not to the right nor to the left, nor did she for an instant slacken her utmost speed, but ambled along, like a rat that had just left part of his tail in a trap, until she reached her own lone cabin, a dwelling seldom tenanted. And then, closing and barring her clumsy door, and dropping on a three-legged stool, she devoutly crossed her forehead, thumped her breast, raised her shadowy eyes to Heaven, and, not forgetful of Bill's parting advice, poured forth, for her miraculous escape, as hearty a thanksgiving as had ever passed her lips on any former occasion.

The day, the evening lapsed, and, for the first time during the last forty years, Nanny the Knitter was not seen abroad. To avoid her sworn enemy, was the old woman's predominant instinct, and in it the habits of a life became temporarily absorbed. Even for the better part of the next day she did not stir out; and when at last tempted across her threshold, it was in the company of neighbours who, much alarmed at her sudden disappearance from the high-roads, short cuts, and ingle corners of the parish, had come to seek her in her barricadoed cabin.

But confidence gradually returned to her

heart, and in its influence the possessing selfishness of terror somewhat abated, and permitted her to think of the application to others of her whole fearful adventure under the umbrella lime-tree. "Her darlin' iv a poor crature, the honey, Miss Eliza !"-What was to be done in her regard ?-Must she remain ignorant of the plot against her? And "the hansome pet iv a Sir William ?"-Did that terrible man mean that even from Eliza's ear Nanny was to keep secret all she had overheard? If so, why command her to bear a message to her fair young patroness, evidently connected with the conversation between him and "Capt'n Square Talbot ?" And here Nanny recollected, in shuddering emotion, that she was as firmly bound to do what Bill Nale had commanded, as she was not to do what he had interdicted; and, at the thought, up she rose from her stool, and softly trudged off to Hartley Court, determined to deliver his embassy at least―" an' the mercies direct her in the rest."

Upon the road, it strongly occurred to her that, in the present state of affairs, she had better not seek to closet herself with Eliza, lest, when the fact became ascertained by a certain person-and ascertained it surely would be-

she might fall under his censure. Nanny therefore hoped and prayed for a rencounter with Miss Hartley, quite by chance, upon some neutral ground, outside the house. Nor was she disappointed in her laudable and prudent wishes. The object of her mission appeared, seated beneath her favourite ash-tree, buxom Spring budding and bursting around her, and she looking the very deity that called forth, and breathed life, and freshness, and beauty upon leaf, flower, and blossom.

In an uninterrupted whisper, which the bird on the next branch could not overhear, Nanny delivered the message of Rattling Bill. It begat, of course, many questions and enquiries from the listener; and Nanny was sore pressed, between her great fear of her tyrant, and her as great inclination to answer at full length, as well out of sincere anxiety for her patroness, as out of pure yearning to tell a story, and a wonderful story, in which, strictly speaking, she had herself been the heroine: Eliza urged her cross-examination; and the old woman now hesitated, and hemmed, and groaned, and rocked herself backward and forward, at questions she had, in the first instance, skilfully evaded. Eliza persevered; her manner became energetic

from fear and doubt; tears flooded her eyes; and Nanny, casting her vague orbs all round, after every sentence, at length detailed circumstantially, as we have given it, but in her own usual way, the whole adventure.

It was told, and the afflicted gossip had departed, and Eliza remained motionless on her seat under the ash-tree. Consternation filled her thoughts and her bosom. Something fell at her feet and rustled in the grass. She picked up a piece of crumpled paper; she opened it and read

"Upon business the most vital to you, I come to speak one word;-but though now looking on you, I will not intrude without thus preparing you for my appearance.

"H. T."

She had scarce perused the lines when the writer of them sprang over the fence of the adjacent grove, and, bowing profoundly, stood before her. Eliza just had sufficient self-command to control a loud and long scream, the instinctive outbreak into its climax, of her previous consternation. But the first struggle of a new passion indignation and contempt for

the person who thus intruded on her-checked her frenzy, and otherwise shaped her voice and conduct.

"Out of the path, Sir!" she cried, casting his billet to her feet, as she sprang up.

“I plead but for one word, Miss Hartley— but one word!" said Talbot, in a tone and manner of the humblest supplication.

"Back, Sir!" She proudly swept by him with a firm step: 66 long since we have come to an understanding;-and, even were it not so, with the associate of a mean knave and villain, I hold no converse!"

"The connexion is indeed, or seems to be, degrading to me; but it comes from necessity, not choice," he replied, following her.

"Explain to others, Sir! I ask no explanation at your hands; and presume not thus to force your attendance upon me. Stand where you are, I say!"-as he gained her side.

"I must disobey you, Miss Hartley-must bear you company to the last moment when I can do so without observation."

Not once looking on him, she quickened her pace-every pace brought her nearer to home her head erect, her brow knit, her cheeks flushed, and her bosom heaving.