tiously engage herself to him, she would have felt no difficulty in discarding every selfish consideration, and immediately acceding to his wishes. Sleep at length interrupted these reflections, and she rose the following day, without having formed any plan for her future conduct, yet anxiously anticipating the recommencement of her journey.

CHAP. XVIII

"He was a man above man's height,

Even towering to divinity,

Brave, generous, pious, great, and liberal,"

NOTHING material occurred during the first part of the journey, excepting the severity of the weather, and the consequent apprehensions of a fall of snow, which would considerably have retarded the motions of our travellers, if not have entirely impeded their progress. They, however, reached Carlisle in safety. Sir Charles strictly, during this period, restraining every expression of attachment, which might have wounded the sensitive delicacy of his companion, confined his conversation to indifferent subjects, and behaved in every respect with the kindness of a tender and affectionate brother. This mode of conduct, in a great measure, contributed to reconcile Constance to his attendance. But the never failing mistake, which occurred almost at every place where they rested, of her being considered the wife of Sir Charles, and being addressed by the title of your Ladyship (for, Sir Charles was well known on the road),

never failed to produce the most painful and unpleasant sensations, which not even the impossibility of her having undertaken the journey alone, ignorant as she was of the world, and unused to such enterprizes, could entirely overcome.

It was morning when the travellers quitted Carlisle. The intense coldness of the weather, the encreasing darkness of the heavens, a biting easterly wind, and a gloomy heaviness in the atmosphere, portended too surely a coming storm. Sir Charles proposed putting four horses to the carriage, and sent forward an express, to order relays for several stages, determining to profit by the present interval, and get as far on as possible in the journey. Some re freshment also was taken into the chaise, that they might suffer no delay upon the road. But all these precautions were ineffectual. The storm commenced at the end of the first stage, and before they reached Kendal, the surrounding country appeared perfectly white. As the snow was not, however, as yet deep enough to prevent their progress, they pursued their journey without intermission; reached Burton in safety; and from thence set forward towards Lancaster. But the delay occasioned by the heaviness of the roads, and the clogging of the snow, had considerably retarded their motions. And ere they got half the way, they found the evening imperceptibly closing in. The road was now become almost impassable. The snow continued to fall. The wind drifted it across the hedges in a thousand different directions; almost blinding the postillions and their horses, and rendering the way ex

"We can put try," replied the man," and the other two horses must pe led py Peter. And do you hear, you Mr. Peter, take you goot care of the animals; for, by all the power of hur ancestors, who are now, Cot bless 'em! tust in the church of St. Winifrid, and hur petigree to poot, there will pe nothing but purturbations, and wranglings, and displeasures, if any harm happens to the horses. So, Cot bless you! take care of the peasts,'

Constance listened in trembling anxiety to this conversation, and the arrangement which succeeded; and while the horses were removing from the chaise, offered up a mental ejaculation to her Almighty Father for protection and support: then quietly suffered Sir Charles to seat her on one of the animals, which the CambroBriton assured her repeatedly was as mild as a piece of new cheese, and would carry her in safety to the world's end. But, in spite of these assurances, she was completely terrified; for she, knew too well that the good qualities of her horse were, in the present circumstances of danger, a very insufficient security. As no alternative, however, offered, she affected a degree of courage she was far from feeling, and assisted in persuading her woman to take the only accommodation which now offered itself to her accep tance. Mrs. Jane was, at length, reduced to compliance, by a fear of being left by herself in the carriage. All, therefore, began to set forward in due form and order. The postillion, Peter, with the pair of horses, led the way, in hopes that he woud in part clear a road for those 0

VCL II