⚫and closer embrace; and she looked with wild agitation, expecting presently to hear of some fearful catastrophe. "I cannot bear this much longer, dearest - I feel I cannot," said she, rather faintly. "What has happened? What that you dare not tell me? I can bear any thing, while I have you and my children! You have been unhappy, my own Charles, for many days past. I will not part with you now till I know all!"

"You soon must know all, my precious Agnes; and I take Heaven to witness, that it is only on your account. I did not wish you to have -known it till "__

"You are never going to fight a duel?" she gasped, turning as white as death.

"Oh! no, no, Agnes! I solemnly assure you! If I could have brought myself to engage in such an unhallowed affair, would this scene ever first have occurred? No, no, my own love! Must I then tell you of the misfortune that has overtaken us?" She gazed at him in mute and breathless apprehension. "They are bringing an action against me, which, if successful, may cause us all to quit Yatton-and, it may be, for ever."

"Oh, Charles!" she murmured, her eyes riveted upon his, while she unconsciously moved nearer to him, and trembled. Her head drooped upon his shoulder.

"Why is this?" she whispered. "Let us, dearest, talk of it another time. I have now told you what you asked me." He poured her out a glass of water. Having drunk a little, she appeared revived. Is all lost?

66

Do, my own Charles -let me know the worst."

We are young, Agnes, and have the world before us. Health and honour are better than riches. You and our little loves the children which God has given us are my riches," said he, gazing with unspeakable fondness at her. "Even should it be the will of Heaven that this affair should go against us-so long as they cannot separate us from each other, they cannot really hurt us." She suddenly kissed him with frantic energy, and an hysteric smile gleamed over her pallid excited features.

"Calm yourself, Agnes!-calm -yourself, for my my sake! - as you love me!" His voice quivered. "Oh,

how very weak and foolish I have been to yield to "

"No, no, no!" she gasped, evidently labouring with hysteric oppression. "Hush!" said she, suddenly starting, and wildly leaning forward towards the door which opened into the gallery leading to the various bedrooms. He listened the mother's ear had been quick and true. He presently heard the sound of many children's voices approaching they were the little party, accompanied by Kate, on their way to bed; and little Charles's voice was loudest, and his laugh the merriest of them all. The wild smile of hysterics gleamed on Mrs Aubrey's face; her hand grasped her husband's with convulsive pressure; and she suddenly sunk, rigid and senseless, upon the sofa. He seemed for a moment stunned at the sight of her motionless figure. Soon, however, recovering his presence of mind, he rang the bell, and one or two female attendants quickly appeared; and by their joint assistance Mrs Aubrey was carried to her bed in the adjoining room, where, by the use of the ordinary remedies, she was presently restored to consciousness. Her first languid look was towards Mr Aubrey, whose hand she slowly raised to her lips. She tried to raise a smile into her wan features but 'twas in vain; and, after a few heavy and half-choking sobs, her overcharged feelings found relief in a flood of tears. Full of the liveliest apprehensions as to the effect of this violent emotion upon her, in her delicate condition, he remained with her for some time, pouring into her ear every soothing and tender expression he could think of. He at length succeeded in bringing her into a somewhat more tranquil state than he could have expected. He strictly enjoined the attendants, who had not quitted their lady's chamber, and whose alarmed and inquisitive looks he had noticed for some time with anxiety, to preserve silence concerning what they had so unexpectedly witnessed, adding that something unfortunate had happened, of which they would hear but too soon.

"Are you going to tell Kate?" whispered Mrs Aubrey, sorrowfully. "Surely, love, you have suffered enough through my weakness. Wait till to-morrow. Let her have a few more happy hours."

"No, Agnes-it was my own weakness which caused me to be surprised into this premature disclosure to you. And now I must meet her again to-night, and I cannot control either my features or my feelings. Yes, poor Kate, she must know all to-night! I shall not be long absent, Agnes." And directing her maid to remain with her till he returned, he withdrew, and with slow step and heavy heart descended to the library; preparing himself for another heartbreaking scene - plunging another innocent and joyous creature into misery, which he believed to be inevitable. Having looked into the drawing-room as he passed it, and seen no one there his mother having, as usual, retired at a very early hour -he rung his library bell, and desired Miss Aubrey's maid to request her mistress to come down to him there, as soon as she was at leisure. He was glad that the only light in the room was that given out by the fire, which was not very bright, and so would in some degree shield his features from, at all events, immediate scrutiny. His heart ached as, shortly afterwards, he heard Kate's light step crossing the hall. When she entered, her eyes sparkled with vivacity, and a smile was on her beauteous cheek. Her dress was tumbled, and her hair hung disordered and half uncurled the results of her sport with the little ones whom she had been seeing to bed.

"What merry little things, to be sure!" she commenced, laughingly"I could not get them to lie still a moment-popping their little heads in and out of the clothes. A fine night I shall have with Sir Harry! for he is to be my bedfellow, and I dare say I shall not sleep a wink all night. Why, Charles, how very very grave you look to-night!" she added quickly, observing his eye fixed moodily upon her. "'Tis you who are so very gay,' he replied, endeavouring to smile. " I want to speak to you, dear Kate," he commenced affectionately, "on a serious matter. I have received some letters to-night"

,"

Kate coloured suddenly and violently, and her heart beat; but, sweet soul! she was mistaken very, very far off the mark her troubled brother was aiming at. "And, relying on your strength of mind, I have re

ex

"Oh why, Charles, did you tell any thing distressing to her?" claimed Miss Aubrey with an alarmed air.

"She came upon me by surprise, Kate. 'Twould have been infinitely more dangerous to have kept her in suspense; but she is recovering. I shall soon return to her. And now, my dear Kate-I know your strong sense and spirit-a very great calamity hangs over us. Let you and me," he grasped her hands affectionately, "stand it steadily, and support those who cannot."

"Let me at once know all, Charles. See if I do not bear it as becomes your sister," said she, with forced calmness.

"If it should become necessary for all of us to retire into obscurityhumble obscurity, dear Kate-how do you think you could bear it?"

"If it will be an honourable obscurity-nay, 'tis quite impossible to be dis-honourable obscurity," said Miss Aubrey, with a momentary flash of energy.

"Never, never, Kate! The Aubreys may lose every thing on earth but the jewel HONOUR, and love for one another."

"Let me know all, Charles," said Miss Aubrey, in a low tone, but with a look of the deepest apprehension.

"A strange claim is set up-by one I never heard of-to the whole of the property I now enjoy."

Miss Aubrey started, and the colour faded from her cheek.

"But is it a true claim, Charles?" "That remains to be proved. But I will disguise nothing from you-I have woful apprehensions"

"Do you mean to say that Yatton is not ours?" enquired Miss Aubrey, catching her breath.

"So, my dearest girl, it is said." Miss Aubrey looked bewildered, and pressed her hand to her forehead. "How shocking! - shocking! shocking!" she gasped. "What is to become of mamma?"

"God Almighty will not desert her in her old age. He will desert none of us, dearest, if we only trust in Him," said her brother.

Miss Aubrey remained gazing at him intently, and continued perfectly motionless.

" Must we all leave Yatton?" said she, faintly.

"If this claim succeeds but we shall leave it together, Kate."

She threw her arms round his neck, and wept bitterly.

"Hush, hush, Kate!" said he, perceiving the increasing violence of her emotions, "restrain your feelings for the sake of my mother and Agnes."

His words had the desired effect: the poor girl made a desperate effort. Unclasping her arms from her brother's neck, she sat down in her chair, breathing hard; and, after a few minutes' pause, she said, faintly, " I am better now. Do tell me more, Charles! Let me have something to think about-only don't say any thing about -about-mamma and Agnes!" In spite of herself a visible shudder ran through her frame.

"It seems, Kate," said he, with all the calmness he could assume-" at least they are trying to prove that our family had no right to succeed to this property; that there is living the right heir; his case has been taken up by powerful friends; and let me tell you the worst at once-the first lawyers in the kingdom seem to agree that he is entitled to recover the whole of Yatton-even the lawyers consulted by Mr Parkinson on my behalf".

"But is mamma provided for?" whispered Miss Aubrey, almost inarticulately. "When I look at her again, I shall almost break my heart."

"No, Kate, you won't. Heaven will give you strength," said her brother, in a tremulous voice. "Remember, my only sister-my darling Kate! you must support me in my troublewe will support one another".

"We will!-we will!" interrupted

Miss Aubrey-instantly checking, however, her rising excitement.

"You bear it bravely, my noble girl!" said Mr Aubrey, fondly, after a brief interval of silence.

She turned from him her head, and moved her hand-in deprecation of expressions that might utterly unnerve her. Then she convulsively clasped her hands over her forehead; and, after a minute or two, turned towards him with tears in her eyes, but tranquillized features. The struggle had been dreadful, though brief-her noble spirit recovered itself.

'Twas like a fair bark, in mortal conflict with the black and boiling waters and howling hurricane; long quivering on the brink of destruction, but at last outliving the storm, righting itself, and suddenly gliding into safe and tranquil waters.

The distressed brother and sister sat conversing for a long time, frequently in tears, but with infinitely greater calmness and firmness than could have been expected. They agreed that Dr Tatham should very early in the morning be sent for, and implored to take upon himself the bitter duty of breaking the matter to their mother; its effects upon whom, her children anticipated with the most vivid apprehension. They then retired-Kate to a sleepless pillow, and her brother to spend a greater portion of the night in attempts to sooth and console his suffering wife; each of them having first knelt in humble reverence, and poured forth the breathings of a stricken and bleeding heart before Him who hath declared that he HEARETH and ANSWERETH prayer.

Ah! who can tell what a day or an hour may bring forth?

"It won't kindle not a bit on't it's green and full o' sap. Go out, and get us a log that's dry and old, George - and let's try to have a bit of a blaze in t' ould chimney, this bitter night," said Isaac Tonson, the gamekeeper at Yatton, to the good-natured landlord of the Aubrey Arms, the little-and only-inn of the village. The suggestion was instantly attended to.

"How Peter 's a-feathering of his geese to-night, to be sure!" exclaimed the landlord on his return, shaking the snow off his coat, and laying on the fire a great dry old log of wood, which seemed very acceptable to the hungry flames, for they licked it cordially the moment it was placed amongst them, and there was very soon given out a cheerful blaze. 'Twas a snug room, the brick floor covered with fresh sand; and on a few stools and benches, with a table in the middle, on which stood a large can and ale-glasses, with a plate of tobacco, sat some half-a-dozen men, enjoying their pipe and glass. In the chimney corner sat Thomas Dickons, the under-bailiff of Mr Aubrey, a big, broad-shouldered, middle-aged fellow, with a hard featured face and a phlegmatic air. In the opposite corner sat the little grizzle-headed clerk and sexton, old Halleluiah-(as he was called, but his real name was Jonas Higgs.) Beside him sat Pumpkin, the gardener at the Hall, a constant guest at the Aubrey Arms o' nightsalways attended by Hector, the large Newfoundland dog already spoken of, and who was now lying stretched on the floor at Pumpkin's feet, his nose resting on his forefeet, and his eyes, with great gravity, watching the motions of a skittish kitten under the table. Opposite to him sat Tonson the gamekeeper-a thin, wiry, beetlebrowed fellow, with eyes like a ferret; and there were also one or two farmers, that lived in the village.

"Let's ha' another can o' ale, afore ye sit doun," said one of them; "we can do with half a gallon, I'm thinking." This order also was quickly attended to; and then the landlord, having seen to the door, and fastened the shutters close, took his place on a vacant stool, and resumed his pipe,

"So she do take a very long grave, Jonas?" enquired Dickons of the

sexton.

"Ay, Mr Dickons, a' think she do, the owld girl! I always thought she would. 'Tis a reg'lar man's size, I warrant you; and when parson saw it, a' said, he thought 'twere too big; but I ax'd his pardon, and said I hadn't been sexton for thirty years without knowing my business-ha, ha!"

" I suppose, Jonas, you mun ha' seen her walking about i' t' village, in your time- Were she such a big-looking woman?" enquired Pumpkin, as he shook the ashes out of his pipe, and replenished it.

"Forty years ago I used to see her -she were then an old woman, wi' white hair, and leaned on a stick-I

never thought she'd a lasted so long," replied Higgs, emptying his glass.

"She've had a pretty long spell on't," quoth Dickons, slowly emptying his mouth of smoke.

"A hundred and two," replied the sexton; "so saith her coffin-plate-a' seed it to-day."

"What wore her name?" enquired Tonson " I never knew her by any name but Blind Bess."

"Her name be Elizabeth Crabtree, on the coffin," replied Higgs; " and she's to be buried to-morrow."

"She were a strange old woman," said Hazel, one of the farmers, as he took down one of the oatcakes that were hanging overhead, and breaking off a piece, held it with the tongs before the fire to toast, and then put it into his ale.

"Ay, she were," quoth Pumpkin; "I wonder what she thinks o' such things now-maybe she's paying dear for her trieks."

66

Tut, Pumpkin," said Tonson, "let the old creature rest in her grave."

"Ay, Master Tonson," quoth the clerk, in his church twang" there be no knowledge, nor wisdom, nor de vice!"

"'Tis very odd, but this dog that's lying at my feet never could a' bear going past her cottage late o' nights; and the night she died-Lord! you should have heard the howl Hectorgave - and a' didn't then know she were gone."

"No! but wer't really so?" enquired Dickons several of the others taking their pipes out of their mouths, and looking earnestly at Pumpkin.

" I didn't half like it, I assure you," quoth Pumpkin.

"Ha, ha, ha!-ha, ha!" laughed the gamekeeper

"Ay, marry you may laugh-but I'll stake half-a-gallon o' ale you daren't go by yourself to the cottage where she's lying-now, mind-i' the dark."

" I'll do it," quoth Higgs, eagerly, preparing to lay down his pipe.

"No, no-thou'rt quite used to dead folk," replied Pumpkin.

"Bess dropped off sudden, like, at last, didn't she?" enquired the land

lord.

"She went out, as they say, like the snuff of a candle," replied Jobbins, one of the farmers; "no one were

with her but my Missis at the time. The night afore she took to the rattles all of a sudden. My Sall (that's done for her this long time, by madam's orders) says old Bess were a good deal shaken by a chap from London, that came down about a week afore Christmas."

"Ay, ay," quoth one, "I've heard o' that what was it? what passed atwixt them?"

"Why, a' don't well know-but he had a book, and wrote down something; and he axed her, so Sall do tell me, such a many things about old people, and things that are long gone by.

"What were the use on't?" enquired Dickons; "for Bess hath been silly this ten years, to my sartain knowledge."

"Why, a' couldn't tell. Sall said she talked a good deal to the chap in her mumbling way, and seemed to know some folk he asked her about. And Sall saith she hath been, in a manner, dismal ever since, and often acrying and talking to herself."

"I've heard," said the landlord, "that squire and parson were wi' her on Christmas-day-and that she talked deal o' strange things, and that the squire did seem, as it were, struck a little."

a

"Well, a' never thought any wrong of her, for my part," said one-and another - and another; and they smoked their pipes for some minutes in silence.

" Talking o' strangers from London," said the sexton, presently; "who do know any thing o' them two chaps that were at church last Sunday? Two such peacock-looking chaps I never seed-and grinning all service-time."

"Ay, I'll tell ye something of 'em," said Hazel a big, broad-shouldered farmer, who plucked his pipe out of his mouth with sudden energy"They're a brace o' good ones, to be sure, ha, ha! Some week or ten days ago, as I were a'coming across the field leading into the lane behind the church, I seed these same two chaps, and on coming nearer, (they not seeing me for the hedge,) Lord bless me! would ye believe it? - if they wasn't

a-teasing my daughter Jenny, that were coming along wi' some physic from the doctor for my old woman! One of 'em seemed a-going to put his arm around her neck, and t'other came close to her on t'other side, a-talking to her and pushing her about." Here a young farmer, who had but seldom spoken, took his pipe out of his mouth, and exclaiming, "Lord bless me!" sat listening with his mouth wide open. "Well, a' came into the road behind 'em, without their seeing me; and" (here he stretched out a thick, rigid, muscular arm, and clenched his teeth)" a' got hold of each by the collar, and one of 'em I shook about, and gave him a kick i' the breech that sent him spinning a yard or two on the road, he clap. ping his hand behind him, and crying, to be sure Good for a hundred pound damages!' T'other dropped on his knees, and begged for mercy; so a' just spit in his face, and flung him under the hedge, telling him if he stirred till I were out o' sight, I'd crack his skull for him; and so I would!" Here the wrathful speaker pushed his pipe again between his lips, and began puffing away with great energy; while he who had appeared to take so great an interest in the story, and who was the very man who had flown to the rescue of Miss Aubrey, when she seemed on the point of being similarly treated, told that circumstance exactly as it occurred, amidst the silent but excited wonder of those present all of whom, at its close, uttered vehement execrations, and intimated the summary and savage punishment which the cowardly rascal would have experienced at the hands of each and every one of them, had they_come across him.

"I reckon," said the landlord, as soon as the swell had a little subsided, "they must be the two chaps that put up here, some time ago, for an hour or so. You should ha' seen 'em get on and off-that's all! Why, a' laughed outright! The chap with the hair under his chin got on upon the wrong side, and t'other seemed as if he thought his beast would bite him!"

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed all. "I thought they'd a' both got a fall before they'd gone a dozen yards!"

"They've taken a strange fancy to my churchyard," said the sexton, setting down his glass, and then preparing to fill his pipe again; "they've been