some deed in Icontemplation; but whatever it might be, the expressions of the taller ruffian im plied that it was of a less black complexion. The features of the men had been perfectly concealed from him by the shade of their large foreign hats. But their voices struck his ear as if they were Lot altogether strange to him, though he could not remember where he had heard them before. The taller man seemed to be no foreignér/his conversation, however, showed that he was acquainted with the language of Italy, in which his companion, evidently a native of that country, addressed him; and the appeal to his recollection of the shocking transaction at which he had probably assisted, proved that he had been abroad.

He began to consider whether it would not be proper to give information of what he had heard but as he continued to turn the matter over in his own mind, he came at last to believe, that his ima gination had hastily reared an airy phantom, out of some desperate smuggling transaction the ruf fians had planned. He now remembered, that the path he was pursuing had been described to him as one very often used by the smugglers, when crossing into the country from a small haven, form

ed by the river running through the glen. That such characters as are engaged in this illicit trade, in which villains of all nations are generally leagued, might have been guilty of murder at one period or another, he thought extremely likely, and to some such crime, perpetrated in the prosecution of their nefarious traffic, the words which fell from the Italian had probably reference. But there was nothing in what they had said, that could warrant any suspicion of an intention to repeat such an act. Nay, the tall man, in making up his resolution to what was now proposed, seemed to shudder at the recollection of murder. The very expressions, "risk-venture-hazarddisposal of goods-higher price," &c. all appeared to bear allusion to some bold smuggling attempt they were deliberating. Having thus reasoned with himself, he finally resolved to say nothing about the matter until the return of Lord Eaglesholme.

As Amherst was approaching the castle, his ear was saluted by the sound of voices, accompanied by peals of laughter, giving him reason to hope for a conversation less appalling than that he had so lately listened to. He soon perceived O'Gollochar approaching, with the gay

Mademoiselle Epingle. Of late his servant's fears of the castle and its goblins seemed to have been very much dissipated, and the merriment, now supported between the smart Frenchwoman and the joyous Irishman, furnished a sufficiently adequate explanation of this remarkable change on the mind of the latter.

They came merrily along, arm in arm, through the checkered moonlight, under the tall groupe of trees, Cornelius chastening his usual triumphant stride, to accommodate it to the figurante trip of la belle Parisienne, whilst their éclats de rire partially disturbed the black squadrons roosting above.

"Ah! Monsieur Ogolhaire, you moss commence to stody la langue Française, by vat you call larn de vocabulaire of loove; il faut commencer vos études en apprenant le vocabulaire d'amour."

"Och, botheration !" cried O'Gollochar, "how can I understand your French now, when myself can't see your eyes? Cavilaire of a Moor! arrah, what mane ye be that now, my dear? Sure I am no Moorish cavalier; not a bit of the Moor have I about me that I knows on. Faith, may

be after all she manes to say that she would take me, though she found me in the middle of a moor, and without e'er a thing else but my own four quarters. Sure and isn't it very sinsible in her now, poor thing! Troth, my dear, and wouldn't I not take yourself how with never a bit of fortune but your pattens Och, master, is that you?" said he, as he now perceived Am herst. "Sure Miss Malcolm has been in such a quandary about your honour's honour, that no thing would sarve her but that mamsell and I should trudge out in sarch of ye."

“Oui c'est vrai," interrupted the loquacious Frenchwoman, "à cause de l'absence de Mon sieur, Mademoiselle reste actuellement abimè dans la solicitude et dans une suspense effrayante."

On hearing this, Amherst stopped to inquire no further, but leaving them to the private enjoyment of their moonlight colloquy, he hastened to relieve Eliza from an anxiety, the existence of which, however, gave him a great deal of plea-'

The fact was, that day-light no sooner began to disappear, than Eliza called to mind the at tack upon her uncle, and the attempt upon her

self, and reflecting that she had urged hims to return that evening, she tormented herself and Madame Bossanville with a thousand apprehen sions for his safety, and a thousand self-accusat tions, for having been the cause of exposing him to the danger she dreaded. At last her anxiety rose to such a pitch, that she had dispatched Epingle with orders to O'Gollochar, to set out immediately to meet his master. The amorous. Irishman lost a good deal of time in flirtation. with Mademoiselle, who forgot the fears of her mistress in her own amusement, and who, by way of making up for her neglect, and doubtless from pure good nature, offered to accompany Cornelius, to relieve him from the loneliness of

his way.

Amherst was well repaid for his late walk, by the happy hour he spent with the ladies before retiring to rest. Forgetful of the presence. of Madame Bossanville, he and his Eliza in dulged in the tenderest conversation; and the old lady was obliged to give them more than one hint, before she could induce them to part for the night,

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