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awfully magnificent. I should have liked to have landed and explored its venerable apartments, and will the first opportunity, though when that will be I know not; for the gentlemen are continually planning parties of pleasure, and attending them; and the affairs of my family quite engage my time.

We landed about ten o'clock, every one delighted with the ex

cursion.

I am writing at my window, and see in the garden lord Seymore and Mrs. Howard in earnest conversation. I thought when miss Lester first came it was probable that lord Seymore and she might, from a similarity of temper, feel a softer sensation for each other than mere friendship. But Helen is no longer the girl I once knew her; and it is evident that Mrs. Howard is the mistress of Seymore's destiny. And who that knows the amiable disposition of both but must wish him success with that charming woman! She is so young, yet so considerate; so beauteous, yet so humble; so witty, yet so mild;

to remove the effect: at any rate, by participation I might alleviate, might lighten that load which, apparently will sink her into her grave.

The brilliancy of her eyes is dimmed, the rose of health has entirely forsook her cheek, in short she is but the shadow of her former self.

I, who am so eminently happy, ought and do wish to remove every trace of sorrow from the hearts and countenances of those about me: how much more particularly from the face of my Walshingham's dear sister! He has made me the happiest of women, and I am distressed to see the sombre veil of melancholy cloud the features of any of his family.

Adieu! my dear madam; with many prayers for your health, I subscribe myself

Your dutiful and affectionate daughter, CAROLINE WALSINGHAM,

LETTER IV.

that a cominon observer, from her Lady Walsingham to the Countess

nassuming behaviour, would not think her possessed of any shining accomplishments.

She does me the honour to profess a sisterly regard for me, and my affairs,

Julia shuns company as much as possible, indeed rather more than good manners allow. I am persuaded some concealed grief preys on her health, and have conjured her to acquaint me with it. She was offended that I should suppose she could have any thing to hide, and peevishly told me that when she wanted advice she would come to me for it. This petufance grieved me; for, perhaps, if I knew the cause I might be able

of Aubry.

Walsingham-hall.'

JULIA still continues her mysterious conduct, shuns company, looks extremely ill, yet says she ails nothing.

Yesterday evening Mrs. Howard and I was walking in the park alone (a very uncommon circumstance; for both lord Seymore sud Mr. Baderly are extremely attentire to the moveinents of Mrs. Howard). We came in sight of the castle, and I proposed walking through the apartments; she consented, and we entered the north tower, the lower part of which is inhabited by the old park-keeper,

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an honest, faithful, servant, who : Yes, my Lady."
has lived in the family froin a
bay.

I asked Johnson if there were any part of the castle more worthy of observation than the rest; for we had but little time, and wished to see all we could.

The old man stared at me for a moment, Why laws, my lady! I hope you ar'nt agoing for to scare your precious wits in them. there grand apartments; but I am sure you will, if you go for to see sights there, saveing your pre

sence.

Why,' said I, Johnson, what is there so terrible in the grand apartments as to make you imagine we must lose our senses in visiting them?'

Why, deare me, my lady, there has been shocking work done there formerly, when them barons was in fashion. Though I am sure neither my lord, nor his father, nor grandfather, ever hurt a hair of any body's head; but then, when that man that was no king, Oliver some'ot had the manageing of things, this castle was given to one of his friends, and nobody knows what was done here then. Besides these ghosts, and such cattle, take it in their heads'

'Ghosts!' exclaimed Mrs. How

ard, my good friend, I fear soinething has scared your wits, if you think we should see ghosts.'

'Oh! as to that,' said old Agatha, we do all know that ghosts does live in them rooms in that tower, (pointing to the west one ;) and if any body was but to go in there they would not ever come out alive again, an please your Ladyship

But, pray Agatha, who told you so has any bod tried the experiment?'

No, my lady, interrupted Johnson, and frowning at h wife, nobody has, but they are kept locked."'"

You have the keys though, Johnson; have you not?' said I:he seemed embarrassed.'Come, Johnson, tell me what mystery hangs over the castle, if you are acquainted with any You may speak without fear; this lady is my friend'-I saw him look hard at Mrs. Howard.

Well, madam, you know what is best better than I; and since you command me, why I must tell you, though I hope you will not tell lady Julia, for she might take. it ill, cause she bid me tell nobody.'

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Lady Julia exclaimed I, what of lady Julia ?'

Again he looked at Mrs. Howard, who seeing the worthy soul did not speak before her, would, have retired. But I knowing the! pride of Julia's heart too well to think she would intrust a secret of any consequence to the keeping of old Johnson, prevailed on her to stay; and as she loves to see every one about her easy and comfort able, made the old man sit down in his arm chair.

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Why you must know, my ladies,' said he now, that I have been a good forty years in the estate; and so was in the family long before this present lord was born. Ah! I shall never forget what a sweet boy he was, and what rejoicings we had surely. Well, but as I was saying, about the castle, which to iny mind was always an ugly place, though, I be lieve, all was pretty quiet till after my late lady died. But after my lady died, my lord would be in the

chapel of the castle for hours, looking at her tomb, and would sometimes stay out very late, but none of the servants dared go to look

for him.

I was at that time park-keeper, and more fit for the place than I am now; God help me! but my young lord is very good to let me stay here, for I do think it would break both dame's heart and mine to leave this house where we have lived so many, many years.

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Well, one night it rained, and blew at a great rate, and my lord was out; so the servants came to me with a great coat, thinking I should know when he came out, as there is a way from this tower all over the castle; but I had taken care to have the door nailed up long before. But my lord always came in and out at a little door in the West tower. Well, there we waited and waited to see him come out, and so we did see him at last; but he did not come from the castle but from the wood, drenched with rain, and, mercy on us! as pale as a ghost.'

Here Agatha cast a fearful glance round, and drew her chair -nearer her husband. So when he saw us stand, he said, "Follow me;" and went directly up to my lady's tomb, fetched a deep sigh, and clasped his hands on it." Bury me here," said he; so with that we all thought that he had seen the ghost of my lady, till he groaned and fainted, and then we saw his waistcoat very bloody, and that some vile wretches had stabbed this best of masters. On seeing this, we got him up into the West apartments, they being in a better condition than any other. Agatha brought some of our own bedding that was aired, and we got him to bed, while Thomas fetched a surVOL. XXXVIII.

geon; but when he came he said the villains had done their work too effectually for him to be of any use: and, as he said, so it happened; for on the fourth day my good lord died, and was buried with his lady.

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This was a woful day for his poor servants, and them rooms have been shut up ever since; so every think is in the same state as we left them.'

'How do you know that?' cried Agatha; I dare say the ghosts have turned every thing topsyturvy.'

We all think,' said Johnson, lowering his voice, that my lord's spirit won't rest till it has justice done on his murtherers; as there has been strange noises heard ever since in that part of the castle. But of late years dreadful sights have been seen; and now no person would go past that tower after dark for a guinea; no, not one in all the village, though they were starving. As for us we live pretty quiet in this North tower, as it is the West one which is haunted.'

'Nonsense,' said Mrs. Howard; your good lord is too happy to trouble himself with what is done in those old buildings. Besides I have heard Mr. Howard say, that the villains were hanged for a crime of the same nature many years ago; and that one of them confessed robbing and afterwards stabbing the earl of Walsingham, though then ignorant of his quality.'

Yes, yes, my lady, so it was said; but if he was content, why should he make all those noises of a night?'

Ah! why indeed,' groaned Agatha; and then lady Julia saw the ghost herself with her oWA eyes! !'

Lady Julia saw it!' cried I.
3 R

Yes; your ladyship.' 'Stop, stop,' said Johnson, not so fast dame lady Julia did not tell us what she saw No, Tummas; but what could she see but a spirit to frighten her so much? Poor young lady! did she not go into stericks almost, in this very room? Why, yes, so she did,' said the old man, musing.

You must know, madam,' (addressing himself to me,) that my lady Julia took a fancy, as you have done, to go over the castle; and came one evening to me for the keys, which nobody had ever asked for before. So I gave them to her, but tried to turn her mind from visiting the West apartinents, 'cause of the dismal sights there; but she only smiled at me, and called me a coward; which, thank God, I am not.

'Well, I saw no more of either lady nor keys till about a week after, when happening to be walking that way, I sees my lady fly out of the little door through which her dear father used to pass so many years ago. She came bounce by me, and almost knock'd me down. Well, she run round to this door, and I follow'd as fast as I could.

When she got in she fell into such a fit of crying that Agatha and I was most mortally frighten'd to be sure; but when she had got a little better I made bold to ask her if she had seen the ghost: she started up on her feet, "Johnson," said she," ask me nothing-be secret-forget you have seen me this evening. As you value my favour never mention this to me, nor to any one. I have seen enough to render me wretched as long as I live! But the whole world need

not know it."

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wild, if I may say so, that I premised her I would not; and so I hope, madam, you will be secret too; for, indeed, I would rather have died than have broke my word, or told any one else. But you are our lady, and the mistresə of the castle, and commanded me to give you the keys which I have not got; for lady Julia took them with her, and said she would keep them; and they have never been asked for till now.

So then she recollected she had not shut the little door, and would needs go back to shut it, though I offered to go, to prove I was no coward; but she said no, she would lock it herself, and so she did. Afterwards I went home with her, and it was well I did, for she trembled so she could hardly walk. From that time she has never visited the castle, but she has never been cheerful since. And now I once more beg your ladyship to desist from goig into them horrid rooms, for fear, like lady Julia, you see what you could never forget.'

I thanked the old man for his well-meant admonition, but told him he had only raised my curiosity, and I was determined to explore that part which was open. We rose to go, but Johnson begged earnestly that we would not at that time of night, but come the next evening before the sun was down: I complied with his request. Iudeed we had sat so long listening to his story that the evening was far advanced; and Mrs. Howard observed, that by staying longer we might be missed at haine, and questioned where we had been, which might occasion unpleasing retrospections in the mind of Julia, when she should hear the explans

tion.

The eyes of Johnson seemed to thank her for this consideration, and he promised to go with us if we still insisted on seeing the inside of the castle, provided we went by day-light; and so to-morrow, or at least the first day we can make an opportunity, he is to show us as much as he can, of the enchanted castle, to two damsels who he thinks are much too bold.

On entering the house we found Seymore and lady Mary at battledoor-and-shuttlecock, and Mr. Linly and sir Harry Champly playing backgaminon.

Mr. Baderly was sitting very pensive in one of the windows. Mrs. Howard asked him where lord Walsingham and miss Lester was. He replied, 'they walked out early in the evening, and are not yet returned; and, indeed, ladies, I was just thinking of the easiest method of journeying to Elysium; whether by a gentle descent in the canal, or a step up by the help of my garter. But since the graces of Walsingham are returned, I fancy myself there without the assistance of either.'

Come, come, Baderly, this is all bombast, I see you are vexed at something,-out with it man:but soft; I think I can tell where is my little friend Julia? She does not appear to be of any of your parties.'

Lady Julia, madam, has not been visible this evening; and till you entered I imagined she was with you. If I looked vexed, it was at finding myself left out of

the beauteous trio.'

Your servant, sir! but as you had no other reason for thinking Julia was with us, but your own imagination, which I suppose, like other peoples, deceives you sometimes, it was rather uncharacteristic

of your country to be in despair at ideal disappointments. Had you rouzed up your courage to have sought, you might probably have found her, and enjoyed a duet; which, without doubt, you would have preferred infinitely to a trio; but see the dear girl herself! Why do you not join her, Mr. Baderly?'

Because that spot which is honoured by Mrs. Howard's presence must be the centre of attraction to all, while wit and beauty are held in estimation among men.'

She was going to reply, but was prevented by the entrance of miss Lester and Walsingham.

Helen looked extremely displeased at Mrs. Howard, and blamed the earl for taking so long a walk; vowed she would go with him no more, as walking in the country was an excessive travail penible. The wind, I suppose,' said she, has made a fine figure of me.'-At the same time fixing her eyes on the glass.

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You are always a fine figure,' cried sir Harry, rising and coming towards her. And since Walsingham is out of luck, may I hope to profit by his misfortune? Will you permit me to escort you in your morning's walk ?'—“Ah, mon Dieu! non je vous craindrois vous, and will walk no more with any of you.'

She warbled part of an Italian air; and turning to Mr. Baderly, said, 'You never walk, do you? Mrs. Howard and you, I suppose, have been spending a mighty agreeable evening, while I have walked myself to death.' Baderly bowed, but answered not.

They soon after sat down to cards; about eleven o'clock I retired to my room; but not being sleepy have wrote thus far.

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