was too shrewd, as well as too resolute, to endanger others.

The Baronet, who was at first confounded, after a few minutes, laughed heartily at his own situation. He could not help congratulating himself, however, that Lady Frances was not present; for he felt it would have been somewhat more difficult to take the high ground in this affair which he had so successfully assumed on the former occasion.

It was hardly a matter of surprise to learn as he did, two or three days after, that Mayfield, instead of removing himself and family into Wales, had removed only himself and his eldest daughter. His wife and the other children were left utterly destitute; for it turned out that he had privately effected the sale of his farming stock, and received the money. Sir Everton, however, still considered that his hundred pounds had purchased a cheap bargain.

CHAPTER V.

Old wives and starres are his counsellors; his nightspell is his guard; and charmes his physitians. He wears Paracelsian characters for the toothach, and a little hallowed waxe is his antidote for all evils.

Bishop Hall's "Characters.”

"HAVE you sent to inquire how Major Bagot is this morning?" said Sir Everton.

"No; for I and Arabella intend walking over there," replied Lady Azledine.

"I am sadly afraid our friend is in a dangerous way."

"I fear so too,” replied her ladyship; "and I am sure that poor girl, who is half killing herself with nursing him, has the same fears. Should she lose her father

"We must bring her here," interrupted Sir Everton," and soothe her."

This conversation took place towards the close of the autumn, in the same year that the various events related in our preceding chapters occurred.

Major Bagot rented a small tenement, forming part of what was once the old manor house, upon the Baronet's estate. He was of good descent; but being the youngest son of a youngest son, a slender inheritance determined him to make his sword his factor, leaving his little patrimony to fructify meanwhile by its own powers of reproduction; and he was now reaping the full benefit of his prudence, in the possession of an income more than double its amount when it came into his hands.

Caroline, his only child, was in her twentieth year. Her mother she never knew; for she died in giving her birth. There were circumstances attending her death, to which the Major would sometimes allude; but he always shrunk from their full recital.

The heart of Caroline Bagot was touched with a sensibility as fine as ever exalted into rapture, or deepened into anguish, the joys and sorrows of woman's fate. Till this mo

VOL. I.

D

ment, when she was full of anxiety on account of her father's illness, she had known no grief: scarcely could she be said to have felt those light troubles which drift about the path of youth, like feathery snow-flakes, melting as they fall. Yet, it was not possible to look upon her, the absolute personification of all that was timid, meek, and gentle, without feeling that any but the most sheltered and flowery path of life would be all too rugged for so delicate a creature. This impression was created by no studied display of refined emotions; nor by any ostentatiously expressed sensibilities of character. She wore her disposition, indeed, as some very few beauties do their charms, with unconscious possession.

So entirely passive was she in the interest she excited, that she might be compared to a beautiful landscape, which awakens involuntary admiration, but receives no corresponding pleasure gives back no responsive sentiment. Some called this apathy; and some went so far as to pronounce Caroline Bagot a fine statue merely. But they knew her not.

If

she still walked in maiden liberty, heart-free, it was because no predestined wizard had yet crossed her path to enthral her. In this, alone, consisted her prerogative of exemption from a tribute which nature seemed to have designed she should pay to its uttermost.

In person, Miss Bagot was above the middle stature, with a pleasing rather than what might be called a decidedly handsome face. She was the chosen and almost inseparable friend of Arabella Azledine, dividing with her all her studies, amusements, and domestic occupations. Her father had been suddenly seized with an indisposition which made alarming inroads upon his constitution, though he persisted in believing that nature would dislodge the enemy, as she had often done before, if left to herself. Day after day, however, passed, and the predicted effort was not made. On the contrary, nature seemed to be fast surrendering, one after the other, her strongholds of defence. Then it was that Caroline entreated her friends at the Hall to unite their persuasions with hers, and prevail upon him to send