with the unfortunate man; his moans were now lower and less frequent, and occasionally interrupted by an involuntary effort to draw a deeper inspiration, which, when it took place, shook the whole frame. Amherst ran to the entrance, to see if any help was at hand; but no human being was near. He then walked about the hut with hurried strides, perfectly bewildered, and unable to think of any thing that could afford even temporary relief. Meantime, the paleness of the countenance became more intense, the skin tightened over the nose and cheekbones, the slight spasm of a moment convulsed the features, and the death-rattle in the throat announced that all was over.

Footsteps were now heard approaching the hut; -they came slow and heavily. Amherst again hastened to the door, to call for assistance, forgetting, in his agitation, that aid, alas, now arrived too late! Two men appeared bearing the body of a female. It was the very woman he had so lately seen in the grounds of Brokenhurst.

"This way—this way;-this is all the home the poor soul has now," said one of the men,

whose appearance and accent bespoke him an Irish labourer. 66 Softly-softly with her; let us lay her down on this bank, with her head upso-And, do you hear, little boy ?" addressing a lad, who had carried a small basket behind them; "do ye run and fetch a drop of water-or stay, maybe there's something better there." So saying, he rummaged hastily amongst the contents of the basket, and drew forth a pint bottle of wine, and after ineffectually trying to extract the cork with his teeth, he adroitly knocked off part of the neck of it with a smart blow on the edge of a great stone. He then put it to the woman's mouth, and poured in a few drops of the liquid; and as he observed her to revive a little, he increased the quantity. He then busied himself in rubbing the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet, whilst Amherst and the other man gave him all the assistance in their power.

Life was soon restored; and, as recollection returned with it, she started up with an alacrity that in her weak state seemed miraculous.

"Where am I?" she exclaimed, looking wildly around her.

"Oh, I see! Now I remember

all." Then, seizing the basket from the ground, she rushed into the hut.

Amherst and the men followed. Ignorant of what had taken place during her absence, she had hastened to her husband's straw bed, and had already lifted up his head, and was trying to pour some of the wine into his mouth. The teeth were locked together by the last spasm.

"Oh, he will die!" she exclaimed in anguish; “Oh, help me with him towards the light."

The two men did so. Amherst was too much overpowered by his feelings to be able to prevent them. They rested the body on their knees and on the floor. Again she in vain tried to insert the bottle. A deeper alarm seized her. Almost breathless, she ran her hand rapidly over his breast, and put her lips to his, and then her ear to his mouth-and then she earnestly gazed for some minutes on his ghastly eyes, till the sad truth burst upon her at once-and then she threw herself on the body in a paroxysm of grief.

Her little boy, whose cries of "Mammy! mammy!" had been hitherto disregarded, now came and pulled her by the sleeve. Still, overwhelmed in her present woe, 'she minded him not.

"Mammy, mammy!" said she at last, "little Sally's cold, cold !”

She

A new cord of feeling was touched-was instantly touched, and hope mingled with the sound. She left the body at once, and ran to the hamper. But there the image of death was stamped in too horrible a form to be mistaken. gazed on the infant with eyes stretching from their sockets; and, uttering a piercing shriek, she snatched the body up from the straw where it was cradled. One wild look showed that reason had instantaneously forsaken her. She raised the infant corpse on high with both her hands, and burst into a loud laugh, that chilled the very blood of those around her. The laugh gradually subsided, and the expression of her countenance changed. She seated herself slowly on one of the settles; a smile came over her features, far more heartbreaking than the laugh that preceded it; and she began to fondle and nurse the baby, as if it had been still alive. The scene was more than human nature could stand. Even the poor Irishman, whose rough outside covered as much heart as ever warmed a Christian bosom, cried like an infant.

It was some time before Amherst could command himself so far as to be actively useful. At last he called one of the men aside, and putting 8 purse into his hand, begged of him, in words as intelligible as his choked utterance would admit of, to hasten to procure immediate female assistance. He gave him directions to find a conveyance for the unfortunate woman and her boy, and to see them taken to some comfortable lodging in the neighbouring village, to send for medical advice, and to administer every thing necessary. All which he readily undertook, and proceeded directly to execute.

The first part of his commission was very speedily performed, for not far from the hovel, he met with two women, whom he knew, and the afflicted widow and bereaved mother was committed to their care. She still sat fondling her baby with the fixed eyes and vacant stare of madness, and every now and then she burst into a heart-rending convulsion of maniac laughter.

Amherst having done all for her that present circumstances demanded, now called the Irishman to the door, believing, from something he had said, that he could give him the history of