tain a great deal more of that disagreeable ingredient than could be palatable to those who sailed under him. And yet, after counting all risks, could his father's consent but be obtained, with what pleasure, he thought, would he embark in quest of new scenes and strange adventures, in which he proposed to himself to achieve such deeds as should be the theme of many a tale to the lovely sisters of Burgh-Westra-tales at which Minna should weep, and Brenda should smile, and both should marvel. And this was to be the reward of his labours and his dangers; for the hearth of Magnus Troil had a magnetic influence over his thoughts, and however they might traverse amid his day-dreams, it was the point where they finally settled.

There were times when Mordaunt thought of mentioning to his father the conversation he had with Captain Cleveland, and the seaman's proposal to him; but the very short and general account which he had given of that person's history, upon the morning after his departure from the hamlet, had produced a sinister effect upon Mr. Mertoun's mind, and discouraged him from speaking further on any subject connected with it. It would be time enough, he thought, to mention Captain Cleveland's proposal, when his consort should arrive, and when he should repeat his offer in a more formal manner; and these he supposed events likely very soon to happen.

But days grew to weeks, and weeks were numbered into months, and he heard nothing from Cleveland; and only learned by an occasional visit from Bryce Snailsfoot, that the Captain was residing at Burgh Westra, as one of the family. Mordaunt was somewhat surprised at this, although the unlimited hospitality of the islands, which Magnus Troil, both from fortune and disposition, carried to the utmost extent, made it almost a matter of course that he should remain in the family until he disposed of himself otherwise. Still it seemed strange he had not gone to some of the northern isles to inquire after his consort; or that he did not rather choose to make his residence at Lerwick, where fishing vessels often brought news from the coasts and ports of Scotland and Holland. Again, why did he not send for the chest he had deposited at Jarlshof? and still further, Mordaunt thought it would have been but polite if the stranger had sent him some sort of message in token of remembrance.

These subjects of reflection were connected with ano

ther still more unpleasant, and more difficult to account for, Until the arrival of this person, scarce a week had passed without bringing him some kind greeting, or token of recollection, from Burgh-Westra; and pretences were scarce ever wanting for maintaining a constant intercourse. Minna wanted the words of a Norse ballad; or desired to have, for her various collections, feathers, or eggs, or shells, or specimens of the rarer sea-weeds; or Brenda sent a riddle to be resolved, or a song to be learned; or the honest old Udaller,-in a rude manuscript, which might have passed for an ancient Runic inscription,-sent his hearty greetings to his good young friend, with a present of something to make good cheer, and an earnest request he would come to Burgh-Westra as soon, and stay there as long, as possible. These kindly tokens of remembrance were often sent by special message; besides which, there was never passenger or traveller who crossed from the one mansion to the other, that did not bring to Mordaun some friendly greeting from the Udallar and his family. Of late, this intercourse bad become more and more infrequent; and no messenger from Burgh-Westra had visited Jarlshof for several weeks. Mordaunt both observed and felt this alteration, and it dwelt on his mind, while he questioned Bryce as closely as pride and prudence would permit, to ascertain, if possible, the cause of the changes. Yet he endeavoured to assume an indifferent air while he asked the jagger whether there was no news in the country.

"Great news," the jagger replied; "and a gay mony of them. That crack-brained carle, the new factor, is for making a change in the bismars and the lispunds ;* and our worthy Fowd, Magnus Troil, has sworn, that, sooner than change them for the still-yard, or aught else, he'll fling Factory Yellowleys from Brassacraig."

"Is that all?" said Mordaunt, very little interested.

"All? and eneugh, I think," replied the pedler. "How are folks to buy and sell, if the weights are changed on them ?"

"Very true," replied Mordaunt ; " but have you heard of no strange vessels on the coast ?"

"Six Dutch doggers off Brassa; and, as I hear, a high

These are weights of Norwegian origin, still used in Zetland.

quartered galliot thing, with a gaff mainsail, lying in Scalloway Bay. She will be from Norway."

"No ships of war, or sloops ?"

None," replied the pedler, "since the Kite Tender sailed with the impress men. If it was His will, and our men were out of her, I wish the deep sea had her."

"Were there no news at Burgh-Westra ?-Were the family all well ?"

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A' weel, and weel to do-out-taken, it may be, something ower muckle daffing and laughing-dancing ilk night, they say, wi' the stranger captain that's living there--he that was ashore on Sumburgh-head the tother day,-less daffing served him then."

"Daffing dancing every night!" said Mordaunt, not particularly well satisfied." Whom does Captain Cleveland dance with ?"

"Ony body he likes, I fancy," said the jagger; "at ony rate he gars a' body yonder dance after his fiddle. But I ken little about it, for I am no free in conscience to look upon thae flinging fancies. Folk should mind that life is made but of rotten yarn."

"I fancy that it is to keep them in mind of that wholesome truth, that you deal in such tender wares, Bryce," replied Mordaunt, dissatisfied as well with the tenor of the reply, as with the affected scruples of the respondent.

"That's as muckle as to say, that I suld hae minded you was a flinger and a fiddler yoursell, Master Mordaunt; but I am an auld man, and maun unburthen my conscience. But ye will be for the dance, I sall warrant, that's to be at Burgh-Westra, on John's Even, (Saunt John's as the blinded creatures ca' him ;) and nae doubt ye will be for some warldly braws-hose, waistcoats, or sic like. I hae pieces frae Flanders"-With that he placed his moveable warehouse on the table, and began to unlock it.

"Dance!" repeated Mordaunt-" Dance on St. John's even ?-Were you desired to bid me to it, Bryce ?"

"Na-but ye ken weel enough ye wad be welcome, bidden or no bidden. This captain how-ca'-ye-him, is to be skudler as they ca't-the first of the gang, like."

"The devil take him!" said Mordaunt, in impatient surprise.

"A' in gude time," replied the jagger; "hurry no man's cattle-the devil will hae his due, I warrant ye, or it winna be for lack of seeking. But it's true I'm telling

you, for a' ye stare like a wild cat; and this same captain, I-wat-na-his-name, bought ane of the very waistcoats that I am ganging to show ye--purple, wi' a gowd binding, and bonnily broidered; and I have a piece for you, the neighbour of it, wi' a green grund; and if ye mean to streak yoursell up beside him, ye maun e'en buy it, for it's gowd that glances in the lasses' een now-a-days. See-look till't," he added, displaying the pattern in various points of view; "look till it through the light, and till the light through it-wi' the grain, and against the grain-it shows ony gate cam frae Antwerp a' the gate-four dollars is the price; and yon-captain was sae weel pleased, that he flang down a twenty shilling Jacobus, and bade me keep the change and be damned!-poor silly profane creature, I pity him."

Without inquiring whether the pedler bestowed his compassion on the worldly imprudence, or the religious deficiencies of Captain Cleveland, Mordaunt turned from him, folded his arms, and paced the apartment, muttering to himself, "Not asked!-A stranger to be king of the feast!"-Words which he repeated so earnestly, that Bryce caught a part of their import.

"As for asking, I am almaist bauld to say, that ye will be asked, Master Mordaunt.”

"Did they mention my name then?" said Mordaunt. "I canna preceesely say that," said Bryce Snailsfoot; "but ye needna turn away your head sae sourly, like a sealgh when he leaves the shore; for, do you see, I heard distinctly that a' the revellers about are to be there; and is't to be thought they would leave out you, an auld ken'd freend, and the lightest foot at sic frolics, (Heaven send you a better praise in His ain gude time,) that ever flang at a fiddle-squeak between this and Unst? Sae I consider ye altogether the same as invited--and ye had best provide yourself wi' a waistcoat, for brave and brisk will every man be that's there-the Lord pity them!"

He thus continued to follow with his green glazen eyes, the motions of young Mordaunt Mertoun, who continued to pace the room in a very pensive manner, which the jagger probably misinterpreted, as he thought, like Claudio, that if a man is sad, it must needs be because he lacks money. Bryce therefore, after another pause, thus accosted him. "Ye needna be sad about the matter, Master Mordaunt; for although I got the just price of the ar

ticle from the captain-man, yet I maun deal freendly wi' you, as a ken'd freend and customer, and bring the price, as they say, within your pursemouth-or it's the same to me to let it lie ower till Martinmas, or e'en to Candlemas. I am decent in the warld, Master Mordaunt--forbid that I should hurry onybody, far mair a freend that has paid me siller afore now. Or I wad be content to swap the garment for the value in feathers or sea-otters' skins, or any kind of peltrie-nane kens better than yoursell how to come by sic ware-and I am sure I hae furnished you wi' the primest o' powder. I dinna ken if I tell'd ye it was out o' the kist of Captain Plunket, that perished on the Scaw of Unst, wi' the armed brig Mary, sax years syne. He was a prime fowler himself, and luck it was that the kist came ashore dry. I sell that to nane but gude marksmen. And so, I was saying, if ye had ony wares ye liked to coup for the waiscoat, I wad be ready to trock wi' you, for assuredly ye will be wanted at Burgh-Westra, on Saint John's even; and ye wadna like to look waur than the captain-that wadna be setting."

"I will be there, at least, whether wanted or not," said Mordaunt, stopping short in his walk, and taking the waiscoat piece hastily out of the pedler's hand; " and, as you say, will not disgrace them."

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“Haud a care-haud a care Master Mordaunt," exclaimed the pedlar: ye handle it as it were a bale of coarse wadmaal-ye'll fray't to bits-ye might weel say my ware is tender-and ye'll mind the price is four dollars-Sall I put ye in my book for it?"

"No," said Mordaunt hastily; and, taking out his purse, he flung down the money.

"Grace to ye to wear the garment," said the joyous pedler," and to me to guide the siller; and protect us from earthly vanities, and earthly covetousness; and send you the white linen raiment, whilk is mair to be desired than the muslins, and cambrics, and lawns, and silks of this world; and send me the talents which avail more than much fine Spanish gold, or Dutch dollars either-and-but God guide the callant, what for are ye wrapping the silk up that gate, like a wisp of hay?"

At this moment, old Swertha, the house-keeper, entered, to whom, as if eager to get rid of the subject, Mordaunt threw his purchase, with something like careless