly, he told the audience to go to nature for all poetry — to the dowers, the stars, the mountains, the glens, the woods, the riv- ers, aud the sea; and to dwell only in a secondary w;iy on the {)rowess of man, when it haii dev ist ition and hli> id for its pathway and huuiau horrors for its re- Ward. Slowly did the audience bend to the in- fluences of Edward's oratory, hut at list they did bend ; his touches of nature ma'le them all akin, and at last they in- terrupteil hiui hy a Ion 1 burst of ajiplause. Durittg the pause affirded hy this episode, Eld ward glanced fir the first time at rfa- rad, and saw that she was wrapt in ad- miratiim. Emboldr-ncd, he struck a higlier strain, and went on in splendid style, till a new tornado of approbation again Stopped him. lie loo ed again, and his triujuph wa3 complete; for the tears were tricl ling down the cheeks of the mistress id' liis soul. It Wiis then that he looked as if he eoul 1 convey an expression of the pride witn which he regarded her approval ; the blush that followed showed that the arrow had pierced; and tliat blush liad m ire effect in par.ily>iiig Ed- ward than all the audience had done b.^- fore. lie tiilt he owed nothing t<» Mr. Bluster, but bowed his farewell to hnu, and went out, scarcely knowing what he did. Mr. Rt-joinder rose to address the house, but was received with manifest im pa- tient^. * The p' rsou who spoke last,' said tlie disappointed or.itor, ' exceeded ids time. 1 have more respect f >r the audience, nud therefore Wiuve my privjl.ge.' More ii[iplause tollowed this announce' ment than any speech by Mr. Kejoinder Bould have elicited ; aud so the iKnem- blage djrpersed. * Did you ever aee such impudence ae that of Turner's?' asked an associate (A William Morison. ' Never ; he is the moat b ire-faced pup[>y I know. I hate him as 1 do tha devil I' ' More, perhaps!' ' You are ng it. Let him fall into my haiflls a'^.d he will find that.' ' A word with you, sir,' said a stranger in the crowd. Morison turned ronivl. ' You hate that youth thoroughly — bit- terly ! ' ' Yes.' ' I like ycm for that ! Revenge is a noble passion ! Come with me; I will show ytm how to wreak your vengeance wn Turner ! I dislike him also.' Tneir farther conversation must occupj another chapter. CHAPTER XVI. TUK TEMPTEK. During the stormy night that Edward saw the s lilor Arthur anfl his companion gi) off in his Itoaf, a strangiu* barque was wrecked near the spot. This w,u-» no un- common occurrence on the exjio,-ce un- known to each other. Waiiwigiit led the way to the principal inn, and ordered sup- per ; while, in tlie interim, he unlolded his views to his young acquaint. mce. ' Is your hatred to this spouting lad lively to be permanent?' asked Wain- right. ' Yea. Why do you doubt it?' ' Because many young men are liki K CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. lovers in their quarrels — quarrel, make it «Ip, and qjiiinel :ij(:iiti.' 'Mine is not ottluit kind.' ' You never Ibrgive, I siijiposc V -^ Never!' ' I like that ; it shows firmness of pur- pone, without wliieh no enterprise can SiMjCied.' ' Ityiu '«ave any douhts as to my •wil- lingness lor revenge, show me how I ean manage it, and tlieu see if I don't carry it iuto ex« cution !' ' Sofi ly ' First explain to me how and why yon hate the lad.' Alurisun liung down his head. ' Did he ever cheat you?' ' No.' ' Or strike you ?* 'No.' ' Speak ill of you V ' Ko ; none of these kind of things. Had he done anything personal, I would have struj'k him down at the lime !' ' Then it has heen a love afiFiir? Ah, that is it,.' I see you change color. Am I not right?' ' Yes,' answered William, embarrass- ed. ' If it is love, I can help you ; but tell me the whole story, and how he has sup- planted you.' ' 1 cannot tell you about it ; it looks foolish, and will not bear telling. You would laugh at me if I were to attempt exphmation.' ' Net at all, my good friend. At your age 1 was in love too ; but that was ten years ago, and I have got over that sort of thing now. Nevertheless, I know the feeling. It is a disease of youth ; like hooj'ing-cough or measles, nobody escapes U. S(.ime old fellows may " iishaw" (Si- laugh as they like, but, married or un- married, all had to pass through the mire. Si> tell your story boldly. You labor un- dtr an influence which has nerved men of the highest renown togreat achievements. And remember I am a stranger, and know mi' her names or persons ; and with Buch a confidant it is like speaking in the dark.' ' Well, 111 make a clean breast of it. This lad and I are foster-Hrothers ; but, when children, lie was such a puling creature, that ev down a given plan, if you are in earnest, and work at it night and day until you accomplish it. Have you any money, or j)rospect ai' money ^' ' At present I have ten pounds a year : when my apprenticeship expires I may get forty or filty ; and that is all my pros- pjcts. My father, I believe, w«s rich at one time ; but he was married secretly, lost his money, and I have long been de- peixlant on my uncle.' ' Well, if forty or fifty pounds be all your prospects, you may as well look at the moon a^ at Miss Graham.' ' I fear it." • ' Fear it — there is no doubt about it ! You must get money ; and I will put you on a way of getting it.' ' Do that and i shall be beholden to you for life.' ' Nay, not so fast. I shall be content if you do my behests during the few weeks I am at Paulton.' ' Command me.' 'Nay, again, })e not pricipitate. Fill up your glans, and let me explain a little. You tave not been v< ry long in the world, Mr Morison, but you have Jflready dis- covered that it is against you. It if against most aspirants, because the high CRAIGALLAN C.iSTLE. 57 born have nothing to contend for ; you must, thereture, uoutend with the world, and beat l)uck its waves till jou furct; your way tfiruugii them. Uiie thing, Js lor money. Koi)heis t.i e it directly h^ niiht, other men inoireclly by day ; but it all comes to the siiu-- thing. The priests Irighteu you about the unseen worlney ail the time , toe doctor territies you vkiiii disf-aaes, ami does the same; aud the ldvvy>;r, as you koowv, lives by Iraud anse of A -ts of I'ailiament, and sentimentalists make laws of honor. Why sliould you or I, in respect of our opinions, be subjet to any of their laws '' ' Because we might be hanged or traa- ■ported if we disooeyed them.' ' There you confound two things essen- tially diffrent. I spoke of opinions, yon refer to condtict. I wish to Ixlieve my own laws, i>ut. in consideration of human inHriiiity. I require to appear to believ and keep Imman laws ; iiut only appe.'ir, for I wish to break them secretly. Such men as i'urner oliijy all kinds of commnid- Hientij ; fniatics ob'-y religionsaudleg.il — your uncle leg d only. I wish to \^u-\<. the ^>eam altoj;etlier, and disol'cy legal too ; bus in respect, luark you, to human I vindictivenesa, which is intolerant of lib • I erty in such matter.s, 1 would tlo all viola- tion sub rosa. Do you underftand me V ' • I think I do. I say, can you keep a 'secret? 1 don't think I should tell it to i you, but the wine makes me comiuuni- I ■ . C itiVO ' There's my hand.' ' Well, I took tliree sovereigns out of my unci -s drawt r yesterd.iy.' ' lla, h I. ha ! That is Greek meeting (Jre- k ; hut it is nothing to wh it 1 have done lately. Swear by all that jou hold sacred that you divulge n 't, and [ will tell you a bettor joke than that.' ' I 11 swear none f have trusted you, and you should trust ;ne.' ' You are right. - AV^ell, then, when I Hailed with Copper IS. the lu ister of the barqu", he preten i^'d to st irt for the co- lloni'S; and he fi leil the sliiji with datn- aged go ids, the ifrivvback oti wfiieh was gient'-r, by a lar^e sum, than tlie price. ; He, insured ship and cargo above their va- I lue, tossed the goods overlio.ird, ind ran the slop asliore, aud then pocket.<-d the dil- I fereiiee between dnwh.iek and price, aud i iri>urance over and above. Is not that doiii;^ business'' I 'If Ludovieko knew that — ' j ' lie never will.' ! ' The people here have talked a gt)od deal aI)out the Strangeness of your being wrecked in the ba.v.' ' I gamuMned them all over abi^t the chart lieing wrong, and (!op[)eras not well, and so forth. Depend up )n it no- body has any suspicions.' ' And how could you contrive such a thing ?' ' I did not contrive it, but Copperas did.' ' Then you will allow him sometiiing handsoiu" as bush-money'' 'No; he allows me. The tiuth is, I ajn not the owner, but Coppersia , and as he wants education, I consented to play the owner. When I get the matter set- tled, I uiean to do a small piece of busi- ness on my own account, and shall proba* ly require your assistatice.' ' You shall hive it; but I must go now, or my uncle may miss me. Good iiijjiit.' ' Stop, I will go up the strpet with you. There are no night-watchmen in the town, I Ivliever 'None.' '*\ very curious circumstanc^c in such a liyge pi ice.' The two friends walked together till tliey (uime to Ludovieko s house, and then parted for the night. On trying to enter, M.'risou found the door was locked. H* M CRAKJALLAN CASTLE. tapped i^t the kitchen-window, in the ex- pectation that the servant woulJ, as on previiius (»uca!t to knnc-k loudly. " Lud.pvic o caiue to the door himself, fuilv drtbf^fd. '"Wiili.iiu. }ou are late,' said he. '1 wanteii ^ou lo write to-night.' ' I went to tlie elocution," replied the nephew, sulkily. ' You have not been there all this time.' ' No ; I took a walk afterwards with Rankin.' * Vou could not do that, for I find that he Wiwi in that woman Endliy's since nine ; liut you were not there — where Were you V ' I was at the " Ea2;le." ' ' How could you iiff)rd to go there V ' I paid nothing — 1 was treated.' ' Kv whom '" ' Mr. Waiiwight.' ' And you spoke to him about business matters 1' ' I dill not.' ' You did ; otJierwise how did you tell a lie' Have I not warned you against carrying lliini;s out of theOffice ? I have no douht he has been asking you about the ships' ace mi its, and you have been Billy enough to tell him. I took you in fr )m charity, V\ illiam, and you have not turned out what I expecteii. Y(m keep late hours, and, I fear, bad company ; even n.>w your face is swollen with ii.toxi- Cation — at the very door 1 felt the smell of wine upon you ! For your mother's Bake I have borne with you ; but patience has its limits, and unless you change com- pletely, 1 shall be ol>liged to dismiss you at the end of your apprenticeship. 1 shall, if possible, keep you till then, as, if you Berve your tiuie, you may get some (tthei situation, and Viehave t)etttTwith a stran- tjer thtin with me ; but tliis, too, is cim- clitioiiid on your immediate change of ha- bit. There is that lad Turner ; he ought to be ii. pattt rn to you. His master and everyboily speaks well of him. Mr. Win- ter, the school-master, tells me tliat he w an excelliiit bitin scliolir, while you can hardly master the cououonest quotation. But }iered upstairs to bed. BKeering l)itt.erly at the iilea of his uftcle lecturing tiim on propriety. And, logi(^al- ly, he was ri^ht ; for, O Ludovicko ! Lu- liovicko! bow could you presume to cut Mad carve on the Decalogue, and not al- low your nephew a similar filierty * .AO the time he has been with you he haf Seen nothing Imt thvi dry-boues of legal ai'ir.dity — no generosity, no honor, no iiighminded di.>intereflte.line^s ; and yet sowiiii; such seed you exjicet a moral liar- \estl II young men go wrong with the ht St training, how can tliey do well with the worst ! The hre that burns the green leaves will assuredly HiZe amojig,«t the '!rv. The bt)dy that is onee piaeed on an inclined plane will not relax in its down- wanl c mrse at the mere I adding of him who fir^t put it there, p. ihaps with the intention that it should onK proceed a snort way ; each inch traversed will ga- thi r fresh momentum, till, rolling down v waters be- li>vv, and be lost tbrever. Wainrinht, on leaving M orison, went further up the street, and tr.ivt i>ed the to\Miin ditferent directions, lb- anxious- ly scrutniised diff r>-nt public Imdoings ; where back entrances were open he went in ; he crept alon^ the shadows of the walls, and otherwise (uiiou.-ly examined the geojiraphy of the town, lu dark places he used a small lantern, which v\itliout j'iving very jireat li>;ht, it en- ahled him to thread his way tiiiough in- trirate p iss iges. He had just used his li^ht on entering a narrow ally, Imt hear- iog a slight noise, he dosed it, and next moment received a violent blow on the he.id. lie noiselessly ran out into the street, and went home to the inn hjf a circular route. CHAPTER XVir. THE LORD OF CUAtG.\LLAN IN HIS PRIDE. The popularity of Edward alarmed An- thonv Fit /.gibbon ; be had no ol>jection to hear aUait his own renown, but so much talk ab(ait his apprenti\3e alarmed him greatly. ' 1 will speak to him to-night, my dear,' said Anthony to his wile ; ' 1 will have no more curing of doga or children, or making of speeches.' ' It ou>i;ht to have been stopped long ;igo. if you had any sense,' was the mild reply of the lady. • I never do anything in a hurry, my love ; but when I am roused, I think you know th.it I am not easilv put di wn.' '/know. Dr. Fitz^ibbori ? Whatdc you mean' Do you snpp'ise yourself ca- pable of controlling me ^ Jemima, take your lingers from your mouth immedi- ately.' CRAIGxV.LLAN CASTLE. This objurgation being addressed to the phjysioian a favorite daughter witli great ttsueni^, it Was tvi'ieiit itiat a storm was rising; and, pleading the uoeessity of calling uii iMrs Hii^fcs to see what sort of a iiigit slie had p isdL'd, Aiiliiuiiy witli- drew. in the evcnuig Edward was sum- moiiod to a cvnilirr-'iiec in the p. trior. ' Sit liowu, Lldwurd, Said Anthony with great dignity ; ' 1 wish to speak witii you.' AhfT two or three preliminary coughs, and sevtTal hxiks at his wite, as if to at- tract her attention from her knitting to his oration, Autliouy commenced his ad- dress. ' Edward (iiem), I am rather p:iiiied (hem/at the muse you ma e in tlie pub- lic mmith (nem) iou know that my dispensary has .liways been f.iuied for its acciirac_y, in resj'cct not only to the pre- Bcnbing hut to iiie making up of mcdi- cinis; but 1 am afraid in reg ird to tlie latter quaiiiicatiun it must lose its clia- racter.' ' lias any one been complaining?' asked Edward. • iSo, not exactly complaining, Edward, but sfteaking; and as it is my duty to Watch prcmunitory s^mpti^ms, I think it right to lull you that i wid permit no am.iteur practising nor public speaking iu any person under my charge.' ' You ahall be troubled no more on my account.' ' \V\11, I am glad you promise amend- ment So promptly ; but, considering my position and ^ours, Edward, you might have signified your regret iu a more peni- tent tone.' ' As I am not conscious of having done any wrong, I cannot profess regret.' ' It is enough if your master thiuMs so.' * 1 do not intend that you should con- tinue my master much longer, so that there need be no controversy on that score.' ' Eviwani !' said Anthony. ' Impudence!' said his wife. ' You forget, young man, resumed An- thony, shaking his seals, wliich he al- ways did when agitated, ' that you are ms apprenti e, and if you abscond 1 shall en- force the penalty.' ' I was never hound.' ' fha , indeed, rejoined the master, in evident embariMssment ; 'but it was un- derstood. I am afraid I shall have to i:>| eak to Mr. Grant about iiim, my dear " ' lie 11 soon bring hi.ii to his senses, Bftid the lady.' ' Mr. Grant told iiie that y 'U were to be my apprentice ; and I never take one fgr l^fs tbiiQ live years.' ' Then you have no claim on me, for 1 have been with you nearly six ye. its.' * Boy, you have not been v\icf. me HmT ' years.' ' 1 can assure you, sir, I have been here nearly six years I came at the same time that Morison went t.) Mr. Grant's; be w,is b'und six years, and [ know tliat his apprenticeship is within a few months of being I mt,' • I tell you, sir, you are tallmimy was born, playing whist — you were lor going away fir fear that someb idy might want yip[.er.' ' Mrs. Fitzgibbim, yoi are intrusive, and your memory is often ready where there is no occasion ;' at which remark Mrs. Fitzgibbon bustleil up, dashed her knitting on the table, went to the fire, put her feet on the fender and her back to hir loiil. ' Where are you going, Edward ?' ' To college.' ' And you intend coming baek here tc practise, I warr.ant. But rem' mber, sir that no education can give you my expe- rience ; and so beware of inviting com- parisoa. ' 1 have no intention of inviting com- pr.rison, or of troubling you in any way^ as I have made up my mind not to come back here, at least fir many ye.irs." ' Well, Edward, if we are to part, let us [lart as friends. I have never allowed you much money, as empty pockets are not l)ad appendages to youth ; but when you go away, I shall make you a small present ; it will iielp to pay fees.' '1 am much obliged to you, sir,' re- plied Edwari, ' but a gentleman in St. David s, a friend of Mr. ilayes, is to as- sist me.' ' \Y"hat do you say, Edward? — did you s.iy .1 friend of Mr. liayes?' ' Yes.' ' My dear sir, why did you not mention this l>ef(re? I am sure if I h.id known that any fiiend .if Mr. Hayes had been interesting himself about you, I ihottld 60 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. have done the same myself — would I uot, my dear?' But Mrs. Fitzgibbon was in thedniiips; her I'ainily cliroiiolotxy Iiud been sneered at, and, beini^ a woman, tlie offence was mortal. Edward, regarding the biiMiiess as settled, withdrew; and tiie ])air were left alone. Antliony revolved the coni- mnnications of tlie evening in his mind, and paced up and down the room, occa- sionally looking at the ceiling, and never letting go his seals. ' My dear,' said Anthony, after a long pause. 'What!' 'I am going to dine with the Agricul- tural Society to-morrow; can you let me liave my white waistcoat and stock ?' 'Oh, of course.' Tiie ice being broken, Anthony gave vent to his emotions. ' This business vexes me, my dear. Had I known that the lad had been so long with me, I would have allowed him to practice among the commonality, and halved the proceeds with him. Taken in sutlicient quantity, the shillings of the poor mount up. Besides, if he turn out a genius, 1 shall have no credit by him. I never gave him any instructit)n — he has picked it all up liimselt'. Tiiere was Humphrey Davy; now he went on in that .st)rt of way, and turned out a great gun, tliough he did no good to medicine. What do you think, my dear?' 'I think it is all stulf and nonsense. The laTl's good enough, but there is as good tish in tlie sea as ever came out of it, and as to being a gei.ius, he runs from tlis girls; and when did any of your philosopher people do that?' ' You are right, my h)ve, as you gene- rally are; Humphrey was a beau among tlie ladies. I remember, when I was at college — ' 'xiud I remember when I rose this moi ning.' And seizing a candle, Mrs. Fitzgihl)on marclied off to bed, Anthony's reminis- cences of University life, which ])robahly she hiul lieard a hundred times before, being rudely nipped in tlie blossom. Anthony announced his intention of going to an agricultural dinner; but we have something more to say in reference to iliat festival. The society had just been formed. Instead of being lost in tlie county institution, Paulton parish resolv- ed tiiat it-'liould have a rural board ot its own ; and, after great delilieration on the part of the provisional committee, it was resolved that Mr. John (Iraliam as the principal proprietor, sliould be chairman, and Mr. Ludovicko Grunt, as the sharpest legal practitioner, .should be secretary ; with the other otlicers we have nothing to do. On pajier the thing looked well, and the provincial committee congratulated themselves on their arrangement; but, alas! the arrangements of men and ])ro- vincial committees are, like every thing else, subject to sublunary vicissitud.-s, aa will be seen. The secretaryship being the most onerous office, they thought it best to secure Ludovicko tirst. He pleaded want of time; but, on being assured ol the fullest co-operation ofthe committee, he consented, mentally resolving to throw the drudgeiy on Kankin, and keep the credit to himself. The committee next divided hi to sec- tions of three — one i)arty hiring a hack- ney coach to go out to Craigallan. the other going on foot to the gentleman who was to be victimised iis treasurer. As the avenue gate was thrown o]jen, Mr. and Mrs. Graham were to be seen seated at the window. ' Who is this, Mrs. Graham?' said our old friend John. ' Some of these town people in a hired ve' licle. Dear me ' it is that vulgar yel- low thing,witli tilt- broken-winded horses and hump-backed driver. I wonder they don't subscribe among themselves, and get, at least, a decent hackney, i hojie that none of our country friends will be calling with their fine equipages during the time that the fright will be at the door.' The 'fright' drove up, and the depu- tution entered ; and, on obtaining an audience of the lord of Craigallan, ex- plained their object. 'Anything that is for the good ofthe parish,' saiut, Mr. Graham,' said the spokes- man, 'Mr. Grant is a rising man. He is getting all the country bu-iness, and, 1 can assure you, although shar]» as a jiro- fessional man, is getting higher in public estimation every day.' ' I cl.'oose my coii.jjanj', Mr. Wixon — you can choose your cliairman.' ' Certainly, sir. But mark our pain- ful ])osiuon. We called on Mr. (Jrant on our way out ; we otfered, and he ac- cejited the ollice; we are committed to liim. Do, pray, consider our position.' 'I did not create your position, Mr. "Wixon.' Ail certainty was in vain ; and so Mr. Wixon and his friends had to leave, on the understanding that they were to call on Ijndovi(;ko, and endeavor to get him to witlidraW from tiie secretaryship; and if they succeeded in tliat, Mr. Wixon was himself to assume the olHce ; and tlien the way was smoothed for Mr. Gra- liam taking the supreme command. How the deputation was to face Ludovieko they Could not for the world understand; 'and after each endeavoring to throw the onus oi explanation on the other the whole three were usiiered into Ludovicko's back room, without any arrangement being made as to who would bell the cat. ' Well, gentlemen,' said Ludovieko. A pause. 'What are your commands, gentlemen?' 'A shame!' said No. 1. ' A disgrace!' said No. 2. '1 never heard the like of itl' said No. 3. ' Your are as good as him, Mr. Grant.' ' I letter, I saiy.' ' r>ut what are we to do ?' ' lliat\s it!' ' He won't act as cliairinan, you see.' ' lioth we can't get.' 'Tiierefore one we nnist want.' ' ralience, gentlemen. If I understand von alight, Mr. Graham objects to my being secretary.' - The provisional nodded. ' And will not act as chairman unlesa I resign." Another nod. ' Well, gentlemen, give yourselves no concern aliout that. I will resign.' ' You are a gentleman in reality,' said No. 1. 'You have saved the society,' said No. 2. ' We will never forget it,' said No. 3. 'The truth is, gentlemen, before Mr. Graham got his windfall, I was obliged tt) use diligence agjiinst him. I acted j)rof'essionally ; but it is a misfortune iu (Uir business that we are otten supposed to act from personal motives. That is his mistake. I can make allowance for it, both as a man and a Cbristijiii.' ' We are going to dine at the "Eagle" next Thursday ; and we are so sorry iliat we shall have to lose your company.' '1 am not much given to ])nblic din- ners, Mr. Wixton ; but if my company is of any use to you I shall be glad to at- tend, always provided your chairman does noi object.' 'The ebtertainment is to be public, and no one can object.' ' Very well. I shall be there. By the way, I may as well pay you my sub- scription as a niember.' And ])Utting the money into their haiuN, Ludovii'ko bowed them out ; the whole three going away with tlie impres- sion, tliat if there ever was a meek and injured man on the earth, or (uiein whom tiie beatitudes more tully centered than in another, it was their ex-secretary Mr. Ludovieko Grant. The story got wind, and there was a great reaction in hudo- vi<;ko's favor, lie was not exactly what niiglit have been called a i)o|)ular man, but it. was thought that he had been most unliandsomely treated ; and it was agreed on all hands, that if Ludovieko did in some degree deserve to get over the lingers, John Grahmn had not exactly sucii clean bands himself as to entitle him to the administration Qf the law. Ludo- vieko, too, had been blamed ^^^' being re- • vengeful ; but his disinterested conduct gave tiie lie to tliis aspersion ; and ho now, for the first time, stood decidedly high in public estimation. Astliedinnerdrew near, it was thought that it would be injured by Mr. Graham being chairman ; but as many people are fond of public dinners, and as it was known that i udo^iicko was to be present, numerous guests were present from mere curiosity. At last the day came ; and it was remarktd that, as the company as- sembled iu the ante-room, tlie greetings 62 CRAK^T ALLAN CASTLE. to Mr. Ciraliam were few and cold, wliilc tliose to Liulovicko were luvjueroiis and eiilliiisiastic. Un sittiiifi: down, Ludo- vioko \v;us placed on the right of the croupier, fair in llie faceof the ciiairinan ; and th<.'n tlie business of tiie evening com- menced. On tlie removal of the cloth, Joiin gave the usual li>yal toasts, then ])rospority to the society; hut all his e.x- iiiliitions were received witli freezing coldness, in due time the cou])ier i>ro- posed theciiairman; no one appeared wil- ling to rise to the toast; luil Ludovicko .stood u]), and then all followed his e.xam- jde. Jsubse'iueutly Mr. Cirant and tlie legal professi.in vvasprnpf sed, which was received with much cheering, and then Ludovicko spoke in reply, and was listen- ed to amidst great applause. In short, John was well punished. J]ut one tiling annoyed him and anotiier rogue in tlie ' company beyond measure; an.i that was the looks of Ludiivicktf. We have mure than once referred to the peculiar expres- sion of tliis singular man. Wheu tixed on any person tor a lenrth of time, tiie eye, first careless, gradually assumed a look of intense meaning, the \>i\\>\\ dilat- ed, and then came the basilisk eliect, tiie victim bectiiiiingthe subject of a Aiy^ite- rioiis terr-or, as if the owner of that evil eye were suddenly to burst upon iiini, and inllict a deadly injury. Joliii (»ra]iam quailed like a child whenever he felt that eye upon iiim, a tlirill went through his bones; and a cold moisture came out "U|)on his lorehead, as if the dews of night Were seitlmg down upon him. John ex- aggerated its intluence; for con>cience, which makes cowards of all evil-doers, told him that he had wantonly insulted Ludovicko He saw, too, that all the comjiany was against him, and he had a mysterious premonition that Ludovicko intended liim some evil ; but still the eye ■was in itself potent to terrify and alarm. The other member ot the company on whom Ludovicko bent his looks was ! Wainright. He had his suspicions ol' that j gentleman from the tirst, for Wainright i h:id tried to overreach him in settling ac- ! count-;. lie had been struck by tlie pilot's 1 account of the shipwreck, tiie inconsist- eut statements of Copi)eras the ca|)tMin, and above all, by the treating of his ne- phew. Ludovicko watched for indica- tions ; and as the glistening eye ever and anon settled on Waini^ght, the latter thought to himself that it would not i)e Well to allow himself t« be terrified by it as that was an eye which, if allowed, Would seaiTh his soul to the inmost (^ore; and dragging its evil designs from their slimy recosses, reveal them to the light of day. Had the honest farmers and bnr- g!iers,asthey quaffed and laughed, known that three such rogues were amongst them, they would have tied the place as scared men ; but, in mercy, the intents of dark min«cue from Ludovicko. He had better, however, have gone away, for his dignity suffered sorely by his remaining. When so many guests had retired, the residuary com|)a- ny got restive, and several parties not be- longing to the original assemblage were allowed to come in, by favor of tJie waiters. Proliably among these were Mori-on. Kankiii and Skipton; the latter being unusually disposed for froiic. As the night advanced, and the revellers be- came noisy and combative, John gradual- ly lost all i)ower t)f control. He wa^ about to intiiiuite his withdrawal, when, being rudely jostled behind b^- some de- parting bacch.-rnalian, he looked round, and received a tig which Skiptou had aimed at a sleeping guest. 'Jurning angrily round to discover where the missile came from, a nut inten- tionally thrown from the thumb-battery of liankin struck him on the cheek. John could stand this iu> longer; he made his bow, and walked oft" unmissed in the general confusion. I'he conspirators fol- lowed him, as he entered his carri.age a hu::e orange struck his hat. Kankin and Skipton mounted behind the vehicle, Skipton promising to introduce tliein to tiie maidens of the citadel 1;^' a loop-hole unknown totlieold housekeeper. Morison was about to join them ; but, receiving a tap from Wainright, he remained behind. CHAPTER XVIIL RK-UNION. Exactly at the beginning of the win- ter quarter Miss Sarali (Ti-aham entered tiie finishing boarding establishment at Taliss Hank, near St. David's, conducted by Miss Priscilla Starcli, assisted by a CRAIGALLAJT CAStLi:. 63 numerons staff of professors, lecturers, and governesses. It is not to be supjxjsed ^ that she there attracted the same atten- tion that she liad done in Paulton; for as lier inotlier truly predicted, there were so many young ladies tliere, and of snch varied attractions, that unless tlie prope'- ties of any one of them were decidedly calnmnialinjr, they iiad no chance of be- ing particularly distinguished. Many of Miss Starch s 'young friends' were riciier than 8arali, man}' of tliem more cunning in fasliicnable accomplishments, and real- ly, it the truth must be told, some ot them had more striking figures and prettier faces. Edward Turner could not have been brought to believe this tact; Imt vre are not, as faithful historians, bound to adhere to the dictation of love->ii'k young gentlemen. All ladies and gentle- men in his ^it"ati()n are prone to exag- geration, and, to the end of time, will in- sist on seeing, and on others seeing, quali- ties in their beaux and l)ellesi which exist only in their own heated imaginations. Strange is the affection between the sexes. If a girl is a romp, her lover thinks it a bewitciiingeccentricity; ifayounginan is dissi])ated it is oidy an exul)erance of si)i lit in the eye of his mistress. If a lady's nose inclines to the pug, it gives tone to the countenance; if a gentleman has a squint, he is set down as intellectual. Happy jirinciple, that in a w irld undeni- ably endowed with a reasonable share of thorns and thisiles,'a disposition should exist to convert blemishes into graces. Edward,. and indeed nobodj', recpiired much of the ideal in order to regard Sa- rah as a beautiful girl. Still in her teens, her Itiiigllaxen hair fell in massive ring- lets over a brow of uncommon openness; the mouth, the exponent ot teelings, was indicaiive of the purest benevolence; tlie brigiit blue eye beamed intellgMU'e, and the whole lace was that of a sensible, pure-minded, loveable young woman. More cannot be said. In conduct she gave MissStarch no trouble; and tliat lady was at a loss to understand the kind of do- mestic insubordination of which she was accused by Mrs. (irabam. With the other young ladies she was- a general favoiite, unobtrusiveiicss and good temper being qualities which gain triendsaswell within as without the walls of a boardiiig-sch(.ol. The young lady with whom Sarah most associated Wiis Amelia Paterson, who, in ago and tastes, with the addition of more liveliness, bore considerable resemblance to herself. Amelia belongen- ately said, that the yotmg people migUt have a dance. Sarah assisted at the mak- ing up ot Ihe invitation-cards, and great was the consumption ot colored note-pa- per, colored envelo])es, and colored wax on the blessed occasion, to say i oliiingof the bnrning of tapers during the blessed day. •I wonder, mamma, how it is,' said Miss Paterson. ' that papa so seldom asks any of his students to our parties. Tliere's Dr. Triangle, now ; whenever he has a rout he has a lot of nice students — some ot them even taking the shine out of some of the otficers; and then they call there, and arm the Triangles to church and market. Now, here we are dull all the year round.' ' Papais too tight-laced upon that [)oint. But here he comes to answer for himself. Papa, Amelia wants you to ask some of your students tor Thursday evening.' ' Nonsense, man;ma,' reidied the learn- ed ppofessor. 'She says that Dr. Triangle's people always have them.' 'I do not know what may take [dace at Dr. Triauiile's ; but I know that when I was a student many of us were asked to Dr. llypothenuse's, and I know the opinion ot the class concerning tliem.' 'What was it, i)apa? — do tell us,' said the curious Ameliii. 'Do you insist on knowing it, Ame- lia?' ' I do.' « 'Well, then, the on dit was, that the rich students only were a-ked, and they were so honored in order tiiat they migJit have an opportunity or uiaking up to the misses.' ' For sliame, papa I And before Jliss Graham, too, I really am surprised at you,' said the mother. ' Truth is truth,' rejoined the undaunt- ed pundit. ' But, by the wny, I have one stiident, a very clever fellow, that I mean to pay some attention to during the session, and I shall ask him.' 'You may sprre yourself the trouble, after the explanntion you have given, said the dame, tartly. ' Don't bo alarmed, nunnma, I mean to ask him entirely on my own account. He is such a hard student, that I question if he will come ; or, if he should, n t feel very well. Let us go, Amelia.' ' Nothing of the sort. Papa is bringing that nice fellow here, and I mean to have a talk with him.' LJ]i came the professor and Edward, the lovers feeling that the catinon's m(juth Would have been felicity compared with this mcf-ting. ' We have a majority of ladies. Turner, by some mishap ; and some of our friends here,' said the professor, ' compl.iin that there has not been enough of dancing.' Edward took the bint, and, with much deference, asked if he might be honored to have Miss Patersonas a partner forthfe next quadrille. Sarah turned warm at this announce- meut ; another gentleman asked her hand for a second quadrille in a different part of the room, and so she could not even dance in the same set. The quadrille over, Amelia hung on Ed- ward's arm for some time, and the two conversed long and earnestly. On quitting him, Amelia hastened to Sarah, and twitted her on looking cross. Sarah de- nied, and said something about having a dull partner 'That was not my misfortune,' said Amelia. ' Turner.^is a jewel of a mm, and so free from conceit and forwurdne.s.s like young men of his age. Do you know, Sarah, I h.^ve a good mind to set my c;ip fur this I erson. I am told he is pour, but old ilodges has taken a fincy for hiui. Besides, papa says he is so clever and well well-behavcd, that fie is sure to get on even without lu-lp. But, dear me, giii, how funny ytf CASTIJ!. objiects she had in view was to keep jou out <'f tLie way of tlial jounji; umn." ' But I did not knuv\ that., Ali.>s Stiireh." ' You lui^lit, howi-ver, have c()nji'C- tured. Oh, goocliies^ti uiu ! that i, who have been so sueeet-blul in guiding the htudies I't' the young, and who liave got a nauje for the propriety and di meanor of ray pupils even in the colonies, thut I should have been entrujiped into allowing tiandesline correspondence under my very eyes." 'iJine Starch,' replied Sarah, with ^reat firmness, 'you do jue injustice, and give yourself unnecessary alarm. 1 have Been the young man only onee, and then 'fit Amelia Patterson's, and both b^ mere fttxjidfiit ; atid he has m>t spoken a word t/t) me that you .'.'nd tlie whole world Jjiight nat havie heard.' » J 'lit he may have writter! V 'liii has not written! In'^eed, I do not tiiink that he cares a straw iC'.'" u^e, and alv.Mys t-ikes care to avoid me. ' A mere wile to make ytni jealous. Oh, iny 3 pot dine with you himself.' • Well, yotj. Miss Hodges, can do it. I fira a yirofessionui person, you know.' * 1 am. a professitjnal person, too, for T keep my b.rothers house, and I could not (.fJVnd iiim by meddling with fidward.— Besides I respect him myself; bad I been Tuung, he is just the sort of person 1 would have taken for a husband.' _ . ' Excuse me Miss Hodges, that is not language fit to be used before one of my pupils as yet uninitiated in the ways of the world.' ' Fiddlestick !' said the more-than-plea- pant Miss Hodges. ' [ have always s .i iny any ques- tions. Consider the invitation 1 gave you !or to-morrow recalled 1 ' 'Madame,' answered Edward, 'I have so high an opinion of your views of pro- j)riety, that I shall regard it as a privi- lege to be allowed to accede to them.' 'Thank you, sir; 1 tnay afterwards have an opportunity of acknowledging your politeness.' ' Your present good opinion is of it- self a suf&iient reward ;' and Edward liowed himself to the ground. Once move Etlward ssiw Sarah alone, and on the sti-eet leading out U) Taliea Bank. ' Shoidd I speak?' thought he. ' Will he sjeak ?' Hiought she. Alas! alas! iutirmity of purpose, arii- ing from very depth of attachmt ut, again (lid its work, and, blushing scarlet, he touched his hat. Sarah, palJing as usual when the critical time came, reddened when she saw him pass. 'I shall presently go mad with love or hate ! Would that 1 Unew ids tlumghts. If he despised me, I might contrive to despise him too. No ; 1 could not do that. Alas ! I could never school my heart to despise him who is its idol. But why does he not speak ' He may have heard of my pledge to Miss Starch ; but I am just about going away, and one wsrd now would have been no sin. If he were less proud, 1 think he would love me, or had I been poor, like Aiuelia P.iterson, I think he would do it. 1 cannot live thi» way ; 1 must know the worst at once. 1 might make Amelia my eonfidatit. No — that w(mld not do — she loves him too.' Ami Sarah never told her love. CHAPTER XIX. lovers' vows. At the conclusion of the University ses- sion, Eilward returned to.PauIton. 1I« arrived by tlie evening mail, and, as might CRAIQALLAN CASTLE. «T kftve Ihmjti expected, his fii«t act was to Walk along the CraigalliUi-road, knowing, as he did, that Sarah had retunieil home BOiiie week or two hefore. lie wenl dose up to the castle, and saw from the few lights that the lainily were by themselves. Was Sirah there? was the anxious cogi- tation of the l(jver ; and il thi-re, how coul 1 he obtain an interview ' His niiml was now made up tit brave all h iz irds ; and hid he lived in the days of kni^lit-er- rantry, he might have eli dleriged cham- pions hy the si-ore, on the supposition that their defeat held out the slightest pros- pect of his being able to gain his object But in modern times anxious swains must try strat ig-m, not passages of aius ; an ly right ; — when will your mother beinl The child stared, and, after apause, re- mark. -d, spontaneously — ' Mother gi e me mine supper, and then Maggie go to her lied.' Ihere was hope here, for if Maggie had to get her supper and to be put to bed, E.per was lost on Sarah. ' The letter ifi iiit>iile', Mrs. Martin ; run after her, or she may drop it.' Mrs. Martin hobbled after the receding damsel, and catching her by the skirt, said there was a note inside from Mr. Turner, at which Sarah gave a low cry. ' I kent how it would be,' said Martha. * I never saw ony thing else happen in thae kind o' things. For goodness sake keep quiet, or your mother may hear.' The note bore 'E. T., at the rustic bridge. About to leave the country.' Sarah was for running off as she was, hut Marth.i furnished a shawl, and ii was re- solved that Mrs. Arthur should accom- pany the young lady to the rendezvous, while Martha should mount guard at the loor communicating with the garden. Sar?ih recognised the figure of Edward, and advanced without the aid of escort. He silently seized her by the hand, and finding his pressure duly returned, an in- dication not to be despised either in love or Iriendship, he became bold at once. ' I liave, said he, ' accepted an appoint- oipnt in an emigration ship, and am to Bail tomorrow; and, as I migh never see you again, I have taken the great liberty of asking you to meet me in this way.' Sarah trembled violently, which formed a gor1 I shall have a spoke ill y'>ur wlieel, then, my hoy ! — (the hitter hfing a lueutal ej;u;ulation.) Well, good bye, Turaer. I ain gUul to Bee y(»u turn out so well. I suppose the old woiutn, your mother, will be getting proud of you.' ' I do not know,' said Edward, redden- ing. ' A person of hf r education would probably tiiiuk more of me if 1 were in BOme more prominent posiii m.* ' Ah ! you are getting ashamed of her, I suppose.' ' No ; she was to mi^et me here by ex- press appointment, before I sailed.' ' Which appointment you take care not to keep.' ' Mirison, you are quite insulting! I certainly should have been here some days l)efore iu order to have met her, but the liel ay was owing to no fiiult of mine.' ' Well, it is no matter ; the affectitm ^hat she should have showed to you she ^hrew upon me, for positively I li.id more of her attention than was quite conve- nient.' ' Hold, Morison ! otherwise I may be tempted to do what I may atterwards be sorry for. Vou know that the care be- stowed on you hy my mother was much more than the pittance pgid by your uucle entitled you to, and it in unieeling and un- / manly to s(ieak to her sou in that strain.' ' Pittance, sir ! So long as my mother was living the allowance waa most hand- some ; and knowing that, my uncle did not thiuk it neci es.iry to per| eiuate a bid oustotu. Besides, did he not patronise you? ' Of me you may speak as you like ; but dare again to speak of my mother iu that tone, and you shall repent it.' » What will yuu doT' • What any uum of s})irit would do in the circumstances — kn ic|c v< ii ilown.' * Do you think I would all iw you to do • Y(Hi have it in your power to allow bm to make the experiment.' 'Eiwards flushed face, dilated nos- trils, and fl ishinji; eye, showed that he was nut to he trilled with ; and although Morisiin was, of the two, the possessor ot most physical force, yet, heing of the bul- ly order, he quailed before such an antag- imist. ' Do you suppose. Turner,' said he, af- ter a pause, ' that I would tight in a place of husincfis? It may l>e the fishion with students, but not with grown-up people.* ' I do not want to fight," replied Ed- ward, ' and never fought in all my lite, and well you know it from the many times that iu boyhood I allowed you to strike lue with iiupunity. I am not a boy now, and will not, on any pret^'nce, allow you to treat me otherwise than on terms of perfe'!t equality.' ' That's a good joke ! A laborer's son equal to me, a gentleman born. I tell you, E Iward, you may make old Hodges, and people in their dotage, believe you clever, hut the world will never regard you as a gentleman ' ' I m perfectly indifferent on that score,' 8 lid Edward, with a good-humored sneer. ' Your world is not my world; and if I receive the approval of those whom I es- teem, the censures of those who are your idols will not disturb m« much.' ' And yet, with all your philosophy, you aspire to the money of Sarah Graham.' ' ' Tis false, sir. I never aspired to her money. It is one of tiie misfortunes of those who are rich anil noble at the same tiiue, that all attentions are apt to l>e construed into the love of pelf ; but Miss Graham knows that I prize her from higher motives.' ' So you do prize her, do you?— and she knows it, does she V Edward now saw, when too late, that in his excitement he had said too much ; hut he attempted to recover himself. ' Yes, I repeat that she knows that I prize her and evtTy young lady whose po- sition in society is above my own. Dur- ing my resilience in St Davi i s, I had frequent opportunities of adilressing her; 1)11 1 I seorned to lay myself open to the imputation of heing a fortune-hunter, or her to the risk cf scandal in forming a low connexion.' ' It is well that you have given over your old tricks; for, mark me, Edward!' — and here the native ferocity of Morison, hmg kept down during the conversation, hnrst out with volcanic fury — ' I have a paulianl for Miss Graham myself, and 1 care not who knows it ; and be he high or low who thwarts me, by the heaven 70 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. above, ho shall make no progress so lon^ KS a firoji of hlood is in my Ixidy. I care not a!:h(iugh tlic 8.)Hff)!d w;iit d me the first iiioutrit after vengeance ! Give me but vengeance — pve ine hut to know the aaan wh*8 Graham ever given you any cncourngement, th«t you would madly do battle in ttiis niuiderous wayl 'No!' roart-d Morison. 'She never gave me any encouragement ; on the con- trary, whe ha8 ever riit^couraged me. I hate her foi that ; and I shall hate those ■whom she may encourage. Look you. therefore, well to yourself. She has odd notions, exa(;i!y of \ our stamp, and af- fects to despise richeo ; hut neither you nor she, nor any created being, shall de- spise me with impunity.' ' 1 have heard jou patiently,' replied Edward, ' and I regard all yovir grimace as a mere theatrical trick, .iltogeth' r un- befitting any peruon in their roher senses. Oh, you need not rave jind foam, or tear your passions to t ittcrs. T shall do in my matters of galhintry precisely as I tfiink fit; and if you will interfere, remember that there are juils and lunatic-asylums for the obstrepenua. Farewell.' ' Dog !' <^r>iwled Morison, as he ground his teeth in fury. As F/lward went out, a gentleman of foreign appearance entered the office, and familiarly tapped Morison on the shoulder. The latter crossly resented the caressing; but the stranger, not heeding the re- pulse, carelessly threw himself into a chair. ' What is your business, sir ?' asked Morison in a churlish tone. ' Ah, good ! very good! very good in- deed ! If Mr. Morison does not know me, who should '' 'What, Wainrightr ' 'I'he same, my deur sir !' ' 1 did not expect yi u so soon.' * Neither diark on hoi.rd the eiiiii.rant ship, but he was induced to do so fir two reasons ; first he could make no academio progress in his studies during snuuner : and, secondly, he could not Irook the idea of being dependent on Hodges during the recess. He calculated < n bfing liome in time for tlie winter course ; and the vo\ age, besides giving him expeii- nee in his adopted protession, would eidarge hia acquaintance with the world, and gratify a passion for travelling that had early been developed. The owners of the ves- sel Were not particular about the skill which they might obtain, provided ii oould be jijocured at a cheap rate. The carrying of a medical officer was a good point in Mdverti?ing, and this was one of the reasotis that induced them to secure the services of one ; and Ek the duty on terms which might not have tempted more advanced practitioners. ^ The first day on board well-nigh satiat- ed Edward of voyaging. Although a pass- able day on land it was rough aft sea, there being an uneasy broken swell, which caused considerable lurching, and, from the pt'sition of the wind, bade fair to denote bad weather. The emigrants were almost all seasick ; and Vieiug but recently on board, anp without arrange- ment of their storeb, they were sj rawling in every direction, and obstrnciing the seamen in the management of the vessel. Eifward was sick among the r< st , and the Bailors made themselves merr^ at the iilea of a doctor being unable to ci.re himtielf. The confusion was at irs height when the voice of the captain was hearil above the dashing of the sea, the wistling of the wii d, and the cries (»f theeiiigrants, male and female, adult and infantine. Tom- my Bark> r was a little square Dutch-built man. His face was decidedly good, bar- ring a very heav^ under-lip ; hut then hia neck was so sliort, his shoulders round, his legs bandy, that the facial Hn^ameDtif CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. n had little effect in modifying the unpre- possessing aspect of his general a[tp«ar- ance. r.nuiny's hat appeared to rest on hisshouWers/nuthis liead ; pressed down behind, and raised unduly btfore, with thin blick hair streaming from under- neath, it was a perp.;tu.il phenomenon that it did not hlow off. Uow it was Stuck on nobody Itnew ; but true it was, that in the g-il.s of wind, when all the crew had to strap down their north-west- ers with bjw-lines, and even tlien could scarcely keep them on, tho captain's liead was somehow so crammed into his hat that, blow lii>;h, blow low, there it stuck, and stuck so bvmly that the uiaininiiit it- self was more likely to go than tiiat mys- terious hat. rommy'e hat was an adjuAct of himself; whether he used it as anmht- cap w.is not known, but he was ne?er seen without it. When he wont to bed the door of bis cabjrv \va6 bolted, and no mor- tal message could make b.iui rise to undo the fastening. Blessed with lunjis of great volume, he could converse tiirough deal boards, or Mumel logs fi r that m.it- ter. And, indeed. Tommy rather li-ed to tal - with his offi-ers when they were outside and he in bed ; for while ho spoke with the voice of a stentor, and tney too, with tolerable h)udnee8, he always pre- tended that be did not hear them, and a desperate business it was to get a message Bent to Captain Tbomas though the pauels of the door. When not in bed, Tommy always hent himself over the tire, iookingearnesily in- to it with his little twinkling coal eves, ^ and occasion illy rubbing his dumpy mut- ton hands. Such was the captam who etood on the quarter-deck of the Brilhaiit, as, with outstretclied canras, she was heaving and toiling through a troubled 8ea, as if in desp.iir of ever reaching; C i- nada. founny swept the deck, the liori- Bon, and the rigfiiL"^ with a frowning look, and at length bawled out — ' Mite a-hoy ! Clear the decks of the land-lubbers, and put them under tiie hatches i' ' Yes, sir.' * \Vh(» have we here?' giving the pros- trate person of Edward a shove with his foot. 'The doctor, sir.' 'Doctor-fellow!' roared Tommy; 'I ■ay, you doctor-fellow, I want you !' Elward, without well knowing what he did, followed the commander into his eftbin. Tommy produced some flour and currants, an I, puttin^J them down b<; or Ekiward, told him t > l.ako some cakes, Vjd to Bet about jt jmmediateiy, as he wished them for supper, and likod to eat them cold witli Iresh butter. ' Who do you t.ike me tor .' asked Ed- ward in perleet amazement. ' flie doctor, to be sure.' ' xVrid do y<»u think, Cajitain, that it \n the doctor « duty to b.ike c.tkes !' ' The doctor lellow before you did so.' ♦ But I will not do so.' ' Do you know who /am?' aakod Tom- my in his turn. ' Yes, the captain.' ' Then,' added fommy with an oatii, ' why don't you obey my orders!' ' Because i came on board to attend to the sick.' ' tjiek ! Do you suppose that we allow people to get sick on lioard ship ? I am captain lure, and every man iiiu,-»t ol><-y me, whoever he is, or whatever 1 uMy tjid him do. Besides, you are not a regular doctor, or if ^ou were its all a sham getting doctors ol any kind — a liait to { catch greeu emigrants. Get tlie cakes ready, sir.' 1 E Iward made no reply. Tommy went up the companioti-stairs to give orders on diclv,undtiie doctor was h-lt uich hid , head le injng on tiie table still iieavily op- pres.Ncd with sickiicNS. Alter remaining ill ttiis |>o.sture some time, he thought the fresh air of the deck would be in his fa- vor, and in an hour he followed lommy. ' Have ^ou baked them?' said the com- mander. ' No, and don't intend doing it. Tommy beckoned to the carpenter, and whispered — ' Build up half a foot of the doctor fel- low s bed at tlie bottom.' At t\\\s moment a sailor called Tommy's attention to a small craft bearing duwa upon them, in the directii^n of the town, and her appearance 'attracted general ob- servation. The hull was eniirt ly black, the rigging rakish, and the whole build so slight and sharply tormed that she s ■eiiied to dance upon the wat r. I'oiumy envied her the en)(iyment of the wind that w.is against him, and having satislied himself ih.it slie was from Paulton, he sudueuly aaked Edward who drew his half-pay dui'- ing the voyag,,. ' My motlier,' was the reply. 'Yact.tahoy' — yacht! y.icht a-hoy I and certainly rommy liail.d in gallant style, but in v.un, so far ii^, with t .0 iiiutit iiiimite attt-u- tion to tlie aiajos tlmt umi.iUv accMjiipafj that sptrcies ol vocal lueluil^. An the Yi-8- eels came ahn-ast of eacli ulher, rouiiii} resumed operations with redoubled en- ergy. ' Quassia ! I say, black fellow 1 1 11 giveyiiu five shillirifib to carry a iijes8ai;e into Piiulton : a land-lubbir htre lias luu- tinjed — 1 want to stup his home pay, yuu black thiel !' The dancing nijrger paid no further at- tention to Tun. my 8 importunity, except changing his tune, and the spectators were regaled with a verse of the ditty commencing — * Posfiim up the gum-tree, Upii no, up 11 t^u ! Rac'ioii m ihe will jw, Duwu btlow, dowu below !' Tommy was sadly mortified at his fail- nre; and, although nobody dared to laugh in his face, it was plain that there was a leer in the eye of the whole ship s com- pany, from the mate down to the cabin- noy. Night drew on, and Edward was shown into his bed, which was off the stair leading to the deck. Tlie situation was exposed, but thoroughly worn out, Edward was glad to tumble into it. On trying to stretch out his weary limbs, he found the length contracted sj much that his leet touched the bottom most unplea- santly, and he could not sleep the whole night. Next morning be compl. lined to the mate, but was relerred by him to the captain, as the redrcsser of all grievances. Soon after. Tommy sent a boy to him ■with a hag of flour and the currants, and again Edward declined the office of chief baker. At night he found his bed short- ened so much that his knees almost came in contact with the top, and he saw that he was the victim of per.secution, and that the captain had taken tliis strange method of inducing him to surrender. The se- cond morning he got a hgbt, and with a hammer and chisel endeavored to remove the obstruction ; but the carpenter came to him, and civilly asked him to return his tools, as he was not permittea to lend them. Edward then borrowed some in- Btruments of one ot the emigrants, and anew proceeded to work, but was inter- rupted by Tommy. ' Do you mean,' said he,' to break up the siiip and send us all to Davy s locker' Put down your iiammer, sir, or I 11 have you tied hand and foot and flung into the foi:e hatch, as a W'arning to the crew against mutiny.' * Captain Uarker,' replied Edward, ' on a point like this I obey you, becauge yo« are my superior ofticer, and wherever youi counuands are at all reasonable I shall comply with them. But as you have, in the presence of your men, and also in that of your pahsengers, been pleased to men- tion me in connexion with mutiny, i think it right publicly to declare that I was en- gaged as surgeon to this ve&sel, that the CMptain has taken a spite at me because I will not act as his cook, and has lowered hiuiseif so far as to take the poor revenge of ma' ing my lied uninhabitable, l^ou all see that he will not allow me to alter it. 1 must sleep somewhere, and have accord- ingly resolved to make my bed amougs* the passengers.' All present seemed to feel for Edward ; and Tommy, somewhat crest-fallen, and without uttering a word, ran down to bis cabin. The weather continuing rough. Tommy orden d down the hatches on the poor emi- grants much oftenerthan Edward deemed safe for them, and he determined on bringing thesuhject above board. Touch- ing his hat rc-pectfully to Tommy, he addressed him one day on the quarter- deck : — ' Captain, if you please — ' 'I dont please," said Tommy, pet- tishly. ' A good many of the passengers are ill!' 'Well, cure them! I suppose you have plenty ofjalap?' ' I am afraiii they are ill in consequence of the hatches lieing so often down ; they don t get enough of air.' ' And yoa would let the hatches be open to give them plenty of water, would you^' inquired Tommy with a sneer. ' 1 know there is a difficulty, captain ; but if holes were pierced in the hatches.' ' Pieree hatches, sir ! are you nntd T ' Well, at least don't put on the tar* paulin.' ' I'll put on what T like. I know bet- ter than you do. The hatches and tar- paulin keep them warm.' * But consider, sir, there is no change of air.' ' I'll consider nothing !' and so ended the colloquy Ttimiiiy was not naturally cruel, but he was arbitrary, and his ill-will to Edv^ ard might have made him go great lengths ; but in insisting on closing up the hatehea he was not really aware of the mischief he was doing. Better educated pers(m* than him, both on land and sea, were, and still are ignorant of the danger of closing up human dwellings from a tuis taken notion of giving wa-rmth ; but, w^ CEAIGALLAN CASTLE. 71 ■kail uot philosophise. Edward made himself tolerably at home among the emi- grants, who wero most j^rateful fur his attenticms ; and he gr- birometer, and louiid that the m-rcury h id suddenly fallen. Thinking tliat someacoi lent had h ippened to the instrument, he examined it att> n- tively, un 1 again saw the motal undt-rgo- ing consideral)le igitatioa, and at lengt'.i permanently settle dt)wu at the lowest figure. Satisfied that this l>eto8ened an extraordinary change of weather, he went on det!k io order to communicate his sus- picions ; but on ascending, appearances BO much b died the prognostication that he hesitated to eoaimutncate his fears. The sky Wiis pure and cloudless ; the sails hung loosely on the masts ; not a lireath of air Stirred, and tio.itiug pieces of wood which had been observed hovering beside the ship fir days still kept their places. Ne- vertheless, Edward knew that mercurial warnings were n..t to be despised, and he accordingly mentioned the circumstance to the Captain, who happened to be on deck at the time. ' So you keep a g^isometer, do you ?' laid Tommy, who had a profound con- tempt for seieutiht! applications, and who very likely would have tabooed the com- pass itself had it been an instrument in- troduced in his OAn day. ' 1 say, mate, tho doctor-fellow says we are going to have a storm ! — isn't it a good joke '' The mate grinned, and so diil the s lil- ors within hearing. Accustomed to their own weather-indioators, they were quite intolerant, in the style of Tommy, of in- struments for the express purpose. ' I wish,' ejacnl.ited rommy, ' tliat we had the wind. My eye! if we .-houM not run before it ' llo, there ! up wjth the moon-rakers and skyxscrapers, the etud- ding-Siils and every inch of oanvis that youoaa gdt hglii yf. And, d'^e hear? fling water on the sails to fill them up anil c.itch all the doctvjr-fellftw's squall !' Elward had some diUioulty in submit- ting to so much sarcasm ; F>ut he went l>elow, and advised tlie emigrants to pre- pare for the impending cai.istrop'ie. — .Vmong them he was regarded as an ora- cle ; and under his ad\icc and direction they commenced lashing fast their trunks and appurtenaiices, lest, in tlie event n a white swell was seen rising in the distant horizon, a bluish tint was d.-velop'd in the atmo.spiiere, and an op- pr s.sive kind of closeness wis lt to be aware of anything un- usual. The horizontal-crested waves came nearer, and heralded the direction of the witid, which the sail.irs thought would strike the vessel's starbo ird wide ; and they trembled for the Consequences with so much canvas stretched. Hut, as if to show the eccentricity of the coming storm, the white swell, when within a knot or two of the bro.id.side, dr .pped Astern, and wheeling round with a semi-circular mo- tion, the wind cam- upon the sails and the stern. The Brilliant yielded to the impulse almost immediately, and plunged on with great rapidity. ' Take down the upper siils sir?' said the mate, trying to prompt Tommy. ' No, sir ; we've wanted wind long 74 CRAIGALLAN CASILE. enough not to take advantage of it when It COIUCS.' Thu 8uilurs tliuuj^ht Toniiiiy mad ; but, well dibcijiJiiudjilit^ BuiiJ uolliiug. Muuii- wliile ilie vt.:8vser8 taulxibbt-gau to groan, the ujiptr ui.ipta lieuC liKe t«igs, and the htirizi'U got liLickcT and IjlucKer ; while the buiigli t^'l' lUti wiudasaumcd thai btead^ whihiliiig Mtuiiil vNiiich beiokeus prtigrcs- eive increase ol' intensity. Toiunjy cast a niaOdening glare on ilie darkening pros- pe< t, and at last gave the word to take down tiie ujptr canvas. ' Bare poles would have been nearer the thing !' gruwled the mate. The wind, however, saved the trouble of manual operation , lur, smash went Tomiu) s ri)_yal-mii8t8 tiie moment iIk men were ascenuing the rigging. ' Duwu with the topgallant-sails,' said Tommy, now alarmed, • and clear away the broken gear !' The men went up; but, while in the act of winding up the topgallant Bail, the yard was blown otf, and with it two ad- hering men. ' About ship !' roared Tommy ; but at the rate she was going, this was no ea«_) matter. However, she was got about; and as the men clung to tlie spar, and were seen above the surlace, they were picked up after considerable delay. i'he gale iu- ereasing, the main-tupgallant-mast went next ; and Tommy now ordered l>are poles, but loo late for his foretop-sail, wliicli Durst Irom tlie blocks, and in a lew min- utes was t>[Aii into libbons. Tommy gut frantic ; tlie putting of the sliip into riglit trim was now becoming not only a work of danger, but almost of impossibility — Still the men labored hard, and Tommy, Dow duly alive to the danger, took tne wisest preCiuiioiis that tlie circumstances would permit. The landsmen were below, the sails taken in so far as they were not akeady blown out, the masis struck so lar as they were not already broken away , but all that Tommy and his men could do Was but small in comparison with the de- Vaataiiou caused by the fury of the ele- ments. Alih ugh generally the Brilliant answered the lulm, she was so much out of sorts on tliis stormy night that the Bteersman kept her head to the wind with the utmost dilhculty ; and as the wind it- self did not sieadily blow from one p .int, but eddied about consi Jerably, the dangi r oiten was imminent either ot ioundenng or of being capsized on her beam-enus. The emigrants below were kept in a dread- ful state of SoSpense ; the n is'! abuve them was loud and incessant, and the din of failing spars, and the dragging of chains, mingling with the eracking of the wind and noise of the sea, kt^pt up such an ap- [lailing Concert of discordance that, what with the restless rolling and tossing, the poor victims scarcely knew it' thiy were on the tt^p (>( the water or the bottom of the S(!a. About midnight a aide hatch was opened, and a sailor bailed for the doctor to attend the cnptain, whose head had been laid open by a tailing block. CHAPTER XXI, THE TEMPTKR AG.AIN. At the appointed hour Morison went to the 'Royal Oak Hotel," to consult Mon- sieur Tournairc, the French dentist. Af- ter examining his teeth, the artist declar- ed that ' if de stumps were remove, his grande piizzilano would m;.ke Monsieur eat and speak as good as eber.' ' Will it take long to do V 'Bah ! — not two hour of de night!— You get stumps out instantere den de puzzilano go in, and den it harden ; and den to show that I not big villain, you stop and take pciil soupe wid me. Den you speak to all your Iriends that I good dentist.' This arrangement was contrived by Wainright, in order that the penple about the iiotel might not be sui|i)iised at Mori- son stopjiing long with a stranger ; and on the table being cleared, and wine put down, Wainright's grand ph;t came to be unlolded. ' You know,' said that worthy, 'that you wrote me ofa grand piirty which wag t(j dine at L'raignllan on tJatnrdiiy Ibrtnigbt, and, among others, you said that Day, of the Sbi}) Bank, was to be thtre. Tbe in- foriu'ition has brought me here ; for th« little business thiit I told you of is in connexion with that respectabh^ establish- ment. It has a stock of bullion on hand by far too large lor the circul ition of a sm;iU community like this; and so ' ' You intend to relieve it of its surplus rest V ' Precisely so.* 'It is a hazardous undertaking; and I'll have nothing to do with it.' ' Ilazardijus it may be with me, my good fellow ; for if 1 get nothing but nasty Scotch notes, the payment will be soon stopped, and I shall not be able to get them changed ; but with you it is a cer- tain investment. You i-hall I ave a bun- ilred sovereigns down, whatcTor the pro- ceeds mny be.' ' 1 did not allude to the hazards of gaiiv CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 7» but to the hazards of detection. If caught, I would be ruined tor life, besides being hanged or tnmspurted.' ' U'hy, AJi>ri8uii, you speak like a com- mon I'oiiC pud.' ' And \ti not the undertaking of the foot-pid order V ' My dtiar ti-ilow, how can you possibly allow yourself to be tlie victim of sclt- deceptiori ? Your foot-pad ia a low, vul- gar wretch, wljose m-coe^-ilied reduce liiiu from hand to mouth, and who, on tlie starvation of the moment, clutches at a "watch or loaf, having Botany Bay in per- spective atWrlie time, hut l)ravingit fur the Bake of a meal or a whole p;iir of trou- sers ; whereas your a[ipro|iriator is a gentleman of education, with more or less capit.il on hand, and wlio, accordingly, has not only wit to devise schemes, but leisure to digest them.' ' But if he is caught, what says the law?' * 7/" caught, the law might speak to him in the same style as to humbler professors ; these instances that you have mentioned certainly might turn out ill, if closely ex amined ; but they are h'g il, and conse- quently salie, and that is euougu.' 'Safe! why, if you are to enter on split-hair illustrations of safety, what man is sale f )r a moment! I'liis huuse may t'.iU down upon us ; you miy, io goin^ home, i)e killed by a slate tium a r lof, or you may die in your bed ; but would it bo wise in you t' '• ^^^^^^ street-preacher ! between Sir Henry Hal- I '^^'^ =* hundred little things tnat you must ford and a horse-doctor? between the I ""^'^* •^^^'^''^'^'^ '^^°°'"^g'^''- l>on-t restrain Lord Chancellor and your uncle? between George 111. and a Bushman chief? You can see the difference between these kimis of people, and yet cannot see the difference between me and a dirty rascal who hazards bridewell and the cat's- tail for the coppers and thimbles in an apple- woman's pocket !' ' Well, 1 see a difference, but is it not stealing after all, call it by what name you will ?' ' Why if we are to resolve things into their ultimate state, perhaps you are not far wrong ; but who can be said to be free from stealing ? Where did Britain get its colonies and its slaves? Where did the Church g>-t its abbeys, priories, monasteries? NV here tiid our i.obility get their land ? Where do our statesmen get their s..larie8 ? Where do our pl.icemeu get their sinecures ' Where did your uq- olu get his acciunulatiiig property? ' I ;idmit there is sometliing m what you say ; but I am not couviuced. All your desire — give it free vent ; for when one habituates himself to large expendi- ture, it sets his invention a-going, and makes him sharper in finding tlie sinews of war. These fifty pieces now, could make you cut a figure in a pUice like Paulton ; they would make you e:iteti the eye of the heiress at the old c istle up the way. Then the other fifty might enable you to (iresent her with some trinket that ^ would effectually raise you in her esteem; there is notliing that catches women, es pecially young ones, so readily as jew- ellery.' ' But if I were seen to possess money, it would excite suspicion ; and my uncle, ib.ive all others, is uncommonly jealous. I li.df think that he suspects me f )r the three guineas that I once spoke of, al- though 1 did all I could to throw him on the scent of the servant girl.' ' There is no fear of your uncle. Blood is thicker than water ; and as to tie mo. ney, conceal it well, and use it in stuAii n CRAIQALLAN CASTLE. doses, or put it into the bank to lie until you have use fi>r it on a larger scale.' ' Thiit would not do; iti a j lace like this half the [>('j>ulati>.n l-now what the other half in doiiig.' ' Well, neiid it tn some bank iu St. Da- vid's, or bury it iu tlie ground.' ' To he sure, I could do either of these. How fertile vou are in jiroviding against diflBculti<-8 ! Now I think of it, the {mis- Best^ion of tiuch a sum is worthy of risk. Let uie know your jilans, and you will nee that I am pr pared fur a bold lhrov\t of the dice.' ' That is spoken like a man of mettle, vrliich I knew you to be from the tirst moni" nt that I saw )on.' The spider having fully charmed the fly into his meshes proceeded to unluld his dark designs. ' You must know,' resumed Wainright, ' that the Safe of the Ship Bank is on the ground fluoor in a small hed-r«>om off tlie office in which the two clerks sL ep. The Bafe door is secured by two locks and a large btjlt which, descending through the roof, can only be pulled up hy going above stairs into the hed-roouj of Day, the manager. I wish you to pull up the bolt, and I will do the rest.' * What ! while Day is sleeping ?' ' No, while Day is eating at Craig- allau.' ' Ah, true. But how will you manage the two eleri-8 V 'That 1 expect you will do.' ' But how, it I am up-irtairs V ' I mean you must manage to mnke them follow the example of their chief, and ahsent themselves fur some festive purpose.' ' 1 hnve it ! By a curious coincidence, my apprenticeship is out on Saturday ; and as it is the custom to give small en- tertainments on these occasions, I have been getting hints from one ol my fellow- clerks to that iffect already, but threw cold water on it as I grudged the ex- pense.' ' Resume negotiations immediately, and grudge no expense ; the arrangement is vital ' ' I will ; but let me know more precise- ly what I am to do.' ' Listen ! At a given hour, contrive to leave your company for some temporary yet unsuspicious purpose. Meet me in the bank court, and I will furnish you with a rope 1 idder to scale the hed-room window. Lift the carpet at the left-hand Hide of the bed-ch)8et, and you will feel a •mall h itch-way in the floor ; raise it, and then you get the handle of the bolt ; pull it up, and keep it so till you hear me give a signal ; then pour in a phial of oil te prevent noise iu the descent. Return afl you came, and you will iind me at the l)ottom of the ladder waiting you, and rrady to deliver the other tilty sove- reigns.' ' But if you are caught with the money on yuu V ' Ah ! there i« the perfect beauty of my plans ! I have contrived a mode of retreat equal to Xenophon and the Ten Thousand, or to JMoreau in the Bhick Forest — a very master-piece of wit. liark you now ! As VVainright, I have not heen here for some weeks ; as Tournaire, I leave to-morrow ; on Saturday 1 return as Wainright — but nobody steiBg me.' ' How not ?' ' Ah ! there is the escence of diplomacy, Copfieras has a small craft, wliich craft passes as a gentleman's yacht. She is to be in a creek near St. David s ; I get on hoard — she lands me near Craigallan cas- tle in a small boat, which is pulled up among the trees till my return. 1 do re- turn ; the boat is launched — sails out to the yacht — the tide suits — Copperas lands me on the coast of England, and hy Mon- day morning is back to St. David s shoot- injr sea-gulls. Tlie robbery of the hank will not be discovered till Monday morn- ing. The bolt will be iu its place, the s ife and door locks will be all fast ; and, unl'-ss Day thinks of looking at his notes ipti Sunday, wiiich no Scotch F)anker ever thinks of doing, why I am forever beyond their rt^ach ; and as for you, the sedate nephew of jour still more sedate uncle, they will as soon dream of the parson of the parish as of you.' ' My uncle, however, is procurator-fis- cal ; and, as he often says himself, give him a thread, and he will make a l)all — put him on the scent, and he will follow it up ; nay, let him get a cue ten years hence, and he will unfold the whole mys- tery.' ' Will he, indeed ' But so far from de- terring me, that only whets my desire for eq^terpriso : — «" I l\ave tha' da'ight which warriors f(«el In meeting fuemo" woriii) of iheir steel." Were I to employ horse or vehicle, or trudge on foot, any dull ass might track me out, but the ocean leaves no shoe- marks.' ' W.ll, but what say you to the coast- guard V ' Bah ! two men guarding fifteen mile* of coast ! Suppose we wanted the feUows, I bet you my hie I ccmld not find them. But come, taks off your glass, and let m CRATGALLAN CASTLE. 7T take a walk by way of reconn jitering the •cene of operation.' ' 1 must not be beyond twelve, for my uncle cumt!8 home from the oountry about tliat time, and mijjht misa me,' replied Morison. « The amiable pair sallied forth, and af- ter Several turnings and wimliiigs entered the court about tlie Ship Ban^. Cauti- ously proceeding along, VV^ainright silent- ly ponited out the window where slept the unconsciouH banker ; but he bnd Bcarcely done so, when he received a blow on the back of the head. Morison turn- ed quickly round, and in his turn received a sm:irt slap in the face. ' W'e must lly !' whispered Morison, quickly. ' No, nothing ot the kind,' replied Waiiiright ; and then added aloud, ' Ah, de gal liab more lovers than vone ! She be coquette — de female vomens the same all de world ober. Jiy gar, this is not de hotel wlu-re little gal sing me de pretty Bong. Us in the box wrong.' Saying which, they boldly walked out of tin; court. Morison rubhing his face, insisted that the omen was bad ; but his more experienced accomplice held that they had been attacked by a gallant, otherwise any other assailant would have raised an outcry. ' But if this person should ))e here on Saturd.iyT inaiuuitted Morison in nervous trcpid.ition. ' I shall see you up the ladder,' replied the Kpi.ler. ' Go home now.' And thus parted for the night two ras- cals — one sour and obstinate, the other Bul)tle and jielding, but both destitute of all thit elevates and adorns humanity. They both were resolved to give expres- sion to ami act out the dark whisperings of dr^pr.ived hearts. The sinful prompt- ings which in well-regulated minds would be hushed, or rather driven into obscurity, were l>y them nursed and indulged until they became ruling passions, and absorb- ed every other thouglit and feeling. 6i;lf had been intensely worship{)ed by both, and for the gratification of its consuming desires no resources could be too ample, and no hazard to obtain those resources too daring. Wainright walked by himself to a cliff tliat overlooked the sea. The stars, but no moon, were visible ; but the intermit- tent ll.ish of a light house on the opposite side threw a gleam across the waters, and arrested by this phenomenon, he me- chanically watched the glitter produced on the bosom of the deep, otherwise dark and motionless. Many solemnising thoughts ttnconaciuusly passed through his mind, f)r the guiltiest cannot drown reflection ^ and, alone with Nature and with God, ideas intruded themselves against even the will, and commanded the attention. The events of a life consecrated to crime wore rapidly ran over ; t'le increasing risk of dt'tection, and the consequent inces sant demand on the brain for new and un- heard-of expedients pri'Sented themselves vividly to the view of tlie burglar, and ended in a resolution that il this affiir were over, anil {>rospiTously, he would quit the old world iiliogtHher, and lead a liie of spt'culation in xVmerica or some dis- tant [>art of tlie earth. ' I am tirei returned he went to his I'ooui, and (>|ifn- ed hitH wriiii^-desk, witii tlie intentii-n ul ghialiii}; u\ei his little lioard ol three gui- neas, and (il thinking how soon their nuiu her wuuki he increased. On opening the lid he thouglit that the money was nut in its usual jM.siti"n but placed in unotht-r corner, and thiit the papers in the desk vrere also disurrar ged. Had his ri'p.isitury been opened by any one? — almve all, had liis uncle opened it, and set- n itie three guineas! And did this aei-dunt h>r the coul way in which Ludo\in- scieiice ' cori.-cience ! what cowards dost thou make of the bad ! No one had open- ed the desk, neither uncle nor maid ; it had accidentally been tossed Iroiu one side of the room to the other, and so its contents had been turned upside down. But the lu.-tling of a straw disturbs the dishonest, and Morison went to bed oon- sidera'ily agitated. At first he was dis- turbed at the idea of detectinu in the matter ol tt e three guineas ; then he was bitterly iiKirtitied that, for the sake of a paltry sum like three gunieas, he had done Bometliirg that might lead to the detec- tion of the intended enterprise, and frus- trate hi-j expectaiinns regarding the gold all but witiiin his gra^p. (jiradually he fell into a troubled sleep, and uneasy dreams hilLiwed. ' isi>, (h.n't urge me, Wainright !' said the un<-oiisciiius sleeper. ' Don t urge me ! I he lisk is too givat — I canncjt do it. One, twii. three ! Yes, he prmnised that I s^ionld have them to-night, liut he forgot. Miss Graham, too, she little knows, hut she shall know. Ready, W.un right, ready ! Hah ! there is a light ill tile room ; what is that? mer- ciful Heaven ! — what is itV There was a light indeed, for Ludovicko stood o\er him. ' Bi'y ! said the uncle grimly, 'you hav<. })een groaning and making a noise in your sleep ; 1 thoUi^iht you were ill.' ' 1 hope I did not annoy you with my talking, untie V ♦ You did not talk,' replied the cunning uncle, ' you only moaned. But sleep now, as 1 want to sleep myself, after ruy journey.' CHAPTER XXn. -MIDNIGHT DOINGS. At length the eventful Saturday arrived and the hospitality ol Craig. dlaii C'astte was exhibited on a scale of prolusion ar>d ■ luagriilicence that had not taken place since the feudal time. Massive fler\icci of plate (lid duty fur the first time, and rare dishes had been comu.issiuned froin the metrroach topics of a dan gerous character. ' Cold affair this, treasurer,' said he tc his neighbor. ' Hang me il' I ever Ba\f Buch a humdrum company.' ' It is about as bad as the society's dio CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 7» ner,' replied thehrdthor ofiB(ual. ' Worse ! there we Ii;ii Grant, who put mnw life into us I say, now, would it not have been hut t^entk-mnnly courtesy il" Graham had askfd Grant here to-day V ' biltMire, fiir lieiiven 8 sake.' ' Fooli ! nonsense I — you are getting too squtMiiii^h ; and wlien I have an>- thing to siy it must come out, and [ UKjan to say tiiis, that Grant is a ch;vi'r tcllow, and that he was an ill-used lidlow, ati(i that he will he Ufivsides with Mr. Gra- ham; arid, more thin that, I siiall he glad wliiTi tiie lime for that comes round." John Gr.iliam he.ird this, hut hiard-idt;ht; the treasurer followed, then Hayes the jirocer, then Dr. Anthony Fitzgibh .n, and then all the rest. When he got on tli(! liwn, the secretary lauglu-d most imp'iMtely loud, then cut a i-npei Bomething in the fishion of an Irish )ig ; the treahurer t'>ok to his heels, and luany were the gamb ila cut by the guests on their w.ty home. ' Our wives will laugh at us for coming home so soon, ro.irtid the secretary. * What siy y 'U. gentlemen, to a hot sup- per in tlie " Koy d Oak?'* ' * llurrih !' s lid the auditory, and to the • Royal Oak' they went. We must leave the ' Royal Oak' for the humble hostelry of Mrs. Findlay — There, in her snug hick- parlor, sat our old friends, Jones. Ogle, and Rankin, with a stranger clerk, and M orison at the bead of the table. Ogle had left Gra- ham's office for an nppftintment in th« Ship Ijink, and the str-tnger was his fel- low-laborer in that estahli^hment ; so that as Wainrijiht had desired, the who].- force was withdrawn from the hank. Morison was all graci"usne.ss to his guests, who seemed to think that some miracle had been worked on him ' I cannot tell 3'ou, gentlemen,' said ho, ' how grateful I feel for vour presence here this evening, and I am Mure my un- cle is grateful too. I t'-M him what I in- tended doing, and he was so pleased that he at (mce supplit.-d me wirli sueh means as will enable me to give you a jjood stiff jollilication. I\.:mkin, I own all that I know of my yirofession to you. and I never shall forget the pains you have taken to teach me.' ' Don t mention it,' said tlie complacent Mr. Rankin. ' If \oii ha! contented himself with a htw bow, and an extension of his scarlet cheeks to his whole fice. ' [ have just one source of regret, gen- tlemen, and th it is on accoiuit of the aV>- 8 -nee of Skipt in, the brazier. You know his entcrtainini>; qualities, and I should very much have liked that he had been here.' • I don't know," sai 1 Ogle. ' Skipton i« very jocular, and wo are all of us advano ing in position ; at least, I feel tiiat when one is in a bank, a certain degree of cir- cumspection ia imperative.' N CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. ' Skipton,' interposed Primrose, ' has a large deposit account, although it standi in the pttt} -ledger at the end where three namt's are on the page.' ' Hold, Primrose ! Hold, rash man!' cried out Ogle. ' Would you so far forget yourself as to break the sacred seal of se- crecy that liindsa bank-official? Beware, Bir, of the great precipice on which you •tand !' Primrose again blushed like a boiled lobftor. ' Well, gentlemen,' resumed Morison, ' I intended that we should be merry, and he is to be here.' ' If he in invited,' replied Ogle, ' that ends the matter.' ' It is a res judicata,^ said Rankin, learn- edly ; ' and for my part, nobody makes nie Jiiugh so uiucli asSkipton, so by all means iot lis have him.' ' Certainly !' said everybody. But as Slorison prepared to go in scurch of ti>? mi^sinlr tjut-st, everybody insisted that he eliould not, and that they would go. But Morison, (or the reasons that the reader knows, would not give n|) the enteprise to any of them ; aod promising to be back iryio time, went off in search of the in- genious brazier. The night was as dark as Richard Tur- pin could have wished ; and on jiroeeed ing to the cross, Morison found Wainright waiting for him. ' Are you prepared and ready ?' said the Bpider. ' No, I am dreadfully frightened,' re- plied the fly. ' Biih !' iiiiswered the spider. ' I have no time now for any preaching. Ctime along i' And seizing his arm firmly, they Walked on. On entering the court, Morison remind- ed him of the blows received on tlieir for- mer viwit. ' I am ready for that. Stretch fiut your hand, and give me hold of it ; do tiic same with your other hand. Now touch you the house, and I will tcmch the wall, and as the court is narrow nobody can escape us.' Iland-in-hand they traversed the court, but heard noWiing. ' Now, then !' said Wainright. The rope-ladder, was fixed, and Wain- right ascending, cut out a pane of gli;88, and, undoing the fastening, raised the ■ash ; and then coujing down, Morison mounted in his turn and entered the apartment. With the aid of a match he discovered the sm^dl hatchway ; but aftei tearint; his nails he failed in lifting it. — 'l.'rembling all over and with a nervous persf'u-ation dropping from his forehead, be took out his penknife and tried it again He Succeeded, but not until the Made was broken. The latch raised, the handle of the bolt was then seen ; he pulled it up, but the sound fell on his ear Hke the kmU of the final day. Terrified, however, as he was, beyond all measure, he held it convulsively, till after a few minutes, which to hira seemed an age, he heard the three scratches ; he then drew fbrtli the phial of oil and dropped it down the orifice. Still greatly agitated, he groped his way to the window, and crmmencod his descent ; some sound ft-fl, or seenuHl to fail, on his ear, and he lo^t his footing and fell to tlie jjroundvvith some violence. Recovering himself, he found his handn and lejis considerably bruised ; and trying to pull down the rope-ladder he found it had got entanijled, and this new embar- I'assment put him into a state of absoluto despair. Cautiously Wainrijjht came round to his assistance, and having loosed the apparatus, put the promised bag into the hands of his shivering accompli(n [my Tm a Diitehm la ! And after all, I have not };t>t, Skipton, the liuuihug ! Hand me the bi.tile, Ogle; 1 declare I feel myself chilled all <.v.r.' ' We were out,' said Ogle ; 'and thought it an uiicouimonly close night." ' Well, it is i^erhaps the fright that I h«ve got (ienilemen, here is all your good healths,' and he drank off another larg);e of proceedings a message came I'rom Ludovicko, demanding the im- mediate presence of his nephew. Morisun turned deadly pale. ' I say, Kanliiii,' said the guilt-otruck young mm, ' jou go. My uncle would raise a noise if he saw me in this state. You know his way. Besides, I feel the Btuffiii my head, and could he of no use. Go! — fir he.iven's sake go !— do, like a good fellow.' Rankin went, but shortly after returned, and said that nol)odv but Morison would do. ' Do you know what he wants V asked Morisun in an agitated tone. ' N() ; hut whatever it is he is in a con- founded rage.' Moiison called for a basin and cold water, and having bathed his burning temples in the pure element proceeded to his uneli; 8, like a malefictur about to be taken to the place of execution. Ogle ami Piimrose went to the bank, and for- tunately were home long before the mana- ger, Mr. Day, who m nie hi's appearance 8o redolent ot'the hot supper of the secre- tary that he entirely fiiled to perceive that the teller and accountant had been supping out as well as himself. ' Have vi>u examined the safe, Mr. Ogle?' said' Mr. Day. ' Yes, sir,' said that gentleman with some hesitation. 'Minutely?' asked Mr. Day. ' No, I cannot say that.' ' No, sir ! How did you examine it V *1 looked at the door.' ' But not the locks ! As the manager of the Ship Bank, I say you have been re- miss, Mr. Ogle. Get me a candle, sir, if -jou please ' ' All rigVit you see, sir,' said Mr. Ogle. ' Yes, sir ; but then I have the satis- faction ofknovvnig it, whicli is everything to a man in my res[)on8ible situation.' And so the man ij^er and his assistant* went to bed, and sh-pt soundly, and th -y did the same on Sunday night; but tiiey did not do the same on the night of Mon- day, fir then a voice told Ihem to sleep no more, and a tiling hud been lione which murdered their sleep for many weeks after. Walnrigiit glided out of town, and caino up.>n Coppenis stutding below the VeTV tree where, on a holit^r errund, Arthur the sailor s wile n'ad stood on the evening oi' the storm ' We have miscalculated the tide,' aaid that worthy, • and there iire peoph^ going about. We must wait till it [lows a lit- tle before we can Qoat the iioat.' ' That's unluiji-y, said Wainn^lit, ' as there is always risk in delay, li iwt'Ver, I have another ]• lb in view. 1 11 conceal the ba^s behind ttns fence ; they will l»e bet- ter there than with you, fa- you have an odd trick of handling spoil before it is di- vided.' * I'm not alone in that,' retorted the captain gr.uffly. ' Well, supposing you are not, don't talk so loud. Codie with me, there is a great entertainnirnt to night up at the old castle If you bear a liand qui(-kly, we may get off with some of the {ilate without mu(;h trouble. There's a good deal of it gold, my old friend !' ' ilow shall we mana>;e ^* ' Why, 1 U go up the avenue by myself, and you will keep outside tid I come.' ' Ah, the old way — ^you in, and me out.' You suspicious wiiale, how can it be done otherwise' I mi^ht pass for one of the company, while you, with your glazed hat, would be stopped at the porter's lodge in a moiaenc. Are you to go in a reasonuMo way ? Y^os or no.' ' Come aloHg.' The honest couple then I>etonk them- selves to the castle; and Wainri.i;ht Walked up tlie avenue, while Copperas rem.iined outside, as arrat\ged. \Vain- ri^iht, who appeared to Unow the premi- ses well, waited round about, and peered in at the lighted windows ; but seeitig do- mestics in the dilf rent places, or not judging circumstances to bo favorable, he refraiued from m. iking any attempts to enter. At length, alter alon;; survey, he wont to a pantry window, remained for a minute or two, and returned ; and was in the act of lilV.iug another window, when his old assailant struck him in tlie old pl.ice. Quick as lightn'uig Wainrigot turned rouiid, and s tw a man coolly stand- ing lief ire liiiu. lie aimet anything!" ' Did yen strike the rascal !' asktd V\'"ainiiglit, feebly. 'JN'o ; I did not in the dark knovr which vas which. Come awiiy, will ^ou? Hang the niggt-r. he can't walk ! It it were not for your prti'-iching, I would leave jou.' ti'iving which last mentally, Ceipperas CHAPTER XXHI. LUDOVICKO S TRIUMH. On the Sunday evening succeeding the Saturdiiy, the events of which were nar- rated in lust chapter, sat Mr. and Mrs Grahijm in their summer park»r in Craig- allan Castle. The day had been one ol Burpjicsiiig heauty, and the evening was ill ketping with it. The setting sun tinged tlie distant hills with gold, the trees sliook gently in the evening bn ezc, whii;h w'ai'ted the perfuiues of a tiiousand flowers to the castle windows, and the low of distJiiit kitie mingled h.irmoniousl\ with the solt huh))iing of ttie little river at the foot of tlie garden. ' All the air a solt lun stillness held,' and ' all save the ' If they will allow us, my dee?.' ' Allov? us, JMr. Graham! What in mean, Mr. Graham?' ' I have no inclination for discussion, my dear ; so we will let it pass.' * Oh, as you pUase, sir: but I alvraya tliought jon had low ninions.' John replied not, and agon they aank into t!u;ir respective reveries, which re- mained undisturbed until a figure wan seen ascenditig the avenue. ' Who is this, Mr. Graham?' said tho lady. John adjusted his gold eye-gliss, and pronounced the intruder to be Grant tho writer. 'Marry, come up!' continued Mrs Graham. ' Touch the hell, eir, if you lilease. Humphrey, tell that person coming up to the door that we are not at home. Matters are cnie to a tiac pass when such »8 lie call of a Sunday.' The door-bell rang ; :u3d, and, in the belief that after Humphrey d« livwed his message Ludovicko would be S' 'en retreat- ing in lull leather, njad.mi cast diagonal glances in th^ expectation of speedily be-» holding this interesting movement ; but to her surprise the door of the parlor opfued, and Ludovicko wal ed in, the Very personification of coolness. * 1 debired the servant, sir, to inform you that we were not at home,' said the lady, in towering wrath. ' And the servant, madam, duly deliv ered the message ; but, seeing )our hus- band at the window, I thought fit ta spirit of iijun was divii.e.' The reminis ceiiccs ot last night's entertainment were disregard it. not pleasant, hut neither spoke of it ; for ' Oh, of course, you would — ignorant, both were consci(JU8 of shortcomings in | no doubt, as to the proper meaning of the conducting of such matters, and both were of natures so proud and sullen to sit down (jnieily and dissect their doings with a view til future amendment. S.irah was out visiting a sick cottager ; and though her pn-sciice at an earli. r stage of the evening h;)d appeared to operate as a bar confidcnii.il intercourse, yet, now that she bad kit, her parents did not appear in- clined to profit by her absence, and the «cene hi.rc every appearance of dwindling down into one of those silent interviews so often exhibited it> married life of a given description. After a hitig [lause, the lady of tfie house at last opened tht- conversation. ' 1 rather think,' said she, ' tha,t we we must have no more of these town canaille.' ' 1 think not, my dear.' * They are so vulgar.' ' And so impertinent, too.' • W e must throw ourselves more on the Montj people, Mr. Graham.' such a phrase as " not at home." ' * 1 believe, madam,' rej)lid Ludovicko, taking a chair with gre;;t deliberation, ' that I fully understand the import of the phrase ; hut, as niy business is urgent, 1 did not choose to incur any del.iy.' ' But certainly, Mr. Grant.' said John, with dignity, ' you will allow that people should be allowed their own time for transacting business ; and, considering the day and the abruptness, I must say your intrusion is extraordinary.' ' This comes,' answered Ludovicko, 'ofh'niency. My business should have been doi.e yesterday. I spared you on account of your grand party; and now, when I come to-day, I hear side-wiad re- flections on propriety from people who ate too fashionable to go to church regu- larly.' ' InsufTcrable impudence !' said the lady ' I suppose, sir, jou don't imagine that this house is our own V ' Indeed, ma'am, I haye .consideralde cr.vigalla;^ castle. 83 ionbte if it be I' answered the lawyer, drily. lii-* look towards John on mikinr» this rejotriiLr w;i,i nf the old rattlent^tke de- Bt-ripi «M, Jind forthwith Jnhti 8 joints ffjl a tn-MihMiig. and a Hurt of paralytic inflii- enct! (Mine over him. Siimmoiiinj^ epeeoti, be rt q ledtod Mrs. (jrahaiu to leave the jvpajtiiient r>r a f>nv minutfa, in order thit the hiisiufss. whatever it waa.iiii^ht be (lirtrurtrtbd. Lu'iovicko, however, stared that there was no occasion for her depar- ture, as he h.id no s^'crets to coimiiuni- cute, nr, at all events, nothirij^ tliat could or w Mij.l bj a secret long. fhe ladj.too, declir-d tliat she wctuld not le ive tlie foniu '"''r a Hottentot ; and poor John. fore.-iw, Slid Jilin, 'you have come here with b.id news.' ' Kitlier in that way,' answered Ludo- .Vickii l.ieurueiUy. ' f'-ll me tlie worst at once.' ' \Vfli, then your brother left a icill!' J.nn sai.k down oa a chair, and ga8[ied hard fir breath. ' U'liy was it not produced sooner?' ' lie delivered it to me in a sealed packet, witb dire(uiiin3 trntside that it should not be openc-l for six yars"' op. ' And yet y"u, knowinsi its contents, have illowed me to he in this po.sition lor eixye.irs ! — God loriiive you^'' ' I WIS not bound to know the contents of a se led p.icket put into my hands by a client.' ' What could be my brother's object for such Ji lielli,Hll dec.-ptinn f' ''L'o do, probably, what most people who kno.v you wouli do — puui.^h yni in a iieiv ari'l unheard-of way. ' I) 'i\'t insult nie. sir! I believe the story i> a lyiu^r invention of your own. I have possession, and aety you to ptit me out.' * Pos.^ession ! pooh, that is a small mat- ter. I was lately left a small estate by an un('le. lie had not propnrly served him.s- IC heir. A canal was driven thron^li it, ami I have not ^ot one farthin:; of c«»inp'-nsation. It 1, an experienced law- yer, h.ive been thus done, how can you, who never took a single Icjcal step, expei-t to be able to maintain your exalted posi- tion !" ' I shall take other advice than yours, sir ; and you know I have means loi1etet»d tny rights, an i to break tiirou^b a trum- pery will froduced at this time of day.' 'We shall see!' rejoined Ludovicko, with provoking coolness. 'And as to ad- vice, you may take the Lord Advocate's, it' yoa think pro[ier. only take this along with you as to means, th.it I have only to lift m. little finger, arid your wli.ile rents and moneys are arrested, and you and your I'amily quit this place till toe q les- ti-n is S'ttied at law. Where will your means I^hs then' N.iy, more, you are lia- ble to the heir for all the rents y-iu hive dr.iwn sirice you came into possession; and if that be itibisted on, you m.iy, at tiis pleasure, lie in jiil until you rot, or niy the amount witn interest up to the very d.iy that you were ej-cted, which litter alternative. jhn paced up and down tho room and i:ra ytm? do you capituhite, give in at once, or die game?' John returned no answer, and there was another pause. ' Am I to wait all night for your de- cision V Still no reply. At length John rose, and coining forward to Ludovic^o asked him if young Morison knew about the will or its contents. ' Not a word,' replied Ludovicko. 'In fact, between jou and me, his demeant)r has not been as correct as 1 could have wished it; for the prospect of so much wealth would have lairly turned his head, and made him quite unmanageable.' ' Is there an}- way of his finding out the will without your telling him?' ' None whatever.' ' Well, then — ' said John, stopping short. ' What then V asked Grant, abruptly. ' Could }ou and I not — ' 'What?' ' Could we not compromise between us?' 'Of course! Is not that what I came here for ? ' • John stared. Roguery in his own mind sprang up with a struggle, was expressed by his lip.-^ with a greater effort ; and now, when Gratit so fr.inkly agreed to become his accomplice in fraud, he felt strange misgivings as to the impolicy and danger of any evil paction with such an actMim- plished villain. The candles had well- nigh burnt to their sockets during the in- terview, and the library being Img and narrow, tht y barely made darkness visi ble ; and John's fears magTiified the dim- nees of the apartment into a species of unearthly gloom. The extremes of hope and fear, bullying and cowardice, throujjh which h(! had passed, together with the old abvss of poverty yawning befiire him in greater terri'>lenes8 than ever, had quite unhinged the mind of John Grahaa CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 85 tad he could not command the necessary ment.il decision to think cnherentlj' Pacing up and down, he cast his ^ya ])y chance on the portrait of his brother, and shrank from its louk, appearing, as it did, ti) he irowtiing uu him, as if in anticipa- tion of the prymedilated evil design beiu«r consummated. ' V\^liat do you propose?' asked Ludo- vicko. ' What do you?' asked John in return. ' Nay, 1 propose nothing ; you, us tne dele ituil party, must propose, and it will be tor me to consider if I will accept.' ' W^ell, then, I will give you — ' ' Bo ware !' cried an uuiiuown voice, whicli seemed to issue from Godlrey's portrait on tlie wall. ' ilurci I ul Heavens !' ejaculated John, ' what is that ?' ' I don't know,' said Ludovicko, in Bome c mfusiou : * it must he soujehody out.sido. Buc go on, only speak lower.' 'Icinnot go on — I'm tirightened to very death.' ' I'sliasv I nonsense? Mere imagina- tion ! 11 iw much did you say you would give h — speak, now !' ' 1 will give — ' ' Bkwake!' cried a voice, in a tone bold and distinct. ' 1, mercy !' shrieked John, and down he fcii in a trance. Ludovicko rang the bell instantly, and without tije delay of a second iMrs. Uru- ham iniered the lil)rary. ' i'ou have been listening, madam,' said Grant sternly ; ' and it iu you th.it have been r.ising these noises and frightening your huohiiud. But do not attempt to ttiwart me, or both shall inevitably be hurled to ruin.' ' On my soul,' returned the now hume bled woman, ' I know nothing about th- noises. I heard them just as you heard them — I know nothing more of them than yhon wms sent for by ex- prt-ss. lie exhausted all his skill, hut no Uugs could minister tc a mind diseased ; and Mft. Graham had the utmost difficut ty in jireveuting her husbaml, in the course of liis incoherent ravings, from say- ing something that might lead to the die- closure of the fat.d commumcation that had been made on that miserable night. All the luxuries of the castle seemed to be cimverted into rottenness and de;«i men"s bones ; the fairest apartments were like charnel-houses ; the gold was li-e molten lead; and the trees' bore no fruit but death. dread delusion! thus to make tlie litter end of that wretched pair more miserable than at the first. hol- low glitter and gew-gaw ! thus to plunge them into a deeper and more withering despair than crushed them when your tinsel first beckoned them forth from the house of poverty. CHAPTER XX. REMORSE. At ten o'clock, as was his wont, did Mr. Alfred Day, of the Ship bank, descend from his breakf.ist to business.— vertical bolt having been previously drawn up, it only remained that the safe stiould lie opened. One section containing the books of the establishment had already been unfolded, but the section containing the cash had to be opened by Mr. Day himficlf, and by no other mortal man. — On putting in his hands for the bags, Mr. Day w IS astounded on finding something very like vacancy ; he pushed his digits home to the atone casing, and still a lean teel ; he then swept his arm horizontally from left to right, but nothing was disco- verahle save the silver bags, recognisable '>y their superior bulk. lie hurriedly called for a candle, and then the startling fact admitted of uo further doubt that the bank had been robbed of all its treasures, silver and bills excepted, the gold and notes being completely carried otf, and not so much as a sovereign left behind.' Mr. Day was speechless ; he beckoned, however, to Ogle and Primrose, piiiuung to the almost empty shelf. They were at no loss to comprehend the terrible catas- trophe. Primrose laughed hysterically, and was rewarded with a blow from Mr. Day's key, tiie poor man inflicting the ciia.stisemont mecnanic.illy,and ap|iarent- ly being unconsciojis of the howl si,-t up •>y tlie junior. Ogle alone retained his s.-lf-poss. ssion, and hinted abimt giving .ilarm to the authorities ; Mr. Day nodded .irquiesci-nce, but cMuld say nothiiU'. — Ogle ran at once to Ludovicko, who. bd- 86 CRAIGALLAN CASTLl. ing procurator-fiscal, was the best resource in tilt einerg' iic\ . • (), Mr. AJuri.-ion ! The hank ! — the }.>ank ! Ynur umle, whtTeis hf?' ' Tlie Sliip li.tiik has beeu rohbed, un- ci© !• ' How do you know that, sir'' askt'd Luddvicko, w bo was .sitliivg iu his biick- rouni, with iliedoov ops-n, although Ogle. in bis p>-rturl>atii;r, did not ste him. — 'The young man did not say so.' ' 1 only thouglit so, truui bis man- ner ' ' He 18 quite right, Mr. Grant. OnU come aloim, tiir, it you please. If you only saw Mr. Day, si !' ' I shall be witli you in one minute. — Willi;im come aiung, you may he of tiome asnistance ; or ik), your v\it8^eem to havf. gone a wool g.tthiriug. Send Kankiii whe-o be comes back from the stump- ^ce.' In any other circumstances Morison's pale face and embarrassed manner would have excited notice ; but Ugle w.is ton iiurrifcd to notice anything, and Ludovicko was n(jt allowed any timu to oli.-seivi^ til- ing hurried out hy the impetuosity of the teller. During their walk, or rather run, through the street, they saw by the knntt- of people running abnut. and the coteries talking in groups, tliat the news had tran^pired ; ami hy the time they readi- ed the bank a crowd had assrm'iled ruund the doors. Mr. Day was ct)matohe to stupidity , and could scarcely utter a word ; but hy dint of questinning and cross-ques- tioning Ludovicko asceitained that the manager had locked the sale himsell' on Saturday, that the keys had not been out of his possesession since that time up to the hour of the robbery lieing discovered, that the mau;iger and all his officials hud been in the premises on Saturday night and all Sunday, but that from live till eleven on Saturdny niiiht the whole had been out, and it accordingly appeiired clear that the rohlit-ry had been efll cted between these hours. Fifty times did Ogle and Primrose curse Morison a sup- per, and a hundred times did poor Day curse the Craigallan dinner at the ' R'lyal Oak' adjournment. But curses could not mend matters, and other remedial mea- sures had to be resorted to. Lud'ovii-ko reconnoitered the premises, like a .'■kilful general; but finding nothing 8us| iciuus beside the safe, he went uji-stairs to ex- auiine the bed-room containing the hatch- way vhich gave access to the bnlt. He found the fragment of the penknife stick- ing in the wood, and, carefully disludging ix, put it into his pocket-huok. llr' then W«nt to the difibrent inns, but found that | no horses or conveynnces had left towr between Saturday and Monday, and thai no strangers of a suspicious kiiid f'ad left that place. From these cirl■uIu^tance8 Ludu\ic»-o concluded that the rubbers were still in town. Without Inss of time he wn.te off to the prim-ipal hanl-s, stnp- i^iiig the notes so lar as they were known, and alsoci'inmunicating the partii-uiars of the transaction to tne jmlieeof the l.irger towns. While engaged in the desjiatch of the correspondence Ludovicko li ad oc- casion Several times to come to Morisitn'a desk ; and cmce, finding that his pen re- quired mending, be liited his ne|,fiew"8 knife, and on urur keeping hiiu ;is fir riglit as y')U (mh. I Impe he behaved well en lug'i (in Situnl ly 1 ist ; h(i 1 lok-J ill yrtstijrdty, and even ti)-day he is uuc nt sorts ' ' Ilt^ behaved unc imminly well, but he met with an aecidental fill.' ' Oh, iridied ! W is tli.it on his coming home when I sent for him!' ' N). ic was when he was out in search of Skipton.' * When ! Was he out for him V ♦ Yes.' ' And did he get him V 'No.' ' N )W, Rankin, I am pirtiimlar ah >ut Willi I II 8 ass ici ites. What 8')rt of per- son is this SuipCon ?' ' II ; is a gtiod humored, funny sort of fellow.' ' Do "8 he drink V 'I don't thuik it.' ' Are VVilliam and be intimate V ' N'l.not, particularly.' ' W^ho were all ut the supper besides you 1' ' Jonos of Mr. Graham's office, and Ogle md Primrose of tlie Ship Bank.' ' D tes Willi im know Ogle and Prim- rose intimately V '^llrt used to know 0>j;le very well, but Priiiir.ise he never sp?king biiu V ' lie told me that he knew Day was to he at Crait^all in, and having asked Ogle, he tlioug It it a pity that Primrose should be left to sit at hoiue all night.' ' fhat was very considerate remarked Lud ivick<> with a look expressive of the highest lKrievi)l,>nce ; ' and 1 hope that he entertaineil you well and liberally." ' O'l, we enjoyed ourselves remarkable. He t'lH us thaty.iu had been kindenuut^h to furidsi) ample laeans ; and the bill was run up to five pounds.' ' I'livt was rigiit,' answered Ludovicko. * Well, with your assist inc. ■, Rankin, I hope that for liis mother's sake, we sh ill be ahlr to keep him right. Do you know, however, tliat [ am tilad that that man Wiiiiri^ht is gone ; I rather think Wil- liam and he were always toe th'ck to- gether.' ' ll'" always sw ire by him ; and when they met in the office they smoked a g md deal t igether. I may mention, sir, be- fore 1 g I, for my own justification, thar often when he held out tliat he was with me he w;ia with W;iinri>iht.' * Oh, 1 daresay Well, say nothing of this conversation ; and now n)r fear yoB loose the post, ycu hal better take the letters about the bank-rblibery over at onvhose character be nowt'mught he saw in its true light. The wisdom of the employer also cnue in for a due share nf commendation fr im the assistant ; fir was he not still to be head-el -rk ' II id not Lud.ivicko spoken to liim c mlid 'ntial- ly? Was it not the b 'Setting sin of em- ployers 1 1 place sons, nephews, and cou- sins iiver the h>\xd of veterans of fiinous service' But Mr. (jratit wii" not to do tint. N ) dou'H, thou,^'it Rmkin. it de- pends a g lo i deal on who h ipp-ns to be head-clerk; and laying the flittering unc- tion to his soul that his luerits haii it last been appreei ited, Rankin post-*'! his let- ters, an 1 invited Mr. Jones to Mrs. Kind- liy's, where they discussed tic great event of the day over a bottle of Octo- ber. LudovicJvo balanced himself on the two hind le^s of his chair, and. looking to the roof, i'ell into a deep reverie. ' Let me see,' said the good man ; ' William tirst contrived to deciy away the bank clerks, and then absented him- self to join in the robbery. SIhirp work, very sharp work ; well contrived and well executed. I took him lor a heavy, self- ish fellow, and the plan could ii>t have been bis, but Wainright's. I mu.>il play luy card well with a youngster like thia for parttier, mid especially if he is in league with Wainri;^ht; but 1 11 match them both. The bill was Ave ]>ound8, was it' I gave him only two ; where has he got the other three' I luiss-d three sovereigns lately; he must be the man! I shill go to Mrs. Findliy, and asi'ertiia in what kind of luoney he paid the bill. I always had a feeling that I luight be baf- fled in the Craigallan business , bat now I stand on a ruck, and the gain will com- pensate me fir the loss of my uncle's two- penny-halfpenny property. Stop, now; if I were to bring the boy to justice his property would be contisi-ated to the Cro^n, and, as tlie nearest heirs, the Urahams might by interest obtiiu it ia gilt: that is a bad idea. It might also hurt me ill the public eye to h ive a felon so nearly rel.ited.' With such reflM(!tion3 he we-it to inflict his threatened visit on Mrs. Fiodlay. That lady received him with a mixture ol humility and embitrr.issment, as ^he knew chat ll.inkin woiild nut like to be discov- >red in her house, jirid she was not cer- tain but that Ludovicko visited her fol 88 CRAIGALL.iN CASTLE. Boae judicial purpose. She was Poon, however, si^t at eas.^ by tlie cuvdial greet ing of thf prouurati r. * Yuu wi^ he hiirprised to si^e me here., Mrs. Findlay, Iiut I am ohiigcd ti> gn round about tbsitawl'ul Imsint ss that hap- ppiiod ttiis morning.' ' Aje, sir, it wiis an awful business.' ' Have you had any atraiiger visitors lately, Mrs. Findlay ?' ' None, hir.' • Or have 3'ou had recent payments of m(in''y ' ' ' No, sir ; tlie last I got of any conse- qi!('iR-e was from your iif[ihew, Mr. VVil- liatii, on Siturday iiight.' ' Oh, yes, 1 know about that ; he paid you two pound notes and tkree sove- reigns.' ' Exactly that, sir.' Af this stagi:^ of the interview Jliss FimJliiy introduced her head at the door, ,\nd c.dlcd out — ' Mitiier, Mr. Rankin wants twal-ottles of sevenjxnriy ; he says the itiier kind has nae pith, and is as sour as vinegar.' The cat being thus un(jeremoniounly let out of tlie bag, the bostess wasglail when Ludovit:ko rose to t^ike his have ; and, like a yirudent landl.idy. took care not to let her guests know who had been her visitor. On reaching home, Ludovicko found that his m phew had not returned, lie ! had been sent some di8tan<;e out of town, ! and the journey out and back was a weary one to him. The news of the robbery had spread like wildfire, and every man and WDiuan whom he met on the way liad | Bomethiiig to say in connexion with it. j The inttliigence of bank-notes and a hat' being Ibund, ami the mark of a boat hav- ! ing been seen on the bead), was commu- nicated to him by a farmer returnitig from market. ' The thieves will be found and hanged,' said the man ; and Moriscm felt as if the rustic stored hard at him. A laborer who knew Morison came up next, and assured him that the hank robbers had been caught, adding, that * he would come in for his share.' Tlie rustic mennt prol'essional employment, but the guilty youth took up the remark in a person.ii •ense. As evening began to draw on, he became gradually frightened : the sound of his own footsteps, occasionally his very thadow, alarmed him, while the actual approach of footsteps totally unmanned him. Literally, every bush becauie an officer ; and he now saw at what a fear- ful coat he had al;quired gold that threat- ened to burn up his very soul and make him wretched for lile. At one time he khoujiht of throwintj; himself at his uncle 8 f<;et, at another of running away^ but al last he made up his mind to go to Mrs. Findlay's, and be guided by the news he might picK up thei'e a.s to whether lie cmild safely return to his uncle's. On being shown into the rooiu where Jones and (Jgle were sitting, these gentlemen received him with great dryness ; and tills he set down as another proof tluit suspicion was on him. * Any word ol the robbery yet, Ran- kin •' asked the culjirit, with as much in- diU'erence as he Could assume. ' lu one Sense, no — in another, yes,' re- plied his fellow-clerk in au oracular tone. ' How do you mean V ' I mean that Mr. Grant knows all about it in his own mind, but he'll not say anything. By Jove he is a clever lellow ! the best head in the county ! Th:it's a settled point, and 1 make no ex- ceptions, not one.' Here Mr. Rankin took an emphatic pinch of snuff. ' How do you know that he Ijnows ii all in his own mind if he did not say any- thing?' 'Ah, that's the point! IIow do I know, indeed ? — that's the rub ! I had a Cxtifidential talk with your uncle, my boy; and all 1 siiall say is, that you had better take care of yourself.' !Morison's face became more haggard than ever at this hint, and the robbery and nothing e4se running in his head everything that was sfiooen or heiird was construed into an iniimytion ol warning cnncerning it. He offered ti) be liberal with his two companions in the way of tr<-.ating, but his overtures were coolly de dined ; and, under the idea that all man kind Were conspiring against him, he bur ried homewards determined to brave the worst. He found tliat his uncle was busy in his own room, aiid hiid given orders not to be disturbed. Relieveil at the iilea of not meeting him Ibr the night, Mori- son slunk away to bed, but not to sleep No ponition afibrded him ease. At one tiuje his throbbing pulse lieat high in le- ver, then cold tremors came over him, and sjiectres and things unearthly glided bel'ore him ; he groaned in ag'Tiy, and wearily looked for the dawning of the day But hours came heavily, and at intervalh wlii;king of a cLick, and espe- cially the striking oi" the initial hour of the new-born diiy, di'e[.ien tiiiese eumtions ; uiemi»ry (iKojures up images oi the dead ui such seasons, or consciem-e recalls the misdeeds of other days, or the depressed spirit regards the luture with fear and trembling, cir the feelin^js and acts of the. g^'hnlc lile are tumultuoualy bruught to miQ- lemniseil in the midst of his generals on he iring a village hell ring for vespers , and Lmiovicko, like hiiu, was flerfU and blood. The lawyer somehow swept in thought ;ilotig tlie pr>gr"Sd of his whole career. Money and p iwer were his idols ; was he n it^^ettHig botti ? But was there n »te msaiuing toil, anxiety, an I dissitis- faction ! L'li-re were ; but ho[ie gil led the future. In time ho wiaild be a rich old m ni — die, and — thea' — -then what' Ludoviek I h i<] not for many a year otice thnuglit (>•' whit that (ken involved, and now It o'>truded itself on him in a w ly that he did not like. ' M-n do n.)t see through me,' reasoned he ; * does any one else do it V Suddenly thi; door shook, and his hair Btood on erid in su-pense. A white fij^ure elowly ent-red tiie room, and to the as- tonishmenr of Ludovieko it wii-s his n— jdiew in his night-dr. ss. lie w:is alioui to speiik, when he p«rc(dve. An undetinable dread spread thriiu>»h the frame of the uncle at th i ap- pear:inee of this phenomenon. With men in their senses and awake Ludovieko could do an\thin^ ; but the blanched fac • of aeomnaiutiniist, in hi- state of mind and *■•". t,M-r, nour of nijiht, made his very serves tinjile. Slowly the sleeping youth paced uj, the room, Luwn agiiul Now, now! — run, run! — Wainright, you — ' ' Something else he muttei'ed, but it was inaudi'ile; and, afier gr'>ping round the room, he went out into the pass.ige. Lu- dovieko followed with his c mdle. Th« figure piMsed at the ladder leading to the roof, mumhling ' nut noyv,' and at length went hack to hed. Luilovicko himself went to rest, but sJoep also forsojK hit pillow, and troubled dreams cf M irj) Morison, with her mild face, came up be- lore him; and she stooped over her sou, aiiquit-tuvier, her viry ehcerlulnebs cautieo severe ii pang to her p:ir<.'nt« ; and ii was indeed touiitiing to observe how, whei- Binjiinji "r pliying any of tlu- glorious olvei;irij; over the household whicii Would soon settle down to midnight dark ness. In the course of the week, Liniovicko eont a note to the castle, staling that h>' understood iMr Grahuu was unwell, he would delay his promised visit until he was coiivalesi.^ent ; and begged that he mijiht have due intimation ot that event. John and his wife thought that it w.iuhi bo b'-st to Come to terms at once, anil that the sooner the interview was over the bett-r ; and an answer was sent to that t fleet. Sarah was surprised next morning when Luduvicko made his appearance to break- fast. She knew that he had been pro- scribed at the castle, and that her father had been tai-en ill on the night of liis in terview with him; and the demeanor of the entertained and entertainers at the Dioruiii}/ meal only addi d to her wonder Ludovicko was all conlness — nay, he was staidly piilite — during tiie wh')le time at table. Jlr and Mrs. (iraham, on the contrary, were cordused and ill at ease ; aniJ it nquu-ed little effirt on the part of Sarah to discover tijat (Jrant was an ob- ject iif (Ireaii to lier father and mother. JSreakfast beinn over, Ludovicko ac-ked Mr Graliam if he would h.ivo the good- ness to show him over the jiroperty. On John assenting, Sarah attempted to dis- suade him. ' You are very ill, father, and not strong, and should not leave the house for a day or two yet ' ' 1 must go, my dear.' ' If \ ou ujust go, you must not go far- ther than the g:;vden ' ' I must bee the property,' said Ludo- vicko. ' I will gj with you, then, myself,' re- plied Sarah, timidly •. ' that is if you will fcUow m*^, t^ir ' ' With me, ma'am? Why, it would Bet the whole Jown a-laughing if they heard that Ludovicko Grant had bM* w.o'king with a young lady. It would havebei. n more like the tiling bad yon made the propnsd to my nephew.' Sirah blushed, for she remembered .VIoiison's imptrtunity at two ililf-rent charity balls. Her father imw being at- tired fcr walkitij;, she sng-jesti d, iia a last resource, that she should be allowed to aeeompany tiiem. tis her fathers weak- ness miglit give tn.uMe to the gentleman. I'liis overture w.is al.'^o r j.cted ; and the mother adding her wi ight to the negative xide, Sarah was overruh d. Ludovieko and John a< cordingly walked forth. On coming to the gankn-gate, John motioned as il he Would enter, bift Ludovicko would-n it allow him. 'No, no." said that cautious gentleman, ' no eavesdmppitig this time We must g I where we can neither be seen nor heard, and a garden is not a pla<;e of that deseripti III : it has too many walls and ti-ees both f pose !' ' r propose nothing. I am completely in jour power. Propose what you like — only tie merciful, if you have any notion (if the meaning of the word.' ' No sentiment, if you please. T pro- pose thct yo'i give un) one char lailf of ynur income ; that a rental be iissumedl for the castle and groumis. to be paid out of your halt'; that \ou submit all your books ano transactions to lae jieriodically, and allow me i/) exercise a coiii(il>te c m- trol over your intromi,■^sions ; and finJly, that you bequeath ihe whole property to me at your death.* ' I'll sooner die ! The pri-p .jal is mofll infamous.' CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. »i * What part do you o^TJect toT aaked Ludovicko, turriinji nmiul, und planting his walrting-stiok in tlie gruuud. 'All.' ' Parts make up every all. Suppose, now, that w J begin .to disseot. TliereV the present half" ' VV'cIl, tr the establishment.' ' And what o( my daughter, sir?' 'Can't she live with her mother, as other daughters do!' ' No ; the sum is too little for both ; and espociilly considering how my child bins been br ou sir, to act for him! Nature and juslicd are on our side — law on his. We com promise with you to suit our own pur poses, but if tho advantage is to be OQ your side it is no compromise at all-.' Ludovicko was completely taken abixck by this saliy. He knew that Mrs. Gra ham was sharper than her lord, but, ree koning his gifts at a low rate, this implied no eoiufiliuient. Howcner, he Was iairly in a C(H'ner ; and, with a knowledge of Morison 's guilt, his case was weaker than the lady was aware of. Reflecting on CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 93 tfcis lie asked, with a douhlc-distilled unc'-T, what terms she had fixed on. 'Half (il the monej-incuine to my hus- band and luyself; and, at the death of the l.iii;^est liver, the property to he • Bold, and then divided between you and the gu'l ' . ' Diiyou think me a foolT screamed Ludovicko. ' No, hir, I only think you something else ' ' Do.rt brave me, madam !' ' It is [leojile like you that ou^ht to be braved, tiee.iuse you have no mcrey, and ar, idl times ready ti> do the worst when it Buitsyi'ur purpose.' ' Riil on, madam ! — rail on ! I leave thi'i instant in order to c uicert measures for your ejectment, and bitterly will you repent for this day s presumption.' ' And I leave this instant too, in the carriage, and getting hold of your nephew, blow the whole into his ear ; and, if re- port be true, he will not be inclisposed to hear something to your disadvantage. — And n >t trusting my own wisdom, I shall Consult our own law-agent, Mr. Livings- ton.' This last declaration fell on Ludovicko •ike a thunderb.ilt. Livingston and he had been rivals on every occasion, for Crown appointments and for private prac- tice ; and a pi it like this would be a ter- rible thing in his h.mds. Then there was the great danger of Wainright being caugiit, ami informing on Morison ; the latter might bec>)iiie infamous, iwid the Crown, in consideration of the very pecu- liar circumstances of the case, allow tlie current occupier to keep possession. For once in his life Ludovicko had to sing low, and he gave in with the worst grace possible. ' Hold, rash woman?' said he after he had rapi.lly run over the alternative con- siderations. ' I am oppressed with busi- ness, and I have not time to follow out the matter ; if [ had, I should defy you. In the meantime, therelore, I agree.' ' Writt!, Mr. Graham, to that effect, then.' 'Excuse me,' said Ludovicko, with a polite bow, his equanimity having now re- turned ; ' that document, if found, might hang us all. There are a great many things decidedly better of being reduced to writing, but there are others where our own memories are tlie best registers. You anderstan 94 CRATGALLAX CASTLE. noupcements wore for ever to durkon the walls, and hurl their thrratenitijrs at hiiu froui ever} curnt-r ; and turn his t^je liow it minht ovt-r the broad expanse of the couiit\ piipcr, the Death's head and cross- bone advertisement of ' Bur k Rnl>!)ery" al- wajs ant-sted his attention and conjured up dread and dismay. But there is no- thing to which time and exp^^rience will not rec<'nme accident may have hapjiened. If Ned. poor fellow! could have heljied me, I should not have wanted.' » Well, there's half-a-crown for you !' ' llalf-a-crown ! Willy, I have helped to make you rich ; and is that all yoo offer me ? It is not even that it is little, but it shows you to be cold-hearted- CRAIG ALL AN CASTLE. 99 ' Make lue rich ! How should this make me rich V ' I am i-ure of it Croin the wayyuunno- thor sp'ke, ami frun the way that Mr. Grant at*lit!tl fur your mothers p ipers, and froiii ttie questions h<> put to uie if I knew mvsilf. or ever IkkI tnid you about your father heing a rich man. If you are (jodfi(;y (jiMhiiiu's son, why should ynu u>)t be in Cr.ii^.ill.m, iiitstead of his hro ther? I liave uiten thought of tliat, Willy.' , ' I daresay you have ; hut it is all non- sense. N.iw, take your half-crown, if you are fir it. and go away. My uncle lUMy Come Jind catch you here.' ' I am sick ind !iot at)le to work as I used to do. When you are rich will ynu help me then, W^iily ? S ly that you will, And do nit mike me unhappy.' ' VVi 11, if your sun does not cast up I may.' ' Willy.' ri'plied the woman, reddening •with anti;i'r, ' You have lain in my bosom, and yim kno v not what a woman feels who hiis hrouglit up a child. I 1 »ve you, Willy — [ cuuld lay down my life f.'ir you. " But love not returned changes to hate, and you may yt n-pi-nt of this. Take care — you do riot know me! If you drive me to in, I m ty do something that may make you repent that ever you were born I' ' You have forgot your half-crown,' bawled the f ister-son, as the mother in- dignantly wilk-d to the door. The only answi-r w.is a scowl, fierce and penetnt- ing, as it the hatred of ajie.s had heen con- centr ited i.t its eiivenomed look. ' Who ever heard of a beggar refusing half-a-cr own?" .soliloquised the young eaat- a>vay, as he pocketed the coin. 'Its as safe in my cu-todv as in hers. This docu- ment well-nigh turns my brain ; hut it woul i n it d ) to have all iwed the old hag to see th.it Iiit diseovery elafed me. I am Goi:rey Grihims son, then, and not the son of sim-^unnown person, who once having h id m mey lost it. T am re- lated to pr-tty siuoy iMi.ss Graham, too. there's a g • ' L -t me He« her put on any more of lier airs now to me, her cousin. — And n ally I do n it see, as the old wo- m:in B.id, why 1 should not have .somc- plitiC otf'Craijj illin. John Graham's sue cession was ;dw;ys a mystery to every body ; it is equally a myster}^ how my unci;:, as he has hitherto calh'd himsel', Bhould so suddenly have h coirie Graham's fa'8s I Ludovicko is a thorough rogue, Graliam n ftdother ; but I shdli be at the bottom. T shall procl.iim to the whole world that I aiu Willi uu Graham. By jin;j;o. itsounda well ! Blaugh- t^red there is a chance of their coming l>ack upon me. I have read in the New- gate Cdend ir of people who lent ttiem- s'dvea to cri;ne bring tortured all their lives hy tlireats from sucli miscreants — Oh, why shoidd I, connected a-* I now find mysT-lf to he with sieJi a f uuily and huch a property, why shouM 1, fir the sake of this infernal g >1 i, have liartered my li'ierty for life ' 1 siuvered when I first heard its cursed jirij^le; ;ind something told me that no good would come of it. Wli.it demon had took possesion of ihia withered hypocrite, that she did not long ere this tell lue of the certiticatf. ? I'm sure she has si'en me often enough. Ho- ward h'd on liankia, whi) had coiue in, to look after the office, and then sallied firth toco il Ids S(;orched brain. He shunn'-d all town a(^qu lint- anees, ana ma<. Crihani jnude her appearance. The old leaver: T>as in hiT, and she eyed the strau^^r baldly. ' U'hy do von not intro'luee the K'^n- tlewan, Sirah? I saw you speaking to Idin," Said the mother with a spice of the ancient hauteur. 'I do nov; know him,' replied SirV'; for in the seu.so of not being acquainted she did not kn.)V M orison ; and although she had, she t >■> well kne.w her mother's ide;is of caste to introduce any one of ple- beian character. ' I came in to see the gardens, madam,' !nter[)o.sed Moris m, making a mosi vile attem|)t at a |)olite bow. * 'Mr. i.'ry she did not think of asking Ilia name snoner. Sarah, who thcmglit tliis was a prelude ■; ) a storm, put in her word mediatorily. And begged that tlie gentleman might be iii'twed to c xitinue his walk. Certainly, my dear,' said Mrs. Gra- Iiam, to the great surprise (,f her danglk' ter ; ' I had no other intention. If you will acci>mpiny us. Mr M iris »n, we will show you all that is worth si^eing about the place. Are you fond of ilowers sir?' 'Ratlier,' said Morison, unconsciously, whose natun.l boorishness was so enhano ed by his mivel situation that Mrs. Gr*-. hams suiivity made him look moreof tho hoohy than her stiffness had previously done. Thfe lady plucked some flowers and h. aided tliem to hini,and in iicknowledge- inent he made a scraping buw, ttriking his foot to the ground much as a racer puts down his fore-leg. *Sirih,' continued Mrs. Graham, 'thero is a pretty rose-bush in that corner — hand one to ^j^. Morison.' Sar.ih took out her scissors, cut a large rose, arid holding down h';r eyes, and with her ficie as little averted as civility would p^'riiMt, but yet distinctly diagonal in its position, she presented the fl-.twtr. ' I think more of this than nil the rest,' said the recipient with a showman leer, .md gallantly placed it iu his button hole. S irah immediately assumed a look of colder reserve than she had yet put on, and took her |position so that her mother should stand and w.dk lietwccn her and a party whose manner was momeii'ly bc- c(ja]iiig more and m(!re disagieeable. The ji irty moved on, and a short ex- tension o! their Walk wiadtl have biought them in front of the windows. ' You must e.Kcuse us, Mr. Morison,' resumed Mrs. Graham, ' for not asking you into tho castle to-nijiht. Mr. Gia« ham is in had health, and is so very ner- vous that the sight of a stranger would put hint completely out of sorts ; but we shall be gild to see you any time that you m ly come out with your uncle. — I think you have said Mr. Grant was your uncle''' ' Yes, ma'am, I said 60, and he passes n,s sucii ; but I have got informatiot. that thiit id not our exact relatiou to eaoh other.' He looked hard at the lady as he said these words : but, most th(a'oughly on her guard, she betrayed no emotion this time, and, indeed, heard thi? remark as if she heard it not. Glibly beginning the conversation again, she led the party to the bick of the castle. ' I do not know if you are fond of anti quities, Mr. 'Morison, but this is the moet, ancient part of the castle ; and as yoik were saving that you have been examin- ing ancient papers connected with th4 CKAIGALLAN CASTLE. 97 property, perhaps this portion will inte- rest you most.' ' 1 begpardon, ma'am,' replied Morison, ' but some modern document connoeted with the property interested me most.' And Iiere again he looked hard; but his words produced as little impression as wjiter on the solid marble. ' 1 always thought that you legal gen- tlemen liked old parchments best,' an- swered slie. ' So we do ; but when new ones change the destination of property, we reckon them most valual)le.' Mrs. Graham bit her lip at this sally, but slie was not to be caught. ' Tliis tower,' she remarked, ' is very old ; certainly three or four years older than the rest. It is a pity tliat the ori- ginal owners should have forfeited such a fine old place for rebellion.' ' Very,' added Morison, laconically. They rtbw walked toward the rustic bridge. Mrs. Graham laid the t\\)s of three fingers on tlie extended palm of the young lawyer, who looked for a similar compliment from her daughter ; but Sa- rah contented lierself with a formal curt- sey, and so the audience terminated, Os- car doing the retiring honors in the shape of a loud bark. Mrs. Graliam wrote that night to Lu- dovicko. CHAPTER XXVII. LUDOVIOKO'tf DIPLOMACY Ei.ATED by these floral honors, Mori- son did not go directly home, i)referring regalement in Mrs. Findlays by way of qualifying the excitement of the day. Prolonging liis potations rather late, he was much behind iiis usual hour in going home, and an proceeding thither was sharply rebuked by Ludovicko. 'I have told you again and again, Wil- liam, that I will not tolerate these con- tinued irregularities.' ' You have no right, sir, to tell me any thing again and again,' said the nephew, fiercely. ' Boy, you are intoxicated ; go up-stairs to bed. In the morning I will s{)eak to you, wlieu you are capable of being spo- ken to.' ' I drank on purpo.se, in order that I might have tiie necessary courage 'to .brave you. I know you, sir.' ' William, do not be foolish. Tell me calmly, why you think it necessary to make a sot of yourself, in order to brave uie. You have some chauoe of making I sometliing of me by rational behavior; ' l)nt none by bluster. What do you com- plain of?' ' You never t(tl(l me that I wjus Godfrey Graiiani'.sson I' replied tlie youtii bluntly. 'Thai's roughly out,' thought Ludov- icko to himself. ' But wine in wit out. I'll pump him dry ere I have d(»ne with him.' Aud the good man set about his task with a face beaming with all tlie be- uevok-nce of a Howard. ' What use would it have been to have told you that?' ' It would have enabled me to have held a higher position in society, instead of sneaking tliroiigh life as your clerk, with even iiankin at>ove me.' ' Well, William, and seeing your inca- pacity for rising by professional ability, and that you had no f «rtune, would it not have been better for you to have been a clerk in name and reality, than have the I'epulation of being a gentleman and yet only a clerk, and iiaving your rela- tions looking down on you, your equals sneering at yon, and even your very in- feriors despising you?' 'No tortune, you say I If, as I can prove, 1 am the son of Godfrey Graham, and Mary Morison lawfully mariied, why should 1 not be the owner of Oraigallan, instead of a humbug like John Graham?' ' if you can prove all that, there might be something m what you say.' 'Prove, sir, there is no fear of that! I have got hold of a document which y(ju could never get, with all your ingenuity — aye, and bullying, tooV ' You have got the marriage certificate from your old nurse, Turner. 1 suppose. I s!lw ber in town to-day ; and as she is always ready in asking money, 1 expect- ed an application as usual, but she turn- ed her face the other way and tried to avoid me. I was sure that the movement betokened sometliing. As to the certifi- cate, much good may it do you.' 'If it was not to do me good, why were you so anxious to get it.' ' For the purpo.se of endeavoring to do you service, returned the uncle. 'But circumstances Iiave since occurred which render the certificate of no value, and knowing these 1 thought it better not to acquaint you with a matter which could only vex you without doing any good.' ' This is all pretence, to lull me over.' ' Well, state your claims.' 'This certificate is legally drawn out, and shows that my parents were duly married.' ' Does it ?' asked Ludovicko ironically. ' In the first place, look at the date ; in- stead of being 1801, it was originally 98 ORAIGALLAN OASTLE. 1810, and has been so a] tared as to de- stroy its credibility,' ' Hal tlie wiuiesses remain.' ' Do tliej V was Lii(lt)vicko'3 next iron- ical ijiiery. ' The minister fellow was and suli is mad — that is to say, if he is alive; the other witnesses are positively dead ; so that you have only one living iuteliigent witness to bear testimony, and he is n)yself. The wliole att'air was a schoolboy trick of my own. Both parties knew distinctly at the time that it was a sham, and no one was deceived but tlie poor fool wiio pretended to perform the cerem^my, and who was so absent that he committed the blunder in dating tlie cer- tificate which he has so clumsily tried to rejjair. There was no proclamation of banns, the parties never passed for man and wife. Your mother never took Mr. Graham's name, but kept her own. No scrap or letter could be found where he called her hi^ wife or even promised to marry her, and therefore your claim is ■worse than n(jlliing. I tried every tiling at the lime but could adduce no tangible evidence, and I did my utmost with your father on his death bed, but to no pur- pose. John Graham took possession as the nearest of kin. Possession is uine- tenths of tlie law, and supposing you were to take him before the courts, he would throw the onus on you, and de- mand proof of your title.' ' 1 know, my mother thought herself married,' replied Morisou, somewhat chapfullen. ' 1 know she did,' answered the uncle. 'But, [x'or thing, she went wrong in her miiiil, and so her statements went for no- thing ; but, supposing she had been sane, we have her testimony only at second- hand through an old gossipping nurse.' ' But if my claim be not exactly legal, surely I have some hold on the Grahams, and they ought to assist me in one way or another.' 'Now you are coming to your right mind, ancl if you keep ui) that modera- tion in tone, 1 shall befriend you. ISee- fng from the beginning that you had no chance, I adopted you as my nephew, and meant that you should take a leading band in my business. How you have an- swered my expectations, I leave your own conscience to say; but I am willing to forget and forgive provided you turn over a new leaf. I never told your liistory to the Grahams till the other week, for you know tnat previously I was not on good terms with them. I urged on them the neces^ity of acknowledging you, and they agreed that you might visit on friendly footing ; but as your relationship was not of a decided character, they thonght it would be better that that should be kept private, as there woull be no end to the prying of curious [>eople. To give color to the intimacy w'ii(;li they are willing t«> maintain, it was arrangeil that under me you should be the agent f6r the estates ; and .-is you are aware that we have al- ready quite enough to do in the office, this is the explanation of Rankin having apparently received the .upper clerkship. The Craigallan factorship will be very much a business in itself, and 1 wish the usual office work to go on in its own rou- tine.' 'Does the girl, Miss Graham, I mean, know of my real name ?' ' No, she is the only one of the family that on, she turns her high mind to account, and turned up her nose at the offter of a half-crown.' Sarah did not hear one half of this ad- dress ; the earth seemed to yawn under her feet, the trees and flowers to go round. The possibility of Edward being drowned had neveroccurred to her; and with the quick fancy of youth, she thought of him as writhing in the boil- ing deep, and with hundreds around him* sinking in the waves of death ; or it might bo that, saved for a time, beyond others, he might even now be days and nights on the mighty waters hnr— ■ — *-!f 100 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. a frail spar, and slowly dyinjr by hunger, cold, or fatigue. These terrible images crowded on her mind with fearful rapid- ity., and leaving Morison, without well knowing what she did, she staggered back to the castle. Going to her own room, she sat down, and covering her face with her hand, remained in a trance for nearly two hours. Stiffened by the long continuance of this uneasy posture, she looked up. and found her mother bending over her. ' Sarah,' said Mrs. Graham, 'I am sorry that you have been rude to Mr. Morison.' ' He deserves no better,' replied her daughter, coldly. ' He is^our cousin,' said the lady, in an admonitory tone. ' 1 am sorry for it,' was the mild re- sponse. ' Your father and I would like much if you and he could be made to understand each other. A union between you would prevent any division of the property. Dear Sarah, would you see us ruined and turneil out of house and home V '• No, mother, but think of hand with- out a heart.' 'You are selfish, girl!' replied her mother, leaving the room. CHAPTER XXIX. IKTBIGUES. With a perseverance worthy of a bet- ter cause, Morison persisted in his suit, but all to no purpose. Sarah became si- lent and reserved to every one except her father ; the bloom forsook her cheek, for she rarely went abroad, and it became apparent that health and spirits were fast going down. As a last resort she de- termined to appeal to the generosity of Morison, and sent him a note requesting an interview in the garden. ' You'll think me very bold, Mr. Mori- son', commenced the young lady, 'in having, asked you to meet me in this way.' • Not at all, ma'am,' replied the satis- fied suitor; ' better late than never.' ' I am going to ask you a very extra- ordinary favor.' ' What is it ?' asked the brisk young man, jutting out his limbs from the ar- bor seat with more energy than grace. ' i wish you to fling away a worthless thing, that is not worth having,' replied Sarah. 'What is that?' Myself.' Morison burst into a state of uncon- trollable fury when he heard this. ' I tell you madam what I told Turner, that I will have you, if there is any means in earth or hell by which I can compass my desire. I know that you despise me, but that only wets my resolution, and will add sweetness to my rgvenge when the day comes.' Having delivered this furious speecli, Morison ran off, going back to Paulton much faster than he came out. On his way he met the post-boy, who accosted him — ' Sir. you sometimes tak cot letters to Craigallan ; you inicht tak them oot to- day—it is very warm.' He mechanically took the letters frpm the lad, and glancing over the addresses, saw one for Sarah bearing the post-mark of New York. It occurred to him that this raight.be from Turner, and scrutini- zing the superscription, he was confirmed in this opinion. Dismissing the messen- ger, he promised to return to the castle with his dispatches, and when the post- boy's back was lairly turned, he broke open the seal .after a brief interval of hesitation. His conjecture proved cor- rect, the letter being as follows — ' 82 Broadway, New York, Aug. 3,18—. 'My Dearest Sarah — I enibrac* the very earliest opportunity that I have liad on shore to write you. We were ship- wrecked on the outward passage; and, alter being picked up by an American vessel, were landed here to-day. ' When we parted, we made no arrange- ments as to correspondence. I have at a great venture addressed this to the castle, and earnestly hope that it will reach you safely and without delay. I shall be very miserable till I hear from you. Out of sight out of mind, is a common catastro- phe ill love ; but when, as in my case, the-^ absentee is poor and friendless, and the rivals on the spot ricJi and powerful, how fearful are the odds ! Oh, if you could only be poor for a short time, in order that my pretensions might be weighed against all other competitors ! You in- deed told me, Sarah, that you had no other lovers : but how can beauty, worth and wealth, such as yours, long remain uncoveted? Do relieve my anxious sus- pense, and let me know that you enter- tain for me a tithe of the affection where- > with I subscribe myself, fondly, devoted- ly, and forever yours. E. T. 'If you wish me to write again, please say if I shall do so to the same address as this.' CKAIGALLAN CASTLE. 101 'Ton wish an answer by return of post my fine fellow, do you ? Well, you shall have it — and in such a way as will close the correspondence, if there is any virtue in good ink. What a blessing I came out to see the jade ! She might other- wise have got this precious document and sent a snivelling communication in re- turn. I'll nip their cooing in the bud, and make myself the hero of a new edition of the Babes in the W(.>od.' With this resolve Morison returned to Crajgallan, and left the letters at the |>orter''s lodge, except, of course, the one ivhich he had opened, and it he carefully deposited in his pocketbook, and a second time rotrjicing his steps, he pursued his way int-o Paulton. After a few minutes' rumination in the office, he took up a aheet of note-paper, and imitating a fe- male hand, wrote the following letter; 'CKAIdALtAN CaSTLK, Stpl. 16, 18-. 'Sir — I always had considerable scru- ples hi yielding to your solicitations, and, on reflection, thought myself so far wrong in maintaining an intimacy with a person in your position, unknown to ray parents, that I took an early opportunity, after your dei);u-ture, to consult them on the point, and they were so decidedly averse to any thing in the shape of a low con- nection, that I have no alternative left me but to insist, in the most decided man- ner, that all intercourse of every kind shall forever cease between us. I am, sir* * Your obedient servant, 'Sarah Graham. "P. S. — There is no occasion for your writing any answer to this, as, if you do, I shall put it into the hands of my es- teemed friend, Mr. William Morison, as the legal adviser of the family.' 'There's a hit!' exclaimed the ingeni- ous penman. 'Won't that. go into his nerves! By jingo, when he reads that, he will have to prescribe for himself for a fortnight!' The letter was duly addressed, sealed, and that same night took its flight to the unfortunate lover. Next tnorning Morison called again at the castle, and acquainted Airs. Graham with the transaction, ^ho, on the whole, approved of it. Had any rich man came forward and claimed Sarah's hand, he would have been made welcome, as such a suitor might have helped the family out of difficulties ; hut a poor husband to Sarah, however much it might have grat- ified the young lady herself, was not consonant with sound household diplom- acy, and therefore fell to be condemned. ' You know, Mrs. Graham,' said. Mori- son, with a keen look, 'I have u great deal of power ; but I am anxious to get Sarah, at whatever hazard, and have taken the trouble of going through this manctuvre in order that she may have another chance before she incurs the danger of rejecting me.' ' 1 have done all 1 can, Mr Morison,' replied the lady coldly, who, although hearing well the oniiuous words with which he began, and observing, too, the significant look, had the presence of mind to betray no emotion, Ludovicko and she having well arranged tiiat no mine should be sprung except between them- selves. ' 1 shall give her a little more time,' resumed Morison, ' and if she still holds out, her father and you must take your chance.' ' What do you mean, sir ?' asked the lady boldly. ' Oh nothing,' replied the bully, some- what abashed at the abruptness of the query. •Nothing, sir!' continued Mrs. Gra- ham; ' why you talk as if my daughter was obliged to marry you and nobody else ! But tvhere's the dinner bell. Come along.' When seated at table, Morison made no further advances to Sarah, but con- tented himself with doing the honors of the table to the father and mother. 'Any news to-day, Mr. Fiudlayson?' asked the old gentleman, one of whose infirmities was a constant forgetting of names. ' None, particularly, except that the emigrant ship the Brilliant, of St. Davidsj has been wrecked.' 'Ay — I don't recollect her.' ' 1 dare say not ; but I mentioned her to yon because Barker, Tommy Barker, one of your own old captains, com- manded her.' ' I recollect him,' answered Joha. How was she wrecked?' 'There was a nmtiny, headed by th© surgeon, and a storm came on, and all went wrong.' ' Have any lives been lost ?' asked Mr. Graham. ' It was at first supposed that the mu- tineers had all been drowned, but it now turns out thtrt they have arrived at New York. The way that 1 know of it is by a young woman, a daughter of Mrs. Fin- lay, a decent vintner, having called on me to say that tiiis surgeon had promised to marry lier, and wishing me to write him to keep his promise, but I told her that, as the fellow had left hia mother to 102 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. starve, it was not at all surprising that he should jilt his mistress.' Sarah could bear the ribaldry no long- er, and abruptly left the room. CHAPTER XXX. LTTDOVICKO CHECKMATES. One day Morison burst open his uncle's door, and, rushing in, wildly exclaimed — ' Uncle, you are a villain ! — a double- dyed villain !' ' Patience,' replied Lndovicko, adjust- ing his books and papers, and when he had carefully assorted them and closed his ledger, he added, ' you should have had the politeness to shut the door before paying me those compliments ; suppose, now, that you sit down calmly and tell me what new will-o-the-wisp has entered your brain.' Ludovicko's eye fell calmly on Mori- son, and it assumed its old, brilliant, pen- etrating gaze, and made the nephew quiver in spite of himself. ' Are you unhorsed so soon? Has the ■wind changed already? And is ray ques- tion to be. What did you mean, sir, or What do you mean?' was the uncle's continued speech. 'Both!' retorted the nephew; 'and again I say you are a villain, and yoij^ conscience knows it too!'. 'We'll leave con'n do, yo»' may do wel; bu"" I sitouh* not say v.uch for any scheme planned and executed by yourself.' 'Surely, uncle, I ought to lo some- thing the better of my discovery. J owe a grudge to the present people in the castle!' ''So do I ; and so fsir as they are con- cerned, you may work your will on them. Jqhn is an old enemy of mine — the wife a new one. The doll of a daughter I do not care about, and so you may pack them off, bag and baggage, when yorj like; ouly it mu-»t be on terms of one- third to yon and two thirds to me.' 'These are hard terms, uncle,' said Morison. ' Not at all I You may have the cas- tle and the name of Laird — tiiese are but shadows. — And I care for substances only.' , , 'Then I may turn them out?' 'You may. I am tired of them,' said Ludovicko. • ' Will you go with me to give eflfect to the proceedings?' asked Morison. ' No; you can do it yourself,' was the reply. ' I'll go immediately.' ' You had better not,' replied the rao^e reflecting uncle; you are excited. You are always hasty, but to day you are un- usually so. Go up-stairs and think over how you are to do it. Leave me now, I am busy.' The nephew, if we may still call him so, went up-stairs, but not to think, for he could not calmly rest liis miud for any length of time. The past rose up before him in grim and dreadful colors, while the future, although gilded with Irjpe and the prospect of riches and enjoyments, CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 108 yet had its ominous clouds which dark- ened the whole prospect, and spread a funeral pall over every castle that fancy reared in the air. Tortured by the con- flicting emotions which rent his mind, he determined on going out to Craigal- lan at once, and lie rushed down-stairs to pursue his journey. ' Where are you going?' was the cold query of the uncle. 'To the castle.' ' I told you not to-night.' 'Well, I shall not go in— I'll look at the outside.' 'Silly fool,' muttered Ludovicko. ' He ifli imaginative, young, and hot-hoaded.' CHAPTER XXXI. THE EJECTMENT AT THE OASTLE. MoRisoN could not wait for the dawn of another day in order to wreak his ven- geance on the Craigallan family. After two or three walks roundabout the cas- tle, he went to the luiU door and rang the bell long and violently. The household was alarmed at the noise, and the in- mates of the drawing-room were startled as he dashed open the door, and entered with a scowl on his face that bespoke deadliest hatred to all on whom his fiendish eye might light. 'What is the matter, Mr. Morison? was it you tluit rang the bell so loud?' asked Mrs. Graham. ' It was, madam ; and as it happens to be my own bell, I presume I can ring it as loud as I please.' ' What do you mean, sir?' pursued the lady. . ' I mean that the knell of your doom ia sealed, old one. I have discovered all — all, mark me !' 'Are you mad, sir V ' No ; but the next thing to it, and well I maybe from the treatment I have received. Well 1 know now why you were anxious that 1 should marry your tawdry daaglitcr, and well, 1 now see, had you occasion to tell her that you were in my power — in my power as thoroughly as if you were bound hand and foot, and that you will know to your cost. By the Lord ! you have fall- en into the right hands for mercy !' ' \Vhat do you mean, sir?' asked Sa- rah sternly. 'I mean this, my popinjay: that my father left me this property by will; your father and your worthy n\other knowing tliia, tried to make a paction with Grant to keep it between them, and so defraud me, the lawful heir, but a friend of mine overheard the plot in the library, and so it is all up ; you and your amiable parents must be off from this place, bag and bag- gage—that is with such baggage as 1 may please to allow you, for every thing is mine — the very broach on your stomach- er was bouglit with Tuy money. You'll refuse the first bracelet that I otfer you !' ' Does this man state the truth V asked Sarah, turning to her father and mother. John fell down on his knees before Sarah, and cried like a child. ' Kneel not to me, father, but to your Maker. Mother, 1 insist upon your an- sVvering me. Tell me, yes or no. Does the infamy that this man charges us with rest on your hands, or does it not?' Mrs. Graham quailed before her daugh- ter's searching look, and she answered iu)t, but, covering her face with her hands, stooped down her head to the table. ' Mother,' said Sarah, her voice trem- ulous with emotion, 'are you ashamed to look me in the face ? O God! I see it is too true. Shame is upon us now for ever.' She walked to the bell and rang it. ' Tell all of the servants in the house to come here, every one of tliem,' said she, in a composed voice. ' What are you going to do?' inquired Morison. She waved her hand contemptuously, and leant her arm on the chimney-piece, as if waiting for the domestics — and, on their being assemUled, she turned rouud to them. ' My friends,' she said, solemnly, ' this is your future' master, and from this hour you will take your orders from him.' Saying this, she plucked the broach from her bosom and Hung it on the table and left the room. .John Graham looked wistfully after his daughter, and then looking toward Morison with a shudder, he beckoned his wife to assist him, and, leaning on her shoulder, he too slowly left the apartment. Morison was tluis left alone. 'Lord of all I survey!' said the mis- creant, tumbling on a sofa, boots and all, the network cover of which had been made by the fair hands of Sarah. And so Sarah walked out, scarcely knowing where to go. At last she be- thought herself of the cottage of Mrs. Arthur, the sailor's wife. ' Preserve me, mem !' said the humble matron, ' what brings you out this time o'nicht, and naetliing on-?' ' I would take it as a great favor, if you would only allow me to stop all 104 CRAIG A.LLA^r C&3TLE. night with you, Mrs. Arthur. I'll sit by tlie fireside, or lie on the floor, or any thing.' 'Mem!' ejaculated the sailor's wife, who concluded tliat the young lady's wits had gone a wool gathering. Sarali briefly told lier story, merely suppressing what bore on the guilt of her parents. ' Oh, the black faced, black hearted vil- lain !' exclaimed the honest cottager. ' No good will come of him. If Mr. Turner was here he would pull his nose for him. But ye have had na supper, mem ! ' ' I can take none, Mrs. Arthur.' ' Then you'll gang to my bed, and no sit there.' ' I can neither sleep nor eat. I have much to think about. Good Mrs. Ar- thur, I may needyour services to-morrow, for I have no other friend, and if you will go to bed yourself you will be all the better able to assist me. l)o, now, and leave me hei'e.' ' ril no gang to my bed,' replied Mrs. Arthur ; *■ but I'll sit here by you and I'll no speak a word. Weel do I ken that when the heart's full its no idle blether that gie's consolation. I'll sit here, and nae more, and God grant you a safe de- liverance from your sair troubles.' 'God alone can do it!' and covering her face, Sarah knelt down in silent prayer. Resuming her seat, she at last fell into a gentle sleep, her head uneasily resting on the back of a chair. In tlie morning Mrs. Arthur went into Paulton and took lodgings for the family, and on her return Sarah and she pro- ceeded to the castle to take away her father and mother. Slowly did the little procession move toward Paulton, and entering by a back street took possession of their poor lodg- ings. The news spread like wildfire over the tovvi;, but nothing daunted, Sarah walked boldly to LuUovicko's ollice. 'I come,' said slie to the lawyer, 'to know what is the exact nature of this business.' Ludovicko briefly informed her how the case stood. 'You, then,' said she bitterly, 'are as bad as they. But what 1 want to know is, do we now know tlie worst?' Ludovicko hesitated. 'I come to you for your opinion, and am willing to pay for it. Will you an- swer my question V ' Well, Morison might claim the past rent. ' Might claim them?' But can he le- gally do so ? I wish to know the very worst.' ' His legal claim is somewhat doubt- ful.' ' Then there is some hope. Is he go- ing to raise a& action against you in the matter^' ' No, we have made it up. He dared not quarrel with me.' ' Tlien,' replied Sarah, exultingly, ' he dare not meddle with my father any more.' 'Why not?' ' Because his exposure would certainly be yours.' ' Ha! you are a young general, and yet you reason well.' 'We shall see, sir,' replied Sarah cold- ly, as she left him. CHAPTER XXXII. THE NEW HEIR. Onh morning a letter came to Morison when seated amidst his riotous guests, and he read it for their amusement in a sniffling, whining tone that excited uni- versal merriment : — ' Elton, by St. Davids, Dee. 10, 18 — . ' Dear and honored sir — Your foster mother, widow Turner, has, by the doing of an all-wise Provid nee, been reduced to great distress. She has all her days labored hard for the meat that porisheth but her hand has not prospered in the thing whereunto she has applied it, for she has been thrown on a bed of languish- ing and of mourning, and has been obliged to expend what she had gathered up for evil times. 'The excellent youth, her son, has not been heard of for many days, and were he in tiie body, and knew of her afflic- tion, she has assured confidence that she would not lack succor from him. But certain tidings have not beet» iieard from him, and she must go on thefunilsof the parish if relief be not vouchsafed by you or some others who kuo\^ her. She cares not for parish relief, first, in prospect of its being degrading, and secondly, be- cause it is so small. ' Sir, Providence has blessed you with abundance, therefore help this poor wo- man, for 1 can certify her case to be needful. Dear sir, I was the humble instrument of uniting in wedlock your mother. Mary Worison, with the man Godfrey Graham; and as you revere the memory of thai CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 105 good and broken-hearted woman, who, even now, may, although unseen by us, be looking down on her son — as you re- vere her memory and great worth, help the childless widow. ' Sir, I am your humble servant to command, 'John Adams, V.D.M. ' Late of Kilbadie.' The reading of Kilbadie's letter pro- duced shouts of laughter. A profane ruffian who had been intend- ed for the clmrcli, but who had from immorality been obliged to adopt anoth- er profession, volunteered his services as amanuensis, to write an answer to his brother clerk.' ' lie shall have his answer,' shouted Morison. ' Write, Archley, in a clerkly hand, as I tell you.' 'Mr. Morison Graham, of Craigallan, has received the letter of the Reverend John Adams, late of Kilbadie, if it be proper to ajiply the term reverend to any other than the clergy of the Established Church. ' Mr. Morison (iraham tendered on one occasion the sum of half a crown to the individual who is referred to in Mr. i\d- anis' note, and as siie declined receiving it, he does not think her a proper object for charity. 'Craigallan Castle, Dec. 12, 18- ' There's for the humbug I Let his reverence digest that!' A loud huzza followed this announce- ment. 'Hurrah for Liberty Hall!' exclaimed the chaplain. Sarah was destined to hold converse with another friend connected with the olden time. 'Miss Surah,' exclaimed Mrs. Arthur at the top of htr falsetto, ' here's Mrs. Martin, wi' three cartloads of beautiful furnitui-e !' Before Sarah could recover from her astonishment, Mrs. Martin made her ap- pearance. ■ 'My bairn,' said the affectionate crea- ture, Iblding her former mistress to her bosom — ' I'm come to stop wi' you again.' Sarah shook her head. ' It's altered times, now, Martha; we cannot afford anybody. Mrs. Arthur, there, stops for nothing; otherwise, I do not know what we should have done.' ' Bless her for tlie same ! I aye thocht she was a decent body. But ye can gang < awa hame now, my woman, I'll take the charge after this.' ' ri! do naething of the sort, answered Mrs. Arthur, ' Are yon aware, Mfirtha,' asked Sarah, ' that we have lost every ihing, and iiave nothing to trust to now except my- exer- tions ?' * That's piper's news,' replied Martha. ' My auntie's dead, and has left me all she had, and I have about lifty pounds in the year, and that is at your service.' ' Martha,' said Sarah, I cannot pre- tend to thank you for so much kindness, but I cannot avail myself of it — indeed I cannot.' 'And what fur no?' ' 1 am ashamed to do it.' ' Weel, Miss Sarah, a' I can say is that its a kindness to mysel' — I canna live awa fra you.' Sarah did not answer. 'Loose the carts,* said Martha to the carters, and the work of unloading com- menced. ' Wliere is your husband, Mrs. Arthur?' ' lie is at .\merica, and is on his way home, and will be here in two or three weeks.' ' Weel,' replied the gracious Martlia, ' I will need you till th,at time to help to i)ut things in order, and after that ye will just tramp. Come awa doon stairs, and let me see what kind of a kitchen you have.' CHAPTER XXXIIL A FRIEND IN NEED. Patience, though a doctrine always preached up by second and third parties, is most unpalatable to principals, and Sarah, at last feeling that her stock was getting exhausted, determined to end or mend her case. She was positive that the Hodges would know something of Edward's movements, and although she shrank at first Irom what appeared and might in reality be a somewhat unmaidenly act, in her writing to comparative stranger.i about a love matter, yet her feelings vyei-e wound up to a pitch of such inten- sity, and she had of late been accustom- ed to do so many strange and unusual things, that she at last made up her mind to write to Mr. Hodges on the sub- ject. Her communication to him ran as fol- lows — 106. CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 'Paxtlton, Dec. 20, 18—. ' Dear sir — You were tlio kind friend of Edward Turner, and I believe you still are so. ' Having heard contradictory accounts of the shipwreck of his vessel, I am anx- ious to know exactly as to his safety, and knowing tlie friendship you have for him, it is more than likely you will be able to give nie the information I re- quire. ' Our family, as you may probably have heard, iiave been very uiiroiauiiale, and it is with no view gf wisliing liim to re- new an aciiuainrance under circniiistan- ces so altered from what they were when he and 1 met under your hospitable roof, tiiat I write this note. All I wish to know is, wlietlier lie is safe. I do not even desire to know his address, or to be told in any way of his future movements. ' Please remember me kindly to Miss Ilodaes, and to Miss Paterson. ' liespectfully yours, 'Saba II Gbaham.' After the dispatch of this letter, Sarah anxiously walciied for the postman. But morning after morning did the man ot letters pass througli the dull street of Sa- rah's abode witliout deigning to stop at Ler door. She was thinking of a second commu- nication, believing, as all sanguine cor- respondents do, tliat her letter had been miscarried, when, to her great surprise, she saw Mr. Hodges himself making to- ward tlie lioiise. •Her mother happened to be sitting in the room at th'e time, and observing the lit of ireiiibling tliat seized Sarah on be- holding some unexpected fornj|in tiie street, she determined on remaming to see what was going to hap|>en. Mr. Hodges was duly announced. Sa- rali couid have liniig herself into his arms, for memories of the olden time came tiiick upon her, but Hodges' manner dis- pelled her' enthasiasm, for he was studi- ously cold anil reserved. 'All the vvorld is truly against me,' thought Sarah. '1 have to apologize, Miss Graham,' said he, ' for my seen)ing delay in answer- ii:g your note. The truth is, I was from home when it reached St. Davids, and it was sent to me here only this morning. And now that I have seen you, I must express my surprise at your having sent Bucli a ctftnmunication to me.' •Sir!' exclaimed Sarah, shuddering. ' I have no wish,' he continued, ' to up- braid you, situated as you are now. Providence has already punished you se- verely enough ; but I repeat my surprise at your atttm])ting to correspond with me, knowing the respect and atl'ection that I bear to that excellent young man.' 'It was that I'nade me write you, sir,' replied Sarah, in a state of incijeasing be- wilderment. ' Write me, madam, as his friend, after you had insulted ium? Keally, that is too much.' • Insult Edward Turner, sir-! Insult, did you say? Do you think so little of me as to suppose me capable of insulting him — I, who would give my existence for him?' ' There is no use talking, ma'am — he sent me your own letter. There it is — brazen it now if you can !' Sarah wildly seized the proffered doc- ument, and as siie read it her frame seemed to freeze into stono, and her eyes a-o you leave to-night?' inquired the u; ' •. ■ Ves ; I shall be oif in two hours by the night mail.' ' Cold, calculating bloodsucker,' said Morison, a few minutes after the door closed on his uncle,' had I your cunning I might devise some parting memorial for you.' ' I will help you,' said a voice which appeared to come from behind Godfrey Graham's portrait. Morison started up in terror, and, spell-bound, looked on the picture. The whole mass of canvas moved forward from the wall, and, covered with dust and blood, and in literal rags, Wainright sprung down on the floor before him. ' Dog ! scoundrel ! what brings you here?' asked Morison. 'Protection,' replied Wainright. ' You shan't have it!' roared Morison. 'Two words to that if; I am discover- ed so are you. I'm hungry and thirsty, give me something, if you would not see me die.' ' You shall ilot get one morsel, and glad would I be if to " ithhold it were to in-ure your death, villain ! to undo me at this critical moment.' 'Morison,' sa'd Wainright, 'all I want is as much money as will carry ine off to America, like yourself. Do not refuse it — I am both desperate and dangerous.' 'So am I,' replied Morison. 'Give me half of this money,' said Wainright. ' Not a farthing!' exclaimed Morison. ' I implore you !' returned the convict 'Do it now, you can run off, and I'll re- main here a little longer.' ' Yes, and raise the hue and cry after me! Do all know of your being here!' ' None but Copperas.' ' He is laid up in prison, and so is safe. I have only to secure you and make my retreat good.' Morison advanced as if to lay hands on Wainright — the latter drew a pistol, but Morison still pressed forward, and Wain- right tired, but the instrument only flashed in the pan. 'Dog!' exclaimed the victor, 'I have you now !' . He seized him by the throat and bent him over the back of a chair till all re- sistance ceased, and then he flung him oa the floor senseless. He fell without a groan. He then dragged the body into the recess, and readjuiSting the picture, prepared for flight. Suddenly he heard a loud knocking at the d.ior — tlie bells »ang — and a confused noise of voices came from the outside. Tearing open the picture, he put out tiie light and then rushed in. For half an hour he heard the tramp of strangers in every di»ection. 'There is a secret passage,' cried an unknown voice, between the library and the kitchen lobby ; does any one know of it?' 'I do,' returned another voice, 'tear down the picture.' The picture was slashed open with a cutlass, and the body of Wainright drawn out. ' Is this the nian ?' asked the sheriff of the county. Copperas nodded. ' He is not quite dead,' said one of the officers, who immediately began to use such restorative efforts as tiie exigency permitted. Gradually Wainright revived, but to a very trifling extent. ' Where is Morison?' asked Copperas; bat the dying man could not answer; CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. 109 indeed it was a question if he understood what was said to him. Prosently a shot was heard in the pas- sage, and Moriaon was drapged in. He had fired his pistol, but without effect. 'What am I accused of?' asked Mori- son, suddenly: 'and who are you that invade my house in this fashion ?' 'I am the sheriff of the county,' replied the 8ui)erintendent of tlie proceedings ; 'and the charge aiiainst you is robbing the Ship Bank, and aiding in the escape of a convict "returned from transporta- tion.' ' The latter charge is false,' replied the prisoner. ' He came here unknown to me. and I refused to shelter him.' Wainright tried to lift himself on one side, and pointing to the blaok finger- marks on his throat, signed that they had been intlicted by Morison. ' You only get quit of one charge by bringing on yourself one of a more hei- nous description. This wretch, your ac- complice, evidently ha-; not long to live, and it is evident that the signs he makes as to you being his murderer, bring home that graver charge against you.' ' I did it in self-defence.' He drew a pistol on me.' ' If it were in self-defence, observed the magistrate, ' how came you to fling him into the recess? — or why did you not call for assistance ?' ' I am not on my trial,' answered Mor- ison, doggedly; and then changing his tone, 'come, my lord, what bail do you want? I'll enter on my own recogni- zances to a large amount.' And he be- gan to tell out the money. 'I can take no bail from one charged with two capital offences,' replied the sheriff. ' Otiicers ! search the prisoners, and then remove them, taking care that the younger one be well secured.' Tlie orders were obeyed. Arrived in Paidtun, Dr. Anthony Fitzgibbon's ser- vices were put in requisition for Wain- "ight, but to no purpose. It ap[>eared that the ruffian Copperas, wlion taken before the authorities at St. Davids, had asked if any reward could still be obtained for the discovery of the parties who had robbed the bank ; and on being answered in the affirmative, explained how Wainright and Morison could be simultaneously apprehended. As the disclosures were being made, Morison stood before the sheriff heavdy ironed, and with a look redolent of ma- lignant ferocity. ' My lord^ said he, ' I see it is all up with me; but, mark me! Ludovicko Grant, my reputed uncle, is not free from blame in this matter. If I am to suffer, I do not see why he should escape.' ' Take down his words,' replied the sheriff; ' when he arrives in St. Davids, his declaration, if he have any to make, will be received more formally. 'While Morison stood in the inn yard, his eye fell on the debauchee who in the midnight orgies of Craigallan was known as the chapbiin. He beckoned to him, and the worthy came to the side of his old patron. 'Archley,' said the criminal, ' I have a hundred pound note in my watch fob, which has escaped the searchers: get me something that will do my business — ■ and the money is yours. I shall hang otherwise! For Heaven's sake go!' 1 he chaplain disappeared. By the time he returned, Morison had been put into a coach, and an officer wa-i stepping in after him; the chaplain went to the other side, and, pretending to shake hands with him, he gave and re( f ved. The cavalcade moved on, the sheriff remaining })eliind. ' My lord,' said Ludovicko, ' I am sure your lordship will excuse my earlier at- tendance on this most melancholy occa- sion.' 'I have good grounds for supposing that you yourself know something of this robbery, and I have issued a warrant for ' your apprehension accordingly. 1 shall, however, admit you to bail, but it must be heavy. You will also please to re- main here, as I have sent the officers to examine your premises.' 'Morison has killed himself!' shouted the crowd, and it was too true. The co- operation of the chaplain had supplied him with the means of destruction, and, by the time they had well cleared the town, he had found means to execute his awful purpose. Ludovicko's bail bonds were prepared, and he signed them. But we u^ed not linger over details now. Edward Turner obtained a pas- sage to England on board a British man- of-wai'. On her dM^'ks he found honest Jack Arthur, the lile of whose child he had once saved.' From the grateful sai- lor he learned the true state of things at Craigallan. Duty induced him to call on his mother, before he visited Sarah. He found his aged parent in the agonies of death, and from her pale lips he learn- ed that he was the true heir of Craigal- lan, and Morison her own son whom she had substituted in infancy for Edward, 110 CRAIGALLAN CASTLE. in hopes that he would possess.the prop- erty. His unnatural conduct so exaspe- rated her that she determined to deprive him of it. Ludoviciio (irant, fearing punishment for his crimes, left lor Amer- ica in a ship which was wrecked olt the coast of Ireland, and perished with all hands. There was now no obstacle to the union of Edward'and Sarah, which took Dlace amid great rejoicings. Ohl Mar- tha, Kilbadie, and Oscar spent their last days welcome guests at Craigallan. And when we had finished our MS., our old aunt looked up to the ceiling and said — 'So, Edward and Sarah, tw^o simple beings, triumphed over Ludovicko, Mori- son, and John and Mrs. Graham, all adepts in artful villainy I Is not that vei y strange ?' ' No I Right is Might 1' THE END. 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Dictionary of Love 1 50 Anecdotes of Love 1 50 Courtship Made Easy 12 Laws of Love -.25 How to Woo and How to Win 12 How to Win a Sweetheart or Lover 25 Books on Wines and liiquors. How to Mix Drinks, 800 Recipes .Vi Lacour on the Manufacture of Liquors 3 50 French Wine andLiyuor jUcaler. ..8 00 Bordeaux Wine and Liquor Dealers Guide. 3 50 •ar Copies o/ej'fw 1 Bar\Se }fthe above booki sent to any address in the United States or Canada, free of pottage. Send Cash Orders to DICK & TTIZOtERAIA), 18 Ann Street, New York.