aware, though he was ignorant of them. If this was her object, then it was probable that she saw hope of their removal, and to this hope he clung. There was something so preternaturally overpowering in her appearance, words, and manner, that he was disposed to believe she not only possessed extraordinary means of information, but that she had substantial grounds for the advice she gave. There was something almost miraculous in her visit. The place where he had last seen her was twenty miles off. She had talked of the house of Lochandhu not being free from danger, yet she, though manifestly unwilling to be seen by its master, had fearlessly entered it, how he knew not, more than he could guess whither she had gone.

Amherst lay perplexed with these conjectures for several hours; indeed, the moon had gone down, and the grey twilight of morning was beginning to appear, ere he again closed his eyes. When he did so, his dreams were haunted by the figure, now more minutely imprinted upon his recollection from being so long placed near his eyes.

When Amherst arose in the morning, he was so charmed by the beauty of the pastoral scenery,

on which he looked from his window, that he forgot for a moment the events of the preceding night in the ecstasy it awakened.

The back of the house stood but a few feet removed from the brink of a wooded bank, sweep ing forwards from under it to right and left, and enclosing a lovely low meadow within its bosom. Beyond this appeared a portion of a very consi derable lake, into which the great river of the valley expanded itself. At the distance of about a mile from the eye, the opposite shores presented every variety of knoll and hillock, rising one behind the other, and wooded with birches, hazles, and dwarf oaks. Over these some high mountains appeared, whilst, more to the left, the still loftier group of the Cairngorums rose in all their majesty.

The sun was dancing cheerily over the lake, and gilding its surrounding woods and pastures with gladness, and a large herd of cattle were feeding on the meadow. Every thing contributed to awaken ideas of rural purity and innocence in his mind; and notwithstanding the caution he had received from his midnight visitor, he could hardly persuade himself that any thing like danger, or treachery, was to be apprehended from the

inhabitants of so soft a scene. From such thoughts he was speedily recalled by observing a number of men examining the cattle. Amongst these he descried Lochandhu, his natural brother Alexander, and Macrory. It was some little time before he was quite certain of his host, who having now relinquished the thraldom of the Lowland dress he had formerly worn, was clad in the more accom modating costume of the mountains.

After moving the animals about, and looking at them individually, the men began to drive them off in a long line, towards an opening in the wooded bank, where they disappeared, expressing, by frequent lowings, their unwillingness to leave the pasture. Lochandhu continued to walk backwards and forwards with his two companions for some time, as if in earnest conversation. Alexander Macgillivray and Macrory then followed the party who went with the cattle, and Lochandhu reurned towards the house.

Amherst was received in the parlour by both his host and hostess, with every appearance of the kindest welcome. But the Carline's warning crossed his mind. He took care, however, to make a suitable return to their compliments and civilities. During breakfast, Lochandhu ran over to Am

herst the various kinds of manly amusements the country afforded, leaving him to choose which he should first pursue.

Shall we to the hill, Mr

or hoog f Oakenwold, to kill or would you like

a few grouse and black game, to look nearer at home for a roebuck, where you may also get plenty of hares ?-Or perhaps you would prefer salmon-fishing? Or if you are fond of boating, you may shoot wild ducks upon the lake, and catch abundance of pike and trout. For ptarmigan or white hares, we must seek the highest tops of the mountains-as for red deer, we must have time to prepare for showing you a royal day with them."

- Amherst, like most young men, was extremely fond of such pursuits. This ample list of the animals of sport, made him forget the dubious situation he had placed himself in, by becoming an inhabitant of the house of Lochandhu. · Remembering that he must wait the promised communication from his mysterious nocturnal visitant, he was rejoiced to find that he could do so without any risk of tædium. He felt the neces sity of occupying himself, to keep down those distressing thoughts, resulting from his conversation

with Lord Eagleshome. He resolved, therefore, to partake of all these amusements in succession,

A good many days soon passed away, in mak ing war upon the various creatures we have mentioned, Lochandhu generally acting as his guide and companion. His success was far beyond what he had ever before entertained any idea of But much as he enjoyed such amusement, his pleasure was by no means confined to the mere trifling exultation arising from the extent of the murder committed, in which every sportsman has more or less felt the inclination of indulging himself. He had other and more exalted sources of delight from such excursions. As his foot trod lightly over the heathy hills in pursuit of his game,-as he inhaled the healthful breeze, and as his eye roamed unconfined over the endless extent of brown moorland, where not a trace was to be seen of those pitiful barriers, raised by the sordid hand of allgrasping man, jealous of the intrusion of his fellow upon a few wretched feet of the surface of this earth, he felt his soul expand with a freedom he had never before experienced. Nature seemed to be the only proprietor here, and her domain was without limits.