gether satisfied with the character of Lochandhu, and he could not help thinking that he had been perhaps a little precipitate, in thus wantonly trusting himself to the conduct of one, of whom he had previously known so little. But, then, why should he doubt the character of a man who was so well received at the table of Sir Alisander Sanderson? And what possible object could he have in leading him into danger?

As he again looked out, he saw that O'Gollochar had mingled with the group at the fire. He recollected that his servant had been absent in the morning, and, suspecting he had been at Eaglesholme, he called him, in the hopes of hearing something of Miss Malcolm.

"Och! I hope your honour is not angry at me," said O'Gollochar, with a ludicrous look of apprehension." Sure, then, to tell your honour the truth, I just borrowed Mr Brouster's sorrel nag, Draff, and took a little walk over to Aiglesholme-your honour knows it would not have been daicent to have gone away without seeing Miss Aipindle-so I canters away as hard as ould Draff could go, and, after tying him among the rees, I goes up to the gate to the ould porter, and says

JHQWI ED I

if

I, Mr Torr, I will be mainly obligated to yell

ye will just go and give my compliments to Miss,
Aipindle, and tell her I wants to spake three
mami uim Bur Dwants
think the ould bull-dog

words to her. But do
But do ye think the ould

would stir? Och! divil a foot-and he shook his head gruffly, as much as to say, you may go and

be

་་་

But as good luck would have it, just

as I didn't know what to be after doing who comes tripping towards the gate, like any bird, but Miss Aipindle herself. Och! swate blessings MOR PONUDA Ochswate on ye my dear, says I; but faith she was but a tia melancholy bird after all; for what with her own thoughts of leaving me, and what with the sad news she had to tell of her lady, I'm sure we both cried like a couple of nightengales."

"Good Heavens! to what sad news of Miss Malcolm do you allude?" said Amherst, with an anxiety and agitation that made him for the moment forget all care of concealment.

"Och! nought at all, dear master," replied O'Gollochar, alarmed by the earnestness of his "Only she tould me her young lady. had been crying her eyes out, all along of your

manner.

going away. Her uncle and she, it

seems, had ted up together for two or three hours

been closeted up

last night, when, all of a sudden, the bell was furiously rung, and when Miss Aipindle went up, she found the ould Lord in a great flustrification, and Miss Malcolm in a dead faint. She was immediately carried to bed, and brought to herself after some time. But she did nothing all night but cry; and Madame Bossanfield was in so terrible a taking about her, that she sat up by her bedside till morning, trying to comfort her, but the not a comfort, nor comfort, would she take at all at all, poor soul!"

vant.

7

b

Amherst's misery received a deep accession from this intelligence. He groaned inwardly; yet exerting himself to the utmost to conceal his agitation, he put a thousand questions to his serBut he could learn no more; for, after a short interview, Epingle had been suddenly called up to her mistress, and the parting, though so tender as to wring not a few tears from O'Gollochar's eyes at the very recollection of it, had been so hasty as hardly to leave him time to say another word.

Amherst almost regretted that he had been induced so easily to quit one, whose heart was so entirely devoted to him. He almost repented

J

that he had not taken Cleaver's advice, and made an attempt to rescue her from what he could not help thinking tyranny. He easily worked himself into the belief that, if Lord Eaglesholme should still persist in opposing his wishes, and those of his niece, he should be justified in taking any means to relieve her from such oppression.

As he was in the midst of such reflections, as these, Lochandhu and Macrory entered, and put an end to them for the present. 200

I am glad to have it in my power to announce supper, Mr Oakenwold," said Lochandhu gaily. The grand sewer is about to bring in the golden goblets, and many a dainty dish of rarest price. But, joking apart, I wish you may be able to partake of this our sylvan fare. To the stomach of a bare-legged Scotchman, who has been trudging the mosses and moors all day, it is indeed exquisitely palatable; but to you, who have been bred in the very lap of luxurious civilization, I fear our food will taste but coarse and homely."

Amherst assured him he was by no means very delicate in general, though at present he had not in reality much appetites on/

"Well, well," said Lochandhu, “ I hope the

f

novelty of the supper, as well as of the supperroom, may have the effect of making a young man enjoy both. I remember, when I was a lad, I used to prefer lying in the heather all night, let the weather be what it might, to the softest and toit warmest bed in my father's house. But although I don't fear doing so even now, when occasion requires it,the glory and the novelty of the feat have lost their relish for me.But here comes the smoking cogued"oorq odt that

As he said this, one of the Highlanders entered, bearing a broad deep vessel, constructed of staves and hoops, full of smoking hot broth of a very substantial description, being made of great quantities of mutton boiled down to rags, and thickened with oatmeal and shredded onions. This was propped up on some bunches of ferns, and the gentlemen and Macrory drew their fern cushions around it. A deep wooden bowl, and a horn spoon, was handed to each of them, and they began to help themselves from the, cogue, that threw up fresh steams every time it was stirred, like the partial eruptions of a half, extinguished volcano. Amherst, although he did not much admire the appearance of this dish, imitated the