Waltham. pass either for an antique pleasure-house, a smaller cas- pen on the day before, should have had the cruelty to tle, a watch tower, or a species of landmark or observa- keep up the news for a whole day, and then let them out tory, according to the wish and fancy of the enquirer. upon him like a clap of thunder, without giving him one BEING THE THIRD VOLUME OF THE LIBRARY OF ROMANCE, This last was called the Pilot's Mark, and stood near the night to think of all that was to be done. 66 EDITED BY LEITCH RITCHIE. this. neck of a small peninsula, running into the sea, and be- The first thing he could muster presence of mind neath a sloping bare sort of headland, which rose black sufficient to effect, was to mount up into one of the neand craggy nearly behind, and went by the name of Hail glected chambers, and fetch forth an old moth-eaten flag, The plan of the "Library of Romance," published in Hill, probably from its cold seaward aspect and appear-which it had been the immemorial custom at Arnwood to London, and edited by Leitch Ritchie, has an object si-ance. By the side of the little peninsula and the tower, hoist upon days of emergency, as he said; meaning days milar to our own—the dissemination of polite literature and between these and the castle, was a small nook of when any particular event took place at the castle, at the sea, of a tolerable depth of water, which was known which all were expected to rejoice. But so few occaat a cheaper rate than usual. Instead of three volumes, by the name of Pirate's Creek; but so ignorant and in-sions of rejoicing of any sort had of late taken place in to which works of fiction have heretofore been extended, curious were the country people, that not a soul could this lonely building, that the flag was all but gone, being Mr. Ritchie confines each author to one, which is sold at tell how or whence these names originated. as thin and frail as a cobweb. However, up it must go, and It may well be supposed that this deserted and unculti-a perplexing piece of business the rearing of it was to the about one fourth of the usual price; and we furnish the vated neighbourhood, which was seven miles distant from honest major-domo, particularly from the flurry of his same matter at about one eighth of even his very reduced any thing like a village, was at the time little frequented mind consequent upon this great event. The old tapesLondon rate. The first of his series contained "The by strangers, and no favourite residence even of its own try in the gloomy room above, which in ancient times Ghost Hunter and his Family," which, though evincing lords in former times, so long as they had more desirable had been called the banqueting room, was to be shaken considerable talent, as a whole is incongruous and extra-estates elsewhere, and could keep a house in London. out and set in order; the hangings in the green drawingStill less, if possible, were its peculiar advantages and room, which had been put up at the late lord's marriage, vagant. The second number contains the story of comforts perceptible to the common gaze of the proprie-were to be unshrouded; the few remaining servants to be Schinderhannes, the Robber of the Rhine," of which tor of a modern mansion situated within eye-shot and marshalled out in as much state as small numbers and we published a short sketch in the "Lives of Banditti." almost at a stone's throw from the castle,-whose white other deficiencies would admit of; and a man to be staThe work now published constitutes the third volume of surface, neatly shaven lawn, and closed windows, seemed tioned in the Lark's Tower, under the ragged flag, to to be placed within view of the latter noble fabric, almost keep a look out, and to give a signal to crooked Robert the Library of Romance, and is the only one received in the very spirit of contradiction, and formed one of and his old wife, who dwelt at the porter's lodge; and, if which we have deemed worthy of republication. We those harsh contrasts that too often mar, not only the time would permit, the whole country round was to be consider Waltham to possess claims to attention; the general effect, but the peculiar romance of a scene like raised to welcome the young heir home to his castle of Arnwood; above all a fête was to be gotten up to please character of Murdoch Macara, the Scotsman, is forcibly In the solitary retirement of the castle the Dowager the domestics. As for Mrs. Goodyear the housekeeper, sketched and in bold relief; while the numerous inci- Lady Arnwood had resided, forgotten by the world, in she was no less distracted with business and preparation; dents of the novel are natural, and highly interesting. quiet and meditative seclusion, ever since the death, at she broke two antique china dishes with her own hands The author, though now anonymous, cannot probably an carly age, of the late lord. Indeed, scarcely a car- in the ardour of scolding the housemaids, and scalded continue long unknown; and though he may not be pro-old neglected gate, except that of the physician: not even into a pot to make good her assertion that its contents riage, by any chance or upon any occasion, entered the her fore-finger in the most painful manner, by dipping it nounced a Walter Scott, yet the talents, cultivation of a horseman halted at the threshold, except the post-boy did not boil. mind, and knowledge of the human heart, displayed even with an occasional letter from her beloved and only son, At length, the numerous affairs below stairs were got in this single volume, entitle him to a high niche in the on his travels abroad; or perhaps the vicar on his careful into some sort of order. Mrs. Goodyear in gown and literary temple. pony, to pay his distant visit and eat his sober dinner, cap, with as much comfort as her scalded finger would well seasoned with moral reflections and religious dis-admit of, and having her little gold watch hanging by her course, upon the vanity of worldly grandeur, and the side, with her usual complacency crossed her hands liability of riches to make to themselves wings and flee before her, and looked out down the long avenue for the coming of my lord. Arnwood Castle in shire, the only remaining resi- The Lady Arnwood was, however, surprised one day But the only person in view was Mark Forward, the dence of the barons of that name, who once were mighty by the unaccustomed presence of the post-boy just men- footman, and man of all-work, who had early been desmen in its neighbourhood, was a much more sightly tioned, fraught with a letter, in whose direction she in-patched with an invitation to Lady's Arnwood's favourmass than structures of so ancient a date commonly are. stantly recognised the hand-writing of her son. Breaking ite, the rector, requesting his company to dinner to meet Having been strongly built at first, partly from the whim it open, with all a mother's anxious impatience, she hastily the young heir; he being the only gentleman, within and partly from the poverty of its owners, little money read the following:twenty miles, whom my lady would condescend to inhad been wasted in patching and disfiguring it with subvite as a relief to the solitude of her days, and to bear sidiary buildings; and, excepting a wing of light gothic, reaches you, you will have heard from the mouth of my Arnwood. My very dear mother-I presume, that before this witness to the fallen fortunes of the ancient house of only the height of one story, which contained two or three handsome rooms, the old castle still stood in all late tutor, Mr. Johnston, that a difference between us, of its heavy strength, and frowned in its original feu- a serious nature, the particulars of which it is not dal gloom, as the most prominent object in the ir-necessary now to detail, caused his dismissal a short time regular landscape over which it presided. Every one since. It is not expedient that I should at present enter on his approach admired the relief which the elegant upon a defence of charges which perhaps he has not addition which we have mentioned gave to the venerable even preferred to you. I had hoped to have been forstrength of the huge dark pile, and all were disposed to tunate enough to obtain the company of my friend, Sir compliment the taste of the departed lord, under whose Eustace Walford, to the castle, whose testimony would Nothing o' th' sort, ma'am. Travellers indeed! any superintendence it had been raised. But in truth the at once have removed any doubt or anxiety that Mr. where within ten miles of this black old castle-one praise was less due to my lord of the time, who was lit Johnston's representations may have occasioned, at the tle more than a mere man of war, like his ancestors, than same time that his presence would have afforded a relief might as well expect to see a bonfire on Hail Hill, over beyond, or a mermaid singing ballads in the Pirate's to the chance of his stumbling upon a tasteful architect, to the monotony of the scene at Arnwood. He is, how-Creek, as a traveller here of a whole winter. Not so who, struck with the beauty of a tall tower at the back ever, unavoidably detained by particular business at much as a tinker or a pedlar to enliven us this month angle, which was raised in a peculiar taste, and was now Paris. You may expect to see me on the day after the known by the name of the Lark's Tower, as well as with receipt of this letter. Believe me, my very dear madam, past, and even old Alic the fiddler has deserted us. Not the picturesque appearance of a building and grounds too your ever affectionate son, much out of the way of common gazers to be observed, suggested to the owner the idea of the terrace, for the erection of which, if tradition can be believed, he never was fully paid. CHAPTER I. away. ARNWOOD." 66 Any travellers to be seen on the road as you came, Mr. Mark?" said the housekeeper, looking out. 66 'Travellers, ma'am, on any road hereabouts? Don't mention such a thing, ma'am, if you please, only to make one's mouth water." "Then there's no appearance of my lord yet, nor of any strangers whatever, Mark ?” so much as a custom-house officer or exciseman ever passes; nor even a smuggler comes near the creek now -neither man nor maiden whatsomever, and a wholeIt would not be easy to describe the effect of these few some young fellow like me, wasting my precious youth lines from her son, upon the mind of Arnwood's sad and in an old castle among the rocks. By gad, ma'am, anxious mother; or the weight that the letter removed you'll get out of bed some morning and find me hanging Among the undulating grounds, neglected masses of from her spirits, and the satisfaction and pleasure it on the bough of one of the trees in the wood, like another old trees and straggling brushwood, which covered the gave, notwithstanding the misrepresentations of the Absalom." slopes towards the sea that washed the shore, scarcely a quondam tutor, Mr. Johnston, who had waited upon her "And as for me, Mr. Mark," said the housekeeper, mile distant from the castle, and nearly in its front, on his return from Paris, but who had now left the pro-surveying herself, "I may deck myself, and dress mythere still stood various remains of old buildings-low tection of the castle for ever. self, and I may wear my clothes, and my trinkets, and thick walls, with vaults and caves, and strangely shaped When, however, the news descended to the house-what signifies how well a woman looks, when there's no mounds of which nobody could give any account, ex-keeper's room on the following morning, from my lady's one to see her?" cept that they had remained there a stumbling block to own mouth, that the young Lord Arnwood was abso- 'Well, I can't stop herc, ma'am, in this sort o' lamenany sort of comfortable hunting, and a refuge for gyp-lutely expected home that very day-never was there in tation. But what, in the name of goodness, is that dansies, smugglers, and travelling thieves, from time imine- any quarter such a consternation of surprise and import-gling at the top o' the flagstaff in the turret there?" morial, who made no sort of scruple of dislodging the ant preparation. Mr. Mollison, the generalissimo of "It is the flag, no doubt, that Mr. Mollison hoisted for badgers and rabbits from such comfortable quarters, butlers, was in a perfect panic, at the fifty hundred my lord." whenever it answered their purpose to appropriate them things that devolved upon him instantly "to be, to do, "Flag, ma'am, ho! ho! and he not come home yet, for the time to themselves. Among these, was an and to suffer," on such an extraordinary occasion, and ran supposing it were a flag. But it's more like one of the ancient oblong vault, connected with a dilapidated cha- about everywhere, doing nothing from not knowing what brooms that the skippers in the bay put up at the mastpel, wherein lay interred the lords of Arnwood, even from to do first-rubbing his hands, and giving all sorts of head when their shabby craft is for sale, or as a signal of the time of Edward the Fifth, and a tall strange looking contradictory orders, and wondering above all things distress, than any token of rejoicing. 'Faith the castle building, standing in an exposed situation, which might that my lady, who must have known what was to hap-itself may be for sale for aught I know." 66 66 Lord! Mr. Mark, do ye think so, and nearly a One morning, at this period, just as Lord Arnwood "Deed, sir-that is, my lord, it can scarcely be ca'd a year's wages due to me?" was preparing to go out, a strange, weather-beaten look-hoose, ava,' and as to ony rent, I am sure it is worth next "Oh! no fear of us, ma'am," said the wag, whose scl-ing man was seen making his way towards the castle, to nacthing-an' whatever ye'll get for it will be perfect fishness was not so ready to take the alarm, "but that is crossing the green sward, and cutting off the angles of found siller. It's just that auld place doon by the seaa poor forlorn looking thing that Mollison has hoisted the walks where he chose, as he, for despatch and short-side they ca' the Pilot's Mark, an' it 's sadly out o' reup there, and flutters about too much like the old fag-end ness, approached it from the side next the sea. When he pair." had drawn near, he stood before the front entrance, gazing "I don't mean to let the Pilot's Mark, my friend." "Ou yes, my lord, ye'll let it; it 'll aye bring in something in the shape o' siller, and ony thing's better than nacthing: but ye see, my lord, it's no for mysel' I want it, it 's for another gentleman." “Oh, it's for another gentleman," said Lord Arnwood, of nobility, so tattered yet so lofty. Alack a-day, Mrs. Goodyear, it's a sad thing altogether, and a bad bargain my young lord has to come home to, come when he may." It was towards evening that Lord Arnwood found himself approaching his native home, and the daylight of a short winter's day was just dying away, as from a The person so addressed, who was a square-built man, smiling. height which he had much longed to arrive at, he first with a shrewd, good-humoured countenance, seemed "Deed is it, my lord, an he's a real gentleman, and obtained a view of the distant sea and the naked tower of not of those who are prone to be abashed even by the sair reduced in the world; an' the poor gentleman has the Pilot's Mark, and afterwards descried the black tur- majesty of a Mollison; but, on the contrary, giving the set his mind on it, for ye see he is a little odd in his way, rets of Arnwood. The thoughts of the youth had already great man of the pantry a most familiar, and, as the lat-since the world went against him, and winna be perbeen none of the pleasantest, nor is a solitary ride of ter thought, a decidedly impudent nod of the head, he suaded; an' I'm sure he'll get his death in it, when the seventy miles on a drizzling gloomy day in February, began by delivering, with a strong Scotch accent, the fol-northeasters begin to blast off the sca. But what will after a week's sickness, at all favourable to the disper-lowing unceremonious enquiry: be the rent o't, my lord? ye know that siller is siller in sion of gloomy reflections. Arnwood, amid the torpor thae times.” of his weary journey, had been striving the whole day to excite in himself feelings of joy at returning to his home, and meeting his remaining parent. But when he first obtained a view of the old castle, standing bleak and solitary, amid irregular, ill kept, woody grounds, where the old oaks shot up their scattered leafless trunks, and spread forth their ragged boughs over the never-ending brushwood-and where not a living soul seemed stirring around, nor a face was to be seen willing to offer him a welcome, nor a sound heard but the harsh sea-breeze whistling in the leafless wood-when he surveyed all this, his melancholy deepened into a still more unpleasant and even gloomy feeling. At length the sad inhabitants of the castle were gladdened by the unusual sound of a vehicle stopping at the entrance, and in an instant all the disposable servants were at the door. Mr. Mollison condescended to open the carriage with his own hand, and greeted his lord with a hearty and comforting welcome; while Mrs. Goodyear was overcome even to weeping when his lordship shook hands with her in the hall, as an old friend. We tarry not to describe the meeting between the noble youth and the solitary dowager of the castle; which, however affecting to both in the first instance, and productive of a transient feeling of pleasure on either side, soon gave place to the overwhelming gloom superinduced by the dreary solitude of the old castle, and the melancholy reflections on the probable fortunes of their house; which were indeed too well grounded in probability, and altogether of a nature corresponding with the spot in which they were engendered. CHAPTER II. "A fine day, friend; is your maister at hame ?” Ou, indeed, friend, ye'll doubtless no be o'er honest; but I just want the gentleman ye see-the maister of this auld black building." "Master? Is it his lordship you're enquiring for, my "Ou, ay, friend, I believe he is a lord: I should mind "Pooghoo! so ye're taking the strunts, are ye? Deevil "What is the gentleman's name, and how has he be come reduced?" said his lordship, highly amused with the man and his request." "His name is Waltham, my lord, and he fell into bad hands, and lost a deal o' siller, and his lady died, and-but ye see it 's nae my part to speak aboot family affairs." "And you are his servant, I presume?" "A sort of assistant, my lord, his principal-that is, his general doer, and man of business, baith out anʼiu. And what 'll be the rent o' that rack of a place, my lord?" "What rent would you or your master offer for the Pilot's Mark, and the seaward land," said his lordship, entering into the man's humour, “ if I left it to your own conscience." 66 66 Hoot, my lord, dinna speak about conscience in thee times, when siller is sae precious. I never heard a gude bargain maker say mickle about conscience on his ain side in my life, whatever he did o' the conscience o' his "Servant men, you scoundrel; do you call me a ser-neighbour; and a bargain's a bargain ony how, as your vant man? Ho! Mark, Robin, Will-is there nobody lordship knows." here to dip this impudent Scotchman in the horsepond?" Lord, I would like to see the best flunkey that ever licked a plate, put hands on me!" said the Scotchman, smiling contemptuously, and spitting in his palm as he grasped the short stick on which he leaned, while Mark Forward and others of the servants mustered round to witness the rare excitement of a fray. 66 "What's all this to do?" said Mark, striking in, and rejoicing at the idea of a quarrel. "What are ye all about, gentlemen?" "But your offer, sir. How much do you offer for the Mark and its appurtenances.” "Me offer?" said the Scotchman, with a flourish; "Catch me making an offer! Na, na, my lord-its no what'll I gie, but what 'll ye take, that's my way of doing business." "Well then, to be short, suppose I offer it to your master for thirty pounds per annum." 66 Thirty pounds! such an enormous soom for a per. fect limbo, without a lock or a bolt in order. Na, na, my lord, that 'll never do." "How did you come, my friend, to find out in what order it is?" 66 Mc, your lordship? hav'n't I been out through't an' in through't, wi' the key I got frae the crooked chicl at the lodge? Do you think I'm talking about a blind bargain, all this time? Na, na." "Well, my good friend, instead of thirty pounds per annum, suppose I offer it to your master for fire, while it is my pleasure to allow him to retain it." "Faith, ye're a ceevil like fallow," said the stranger, not less pleased at all times than Mr. Mollison himself, at being so addressed: "Ye see I was just speering in the The quiet solitude of the castle of Arnwood was but poleetest manner at that ill-fared body wi' the meal on little disturbed by the return of the young lord. In a his pow, how I would get to see my lord, when, fuff! he few days he was seen, without being looked at, gliding gets up in a passion, and scoggles on me like a turkey out and in, and mounting the narrow stairs of the Lark's cock. Deevil sic an a body I ever saw." Tower, to a small apartment near its summit, which he "Will you stand there, Mark Forward, and hear me chose to call his study; and there, while the usual eco-insulted at this rate, by an impudent vagabond?" said nomy of the household went on almost by signs, he was Mollison, stamping in a fume. occupied in looking out upon the sea when the weather "Here's a pretty piece of work under my lord's own "Five pounds, did your lordship say? Noo, that's was stormy, or poring over his books-and all with such window," exclaimed the shrill voice of Mrs. Goodyear something conscientious.-A-weel, a-weel, I suppose we perfect stillness, that the whole building you would have brought also into the scene; "what is it you want here, must gie your lordship the five pounds per annum, payasworn was tenanted only by the few birds which built good man?” ble quarterly, an' possession to be had immediately, and among its sheltered nooks, and the ravens which wheeled "I just want ac word of my lord, ma'am," said the so forth. Noo will your lordship just gie me a bit scrape and screeched round its lofty turrets. Sometimes, indeed, stranger, touching his hat with a politeness which was o'a pen for 't. I like things o' sic importance in black he was observed on the back of an old hunter, splashing quite remarkable, from contrast with his former rough-and white." and wheeling among the broken hollows near Pirate's ness. "No, no," said his lordship. "You must take my Creek, in weather when even to behold such frightful The sagacious Scotchman, having an instinctive per-word for this, and my steward shall attend to see that this doings, aggravated the excruciating tyranny of Mr. Mol- suasion of female influence, and having almost won the person is a reduced gentleman, as you represent:" and lison's rheumatism; and, on other occasions, when the favour of Mrs. Goodyear by the politeness with which he so saying, he had some difficulty in getting the Scotchwind blew and blasted so fearfully around the castle, that addressed her, followed up his advantage by a speech of man dismissed without a written memorandum of so the man who ventured out of doors found no small diffi- such rough manliness and potential persuasion, that she good a bargain. culty in keeping his head where it was placed by nature, soon prevailed upon Mark Forward, who had visibly enor his fect on the solid earth, the poking major-domo joyed the humiliation of the butler, to take up the stran. might be found peeping and peering from some of the ger's request, and obtain him an interview with Lord small loop windows in the tower, and holding up his hands Arnwood. as he descried the young lord flying along the beach in the distance, on his lean hunter, with the spray buzzing round and over him, "as if," as he was wont to say, "seven devils were at his heels." The man was no sooner gone than something struck Lord Arnwood in this matter, to which his unsuspicious good nature had so readily led him to consent. The Pilot's Mark had never been intended for a regular habita"What is your pleasure with me, friend?" said Arn- tion, but had been used by the former lords of Arnwood, wood, as the visiter was ushered into his presence. for various temporary purposes of their own, either of "I want to take a bit hoose from you, my lord." pleasure or convenience; and there was something like "Take a house from me? I have none to let that I folly, if not degradation to his house, in giving into the know of; and my steward is the man for these mat-possession of a stranger, even upon the plea of benevolence, a pleasure house of the family, erected on a spot so favourable to smuggling or any other illegal purposeto which it, for aught he knew, might eventually be abused. However, as he had been abruptly led by the importunity and odd humour of this forward Scotchman, to give his word to its being transferred for a time to the possession of the stranger, all that he could now do, was Some time after his arrival, as the spring advanced, and the weather became more mild and genial, a slight ters." stir took place in the neighbourhood, in consequence of a "Ou, I never talk about buzziness to servants when I shipwreck at no great distance-with its various concomi- can get at the maister, my lord, that's my way. Its just tant circumstances, such as the coming and going of a hoose I want, an ye'll gie me 't for a sma' rent-a persons in authority, the landing and embarkation of very sma' rent, nac doot, for it's standing horn idle, an men in small boats along the coast, and nightly parties bringing in nacthing that I can sce." about the Pirate's Creek. "What house is it?" to give instructions for its being ascertained, whether the new possessor was worthy of his benevolence, and, in every respect, a fit and proper tenant. Meantime the Scotchman's boat, which had been kept waiting for him in the Pirate's Creek, soon brought him to a small inn, at a few miles' distance, which having reached, he ran up stairs to the apartinent occupied by his master. “Well, Murdoch, how have you sped?" enquired, as he turned round to meet him, a middle-sized elderly gentleman, with a fine expression of countenance, and a nervous twinkle of the eye. “Ha, ha, ha!" was all our friend could get out, throwing up his arms and bursting into an obstreperous fit of laughter. What does the man mean?"-said the other-" Is this the way you answer my enquiry?" “Ha, ha, ha, ha!”—-went on Murdoch, reeling round the room in his unceremonious mirth. "For God's sake, Murdoch!" said the gentleman, "check this unseasonable convulsion, and inform me of the issue of your mission." "Mission, sir! dinna speak about missions to me! Lord, I'm nae missionary." "I'm glad to see you in such humour, Murdoch." "Humour! Odd sir! I've been laughing the whole way frae the mickle castle-laughing by land and sea, 'till the vera boatmen girn'd wi' me, like crawfish. Lord, I never made sic a bargain, a' the bargains ever I made." “Then, I presume, you have got the Pilot's Mark for me." "Gotten it! ay, and for black naething! ha, ha, ha! I've often heard, that lords and gentles were fules; but sie a born idiot, as yon sweet-mouthed lord, I never saw. To gie awa a place like the Pilot's Mark, for thirty pounds a year, it's perfect nonsense." "Well, I suppose that is cheap enough, Murdoch, as you say so." "Cheap!-He sought thirty pounds—but do ye think I make bargains that way Na, na, what do you think office? Na, its true, sir-five pounds a year! as I shall answer.—Ha, ha, ha! Yon a lord? He's a perfect fule. Kens na mair about making a bargain, than a cow does about a chest o' drawers." "But, I fear, Murdoch, that you have succeeded through some imprudent narration of my circumstances. I should be sorry "Me, sir! Na, faith! I've kent the worl' over lang for that. Ca 'a man puir indeed? in thae days. Na, na―your rogue 'll get plenty of friends, but your puir man nane.' “That was wise-and now tell me, Murdoch, what sort of a man is his lordship?" it that got you the Pilot's Mark, that ye hae set your "Not forgetting your thorough impudence, Murdoch. and the pure morning appeared fresh and odoriferous over quict dale and woodland. The contrast between the profuse on-goings at the hall and the economical monotony of the old castle of Arnwood was indeed very remarkable. Philosophy itThe spring advanced, and still Lord Arnwood persisted self, at least all that Lord Arnwood could muster, was in remaining at the castle, living in almost unbroken soli- not proof against the tantalising display, and ostentatious tude. Some slight changes had, however, taken place in waste of wealth, thus held up before the eyes of his calthis retired neighbourhood, which served as materials for culating economy. It is not surprising, therefore, that the vacant gossip of the slender community, and secured the secret repinings and involuntary feelings of irrepressithem from the desperation of reading, or thinking, or any ble envy which exist in human nature under such circumsimilarly troublesome resource of compunctious idleness. stances, should have extended more undisguisedly to the One of the events alluded to, was the preparation which servants at the castle; all of whom, from the great Mr. had actively commenced, for the intended coming of Mr. Mollison down to the very scullions and market-boy, beBolton, the great rich squire of New Hall, at the large came first discontented and mutinous, and then began to staring building, which, as we have already said, over-melt away one by one for engagements at the Hall, until looked the irregular pleasure-grounds of Arnwood, (to Arnwood was in danger of being left without a servant. which its cut-paper gardens and lands had originally be. Even the lofty major-domo began to deliberate upon the longed); who, with all his train, was shortly expected to expediency of resigning the pride of birth, laying down give life and spirit to this deserted neighbourhood. That he the emblems of legitimate nobility, and losing the rcwould do all this was evident, from the bustle and activity membrance of buried greatness, for the substantial fatthat prevailed among the cloud of tradesmen, artisans, ness of New Hall; and Mrs. Goodycar was absolutely and artists, by whom the quiet solitudes of Arnwood be-wild with envy and vexation, at her own lot, since one of gan to be invaded and disturbed; and the endless im- the maids who had left the castle and gone to the Hall, portations of furniture, provisions, and wines, intended had already achieved a husband from the flock of dissoto supply the profuse luxury of the establishment. lute serving-men domesticated with the wealthy squire. The other principal event which employed common But Lord Arnwood might glance with as much affected gossip, was the strange conduct and appearance, when a contempt as he pleased over the swarming grounds and sight of them could be had, of the singular occupants of smoking chimneys of New Hall. Wealth is wealth: and the Pilot's Mark; who had taken up their abode in this at length many persons whom Arnwood justly respected lone, starved-looking, and inconvenient building, with began to condescend to partake of the hospitality of his such unobserved celerity, and mysterious silence, that it rich neighbour; and after a time, his own pride gave might have been supposed the sea had thrown them up way before the reasonings of his mother, and a few civiliout of its womb, or the clouds dropt them under the lee ties having passed between them, he finally accepted an of Hail Hill, the sterile appendage to their comfortless invitation to spend an evening at the open house of his habitation. neighbour. Meantime, the preparation and profusion appearing The remaining servants at the castle thought the world daily at New Hall, began to excite such envy among the was turned upside down, and that chaos was come again, domestics at the dull castle of Arnwood, as no pride of as they assisted their lord into his carriage to go to dine family and title, of which servants always partake, could with Squire Bolton; and his lordship proceeded, reasonlong stand against. The cook and the kitchen maids being with himself as he went upon the influence of cirgan to whisper together in dark dissatisfaction, and the cumstances, and the inevitable necessity to which men footmen scowled at my lord, and even at their more deli-and things are forced to submit, and which often brings cate lady, and began to lay plots and plans, born of re- about the strangest occurrences, and bafiles all the calcubellious discontent, as their teeth watered at the thoughts lations of experience. of the tempting perquisites of extravagance, and the pleasant and neighbouring windfalls of profusion. These symptoms (particularly after the eclat of the arrival of Mr. Bolton and his friends at New Hall,) had their full effect upon the melancholy dowager and her proud son; who, with the sensitive jealousy of conscious poverty acting upon mental and family elevation, began even to watch the countenances, and to understand the feelings of their own servants. But Mr. Bolton, who never troubled himself about any necessity but the necessity of company, without which he could not exist, was so far a man of the world that he knew how to assort his guests; and he contrived, upon this occasion, to select the best specimen of his friends and companions to meet Lord Arnwood. And in truth, the company of men conversant with the world, even though their knowledge include a familiarity with the “Ou, a weel far'd lad-as plain spoken as you or me; worst part of it, cannot, in our opinion, be unserviceable an' quite conversible, for a' his lofty look. But it was This state of mind on the part of the young lord, was to a young man just entering life, even in a moral point astonishing how he laughed at me, an' he sic a fule him-confirmed by the effect of a serious communication with of view; at least, we think we may assert, without danger sel" his mother upon the affairs of their house. The anxious of contradiction, that a knowledge of the world does not "It would not be astonishing, if I were to laugh and depressed dowager entered into a long detail of the necessarily contaminate the mind or paralyse the feelheartily at you this moment, Murdoch, if I were in spi-circumstances that had straitened the property of Arn-ings; and that in most cases, to speak plainly, a great rits for such an indulgence;" said the gentleman sadly. wood during the life of her husband, which no after eco-deal more depends on the soil, than on the seed. “But how did you manage to make your way into his nomy or prudence had been able to re-adjust; and con- We have made this slight digression for the purpose of lordship's presence?" cluded by laying her serious commands upon him to pay accounting for the readiness with which Lord Arnwood his addresses to the squire's sister, and, by marriage with fell into the humour of his host and the habits of his her, to renovate the honours of their house. We need company; and though, at first sight, there did appear to hardly describe the manner in which this proposal was be something in the ceremony of the household, if not received. But to Arnwood his mother's commands were repugnant to, at least hardly in accordance with, the sacred, and the restoration of his family paramount to aristocratical notions and feelings of the guest, yet as every other selfish feeling, so that he not only consented, there was no lack of that which supplics the want of but at length indulged the desire of accomplishing the every other charm-an apparent heartiness of welcomeit would have seemed something worse than coldness or reserve, had he given Bolton cause of suspicion that he was insensible to his advances. "Manage, sir! Ha, ha, ha!—sic a brulzie as I had wi' a whole poss o' mealy-headed scoundrels-but I gar't them a' stand round-for ye see, sir, there was a sonsie woman o' a housekeeper; a widow she was, I could see by the tail o' her ee-an' I soon saw my canniest road; so I set mysel' to tickle the gray mare,-for ye ken sir, women are women; an' pooh! I was na a blink o' getting in afore his lordship." "Well, Murdoch, you have managed this business very well: and now I must caution you, when we get there, to keep as much out of sight as possible, and never go towards the castle; and, above all things, keep a shut mouth, if you're to have a day's peace." *Hard conditions, maister--the last in particular." *And get every thing as decent as possible, and as comfortable as circumstances will permit." "Ou ay, maister, nae fears o' me; an' there's plenty o' lime for white wash, an' I'll make you so genteel; an' Miss ——" “Hush! Hav'n't I told you, Murdoch, never to men tion her name." "Gude sake, maister!" said Murdoch; starting at Mr. Waltham's earnest manner. "Ye put a bung into my mouth, when I offer to speak about the lady, as I were nacthing but a sounding kag." "Murdoch, beware; I tell you your tongue is your only enemy." *Deevil a bit, sir. It's my only friend. What was sacrifice. CHAPTER III. Indeed every body seemed to be met together for the common purpose of unreserved enjoyment. There were There was by this time gathered into the mansion of few ladies present, and those few offered but little restraint New Hall every variety of people; country squires, and to the preponderating scx; some of whom, perhaps, would city squires, and jockey gentlemen, and good shots, and have submitted to no such tyranny as the presence or infive-bar-gate gentlemen, and picture dealers, and villa fluence of well-bred women is usually supposed to instibuilders, and musical amateurs, and seafaring gentle-tute. men, and fat ladies and their Ican daughters. All these, As it was, Mr. Bolton himself stood out in advantage- And besides these, there were other sorts of zoological ness, rather perhaps to the disadvantage of the former; varieties rushing in crowds, with vehicles, dogs, and ser- and every thing in his person, manner, and address, bevants, on their backs, or at their tails, as the case hap-spoke him a man perfectly well acquainted with the expened, towards this hitherto secluded neighbourhood. ternal forms of society up to a certain point-yet with How the corks flew, and the wine flowed! while the an alloy of positive vulgarity, and offensive grossness. hall echoed with the fantastic music and the volatile heels In a religious devotion to the bottle, however, he was of the dancers, and the welkin rang with the huzzas of excelled by none, and he applied himself to his congenial the guests, until the night wore away in feverish joy, duties upon this occasion with a fervour that could not but prove contagious to his admiring companions. It ing, and setting the example, the group separated and been up at the big hoose there, eating the fat, an' drinkwas too evident that they were all set in for a carouse mingled with the company. ing the sweet with Dives an' his crew. But mickle ye'll under the special patronage of Bacchus himself. From The gentlemen were however, after a short interval, make by that, if ye kenn'd but a'?" and Murdoch struck these devotees Lord Arnwood with difficulty escaped to driven again to their wine; and soon became more vehe- up these strange lines. the drawing-room, where company, if not more attractive ment in their mirth, and more irregular in their conversafrom its intrinsic excellence, yet from other causes more tion. Groups were formed for the expression of more interesting to him, awaited his attention. private feelings, according to the degree of friendship subsisting between the parties, and hands began to be grasped, and toasts to be drank, as friendship, inebriety, or good-humour dictated. When the hawk parts wi' his wing, When the corbie kames th' lambkin's head, Gentle John, simple John; Gang an' tell your news with speed, Miss Bolton was a female fac-simile of her brother; It was during an interesting tête-à-tête in which the young pair were engaged, that the other gentlemen entered the drawing-room from below. "Do you see that, squire?" said one of his friends, winking an eye, and his forefinger applied to the opposite side of his nose with peculiar elegance, as he looked across to Arnwood and Miss Bolton, "there's something for you to look at." "What is it?" asked the squire, who was far from sober, and could not see very clearly. "A strange ditty, my friend," said Arnwood, begin. “Ou ay, my lord, but there's many strange things in profligate sentiments, and showed a stern decision of cha- the world, an' ye see I hac a bit word o' sang just to fit racter very different from that, which, from the rosy ony thing that happens.” good-humour and bluff hospitality of his open countenance and frank demeanour, a stranger might reasonably have given him credit for. "Have you indeed? But what earthly occurrence can be fitted by the Sybilline stuff you have now uttered?” Ay, man, that 's just the question!" "Who are you, friend, crossing my lawn at this un Mr. Bolton, however, seemed anxious to cultivate the friendship of Arnwood; and before they parted, reproach-seasonable hour?" ing him for the distance he kept, and hinting at matters "Do ye no ken me, my lord? Dinna ye mind Murwhich he could not have ventured to speak of in his sober doch Macara, o' the Pilot's Mark? Faith I'm no afraid moments, he begged that he would make use of his friend- to tell my name. An' if I take a short cut through the ship without reserve, seeming extremely desirous of the ground o' this dismal castle, an' gang a bit out o' my "Do you not see how Miss Bolton and that young honour of serving him. The company at length grew road to sing your lordship a sang, an' guide you through sprig of nobility are flirting? How would you like the tired of one another, and even of the bottle; the wine the park when ye're a wee the waur for drink, odd-is n't title of Lady Arnwood for your sister friend Bolton?" became flat and sickening, and the murmur of confused that a friend's turn?" "My Right Honourable Sister!" was all that the talk, and the shout of the occasional bacchanalian stave squire could say, parodying the exclamation of Over-began to die away, as the guests dropped gradually off reach. towards their apartments, and Lord Arnwood was suf fered to depart. "Well, Bolton, what say you? You know we are rot marrying men, therefore confess-elucidate." "I don't know that I would allow Beckey to marry this boy, with all his pride. What comfort would the girl have with a fellow that sits all day over his books in the castle yonder, and can't take his wine of an evening like a gentleman?" 46 "I the worse for drink? how dare you say so?" exclaimed Arnwood, laughing at Murdoch's plainness. "Gude faith, my lord, it's naething but a gentleman's case to be staggering hame fou, at twa in the morning. When he reached the door the moon was shining I ken nae better folk than them that tak a drap o' drink brightly over the landscape, although it was near day-now an' then. It's better may be than sitting in an auld break; yet, in spite of the lateness of the hour, with the turret, or on a rock o' the sea, getting the merligoes i' perverseness of inebriety, he would not consent to make your head, like your lordship and my ain maister. It's use of the carriage that waited, but insisted upon walk- my notion that that was the way the folk turned therning across the lawn and through his own grounds to the sels into warlocks, an' took up dealings wi' the deevil castle. himsel, langsyne, the Lord preserve us.' Wrapping therefore his cloak around him, he set off to "Does your master live in the Pilot's Mark, then?" brush the night dew from the green sward, and proceeded "He does, my lord, canny an' quiet." "Mad! hush, he will hear us! But what say you-on foot over the irregular grounds towards his own home. "Quiet he must be, for I've never seen nor heard of mad?" said Bolton, who had, after all, some thoughts of He managed to pilot his way by the moonlight through the him but from yourself." trying to match his sister with Arnwood, and was by no clumps and shrubbery, although sadly perplexed by the means pleased at such a surmise. dark shadows flung from them over the park; and had mounted one or two of the green slopes which interrupted the plantation, standing still occasionally when he came to an open spot, and gazing upon the scene with excited admiration. Nothing very extraordinary in that," remarked a pinched faced person, a rich citizen from the metropolis, "for they say he is mad." 66 66 Yes, mad!" said Sir Jacob, coarsely; "I have it from a gentleman who was his tutor and companion, and who travelled with him all over the continent." "How mad, sir; pray how ?" enquired the squire. Why, how are half your fashionable people mad? from having too much money perhaps, or too little or from having too much to do if they are in the cabinet, or too little if they are out; or because my lord is not made a duke; or my lord's sister has married a swindler; or from twenty other causes." "God keep us out of ear-shot of you when you get fully mad, Sir Jacob," said Mr. Bolton. "But you have not yet said a word in the case of Lord Arnwood." "Pardon me, Mr. Bolton," replied the other, "I would not speak evil of dignitaries, although Mr. Johnston says this lord is an idiot, and that the very servants call him the mad Lord Arnwood. Who knows, after all, but he may be your brother-in-law ere long?" Not so hasty, sir," said a severe looking person, edging in; "you talk as cheaply of men of family and title as if we could buy and sell aristocratical connection on the stock exchange. If you could make out that to be the case, I would speculate to the utmost extent of my fortune." "Think you so, Hulson?" said Mr. Bolton, a dark scowl coming over his countenance, a frequent and inexplicable expression which interrupted his ordinary and constitutional good humour; "think you lightly of the power of money? I tell you a poor lord may be noble in character as well as blood; but as a man among his equals, and with man's infirmities, he is a daily sufferer, whose case is deeply to be commiserated." "Perhaps you are right," said Sir Jacob, somewhat amazed at the nature of this remark, so altogether different from his own narrow speculations. "And I am not to be told," continued Bolton, sternly, "what money can do; I know it, sir, I know it well." He had approached the side of a line of chestnuts, and was making his way over the sward at considerable speed and in much good-humour with himself, when he heard distinctly a foot tripping in the shadow of the trees almost close to him. "Who is there?" he called out quickly-but the foot stopped, and no reply was made. Again he pushed forward, and again the foot went, trip, trip, by his side. "Come along, friend, whoever you are," said Arnwood, calling out without apprehension," and let us go forward together." No answer was returned, but a human figure was now visible, moving in the shade of the trees. At length, as he began to walk slower, and to keep a look out on the dark side, a man's voice struck up with the not unpleasant warble of a song. "A pleasant stave enough, friend," said Arnwood, when he had ended, "and the more so that I had no right to expect such entertainment among these bushes and brakes at this hour of the night." "It's morning, Lord Arnwood," said the voice. "There are so," said Arnwood. "But there's a time to laugh an' a time to weep, my "Well," said Hulson, wishing to revive the original lord," continued the voice, descending into its natural gaiety with which he had commenced, "there they still accent. "An' ye hae heard fine things the night nae are-Miss Bolton and this young lord-as prominent as doubt," said the Scotchman, drawing near. the two figures in the picture of courtship." "'Pon my honour, we are a pretty set of fellows," said the host, changing the discourse, "crowding together here, and leaving the ladies to themselves;" and so say. "True enough, friend; but had'nt you better give me another stave, since you favour me with your company homewards?" "Ou ay, I'se no refuse a song after your lordship has "Ye hae muckle to see an' hear baith, my lord, that ye dinna think of just now; an' my maister Kens "Well, sir, what does your master know?" "Ou naething; that is, it's no for me to speak about gentle folks' affairs, but my maister is an odd man, an' he kens mair than he says about us all, an' about the drunken young squire above, and about what's to happen, for he 's a weary reader o' books, and ye see he 's concerned for your lordship, an' grateful because ye gi'ed him the Pilot's Mark to live in; an' he says. "What does he say?" said Arnwood, somewhat impatiently, as Murdoch hesitated. 99 "He says he does not like to hear o' your going to gorge wi' the herd o' cattle up i' the squire's house yonder; for he says that it's like the snare o' the fowler, an' the trap that's hidden among the blossoms and the bonny flowers on the brae;" and the Scot hesitated again and looked up in Arnwood's face. "Go on, friend; I want to know your meaning." "Every man maun dree his fate, "Does he say so?" said Arnwood, as the man stopped, looking hard at him in the moonlight. "But ye see, my lord," continued Murdoch-" there now, I've brought you near to the black old castle. Hech, it's a gruesome looking place for a young gentle like you to be living in at the age o' twenty, wi' naething but your sickly lady mother, sitting a' day listening to the ticking o' the clock. Oh, oh! When I was your age!—but it's just as Mr. Waltham says;— "Every man maun dree his fate, "But I say, my lord, never heed my clavers, only take tent o' the squire, take tent o' the squire" But now, as the ghost in the play says— "The cock begins to craw, An' the day begins to daw, an' so a sound sleep an' a blythe wakening, my lord." With this the eccentric Scotchman turned off, and darting into the nearest plantation towards the sea, was instantly out of sight; while Arnwood, somewhat sobered by this adventure, having reached home, retired to his from the fall to get upon his legs; though not without sciousness in which surrounding objects are seen and apartment. several groans at the pain of his bruises, and curses upon voices heard, without a distinct perception of the reality the adversary who had helped him to this unlucky ad- of either the one or the other. At first, he felt a soft venture; but Arnwood neither moved nor spoke-lying hand holding his own, and the fingers pressing his pulse. to all appearance dead among the rocks. A pale female face seemed sometimes to be close to his, CHAPTER IV. Lord Arnwood's intimacy at New Hall increased daily; and, with that felicity of self-adaptation, which mankind has consented to call habit, he would doubtless have resigned himself to the influence of the society into which he was thrown, and been content to settle down into a better sort of country gentleman-with the additional blessing of a wife in the person of Miss Bolton-had not one or two circumstances occurred in the meantime, rising like beacons to warn him of his danger. These circumstances, however, it would be difficult to describe, or rather they are not worth the trouble of description; the effect being produced by the thousand almost imperceptible nothings which, occurring and uniting in the still life of society, resemble the coral insects that build islands in mid ocean. Certain small traits of character, in addition, had been discovered in Mr. Bolton, which would not have been visible at a first glance, even in the least artificial natures; and the occupant of New Hall was not one of those men who are said to "improve upon acquaintance." "A pretty fellow you must be, to wrestle with Bill so that he could feel her warm breath upon his cheek; Weathersheet;" said the large heavy man-looking down and the long dark hair which fell from her stooping on his prostrate antagonist; " and yet working starboard head, while she dressed his wounds, he felt sweeping and larboard, as furiously as if you had been as broad in gently over his neck. Then his awaking eye fastened the beam as a first-rate. Confound the rocks and the and dwelt upon a figure which reminded him of a stones! they have nearly stove in my hull timbers. Hollo, Grecian sculpture, watching in a sitting posture, between old fellow!-I think ye ha' gotten a raker in this last himself and the light; and while dreamingly contemtack; Haigh! By the powers, he does'nt stir!" plating the features which he was too giddy to see disWhen the man found that his unknown adversary still tinctly, he thought the dark hazel eyes beamed upon him lay motionless, with some alarm, and many exclamations, with such a lovely expression, that whether sleeping or delivered in a mixed nautical phraseology, he began to waking, his involuntary admiration caused a sigh to esraise him up and turn him round, until finding that he cape from his breast. exhibited no signs of life, he at length lifted the youth At this moment the figure rose, and seemed to bend upon his back, and in this manner carried him to the solicitously over him; and though his eyes were half Pilot's Mark. When he arrived there, he stopped for a closed, he perceived her smile with so captivating a softfew moments at the low Gothic door of the building, to ness, that believing himself to be in a dream, he lay moconsider what he ought to do; the result of which reflectionless; fearing to break so delicate a vision. tion led him to give it two or three kicks with his foot, his hands being employed with the burden he carried. "Wha's there?" cried a voice within. At length he looked long and steadfastly, as if striving against the drowsy confusion of his brain. He perceived himself to be in a small bed-chamber, neatly arranged; If, however, the expediency of breaking off all further "Please you to open the door, Mr. Macara," said the the furniture being rather separately elegant than conconnection with Mr. Bolton, and of resigning his as yet man with the burden; "it is Bill Weathersheet, with a sistently tasteful. The figure of the lady, however, still unannounced pretensions to his sister, had been pre-pirate, or an exciseman in tow. For God's sake open the attracted his interest so exclusively, that as he gazed upon viously a question with Lord Arnwood, the affair was al-door, and let in the living and the dead, or else come out the graceful bend of the body, between himself and the together decided one day at a dinner party at New Hall, with shovel and pickaxe." single taper-the neck tangled with long dark hair, and by the unexpected presence of Mr. Johnston, his former "What's the matter, noo? What is it ye want, Will the features perfect in their outline and expression-he tutor. This circumstance, of itself an evidence of the Wathersheet?" grumbled the voice of Murdoch, as he was unable to suppress the exclamation-"Lady! how is squire's real feelings towards him, coupled with the now unwillingly drew the bolts. "Could na ye come in by this? Where am I?" obvious fact of a recent but close intimacy between the the back door? Deevil sic an unfortunate body as me The lady started, as if suddenly alarmed, and rising two worthies, was sufficient to stimulate the jealous pride alive! Rest nor peace I can get nane. The maister is up and glancing towards him with a pleased smile, his of the young lord, who, impatient of the company at the nae sooner gone to bed, an' me set down to draw my eyes followed her as she silently glided out of the room. squire's table, contrived to depart at a much earlier hour breath in peace and quietness, but dunt gangs the door, Lord Arnwood, with swimming head, was making an than was consistent with the bacchanalian habits of his as loud in this back o' beyont place, as if it were a public effort to sit up in the bed, and trying to decide whether host. change hoose." he were in a dream or not, when the figure of Murdoch "Here's a bad job, Mr. Macara; just stand out of my Macara came on tiptoe into the room. way." "Eh! Lord guide us, what's that? A dead man!" "How do you feel yoursel', my lord?" said Murdoch, with all a Scotchman's effort at politeness, and pleased to see the patient looking better. "I feel strangely," said his lordship; "are you the Scotchman of the Pilot's Mark?" "Ou ay, my lord. Faith I'm glad to hear your The mansion of New Hall was situated nearer to the Pilot's Mark than to the Castle of Arnwood; and as it was yet early, although becoming quickly dark, his lordship preferred walking home, taking a circuit by an avenue that skirted the foot of Hail Hill, and in the direction of the lonely building by the sea, called the Mark, towards which he felt an involuntary attraction. After "What do you say about Scotch idiot, ye blackguard? a smart walk he had passed the Mark, and reached a I wish I had you, and your dead game, on the windy Englified tongue again. God! I got sic a fright wi' rising ground at the extremity of the plantations belong-side o' the door again; I would teach you manners-for you. Faith I thought your lordship had kicked the ing to the castle, and above the cliffs; where he stood for naming Scotchman an' hanging thegither. Lord 'a bucket." some moments inhaling the fresh sea air, and musing, as mercy me, what's this? what's this?" exclaimed the Scot he looked seaward, upon the still night-scene-when he in a frenzy of terror, as he looked upon the pallid features perceived through the darkness a man stealing up from of Lord Arnwood, who was now laid on a bench before under one of the green conical banks which lay between them. himself and the Mark, and formed a sort of boundary to this part of his property. "Who comes?" enquired Arnwood, somewhat taken by surprise. Who are you that asks?" grumbled the man, in no civil tone. "Kicked what?" "Ou naething. I see you 're no used wi' Scotch folk. Hech, but I'm glad to hear you speak! I aye think there's little fear o' folk whan their tongue keeps wag"I told you it was a bad job;" said the sailor, con- gin'; that was the vera word John Tamson used to say templating the body-" but he can't be dead. And he's to his wife." gentleman too-Lord, Murdoch, they'll hang us both!" "God forgic you, William Wathersheet, if ye hae murdered the young Lord Arnwood." a "You are insolent, sirrah!" said Arnwood, the surliness of the man's reply stimulating still more the angry feelings which the wine and the company had tended to" excite. "I 66 Lord Arnwood?" echoed the man, starting with amazement. "I tell you!" exclaimed the Scotchman, almost crying, that is Lord Arnwood, o' the black castle aboon. God forgie you! God forgie you! But I think he's no' dead; I wonder who it is that calls me insolent," retorted he's only in a dwam. An the bluid's streaming frae the the man, drawing near in the dark, for Lord Arnwood back o' his head. Haud aff your hands, Will Watherhad stepped into a narrow pass which ran along the brow sheet, you an' me are no' fit to doctor a lord." of the cliff, and led towards the Pirate's Creek below. Saying this, Murdoch took the lifeless body in his Stand off, I say!" added the unknown, apparently arms, and telling the man threateningly to stay where he ignorant of the rank of him whom he addressed. stranger's passage. ward. a push; "Stand off!" was, he forthwith carried his charge up stairs to a back "Oh, my head, my head," groaned Arnwood; his pain and confusion of brain returning. Just whisht, my lord," said Murdoch, shaking his head and winking, as one would do to hush a child; "just lie down an' be quiet for a minute, for ye see my lord, you hae gotten a sair demish, an' nae doubt your head's whirlin' round." "What is this that has happened to me, friend?" "Ou naething, my lord, but just a bit crunt on the crown amang the stanes. But it will be hale against the morn. Od, I've seen an Eirishman wad hae gotten his head dang as braid at night as a pease bannock, an' gin the vera next day the fallow would be deevil a hair the waur o't." Having indulged himself with this morsel of talk, while he was prescribing silence to the patient, Murdoch "I'll bring him up to the Lady Agatha, if the maister tripped cautiously away, and then returning with Will should brain me for it. She's the only ane to restore Weathersheet, they carried Arnwood down stairs, and him; an' she'll wash bis face wi' a sponge, an' revive him laying him upon a sort of litter which they had hastily wi' smelling draps, an' she'll dress his head wi' her white furnished with blankets, in less than half an hour they fingers, as gentle as a pet lamb, and wi' her vera kindness had him brought to the entrance of his own castle. she'll bring him to-if the life's in him. Och, och! the Arnwood had sunk again into a half-conscious state as instant they came in contact and grappled. Stand off repeated the other scoffingly; and in an bonny young lord, that gi'ed us this quiet dwelling for a they were carrying him home; but when he found himperfect wanworth. Hech, hech! I've atten heard, that self in his own apartment (Murdoch being in the meanArnwood struggled with the stranger in the dark, more lords an' nobles were fules an' tyrants, but there's my time occupied in answering the enquiries of the alarmed from, momentary passion than from any definite spirit of ain maister an' Miss Agatha, an' there's this genty servants, by telling them that his lordship had merely opposition, or feeling of apprehension; but he speedily lord; they 're every ane kind and considerate, out an' in, met with a slight accident) the young lord waved his found that his strength was much inferior to that of the and wad na harm a flea. Och, och!" hand for the domestics to retire, and leave Murdoch broad, muscular and full-grown man, who held him in his With many such lamentations the Scot carried Lord alone with himself. gripe. He continued to wrestle bravely with his un- Arnwood up, laid him on his master's bed, and set about "Where have I been, my friend," enquired Arnwood known enemy, until they turned the brow of the cliffs, restoring him; acting, however, by the orders of one who feebly, "and what has happened to me? for I feel both and a fall being the consequence, they rolled together, soon made her appearance, and seemed no novice at such pain of body and confusion of mind." Arnwood holding his adversary firmly in his grasp, until benevolent offices, and who commenced dressing his "It's naething ava, my lord, but just a bit accident they fell over the edge, and were both precipitated a con-wounds and performing the part of his nurse with an that happened on your road hame frae the muckle hall siderable space among the rocks below. anxiety and gentle skill which were soon successful. Arnwood was for soine time in that state of half con The stranger in a short time recovered sufficiently | aboon, wi' a wee drap drink in your head. Od, ye never gang near that place but something happens your lord. |