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I never visit any ancient building,' said Mrs. Howard, but it reminds me of the transitory state of all earthly things. How many courteous knights and virtuous dames have banquetted in this spacious hall! Alas! what is now become of the head, blooming in youthful beauty, which once filled this casque! And where is the fair dame who could make that heart tremble which was undaunted amidst a host of foes!-Now the friend and foe-the lover, and his mistress, sleep in peace.'- Aye, aye,' interrupted Johnson, they are all together in the chapel, sure enough: I wish they may be asleep and quiet, with all my heart.'

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Mrs. Howard smiled: Never fear,' said she-But what have we here?' opening a door which led into a large room, in the recesses of which were figures as large as life, clad in armour. The terrible frown of one of them quite appalled me. I turned disgusted from his grim visage, when my eye fell on an opposite doorWhere does this lead to, Johnson-An' please you, my lady, it leads to the grand stair-case.' He opened it, The stairs are of black marble, and a ponderous balustrade wound up them. We ascended. On the first landing, a terrible gigantic figure stands. (Surely our forefathers were much fonder of the terrific than their posterity are.) On the right is a suit of large gloomy rooms, entirely empty; on the left, the same number, and of the same size, but in much better condition. The walls are covered with tapestry, in tolerable preservation, on which the story of Chevy-Chase is depictured in lively colours. The windows are high, and the walls very thick,

which make the rooms dark and gloomy.

The furniture consists of large cathedral chairs, and oaken tables with ponderous gilt feet.

In one of those rooms we discevered a private door which leads to a spiral stair-case. We deter mined to ascend it, though very dark, having no light but what proceeded from the loop-holes.

On reaching the top, we found ourselves on the leads of the South tower; here the prospect is boundless, and the face of the country so amazingly beautiful, that it appear. the work of enchantment. The luxuriousness of the land is heightened by the whirring pleasant springs with which this part abounds.' There a field dressed in vivid green; the next glowing, in golden beauty, and the well-filling ears of corn sighing to the evening gale; among which the poppy rears its read, flaunting in gaudy colours, but adding to the beautiful variety.

A little on the right, a knot of tufted oaks, which seem almost coeval with the castle itself; and whose tops appear to touch the clouds, attracted our eye. They had, during the heat of the day, afforded the shepherd-boy a pleasant retreat from the scorching rays of the sun; and he had now gathered a rural nosegay of the humble violet, and spotless lily, which grew at their feet,— and was collecting his sheep, to drive them to the fold.

Mrs. Howard and I stood gazing on the enchanting scene, till the gray shadows of evening began to obscure it, and warn us to retire.

On descending, we discovered a door which opened on a narrow stair-case, in the very walls of the

tower; we quitted the one we were on, determined to see where those would conduct us. They were much broken by time, however we got to the bottom without injury.

We found ourselves in a sort of lobby, at the farther end of which was a door; Johnson had no key that would open it; but the old man set his shoulder against it, and it flew open. We entered another lobby, similar to the one we had quitted, which led into a gallery; a door stood half open, and discovered the chapel.

The last rays of the setting sun, which fell on the high-arched windows, were rendered still more faint by the painting on the glass, and truly cast a dim religious light' on the mouldering walls.

Mrs. Howard stepped forward, and with a wild enthusiasm, which the place and time were well calculated to inspire, exclaimed

Permit me, ye time-hallow'd domes; ye piles

Of rude magnificence, your solemn rest Amid your fretted vaults, and length'ning aisles,

Pensive to wander; no unholy guest, Who means to break, with sacrilegious tread,

The marble slumbers of your peaceful

dead.'

-

No,' cried Johnson, no; I hope they'll lie still till we get out. But look, madam !-see, ladies, this is the tomb of my dear lord and lady—and here they are themselves, cut in marble.'

He pointed to two beautiful effigies exquisitely sculptured in alabaster. The lady is pourtrayed as blooming in youthful loveliness, and is a striking resemblance of our Julia.

The earl appears in the prime of life; a soft languor diffused VOL. XXXVIII.

He

over his manly countenance. has hold of his lady's hand, and smiling angels are crowning them with glory, while others are pointing upwards to their native skies.

An elegant inscription, descriptive of the harmony and beneficence of their lives, and an affecting account of the manner of their deaths, is engraved on a brass plate. Over it, the widow and orphan are bending in disconsolate attitudes; and on the ground reclines Charity, fainting.

Poor Johnson gazed on the tomb till he sobbed.

The pious sorrow of the faithful servant affected me And here, Johnson,' said I, laying my hand on his shoulder; in this sepulchral spot will my bones rest, and the rising generation shall walk over our graves, as we do over those of the past one. Thus man succeeds man, like wave after wave in the restless ocean.'

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Perhaps in this very place will my Adolphus stand, and with a kindly gust pointing to my urn, say, this contains the ashes of my mother.'

"You mourn the fate of a good, a kind master, but the time is hastening when death shall join you to him. Your unaffected virtues, and grateful attachment, will be a surer passport than sounding titles or noble ancestry: in the grave is no distinction."

A long and heavy sigh startled me; I looked at my companions; it did not proceed from them. Horror was depicted in Johnson's countenance; surprise in Mrs. Howard's.

We stood in silent expectation, but all remained still it was nothing but the sighing of the wind through those long aisless' said Mrs. Howard.

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We need not return the way we came, I hope, Johnson.' No, madam; we can go through the chapel, and so out at the great door.' We proceeded down one of the long aisles, but when arrived at the door which was to lead us into the hall, Johnson had no key that would open it. Odsboddikins!' cried the old man, what's to be done now? This is the work of them there spiteful ghosts. He trembled violently. Mrs. Howard took the keys from hin- It is not the work of ghosts,' said she, but the work of time, my good friend: this key formerly belonged to this door, but the lock is so much rusted it will not turn. Let you and I endeavour to force it. They both pushed against it, but it would not yield.

To return was almost impossible up those dark stairs we had come down, and what to do we knew not, when I bethought me of the little door under the West tower. I mentioned it to Johnson- Ah! my lady, but your noble sister has the keys of all that part of the castle, and of that door.'

But I have a number of keys in my hand,' said Mrs. Howard, and perhaps one may fit the lock; and if we do not endeavour to get out, we must stay here all night. Ah, Lord! my lady don't-don't say so.'

He led the way, with trembling

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steps, under the colonnade; but when we had got about half way, he stopped suddenly. I had at that moment stooped for my handkerchief: on looking up, I observed both Mrs. Howard's and Johnson's eyes fixed on a distant part of the chapel. What attracts your attention, Mrs. Howard?' said I.-She made me no answer, but bade Johnson go on. We reached the door in silence, when he, fumbling for his keys, stumbled over something, and fell.-He caled out in a stentorian voice, Lord a' marey ou me.' The vibration of the sound perfectly astonished me. Are you hurt, Johnson?' said I. Not much, madam.' He was rising, but the closing of a door'at no great distance made him throw himself down a second time. Fy, fy, Johnson, I shall be tempted, with Julia, to call you coward.' This brought him on his legs.- No, my lady, I be'nt a coward; but this is the first time I ha' been here since my lord's death; and this passage is so confounded dark I can't see the keys.' Mrs. Howard again took them, and soon found one which opend the door. We emerged," and the wind clapped the door to with violence. There, there,' said Johnson, there they go it! they show no more respect to your ladyship than if you was not here; God bless us!'

We found Agatha in trouble at our long stay. Well, what have you seen, Antony ? Ah, laws! you look as white as my apron. Did the ghost bid you not tell?'

He gave her no answer, but sitting down in his arm chair, burst into tears. This affected both Mrs. Howard and me. She kindly condescended to take one of his hands.

Why this emotion?' said she; and why are those tears suffered to stray down the furrows of your aged cheeks? Are you hurt by your fall?' He drew the back of his hand across his eyes. No, I thank you kindly, madam; I'm not hurt by my fall, but I am sure-I'm very sure my dear master can't rest in his grave, till the villens are hanged who sent him there. Oh! if I knew where to find them, I would go to Justice Woodford this very night, and have them took up, that's what I would.'

Aye,' said Mrs. Howard; but the wretches who committed that foul murder have received their doom years ago: therefore, my good Johnson, let Agatha make you something warm, and go to bed. And if she has any thing to spare lady Walsingham and myself, after rambling in those cold apartments, we shall find it very acceptable.'

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Agatha informed us that she had some very nice elder wine, and immediately busied herself in preparing some; and while it simnered on the fire, she spread a little napkin on a neat white table; and brought a spice-cake, some pats of fresh butter, and a white loaf from her cupboard.

We helped ourselves, and found it all very good, but insisted that they should both partake with us. They complied with great reluctance, and Agatha sat down by the fire. Only think,' said she, what mortal spiteful varment they ghosts be, to knock poor Antony down, who would not hurt a fly.' .. My good Agatha,' cried I, you lie under a mistake, if you imagine a ghost knocked your husband down."

Then how could he fall, madam?-A ghost could do it fast enough without your ladyship's seeing them.' But did you never fall, Agatha ?'-' O deare me, yes madain, that I have; or how should this hurt have comed to my arm?'-'And whose ghost knocked you down?'- O, I tumbled down in the field, please your ladyship, in the middle of the day, when the blessed sun was shining.'-' Well, Agatha, if you fell without supernatural agency, in the middle of the day, in a place you knew, and when the sun was shining, I should think your husband might fall in a strange place, and in the dark, without a ghost rising from its grave for the purpose of knocking hun down.'-Agatha said nothing, but she looked incredu lous.

We rose to go: I took out my purse: the old man held back both his hands, but I was peremp tory.

In our walk home I asked Mrs. Howard what it was she gazed so intently at in the chapel.

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Why, I thought I saw a shadow gliding along under the opposite colonnade. I would not say any thing to you, lest it should alarm you; for the place certainly was very gloomy; and Johnson, who had watched my eye, had conjured up so many terrors in his countenance, that it was absolutely enough to frighten you, if you had looked at him with attention.'

I really think it was nothing but one of our own shadows reflected by the moon.

The next time we go we will not have him with us. He is so prepossessed that his late lord is unquiet, that it is a punishment to

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take him there. I wonder not the
poor soul fell, but I do how he got
up again. He was so full of his
fears that he forgot to ask for the
keys, and I purposely omitted giv-
ing them to him, as we can now go
when we please.'-She gave them

to me.

We entered the house through the garden-door.

I

The music parlour was lit up,
but nobody was returned.
suppose,' said Mrs. Howard, we
shall have this evening quite to
ourselves: let you and I run over
some of those duets.' She took
the harp, and I sat down to the
piáno. We played several airs,
when she turned to the coronation"
anthem, which we perforined with
more than common spirit. Now,'
said she, let us have," Away with
melancholy." By heavens! me-
lancholy cannot dwell here,' said a
voice from behind. On looking
round, we discovered Mr. Baderly
standing behind the sofa: he
bowed, and came forward.- I
hope I have not alarmed you, la-
dies: I was drawn hither by the
most potent of spells, harmony-
such harmony as can chase me-
lancholy from the brow of the un-
happy steal sorrow from the bo-
som of the wretched; beguile time
of his wings; a lover of his pain;
and the spleen itself from the mi-
santhrope.'

All that would be very won-
derful,' said Mrs. Howard; but
not more strange than your
ing it six miles off!'

hear

But that I did not,' replied he; yet six miles off I found myself so very uncomfortable, and had such an intense head-ache, that I made my excuses to the company took my leave-mounted my horse-and rode home. The first

moment. I entered this house I heard sounds which dispelled my pain, brought me my comfort again, and reconciled me to myself. Have I not reason, then, to extol that which has done so much for me? Oh, you are an amazing grateful creature,' said she; but no doubt your ride has made you hungry.'

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I rang the bell, and ordered supper to be brought in. It was soon over, as it consisted only of a cold fowl, some slices of ham, and a few tarts. A lively, animated, conversation succeeded till a late hour, when our friends not returning, Mrs. Howard advised me to retire. But Mr. Baderly requested, if it would not fatigue me too much, to hear, Time has not thinned my flowing hair,' and he would take the second part. In the midst of our performance the door opened, and miss Lester, lord Walsingham, and the rest of the party, entered.

Miss Lester, walking up to Baderly, exclaimed with a satirical smile, Though time has made no devastation in your hair, I hope it has kindly removed your headache.' Then turning to Walsingham, Did I not tell your lordship that his indisposition was a mere pretence, to escape from our party? You did, my sweet girl; but as Mrs. Howard was keeping Caroline company, I think we must excuse him.'

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As you please,' said Baderly; I found your party intolerably dull and flat. Can you blame me, then, for escaping from purgatory, and flying to Esium? In the society of lady Walsingham and Mrs. Howard I found Cease your insulting language!' exclaimed Helen, her face in a flame, and

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