diff options
Diffstat (limited to '41058.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 41058.txt | 12307 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 12307 deletions
diff --git a/41058.txt b/41058.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2b3aa3c..0000000 --- a/41058.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12307 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Wizard of West Penwith, by William Bentinck Forfar - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Wizard of West Penwith - A Tale of the Land's-End - -Author: William Bentinck Forfar - -Release Date: October 14, 2012 [EBook #41058] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WIZARD OF WEST PENWITH *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -THE WIZARD OF WEST PENWITH, - -A Tale of the Land's-End; - -BY - -WILLIAM BENTINCK FORFAR, - -AUTHOR OF "PENTOWAN," "PENGERSICK CASTLE," -"KYNANCE COVE," &c., &c. - -PENZANCE: -W. CORNISH, THE LIBRARY, - -1871. - - -[Illustration: THE AWFUL RIDE. See Page 49.] - - - - -PREFACE. - - -In writing my Cornish Tales I have always endeavoured to pourtray the -Cornish character in all its native wit and humour, for which the -genuine west-country miners are so proverbial. And I have generally -taken for the foundation of my Stories incidents which have really -happened in the localities wherein the actions of my little dramas have -been laid. - -The scene of my present story is laid in the neighbourhood of the -Land's-End, and most of the characters were well-known there in days -gone by;--the names only being fictitious. - -The fall of the horse over the cliff is still in the remembrance of some -old people in the neighbourhood; and the circumstance is related by the -Guides who shew the beauties of the Land's-End scenery to strangers. The -marks of the horse's hoofs in the grass at the edge of the cliff are -preserved to this day. - -The Wizard (or Conjuror as he was called) was a notorious character at -St. Just, some fifty years ago;--and the horrid murder related in these -pages; and the mistaken identity of the guilty parties are also -veritable facts. - -Mr. and Mrs. Brown were well-known characters, and are drawn from real -life. - -This brief sketch of some of the scenes and characters to be found in -this little volume may perhaps add an interest to it, and induce a large -number of the lovers of Cornish lore to honour it with a perusal. - -PLYMOUTH, -March, 1871. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - -CHAPTER PAGE - I. Mr. Freeman 3 - - II. The Wreck near the Land's-End 8 - - III. Alrina 12 - - IV. The Unexpected Meeting 16 - - V. John Brown and his favorite mare Jessie 21 - - VI. The Family Party 25 - - VII. Murder most foul 30 - - VIII. The Wizard 36 - - IX. Love and Mystery 40 - - X. Alrina's troubles increase 42 - - XI. Frederick Morley obstinately determines to ride - the mare 45 - - XII. The awful ride 47 - - XIII. Its consequences 50 - - XIV. Mrs. Brown tells the Conjuror a bit of her mind 53 - - XV. The mysterious stranger at the Penzance Ball 56 - - XVI. Josiah's astonishment at the effect produced by the - display of his Treasure-trove 60 - - XVII. The borrowed feathers of the peacock fail to conceal - entirely the plumage of the jackdaw 64 - - XVIII. The birds have taken flight 67 - - XIX. The mysterious encounter 71 - - XX. Aristocratic connections 76 - - XXI. The Love-chase 81 - - XXII. Alrina's first Love-letter 88 - - XXIII. The Secret 92 - - XXIV. Man is born to trouble and disappointment as the - sparks fly upwards 98 - - XXV. Retrospection and recrimination 106 - - XXVI. Squire Pendray gets on his stilts and views - Lieut. Fowler from a lofty eminence 113 - - XXVII. The step in the wrong direction 117 - - XXVIII. By doing a little wrong, great good is accomplished - in the end 122 - - XXIX. Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Trenow indulge in a croom - o' chat, while Cap'n Trenow gives some sage - advice in another quarter 125 - - XXX. The two sisters pierced through the heart 134 - - XXXI. Out of Scylla and into Charybdis 139 - - XXXII. Alrina's troubles are increased by an unexpected - discovery 143 - - XXXIII. Alrina visits a kind friend and makes a proposal 149 - - XXXIV. Captain Courland's return and his wife's anxiety 154 - - XXXV. The desperate plunge 159 - - XXXVI. The broken reed 168 - - XXXVII. Josiah's lonely midnight watch in the Conjuror's - house 174 - -XXXVIII. The Search 179 - - XXXIX. The unexpected meeting and mysterious communication 184 - - XL. Miss Pendray's singular accident 191 - - XLI. Mysterious sounds are heard issuing out of the - earth at midnight. The curious cottage on the - heath 195 - - XLII. The poor dumb girl's sudden resolve, and its - consequences 202 - - XLIII. The Confession 206 - - XLIV. Mrs. Brown enjoys another croom o' chat with - Mrs. Trenow, and receives an unexpected - visitor 210 - - XLV. An awful catastrophe 219 - - XLVI. The dreaded interview 224 - - XLVII. Mysteries explained 229 - - XLVIII. A brilliant Cornish diamond discovered and - placed in a golden casket 232 - - XLIX. The wedding-bells 239 - - - - -The Wizard of West Penwith. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -MR. FREEMAN. - - -Very near the most westerly point of Great Britain, and not very far -from the promontory called Cape Cornwall, you may see, as you glide -along the coast in your pleasure-boat of a calm summer's evening, a -pretty little fishing-cove, in shape like a horse-shoe,--the two extreme -points being formed by the projecting rocks on either side of the -entrance,--the interior, or curved part, immediately under the main -land, having a beautiful beach of white sand, on which boats can land -with safety, when piloted by those who know the coast outside; for the -little cove is guarded by hidden rocks, and is as safe in rough weather -against invasion by the uninitiated, as if it had been fortified by a -range of well-appointed batteries. Above this beach the cliffs rise -gradually, and various zigzag footpaths are formed by the constant tread -of the sailors and others who frequent the cove in going to and coming -from the main land. - -About a mile inland is a village of some importance, inhabited by -sailors of various kinds, and miners and small farmers who occupy a few -acres of land, and fill up their spare time by working at the -neighbouring mines, either as mine labourers, or as carriers with their -horses and carts. - -This part of the coast of Cornwall is almost studded with mines, whose -lodes, for the most part, run out under the sea; and although they are, -consequently, very expensive to work, yet many of them have given large -and continuous dividends to the adventurers. - -As many of these rich mines were discovered by accident, it may easily -be imagined that the smallest indication of a metallic lode in the -neighbourhood causes great excitement, and often leads to the -expenditure of large sums of money in forming companies and searching -for the riches, which in very many instances are never found. - -The village of St. Just was not, at the period when our story commences, -the important place that it is at present;--it could even then, however, -boast of a tolerably comfortable inn in the square, and an inferior -public-house in the outskirts of the village. - -On a dark, tempestuous, winter's night, there sat in the kitchen or -public room of the inn, a goodly company, who had assembled to see the -old year out and the new year in--and more than this; for they would -also on this night witness the termination of one century, and the -commencement of another. A huge fire was burning on the hearth, and two -or three of the older men had ensconced themselves in the -chimney-corner. In those days the fire was made on the flat stones in -the chimney in these old houses, with wood and sticks, or peat; and -there was room round it, for those who did not mind the smoke, to sit -and enjoy a close proximity to the fire, while the others sat round -outside the fireplace, having a small table before them, on which was -placed the foaming eggy-hot, and the hot beer and sugar, made more -potent by the addition of an unlimited quantity of brandy. The wind was -howling dismally in the open chimney, and rattling the doors and -windows, as if angry at being shut out. As the night advanced the storm -seemed to increase; but the comforts of the bright fire and warm room, -and the good cheer before them, made the party feel the more happy and -exhilarated, from the reflection that they were sheltered from the storm -without. The song and jest went round, and many a thrilling story was -told by the elders in the chimney-corner, which made some of the younger -men draw closer to the fire and take an extra glass of the warm liquor -with which the table was supplied; for superstitious fear was indulged -in by all, more or less, in those days, and both old and young, rich and -poor, loved to hear a tale of horror, although it invariably made them -afraid of their own shadows, until daylight appeared again to dispel the -vapours of the night, and the toils of the day left no room for idle -thoughts or fancies. - -In the innermost recess of the chimney-corner, almost hidden by the -smoke, sat a sedate looking man, who appeared so absorbed in his own -thoughts, that he did not seem to take much interest in the tales that -amused and interested his companions so much, except that, when a tale -of more than usual horror was told, a slight smile would steal over his -countenance, and he would change his pipe from one side of his mouth to -the other. In years he might have been about fifty, but in appearance he -was ten years older at least; not from any natural defect or want of the -usual stamina and vigour generally displayed by men of his age, but from -an eccentric habit he had contracted of affecting the old man,--for what -reason was best known to himself. His habits and mode of life were very -different from those of Cornishmen generally;--he had come into the -neighbourhood some years before in a mysterious manner, but how he came, -or where he came from, no one seemed to know. He had acquired somehow a -good deal of useful knowledge, and therefore he had the power frequently -of working upon the superstitious fears of his neighbours; and, -although he did not pursue any particular trade or calling, he did not -seem to want for money, for he lived comfortably and paid liberally for -his supplies; and, although he was reserved and unsociable as a general -rule, yet he liked meeting his neighbours in the public room at the inn, -where he could sit in the chimney-corner and smoke his pipe, and listen -to their conversation, which he seldom joined in; and when he had -gathered from them all the information they could impart, he would -occasionally gratify them by telling some thrilling story. - -It was generally believed that he had something on his mind which -troubled him at times, but what it was no one could tell. There he sat, -as usual, on this tempestuous night, smoking his pipe and listening to -the conversation of his companions. - -At length one of the party, addressing him, said,-- - -"Come, Maister Freeman, we've all had our turn; now you tell es one of -your stories,--they be clain off, they be." - -"Well," said he, taking his pipe out of his mouth, and knocking out the -ashes on his hand, "I'll tell you a tale; but remember, mine are true -stories. The one I am about to relate happened in your own -neighbourhood. Your superstitious fears will, perhaps, make you afraid -to visit the spot again, if I tell it on such a terrible night as this, -after the stories you have already heard." - -"No! no!" exclaimed his audience, "out weth et, whatever 'tes, Maister." - -"Well, then," he began, "you all know the ruins of the old chapel above -Cape Cornwall, called Chapel Carn Brea, and the little hillocks that -surround it like graves in the churchyard." - -A shudder passed round the room at the mention of this well-known spot, -for it was believed by most people that those ruins of the old chapel -were haunted by evil spirits; so the little circle drew their seats -nearer to the chimney, and instinctively looked round, as if they -expected to see some sprite or pixey enter through the keyhole at the -bare mention of so uncanny a spot at this hour of the night. - -"Those little mounds or hillocks," continued Mr. Freeman, "are said to -be the graves of the Druid priests and ancient kings of Cornwall, and it -is also said that all their riches were buried with them; but it was -never known whether this was so or not, for no one had had the courage -to disturb the remains of these holy men. I had no such scruples,--so -one moonlight night, soon after I came here to reside, I took my pickaxe -and shovel, went up to the old ruins, and selected the largest mound and -began my work with a hopeful mind, for I believed that I should be -rewarded in the end by a rich booty. The earth on the top was soft and -easy to work, but as I got down it became harder. I worked with a will -for several hours, and got down several feet before the day began to -dawn. It was a lonely spot, in the dead of the night, to be working -in:--I could hear the waves as they dashed against the high cliffs under -Cape Cornwall, and I sometimes fancied I heard voices calling to me out -of the waves. I must confess, my courage nearly failed me, more than -once; but I took several pulls at my brandy-bottle, and thought of the -treasure underneath, and worked on. - -"When the day began to dawn I left my work, intending to come the next -night and finish it. I knew that no one would venture there if they -could avoid it, even in the daytime, but I did not wish to be seen -working there;--the sight of an open grave in that spot would, I well -knew, scare people away, even if anyone was bold enough to approach it -during the day. A few hours' work more, I thought, would bring me to the -bottom, and then I should reap my reward. So the next night I took my -tools again and repaired to the spot, when, to my utter astonishment, I -found the grave filled in, and all my labour lost. - -"In vain I looked about for some clue to the mystery; I could see no -one; so I set to work again, and soon threw up the loose earth, and came -down to the hard ground. I worked harder than any man ever worked for -his daily bread, and at last my pick touched something hard, which I -fancied at first was a rock. I carefully cleared the earth round it, and -found that it was a large stone slab, and, from the sound, I was -convinced it was hollow beneath. The moon was shining brightly, and -threw its light right into the grave, so that I could see the stone -distinctly, and could discern figures cut on it. Here, then, was the -coffin, no doubt; and it doubtless contained the coveted treasures. I -tried to raise the cover, but it baffled all my skill and strength;--I -found that the pit would have to be made much larger, and even then it -might require the united strength of two or three men to get the cover -up. I was then in the grave, which was deep enough to hide me entirely -from the view of anyone on the surface. While I was thus deliberating -what I should do, I heard a loud shriek just above my head. I got up, -with some difficulty, expecting to see some unfortunate traveller -transfixed superstitiously to the side of the grave, with his hair -standing on end, and his knees knocking together with fear and terror; -but there was no one to be seen. Again I was obliged to abandon my work -for the time, and again I returned the next night and found the grave -filled in as before. They say 'the third time is lucky,' said I to -myself,--so, nothing daunted, I went to work again, for I had now proof -positive that there was a hollow stone coffin underneath, which no doubt -contained the coveted treasure. - -"Who the intruder was I neither knew nor cared, except that I did not -like the trouble of going over my work so many times, but now I was -determined to complete it. - -"I got down to the stone slab again, and this time I had lengthened the -grave considerably at each end, and I thought I might be able to raise -the lid. I drove the point of my pick under the stone, and was about to -raise it, when I heard the same shriek I had heard on the previous -night,--and I felt at the same time a shower of earth falling all round -me. - -"'Self-preservation is the first law of nature,' and so, to escape being -buried alive, I scrambled out of the grave as fast as I could; and on -looking over the heap of earth, thrown up round the sides of the grave, -I saw a figure moving swiftly away,--but whether it was a man or a -woman, or an imp of darkness, I could not tell, for my toe slipped out -of the notch I had made for a footstep, and I fell headlong into the -grave again; but, fearing another shower of earth, I scrambled out the -best way I could, and went home, determined to give up my search after -riches; for I felt sure that, as I had failed the third time, it was -useless to attempt again." - -"Zackly like that," said the landlord, who had been busily supplying his -guests with more liquor at intervals, during the recital of the -tale;--"who wor she, I wondar?" - -"Who should she be but one of the pixies?" replied a tall, stout, -well-built young man, who had been listening with breathless attention -to the story. - -"Hould thy tongue, 'Siah Trenow," said an elderly man, rising from his -seat in the chimney-corner, and taking a long pull at the jug of hot -beer and sugar which the landlord had placed on the table;--"thee'st -nevar knaw nothen. I'll tell 'ee, na, tes like as this here. How could a -pixie handle a showl for to showley in the stuff again, I should like to -knaw; and where could a pixie get a showl from?" - -"What wor aw like, so fur as you could see, Maister Freeman?" continued -he, turning round to where that gentleman had been sitting a minute -ago,--when, to his astonishment, he saw that the seat was vacant. - -"Why he's gone like the snoff of a candle, soas!" - -"That's zackly like he, na," said the landlord; "he'll tell a story till -he do bring 'ee up to a point, and then lev 'ee to gees the rest; esn't -et so, Peggy?" - -"I'll tell 'ee, soas," said the young man who had been addressed as -''Siah Trenow,' but whose proper Christian name was 'Josiah,' "he do -knaw bra' things. Why, he ha' got a gashly g'eat room up there that -nobody can go in but he, where he do count the stars, so they do say." - -"Iss fie," said the landlord, whose name was Brown; "many people can -tell about the conjuring and things, up there." - -"Hush, Brown," exclaimed his wife; "you do knaw that when we lost so -many pigs you wor glad enough for to go to Maister Freeman for to knaw -something about them; and he tould 'ee, so you said, and you b'lieved -every word he tould 'ee,--so don't you bark nor growl. His dafter, Miss -Reeney, tould me last week that she shud think that Old Nick wor up -there sometimes weth her fe-a-thar, they do keep such a caparous,--and -I've got my thofts, too, soas!" - -"Come! come! Mrs. Brown," exclaimed 'Siah Trenow, rising up in an -excited manner; "don't you bring Miss Reeney's name in weth her -fe-a-thar's doings, or else I'll----" - -"Arreah! thon," replied Mrs. Brown; "that's the way the maggot do jump, -es et? Iss sure! Miss Reeney es a bra' tidy maid; an' f'rall she do -prink herself up so fine sometimes, and b'en to boarding-school, and all -that, and do knaw bra' things, she ha' got nothin' to do weth her -fe-a-thar's conjuring-room upstairs, I do believe in my conscience, -soas; and ef 'Siah ha' got a mind to her, there's wus than she a bra' -deal;--but he do hold his nose brave an' high, soas, don't aw?" - -"Miss Reeney esn't the only woman that do live in that house, you knaw," -said the old man who had spoken first, with a knowing wink. - -"No, sure, there's Miss Freeman herself," said Mrs. Brown, pursing up -her lips; "she's a good catch, they do say." - -"That's very well," said Mr. Brown, laughing at his wife's wit. - -"Brown," said that good lady, "mind your own business;--what have you -got to say about Miss Freeman, I shud like to knaw?" - -This remark shut up poor Mr. Brown entirely; and whether this discussion -of the merits and demerits of Miss Freeman and her niece Alrina -(familiarly called Reeney) would have proceeded much further, it is -difficult to say; for just at that moment a man, who had evidently been -out for a considerable time in the storm, burst into the room, and said -there was a vessel wrecked off Pendeen Point. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE WRECK NEAR THE LAND'S-END. - - -The sound of a wreck was sufficient, at any time, to rouse the most -lethargic; and old and young rose at once, and left the comfortable fire -and warm mixtures, and crowded round the new comer to hear the -particulars. All he could tell them, however, was that there was a -vessel in distress off the Point; he and several others had heard the -gun. She was not a wreck yet, the man said, but it could not be long -before she must strike,--for the weather was terrific, and the wind was -blowing right in; so he ran up to the village to give the alarm. There -was not a moment's hesitation among the listeners,--everyone prepared to -go down to the Point at once. - -Some took ropes, and some took baskets, or bags, or whatever came to -hand; and each man got his lantern, and away they started to the scene -of distress. The wind was blowing a fearful hurricane, and the rain was -falling heavily, beating into the faces of the foremost, and almost -taking away the breath of the older and weaker of the party. As they -proceeded, others came out of their houses and joined them,--women as -well as men. On they went through the storm, with their hats and bonnets -tied down with handkerchiefs or pieces of string, to keep them from -being blown away. Noble creatures! thus to brave the storm on such a -night as this, for the sake of saving the lives and relieving the -sufferings of their fellow-creatures in distress. - -To save life, however, was not the only object these poor people had in -view; nor was it, I fear, the principal one with a great many. When a -vessel was wrecked on the Cornish coast, in those days, it was believed -by most of the lower orders, that all that was washed ashore, became the -undoubted property of anyone who was fortunate enough to pick it up; and -so a wreck was looked upon as a God-send, and everyone took care of -himself, and sometimes returned with a rich booty. - -At length they arrived at the Point, or as near it as it was prudent to -approach in this dreadful storm. The night was too dark for them to -distinguish the vessel; but as the gun was fired at intervals, the flash -enabled them to see that she was not far from the rocks, on which she -might strike at any moment, and all must perish; for no boat could go -out to their rescue, nor could a boat from the vessel live a single -moment in such a sea. - -Although the watchers remained some hundreds of yards from the Point, -the sea dashed up every now and then against the high cliff, and -drenched them with its spray; but still they continued to watch--their -lanterns giving out a dim line of light as they stood closely packed -together, sheltering one another from the wind and rain. Another gun was -fired, and the watchers saw that the vessel was close upon the breakers. -A dreadful shriek was now borne towards them by the wind, which was -blowing towards the shore, and now they knew that all was over and that -the vessel had struck, and was most likely dashed in pieces. - -Nothing more could be done till daylight appeared; so many of the -watchers sought the shelter of the rocks to wait for it, in order to -begin their work; for with that wind, and the tide beating in, the -contents of the vessel must wash on shore very quickly. The crew must -all have perished,--of that there was no doubt. The dreadful shriek -they had heard was that of the drowning crew. The only anxiety now was -concerning the valuables which might come in with the tide. - -As the day dawned, the storm abated a little, and, towards morning, many -of the villagers were seen approaching the Point;--among them, Mr. -Freeman was conspicuous. He came along feebly, keeping the even tenor of -his way,--now speaking to one, and then to another, as he was overtaken -and passed on the road by the more energetic and youthful of the -wreckers, who were all too intent upon the gains in prospect to pay much -attention to an infirm man, although they knew not in their haste and -thoughtlessness that their actions were watched and noted down in the -memory of one who did not often forget a slight. - -Long before it could properly be said to be daylight, the approaches to -the little cove were covered with people, watching for the prizes which -they expected every wave would wash in. The beautiful white sand was -covered with foam, and frequently a huge wave would come dashing in and -break beneath the very feet of the most daring and reckless of the -watchers, who had approached to the verge of the rocks which bounded the -innermost circle of the cove. - -No one, as yet, could venture on the sand with safety, and it was yet -too dark for the watchers to see far before them, for the daylight on -that tempestuous morning was a long time making its appearance. A long -and eventful year had just terminated, and the new year seemed very -unwilling to take up what the old year had left it to do; but the laws -of nature must be obeyed, and so the new year's morning came at last, -and, with it, the prizes so much coveted by the wreckers. - -Timber, casks, and boxes (some empty and some full) came washed in to -the very feet of those who were standing on the lowest rocks; but, -before they could reach them, they were carried out again by the -receding tide. There were some adventurous enough, however, to make a -grasp at the prizes as they came rolling in; but they would have met -with a watery grave, had they not been held back by the more prudent. As -the tide ebbed, it left the little cove comparatively free from danger, -and then many prizes were seized and carried away by the eager finders. - -Mr. Freeman having no wish or intention, apparently, to appropriate any -of the unfortunate sailors' property to himself, wandered about from one -place to the other, watching for the bodies that he knew must be washed -on shore soon, in order to ascertain, if possible, by the appearance of -the sailors, or from any papers they might have about them, the name of -the ship, and her cargo and destination. In the course of the day -several bodies were washed ashore; but, even in this short time, they -were so disfigured by the sharp-pointed rocks against which they had -been dashed by the angry sea, that there were no traces left in any of -them of the "human face divine," and even their clothes had been torn -off by the merciless rocks and waves. - -In the course of his wandering along the coast, Mr. Freeman surprised -several parties dividing and disputing about the property which had been -washed on shore in different parts. Here would be seen, perhaps, -half-a-dozen men quarrelling about the possession of a cask of wine or -brandy, and, in the _melee_, the top would be knocked in, whilst, in -their eagerness to get at its contents, the cask would be overturned, -and the whole contents spilt on the sand. In another place might be seen -half-a-score women squabbling about the possession of a cask of fruit or -provisions. At length, in turning a sharp point of rock, he came -suddenly on a man and two women who were kneeling on the sand between -two rocks, intently examining the contents of a large sea-chest which -they had broken open. Mr. Freeman stood behind a rock for a few minutes, -concealed from their view, and watched their proceedings, as, one by -one, they took the things out of the chest, with the evident intention -of dividing the spoil. He had not before interfered with any of the -wreckers in their unlawful plunder, but he now stepped forward and -commanded them to replace all the things in the chest and put on the -cover. The two women started to their feet at once (for there was a -superstitious dread among the people generally at being "ill-wished" by -"The Maister" if they thwarted him); while the man remained kneeling -over the chest, holding in his hands the last article which he had taken -from it, in seeming doubt as to whether he had better put it back or bid -defiance to the apparently feeble form before him, when Josiah Trenow -jumped over a rock into the little cranny, and asked what was the -matter. - -"That chest," said Mr. Freeman, "must be taken care of; I have reasons -which I shall not make known at present. If you will get it taken to -some safe place, Josiah, I shall feel much obliged to you. In my own -house it will be safest, I think." - -"By all mains, sar," replied Josiah; "the best place I do knaw es your -awn house, Maister. So come, boy," continued he, addressing the man, who -was still kneeling by the side of the chest, and looking with longing -eyes at its contents, which seemed very valuable, "you and I'll carr'n -up." - -However reluctant the man was to relinquish the prize, he had not the -foolhardiness to oppose two such powerful antagonists. In stature and -physical strength and courage, Josiah Trenow was the acknowledged -champion of the parish, and very few men liked to be pitted against him, -either in the ring or in more serious combat; whilst Mr. Freeman's -well-known ability in foretelling the future and relieving those who -were possessed of evil spirits, and even ill-wishing people himself (as -they believed), rendered him an object of dread to the superstitious and -weak-minded, of which there were not a few in those days. Josiah had not -much difficulty, therefore, in procuring sufficient assistance to carry -the chest to Mr. Freeman's house. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -ALRINA. - - -Mr. Freeman's house seemed, in many respects, as unsociable as its -master; for it was one of those oldfashioned farm-houses one meets with -occasionally in remote, out-of-the-way places, without having a farm -attached to it,--the farm formerly held with the house having been added -to an adjoining farm belonging to the same proprietor, on which there -happened to be a larger and better house. It was, even then, an -oldfashioned house, with an entrance-hall, if such it might be called, -into which you entered from the front door. On the right was the parlour -or best sitting-room, and on the left the common sitting-room where the -family generally sat. Opposite the front door were the stairs, and on -each side of the stairs there was a door,--the one leading into the -kitchen, and the other into the little back garden. Over the best -parlour was Mr. Freeman's private room, into which no one was permitted -to enter except those whose superstition led them to consult "The -Maister," as he was generally designated, and to seek his aid in -extricating them from some dire misfortune, and then great preparations -were made before the visitors were admitted into this mysterious room. - -Mr. Freeman was a widower--so it was said--and his sister kept his -house, and exercised strict dominion over his only daughter, a young -girl of eighteen. - -Miss Freeman, the sister, it was generally believed, knew more of her -brother's secrets than she liked to tell; and many a severe reprimand -did Alrina receive from her aunt for her curiosity, in trying to pry -into secrets which the elder lady thought she had no right to concern -herself about. Alice Ann, the servant of all work, was one of that -neighbourhood, and therefore spoke the broad Cornish dialect; but -Alrina, who had received a tolerably good education, as times went, had -not been infected by the dialect, which is so very contagious when -almost everyone speaks it around you. She had just attained her -eighteenth year; but, from her rotundity of figure, and womanly manners, -she might have been taken for a girl of that age two years before, at -least. She had been kept at a boarding-school in one of our large towns -almost from her infancy, and had seen very little either of her father -or aunt until recently, and therefore she knew little more of them, or -their habits and pursuits, than a stranger, until she left school about -twelve months before. In stature she was about the middle height,--very -fair, with bright auburn hair, which some were malicious enough to call -red, but "golden" would have been the more correct term. Red hair is not -generally admired, but there was such a golden hue cast over Alrina's -hair, that made her soft blue eyes look softer in the contrast. -Hogarth's line of beauty was displayed in the contour of her figure; and -such a pretty little foot and ankle might be seen as the rude wind waved -the drapery aside, when, like a fairy, she glided over the rocks--so -bold and varied on those high cliffs--that, taken _tout ensemble_, she -was just the very girl a man would fall in love with at first sight. -There were so many beauties visible at once, and such a happy -combination of them all; and then the pretty dimples in her cheeks, when -she smiled, betokened a temper mild and amiable, and yet with spirit -enough to resent a wrong, and assert her own rights against all the -world. And thus, although she was obliged to put up with many -indignities from her aunt, she managed, by her tact in yielding in minor -points, to have her own way in greater, and, to her, more important, -ones. - -Alrina was in the kitchen assisting Alice Ann on the morning after the -wreck, her aunt having gone into the village on some domestic errand, -and for a quiet gossip with some of her numerous friends. - -"Did my father say he would return to dinner, Alice Ann?" said Alrina, -as she prinked the paste round the edge of the pie she had just made. - -"No, he dedn't," replied Alice Ann. "When do he say what time he'll be -home, or where he's going to?" - -"I am tired of all this mystery," said Alrina;--"I wish I knew the -meaning of it all. That room upstairs puzzles me very much. I should -like to peep into it one day, and see where all the noise comes from, -when those 'goostrumnoodles' come here to know who has ill-wished them, -and wait in the best parlour while my father goes upstairs to prepare -the room for their reception." - -"So shud I too, Miss Reeney," replied Alice Ann; "but 'tes no good to -try, I b'lieve; for I tried to peep in through the keyhole one day, and -a blast of gunpowder came out and nearly blinded me." - -"Hush! here he comes," said Alrina, who heard her father's footstep in -the passage. - -"Alrina," said he, opening the kitchen-door, "give these men some beer -for bringing this chest up from the cove. Take it to the top of the -stairs, men, and I shall be able to put it under lock and key myself -till the proper owner comes to claim it." - -While the other men were taking the chest upstairs, and drinking their -beer, Josiah went into the kitchen to speak to Alice Ann, for whom he -had a sneaking kindness, as the gossips said, although Mrs. Brown tried -to insinuate that it was for the sake of the fair Alrina herself that -Josiah so strenuously defended the sayings and doings of the family. - -"You've had a bra' night of it, I s'pose," said Alice Ann,--"fust weth -your drink up to Maister Brown's, to watch in the new year, and then -weth your walk to Pendeen to watch in the wreck. What have 'ee picked -up, thon, 'Siah?" - -"Why nothin' at all, Alice Ann," replied he, "'cept the g'eat chest -that's carr'd up in the Maister's room." - -"What is that chest brought up here for?" said Alrina, returning from -giving the men their beer; "I think we've got lumber enough here -already." - -"So shud I, Miss Reeney," replied Josiah; "but I'd see the inside of a -good many things ef I wor you." - -"Come, Josiah," exclaimed Mr. Freeman, "we'll go down to the cove again; -there may be more valuables washed in, and more dead bodies -perhaps,--living ones I don't expect to see." - -Even the bright eyes of Alice Ann were not sufficiently attractive to -keep Josiah from trying his luck once more in search of the stray -treasures which the sea might yet wash in. - -While the men went down into the cove, and over the rocks, in search of -treasure, Mr. Freeman took the higher road which led to the Point, and -there he stood watching the waves as they dashed against the bold cliffs -and fell back again into the white foam beneath, enveloping all the -surrounding objects in a hazy mist. - -About a quarter of a mile from the promontory on which Mr. Freeman -stood, rose a large cluster of high rocks, over which the sea rolled at -intervals. As the mist cleared occasionally, Mr. Freeman fancied he -could see something move in a crevice of one of the topmost of those -rocks; but, after looking again and again, he began at last to think it -was nothing but imagination, for it seemed as if it was impossible for -any living creature to remain on those rocks so long in safety. He could -not rest satisfied, however, so he sought Josiah and brought him to look -at the object also. - -"'Tes a man or a woman, I do b'lieve!" exclaimed Josiah, after looking -on the object for some time through a glass which he had borrowed from -one of the wreckers; "but how he got there, or how long he'll stay -there, I don't knaw." - -It was impossible for any boat to go out, and it seemed almost certain -that he must perish, whoever or whatever it was. They made signals by -holding up their handkerchiefs tied to a stick, that the poor creature -might have the consolation of knowing he was seen, and cared for; and -that was all they could do. - -Night came on once more, and all hands returned to their homes to rest -after the fatigues of the past day and night, and examine the treasures -they had picked up. - -Josiah had been so much engaged in attending on Mr. Freeman, that he had -not succeeded in picking up anything worth carrying home. He thought, -therefore, he would remain at the Cove a little longer; so he stole -round the Point, and stooped down between two low rocks to conceal -himself until the others were gone; and as he stooped, he saw something -partially buried in the sand a few yards from him. At first he thought -it was a rock; but the waves, as they rolled over it, seemed to move it. -He watched for an opportunity when the waves receded, and at last he ran -out, at the risk of his life, and seized his prize. It was as much as he -could do to pull it up out of the sand, in which it was embedded;--he -succeeded, however, and got back to his hiding-place in safety, but not -without a good wetting, for a wave washed completely over him while he -was getting up the object of his cupidity, and he barely saved himself -from being carried out to sea, and that was all. It was a small box, -very strongly made, and very heavy. There was something valuable inside -it, he had no doubt; so he took off his coat, which was very wet, -wrapped it round the box, and made the best of his way home with his -treasure. - -The next morning Mr. Freeman was early at the Point, but could see -nothing of the object which had before attracted his attention, and he -supposed it must have perished;--but he did not like to give it up; and -towards the middle of the day, the sea having calmed down a good deal, -he induced some stout sailors to go out to those rocks, and see if there -was anything there or not. - -It was a perilous undertaking; but the boat was got ready and manned, -and four brave fellows started amid the shouts of their comrades on the -beach. After a severe struggle with the waves, they succeeded in getting -near the rocks, but it was impossible yet to land,--so they returned for -more help, and to wait till the tide was lower. They saw something lying -between two of the rocks, they said, but what it was they couldn't tell. - -When the tide was at its lowest, the sea having subsided yet a little -more, two boats were manned, and ropes and grappling-irons, and all that -was deemed necessary, were put on board; and this time two of the boats' -crew succeeded in landing on the rock, where they found a man, -apparently lifeless, grasping a sharp rock so firmly, that it was with -difficulty they were enabled to extricate him;--it seemed like a death -grasp; but, on examination, they found that he still breathed. They -brought him on shore and rubbed him, and poured a little brandy down his -throat, which revived him; and he was carried at once to the inn, where -every attention was paid to him. It was at first thought he would sink -from exhaustion and the want of food for so many hours, but, after a -night's sleep, he rallied so as to be able to thank his deliverers, and -to give them some information respecting himself, as well as of the -vessel which had met with such a melancholy fate. - -The ship was an East Indiaman, he said, returning to England with a -valuable cargo. The captain died on the voyage, and the mate was too -fond of the brandy-bottle, and flirting with the lady-passengers, to -attend to his duty, so he missed his reckoning and got on the rocks -before he expected, notwithstanding the warnings that were given him by -the sailors. The storm arose so suddenly that even the most wary were -caught. - -The lanterns on the cliffs deceived them too, he said; for they seemed -to be close to the edge of the cliff, whereas they were some distance -inland. The boats were launched, and filled, but he believed everyone -perished. He got hold of some spars that were floating round the wreck -when she broke up, and held on as long as he could, but was eventually -lifted on to the rocks, where he was so providentially found;--he got -jammed between two sharp rocks, and there he held on with all his might; -but he could scarcely keep his position, for when the storm was at its -height the sea washed over him continually. There were several -passengers on board,--some bringing home gold, and others indigo and -other kinds of wealth, but all had perished. He was one of the crew, he -said, and therefore had not lost much. The ship belonged to the East -India Company, and so he supposed they could afford to lose a little; -but he believed they had taken care of themselves by insurances. - -The poor man was well treated, and when sufficiently recovered a -subscription was made for him, and he was sent on to his friends. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE UNEXPECTED MEETING. - - -Although Mr. Freeman was not at all inclined to be sociable or familiar -with his neighbours himself, yet he did not object to his sister and -daughter being on friendly terms with them;--indeed he rather wished it, -and was never more pleased than when they were visiting at the -farm-houses in the neighbourhood, or giving entertainments at home--at -which he was seldom seen except in some mysterious manner. Strange -noises would sometimes be heard in "The Maister's" private room, in the -dusk of the evening, before the candles were brought in; and, in the -midst of the terror of the visitors, and almost before the noises had -subsided, Mr. Freeman would walk quietly into the room, and relate some -thrilling story, and disappear again in the same mysterious manner. -These scenes would be talked over the next day by the gossips, and after -going the round for a few days, the most extraordinary additions would -be made and circulated. And so he became a man of great importance, and -was looked upon as a superior being, and people feared him and believed -that his powers were much greater than they really were. - -He was greatly assisted in obtaining information respecting his -neighbours, by his sister, who was a shrewd woman, and who by her tact -and cunning could lead on her friends imperceptibly to talk of their own -and their neighbours' private affairs. She would impart those secrets to -"The Maister," who stored them in his memory till opportunities arose -for using his information with advantage. And when those ignorant people -applied to him to be informed by whom they were ill-wished, or to -recover their property, perhaps, which had been stolen, he could guess -pretty nearly who the culprits were likely to be, having possession of -these little secrets (long since forgotten by them); and he would so -work upon their fears, that the property would be restored in some -mysterious way, and he then would have the credit for getting it back by -some supernatural agency. - -Alrina had a good deal of her father's fondness for the mysterious, but -in her it took a more romantic turn. She would spend whole days, -sometimes, in wandering over the cliffs and examining with curiosity the -ruins of chapels and ancient fortifications, of which there were several -in that locality; and the tumuli in the neighbourhood of the chapels, -supposed to contain the ashes of the Druids and other holy men, afforded -great scope to her imagination. Her father, as we have seen, was not -very regular in his habits--indeed it would not have suited his purpose -to be so--and her aunt was sometimes so intent on sifting out any little -secret gossip, and relating it to "The Maister," that Alrina was often -left for days without the supervision of either her father or aunt, and -so she wandered about alone. - -She was sitting, one fine morning after the shipwreck, under the shelter -of some high rocks at the Land's-End, watching the vessels as they -passed round the point--some inside and some outside the Longships, when -she heard herself addressed by some one overhead, and, on looking up, -she saw a handsome young man looking down on her from the rocks which -overhung her resting-place. It was some stranger, evidently, for he -merely said, "You seem fond of seclusion, fair lady;"--but when she -looked up, he exclaimed, "Alrina! can it be possible?" and in a moment -he was at her side. - -A crimson flush overspread her face, extending almost to the roots of -her hair, as she jumped up, and extended her hand towards the intruder, -who clasped her in his arms, while she exclaimed, without attempting to -extricate herself, "Are my dreams and hopes so soon realized? Where have -you been? How did you get here?" - -"I have surprised you, Alrina," replied he, pressing his lips to her -cheek; "and I assure you when I left England, two years ago, so -unexpectedly, I thought it would have been a longer separation; but it -was cruel of you, Alrina, not to keep your appointment that night, -knowing it was the last opportunity I had of seeing you before I quitted -England!" - -"Indeed, Frederick," replied Alrina, "it was not my fault. You know that -one of the servants at the school discovered our secret meetings in the -garden, and told Mrs. Horton, who had the window nailed up through which -I used to get out, and----" - -"Yes!" said the gentleman, hastily; "but I bribed the other girl, who -was not so scrupulous, to manage one more meeting, as it was the last -night before my departure, and she faithfully promised to do so." - -"Circumstances seemed to thwart us in every way," replied Alrina. "The -young lady who slept in my room was suddenly taken ill, just after we -went to bed, and the servant who betrayed us before was desired to -remain with her all night, so that I was a prisoner." - -"I see it all," said he; "and this explanation has relieved my mind from -anxious thoughts. But why did you not write me?" - -"That was impossible," replied Alrina; "for I was taken from school -almost immediately, and didn't know where to address a letter to you. I -wrote to your sister, who had been a day-pupil at the same school, and -through whom we first became acquainted, but, not having her exact -address, I suppose the letter never reached her." - -"Never mind, Alrina," said he, as he took a seat by her side in the -little sheltered nook she had before occupied; "we have met at -last;--and now I will tell you something more about myself and my -position than I thought it necessary to tell, or you to ask, in any of -our clandestine meetings,--we had other things to think of and talk -about then. I have since been knocked about in the world, and the -romantic passion of my boyhood has lost, perhaps, much of its romance, -but the love I then felt for you still remains in all its purity and -devotion." - -"I never doubted that," replied Alrina, looking fondly at him, as she -used to do;--for her romance had not been rubbed off by contact with the -world, but, on the contrary, had increased;--her life had been one of -romance and mystery from her childhood, and everything around her seemed -veiled in mystery. - -"I have never ceased to think of you, and to wonder where you had gone, -and whether I should ever see you again," she continued. "These rocks -have been my refuge from the monotony and mystery of home; and here I -have ofttimes given vent to my feelings, when I thought and knew I was -unobserved. But tell me," she continued, looking up into his fine manly -face with love and admiration, "where you have been, and what you have -been doing, since we last met." - -"I had just obtained my commission in the 63rd Regiment of Light -Infantry," he resumed; "and my fondest hopes, as I thought, were -realized when I met you walking in solemn procession with the other -young ladies of Mrs. Horton's seminary. I was struck with your -appearance, and I asked my sister, who was, as you have said, a -day-pupil at the same school, who you were. All she could tell me was -that your name was Alrina Freeman; and, I suppose, that was all I wanted -to know just then. She took a note to you from me, and the next time I -met the school procession, there was a mutual recognition; several notes -passed between us; and at last you consented to a clandestine meeting in -the garden. Our meetings were discovered. My regiment was ordered abroad -suddenly, and, owing to the circumstances already related, we did not -meet again before my departure. I returned with my regiment about a -month since, and made all the inquiry in my power, but without avail. I -went to the school. The mistress was dead, and the school given up. I -had a month's furlough; and, hearing that an old schoolfellow had an -appointment at a signal-station near the Land's-End, I packed up my -traps in a carpet-bag, and arrived at my friend's station, at -Tol-pedn-Penwith about a week since. My friend is a bachelor;--he is -several years my senior, but a right jolly fellow. His name is Fowler. -He introduced me to the squire's family at Pendrea-house. The squire has -been a queer old chap in his time, I believe; but his wife seems a good -old soul, and the two daughters are charming;--but the name of Freeman -was always in my thoughts. In the course of conversation after dinner at -the squire's the other day, some one said that there was a celebrated -conjuror residing near the Land's-End, whose name was Freeman. I felt a -thrill run through me at the name, and I determined on paying him a -visit; for I thought that if he was so clever as he was reported to be, -he might be able to assist me with some information respecting her I so -anxiously sought, especially as he bore the same name. You have heard of -him, I dare say. I came out to-day alone, determined to see the -conjuror, and get all the information I could before I returned; and -seeing a young lady go down over the rocks, I was seized with a little -romantic curiosity, and followed, when, as I looked over the rocks above -your head, I caught sight of your face, as you turned your head to watch -the course of a vessel which was passing. I was not quite sure even -then, not expecting to see you here,--so I spoke to you, as to a -stranger, and when you looked up at me I saw I was not mistaken; and -now," continued he, pressing her hand and laughing, "I need not go to -the conjuror." - -"I do not know that," said Alrina, in a thoughtful tone; "I think it is -most likely you will have to go to 'the conjuror,' after all, if you -wish to know anything more of my family, for the person you call 'the -conjuror' is my father." - -"Your father!" exclaimed Frederick, in great surprise. "No! no! you are -joking." - -"I am not, indeed," replied Alrina; "there is some mystery hanging over -my relatives, that I have never been able to unravel, especially as to -my father;--my mother I don't remember; she died when I was very young, -I believe. Where we resided before we came here I don't know. My father -is very clever,--there is no doubt about that,--and he manages to awe -the people here into the belief that he knows more than he really does; -and he has a mysterious room which is only entered by himself and those -whose fears and superstition he wishes to work upon. My aunt knows -something of these mysteries--how much I don't know;--but I know nothing -of them; I am kept entirely in ignorance; they don't seem to like to -trust me. Oh! how wretched it makes me feel; for I sometimes fancy it -may be too dreadful to be told, and then I come out alone, and wander -over the rocks, and think of those few happy moments of my life, never -to be forgotten. It is very, very hard to feel that no one has -confidence in me;" and she burst into tears. - -"Don't distress yourself about these things now, dearest Alrina," said -her companion, taking her hand. "I will protect you with my life; and I -will see the conjuror and his secret chamber before I leave this -neighbourhood, and bring him to his bearings, or my name is not -Frederick Morley!" - -"Oh! but if there should be some dreadful secret," replied Alrina, -sobbing, as her lover pressed her to his heart, "we could never be to -one another as we have hoped; and now that you know who my father is, I -fear you will look cold upon me too, like the rest of the world, and -that would kill me. Oh! Frederick, after all my dreams of happiness, if -I should lose your love when I feel I want it most, and when the fondest -hope of my life seems almost realized by your return so -unexpectedly,----" - -"My dearest Alrina," said Morley, "you will find no change in my -affections or feelings. I will sift this secret out to the end, cost -what it may, and nothing shall separate us now." - -Thus did the two youthful lovers talk on, until it was time for them to -separate; and so earnest were they in their conversation, and on the -renewal of their former loves, that they did not perceive the head that -was projecting from the overhanging rocks, nor the eager eyes and ears -which had seen and heard all that had passed between them. - -"Ho! ho!" exclaimed the individual to whom the head belonged, as it -walked quietly away, when the interview between the two lovers was -drawing to a close; "secrets worth knowing!" - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -JOHN BROWN AND HIS FAVOURITE MARE "JESSIE." - - -Mr. and Mrs. Brown, who now kept the "Commercial" inn at St. Just, had -formerly lived, for many years, in the service of one of the ancient -aristocratic Cornish families in that neighbourhood,--the one as -coachman, the other as cook. Mr. Brown was rather effeminate and -methodical in his manners and habits, and particularly neat in his -dress. His hair, which he always kept short, was as smooth and sleek as -one of his master's coach-horses. He invariably wore a brown coat, -always nicely brushed, with light waistcoat and breeches; a white -neckerchief enveloped his neck, in which was enclosed a thick pad, and -tied in a neat little bow in front. His hat, which he wore continually -indoors and out, always looked as if it had just come out of the -hatter's shop; and as to his shoes!--if Mr. Brown was more particular in -one part of his dress than another, it was in the polish of his shoes, -which did credit to "Warren's Jet Blacking" and their master's energy -and skill,--for he invariably gave them an extra polish himself before -he put them on of a morning, after Bill, the stable-boy, had done his -best. If he was not quite the first groom of the chamber indoors, where -his wife held rule, he could certainly boast of being first groom of the -stall, when he got into the stables, where it was natural to suppose he -was in his element, from having been so many years coachman in a -gentleman's family. - -He was a good judge of horseflesh, and had the sweetest little mare in -the stable that you would wish to set your eyes upon--a perfect picture -of a horse--a bright bay, with black tail and mane. And, although it was -January month, when most horses have their winter coats, yet, what with -grooming and clothing, and regular feeding and exercise, Mr. Brown's -mare Jessie was as sleek and smooth as if it had been the height of -summer, so well was she taken care of and petted by her master. This was -his hobby, and in this he spent most of his time, and a good deal of his -spare cash. - -If Mr. Brown was too effeminate for a man, Mrs. Brown was certainly too -masculine for a woman,--at least so Mr. Brown thought sometimes, -although he had neither the courage nor the ill manners to say so. She -was neat, in her dress also, but not quite so particular as her husband. -A chintz gown, looped up through the pocket-holes,--a large coloured -silk handkerchief thrown over her shoulders, and pinned down in front -and confined at the ends by the wide string of her cheque apron, formed -the general character of Mrs. Brown's dress; and, like her husband, she -invariably wore her bonnet indoors and out. - -The general business at "The Commercial" was not very extensive, but as -Mr. and Mrs. Brown had no children, and had saved a little money, they -kept on the house--which was their own property--more for amusement than -profit. They kept one servant indoors (a sort of maid-of-all-work), -whose name was Polly, and a boy in the stables to attend to Jessie the -mare, and do other little jobs to help the women. Mr. Brown made himself -useful in the house if required, when customers came in, by drawing beer -and attending to their wants, but he never did a single thing without -calling some one to help him; sometimes it was Polly, and sometimes -Billy, and sometimes even Peggy his wife; but he generally, poor man, -had to do the work alone, whatever it was, although fortunately it was -never very laborious. - -On the afternoon of the day on which the two lovers met at the -Land's-End point, Mr. and Mrs. Brown were sitting in the kitchen -alone,--the latter having sent Polly upstairs, to brush up a bit, while -she went on with some work she had in hand for her husband. She was -knitting him a pair of white lamb's-wool stockings, for general wear, if -the truth must be told. - -"I wish the boy was come to take the mare out a bit, I think," said Mr. -Brown, "this beautiful afternoon. I shall go out a mile or two myself if -he don't come soon." - -"I tell 'ee what et es, Brown," said his wife; "there's more fuss made -about that mare than ef she'd b'en a cheeld. I'd have a glass case made -for har ef I wor you!" - -"Don't 'ee be vexed, Peggy, 'cause I do take care of the poor thing. -There's the boy coming, I do believe," said he, rising from his seat, -and going towards the door. "Your sarvant, sar," he continued, as he met -a tall handsome young man in the passage; and without waiting for a -reply from the stranger, he returned to the kitchen, rubbing his hands, -followed by the stranger, and exclaiming, "Bless my life, Peggy! bless -my life!--es the best bedroom ready upstairs? here's a gentleman, my -dear!" - -"Gentleman sure 'nuff!" said his wife, looking unutterable things at her -husband, and curtseying at the same time to the stranger;--"gentle or -semple is all the same to you, I believe, John Brown." - -"Now, don't put yourselves out of the way for me, my good friends," -said the stranger; "all I want is something to eat at once, and a -'shake-down' here for a night or two." - -"We've got nothing in the house to eat, I do believe," said Mr. Brown; -"have us, Peggy? And as to a 'shake-down!'--why we don't have many -visitors here to sleep!" - -"Brown!" said his better half, in an authoritative tone, "go and look to -the mare!"--and she pointed significantly to the door, through which Mr. -Brown made his escape, calling Billy, by way of covering his retreat, -without being further exposed to the stranger; for he saw he had gone a -little too far, in taking it upon himself to answer for what could or -could not be had in the house. - -The stranger, in the meantime, had thrown himself carelessly into Mrs. -Brown's seat, and extended his legs before him, as if he was quite at -home, and was accustomed to make himself comfortable wherever he -happened to be. - -"Now then, Mrs. Brown," said he, "a glass of your best ale to begin -with, and then something to eat, for I'm devilish hungry." - -"I can give 'ee some eggs and a rasher at once, sar," replied Mrs. -Brown; "but ef you can wait 'bout half-an-hour or so, you shall have a -roast fowl and taties." - -"I'll have the eggs and bacon by all means," said he; "I couldn't wait -half-an-hour for all the fowls in your yard;--and while you are dressing -the eggs and bacon, I will try if I can get some one to fetch my -carpet-bag." So he sauntered into the stable, where he found Mr. Brown -admiring his mare Jessie. - -"Isn't she a beauty, sir?" said the landlord, combing his horse's tail -with a comb he kept in his pocket for the purpose. - -"She is a handsome creature, certainly," said the stranger, looking at -the mare with the eye of a connoisseur; "but what can you possibly want -with a horse of that kind in this rough country?" - -"That's to me, sir--asking your pardon," replied Mr. Brown, touching his -hat. - -"Oh! of course, of course," said the stranger; "I meant no offence. I -came out to know if you could get anyone to go to Tol-pedn-Penwith -signal-station, where I have been staying, for my bag." - -"Tol-pedn-Penwith signal-station, sir!" replied Mr. Brown; "why that's -Lieutenant Foster's 'cabin,' as he calls it, near Lamorna Cove?" - -"That's the place," said the stranger;--"could you send anyone?" - -"Yes, sir, certainly; when my boy Bill do come in, he shall take the -mare and ride down there,--it'll be very good exercise for her this fine -a'ternoon. Drat the boy, I wish he was come!" - -Bill soon made his appearance, and was despatched on the mare with a -note to Lieutenant Fowler, written on a leaf torn from the gentleman's -pocket-book, while Mr. Brown walked round the mare twice, and used his -comb on her tail and mane. - -"Isn't she a beauty, sir?" said he, as the boy cantered off. "Easy! -easy, now!" exclaimed Mr. Brown, calling after the boy; "ride her -gently. Wo! ho! Jessie! gently, lass, gently!" - -These remarks might as well have been addressed to the wind as to the -boy or the mare, who seemed both intent on a gallop, and away they went -at full speed. - -"Drat the boy," said Mr. Brown; "he'll wind her--that's a sure -thing--one of these days; and then where'll the money come from to buy -another? But no money could do it! Why, I wouldn't take a hundred -guineas for that mare, sir, if it was offered to me to-morrow morning! -she's worth her weight in gold, sir, that mare is!" - -"Don't fidget about the mare, Mr. Brown," said the gentleman; "she'll be -all right; a little gallop will do her good. And now I shall try Mrs. -Brown's cookery,--it smells very good;" and he returned into the house -to appease his appetite, while the landlord went into the stable to -lament once more over the wilfulness of that scamp of a boy, as he -called him, and to see that all things were ready for his pet when she -came back. And, having done all this, he returned to the kitchen, where -he found the stranger smoking a pipe in the chimney-corner after his -frugal repast, and chatting with Mrs. Brown as if they had been old -acquaintances. - -"Come, Mr. Brown," said he, "I'm going to have a glass of brandy and -water, and you must take one too; so mix them, if you please, and come -and tell me all the news." - -"Polly! come and get the hot water and sugar for the gentleman," said -the landlord, calling to the maid, who was upstairs, as he went towards -the bar to get the two brandies. "Come, Poll! Poll! Polly!" But as Polly -did not come, he was obliged to bustle about himself; for he received no -help from his wife, although he called to her several times from the -bar. At length all things were placed on the little table, and the -stranger began to ask about "The Conjuror." - -"The what!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown, dropping her needles, and looking up -in surprise and alarm,--while poor Mr. Brown stopped short in the act of -putting his glass to his lips. - -"Hallo!" exclaimed the stranger; "you look as if you had heard some -fellow talking treason against His Most Gracious Majesty the King--God -bless him!"--and the stranger lifted his hat, which he had kept on out -of compliment to his host and hostess. "I mean Mr. Freeman, then," he -said, correcting himself; "I have heard such wonderful accounts of him, -that I should like to know what he can really do." - -"He would shaw you what he could do, very soon, ef he heard you speak -that word, I reckon," replied Mrs. Brown, getting up from her seat and -going to the door of the kitchen, and looking into the passage and -closing the front door. - -"He doesn't like being called a 'conjuror,' then," said the stranger. - -"Like it?" said Mrs. Brown, drawing her chair nearer to the -chimney-corner; "iss,--just as much as you would like to be called '_no -conjuror_!'" - -"That's very well," said Mr. Brown, venturing on a laugh, now that his -courage was being wound up by the brandy and water. - -At this moment there came a clatter down the road, as of a horse at full -gallop. - -"Drat the boy!" exclaimed Mr. Brown, rising in great excitement; "he -can't be come a'ready, can aw? To ride the mare like that es too bad! -too bad! I'll kill 'n ef 'tes he. Iss fie! tes; for she's stopped at the -stable-door. Dear lor'! Polly! Polly!" - -When Mr. Brown went out, followed by the stranger and Mrs. Brown, there -was the mare sure enough, standing at the stable-door without a rider, -trembling from head to foot, and covered with foam and mud, with -scarcely a dry hair on her body. - -"Drat the boy!" exclaimed Mr. Brown; "he's killed--that's a sure -thing--and the mare is ruined. Wo! ho! my darling; wo! ho!" And he took -the mare's nose into his arms, and caressed it as if it had been a -favourite daughter, while the stranger examined her all over, but could -find no wound or injury whatever. She had evidently been frightened, for -she was trembling still. They led her into the stable, and then began to -think of the boy. - -"I'd go and search for him," said the stranger, "but I don't know which -way he went." - -"No, nor yet I," said Mrs. Brown; "there's no knowing where that boy do -go, when he's out; he's mighty fond of taking the narrow roads and bye -lanes instead of the high road. There's two or three ways of going to -Tol-pedn-Penwith from here; and like enough he went the way that nobody -else would go ('cept 'The Maister')." This latter sentence she spoke -almost in a whisper. - -"While we are talking here, the boy may die," said the stranger, "if -he's thrown and seriously hurt." - -"The mare is all right," said Mr. Brown, coming out of the stable; "and -now, if missus will get Polly to make a 'warm mash,' and give it to her -at once, you and I'll go, sir, and see what can be done for the poor -boy." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE FAMILY PARTY. - - -The two young officers had been invited to dine at Pendrea-house on that -day, at two o'clock--the squire's usual dinner-hour. Lieut. Fowler had -some writing work to do--rather an unusual occupation for him. However, -as it was a report to be sent to head-quarters, which he had put off -from day to day, he said to his friend in the morning, during breakfast, -"The writing be blowed! but 'needs must when the devil drives!' so you -go out, old fellow, and take a stroll, and leave me here to kick my -heels under the table for a few hours. Two o'clock sharp, mind, and then -we'll put our legs under the squire's mahogany, and tuck into his old -port like trumps. That's an amusement which suits me a devilish deal -better than quill-driving, if I must tell the honest truth for once in -my life." - -Two o'clock arrived, but Morley did not make his appearance. "The deuce -take the fellow," soliloquised the lieutenant; "he'll lose his dinner -and get out of the squire's good books. By Jove! though, perhaps he went -in to have a lark with the girls in the morning, and so he did not think -it worth while to come back. I'll just wash the ink off my paws, and -toddle down as quick as I can; the squire won't like being kept waiting. -'Tis devilish lucky the old chap doesn't require a fellow to dress for -dinner every time he tucks his legs under his mahogany;--I don't like -getting into harness very often, unless duty calls--and then we must -obey." - -While the jovial officer is washing his hands, we will just look round -his little "cabin," as he called it. - -The little dwelling in which the commander of the signal-station -resided, was certainly fitted up more to resemble a cabin on board ship, -than the habitation of a landsman. On the ground floor there was a small -room, or lobby, into which you entered at once from the front door. -Opposite this door there was a door leading into the sitting-room, and -beyond that another door led from the sitting-room into the kitchen. On -the right, as you entered the lobby, were the stairs, leading to the two -bedrooms, which led one into the other, like the rooms below. And in the -ceilings were fixed iron rings, to which the hammocks were slung at -night, and unshipped by day, the same as on board ship, so that these -rooms might also be used as sitting-rooms, if required, in the daytime. - -There were three men kept at each of these stations, besides the -officer, and they had a separate cabin appropriated to them, adjoining -the principal one. Their duty was to attend upon the officer; hoist -signals of flags and balls, to give notice of the approach of an enemy's -ship; or to signal to English ships orders from head-quarters. And these -signals could be communicated to and from London in a very short -time,--although not so quickly, nor so accurately, as by the telegraph -of the present day. - -It was not long after two when Lieut. Fowler got down to Pendrea-house, -where he found the squire with his watch in his hand. - -"Half-an-hour is soon lost, my boy," said the old gentleman, as the -lieutenant entered the drawing-room; "but where is your friend?" - -"Hasn't Morley been here, sir?" asked Fowler, in some surprise. - -"No," replied the squire, "I haven't seen him,--have you, girls?" - -This last question was addressed to two young ladies, whom Lieut. Fowler -now approached, and greeted as old acquaintances. They had seen nothing -of Mr. Morley, they said, since the day before, when they had all walked -to Lamorna Cove together. - -"That's queer," said the squire; "but he's a stranger, and may have -missed his way,--so we'll give him a quarter-of-an-hour's grace." - -And during this quarter-of-an-hour--the most awkward one in the whole -twenty-four hours--we will introduce the reader more formally than we -have hitherto done, to Squire Pendray and his family, the present owner -and occupiers of Pendrea-house. - -The squire was a purse-proud man, who had made a good deal of money, no -one knew how, and purchased Pendrea estate many years before. He wished -to rank among the ancient aristocracy of the county,--and his wealth -enabled him to mix with them, and to be on a seeming equality; but in -those days ancestral pride was very strong, and those who could boast of -an ancient aristocratic pedigree, however limited their means might be, -looked down with contempt on the man of a day, who had nothing but his -riches to recommend him. The rich man was tolerated and patronized for -the sake of his wealth, but he was still looked down upon as an -inferior. Squire Pendray was one of these. But he was as proud of his -riches as they were of their pedigree, and so he did not see nor care -for their patronizing airs;--besides, he, in his turn, patronized those -whom he considered inferior to him in wealth, and he was satisfied. Some -said he was connected with the smugglers, and that they brought goods up -to some of his subterranean vaults, through a secret passage which led -from a cavern at Lamorna Cove up to Pendrea-house. Where the entrance -from the house to these subterranean vaults was, no one could tell but -the squire himself. - -Mrs. Pendray was a homely, good sort of woman,--kind and hospitable, and -very much beloved by the poor of the parish, to whom she distributed her -bounties with a liberal hand. - -Her two daughters will require a more elaborate description; for they -were considered the "belles" of the west, and were toasted by all the -young men of the neighbourhood at their after-dinner orgies--a custom -very prevalent at that period. - -The elder of the two sisters, Matilda--or Maud, as she was generally -called--was a brunette, with dark hair and eyes, and a profile so -regular and perfect, that, when the countenance was still and in repose, -as it were, you might, without a great stretch of imagination, have -fancied it a piece of tinted sculpture,--but the slightest thing would -rouse it into animation, and then the dark eyes would flash like a -piece of polished steel when struck by the electric fluid. She wore her -hair in bands, which contrasted well with her high intellectual -forehead, and added dignity of expression to her handsome features. Her -stature was lofty, and her form elegant and symmetrical; and when she -walked across the room there was majesty in her step, as if her foot -disdained the ground it trod upon. She delighted to wander out alone -over the highest headlands, when the wind was raging with its wildest -fury, and to stand and watch the foaming waves, as they surged and -dashed against the perpendicular cliffs, until she was saturated with -the spray and in danger of being blown over into the abyss beneath. - -Blanche was as unlike her elder sister as it was possible for her to be. -She was fair, and her beautiful auburn hair hung in graceful ringlets -over her soft young cheeks, as if to hide her blushes, which the merest -trifle would call forth. She was just seventeen. Her sister was four -years older; but, in person and manners, you would think there was a -greater difference of age between them. While Maud walked out to witness -the storm in all its majesty, from those bold cliffs, Blanche would take -some quiet book of poetry, and sit alone, and read, in the little room -upstairs, which their mother, years ago, had set apart for her two -daughters. And when the early spring brought soft and balmy sunshine, -Blanche would take her book and wander out alone--not to the towering -cliffs, and bold headlands, but along the sheltered paths which led down -to Lamorna Cove, gathering wild flowers by the way. And there she would -watch the rippling waves, as they came dancing in over the beautiful -white sand, sparkling in the sunshine; and when her eyes were weary with -watching the calm unruffled sea, she would sit beneath some sheltered -rock, and read, and weep over some sad tale until her eyes grew dim, and -then would rise again and search for some rare shell, or tiny piece of -seaweed, she had read or heard of, as being found at Lamorna Cove. - -Lieut. Fowler, whose occupation caused him to wander everywhere along -the coast, in search of smugglers, or enemies' ships, would often come -suddenly on one or other of the sisters, and would then escort them home -and dine with the old squire, who liked him, and was fond of having him -there to while away an afternoon in social chat; for the lieutenant, -although not more than thirty years of age, had seen a little service, -and could tell tales that even Maud would sit and listen to. But, for -the gentle Blanche, those tales of hardship and suffering, and deeds of -daring, and hairbreadth escapes, had a deeper charm than she dared to -confess even to herself. He was not a handsome man by any means, but he -had a fine noble bearing, and courage and daring were marked in his -broad forehead. He was sometimes the only person they saw for weeks, -and, therefore, the two sisters enjoyed his society, and were always -glad when their papa asked him to dine. He admired them both, and not -being in a hurry to marry, or having been knocked about too much in the -world to have time to think of it, he did not see the danger he was -daily and hourly incurring by being on such intimate terms of friendship -with these two fascinating girls. - -The old squire was very fond of his children, indulging them in most of -their caprices, and he did not see any danger or impropriety in allowing -them to be on intimate terms of friendship with a man whom he himself -liked so well, and who was, in fact, so necessary in assisting him to -pass away his time, with pleasure and comfort, in that dull -out-of-the-way place. It had also been a great pleasure to the squire's -family to receive the lieutenant's friend, Frederick Morley, at their -house; for he, too, was a very gentlemanly man, had seen a good deal of -the world, and could tell them of foreign scenes and manners, which very -much delighted them all. He was more romantic and impressible than his -friend. It was therefore evident that Miss Pendray preferred his society -to that of the more matter-of-fact Lieut. Fowler, and would take him to -her favourite wild cliffs, and point out the beauties she saw in them, -to which he listened with marked attention, entering into her feelings, -and admiring her pursuits, more than any other man she had been -accustomed to meet; but still there was something sad in his manner, -sometimes, which she could not account for. It seemed to her as if he -had met with some heavy affliction in days gone by. This thought was -impressed on her more than ever to-day; for he had not arrived in time -for dinner,--so they sat down without him. As the day passed slowly on, -and he did not appear, it made the whole family think the more of him. -After dinner, Miss Pendray asked Mr. Fowler if there was anything -pressing on his friend's mind, as, she said, she had often observed him -sad and thoughtful, when all had been merry and cheerful around him. Now -that the subject was mentioned, everyone seemed to have observed the -same; and they urged the lieutenant to tell them--if he knew, and it was -not a secret which he felt bound to keep--what it was that made the -young soldier look so sad at times when others were gay. - -"My friend, Frederick Morley, has been a romantic dreamer all his life," -said the lieutenant. "He was the same at school,--sometimes as gay and -reckless as the worst of us, and at other times sad and low-spirited, -even when his companions were in their gayest mood. About two years ago, -before he went abroad with his regiment, poor Fred had a romantic -love-affair at the town in which his regiment was quartered. His sister -was living in the same place, with her aunt; and Fred fell desperately -in love with a boarding-school miss, and as his sister was a day-pupil -at the same school, she was the messenger between them. Since his -return he has searched everywhere for the girl, but cannot succeed in -finding her. This much he has told me, but he will not divulge her name. -So you see, ladies, my poor friend has enough on his mind to make him -sad." - -"Yes," replied Miss Pendray; "but this affair is of recent date, and you -say he was the same at school;--it was not a love-affair then, I -presume." - -"Oh! no," said the lieutenant, in a grave tone; "there was another cause -for his melancholy then, but that is all blown over, and therefore, -perhaps, it is as well to leave it rest in oblivion. He never speaks of -it now, and so, I suppose, he wishes it to be forgotten." - -"Oh! do tell us, Lieut. Fowler," said Blanche. "Poor young man! it must -have been some dreadful tale, I'm sure, to prey on his mind thus, for so -many years;" and she looked at him so beseechingly, that he could not -refuse,--indeed, why should he decline to make his friends acquainted -with the history of a young man whom he had introduced to their house? -The story threw no disgrace on his young friend; and if he scrupled to -tell them the true story, they might suspect it was some crime or -indiscretion which his friend had himself been guilty of. So, looking at -the sweet girl who sat opposite him, with her fair curls thrown back -from her face, the more easily to catch every word that was spoken by -him whose tales she loved to hear, he said he would relate the story as -well as he could. But it was a sad tale; and as it is likely to be a -long one, and probably an interesting one, we will give it a chapter to -itself. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -"MURDER MOST FOUL." - - -"My friend's father," he began, "was an East-Indian merchant. He married -a native, by whom he had three children--two sons and a daughter. The -eldest son was several years older than the other two children, and he -received the best education that could be got in India, and was taken -into his father's factory to assist him, when he was very young. Their -mother died soon after the birth of her daughter; and, when they were -old enough, it was thought advisable to send the two younger children to -England, under the care of their aunt (Mr. Morley's only sister), to be -educated; and, as Mr. Morley was anxious to visit England once more, and -thought he could make more of his merchandize, by coming himself and -seeing how the markets stood, than his agents seemed to be making for -him, he determined to bring the children over himself. So he freighted -a vessel with a valuable cargo, and arrived in England safely with his -two children, having left his eldest son behind, to manage the business -in India. His sister resided at Ashley Hall, a country-seat about five -or six miles from Bristol. The children enjoyed the country air -exceedingly, and the scenery--so different from India--and the old -gentleman enjoyed it as much as they did. He visited Bristol almost -every day, and watched the markets, sometimes doing business and -sometimes not. He very often walked there and back, by way of exercise, -when the weather was fine. One day, about the middle of January, the -weather, although cold and sharp, being dry, he determined he would -walk, as he had so often done before, for he thought he should be able -to keep himself warmer in walking than driving. He did a good bit of -business that day, and had a considerable sum of money about him. - -"It was a risk to walk home alone, but Mr. Morley had so often done it -before, without meeting with any accident, that he thought he would -start early, and in two hours he should be at the end of his journey. So -he buttoned up his great coat, and took his big stick in his hand, and -started. The stick was a very peculiar one, which he had brought with -him from India. It was very heavy for its size, and had large sharp -knots towards the big end,--not very handsome, but still it was -peculiar, and so it had many admirers. 'A good blow from this would -settle a stouter fellow than I am likely to meet with to-night, I -fancy,' said Mr. Morley, as he looked with pride on the formidable -weapon he held in his hand; and he strode down the street, with the cold -wind blowing in his face. - -"Before he got a mile out of the town, it began to snow heavily; but -still he trudged on against the wind, which was blowing strong, and -beating the snow into his face, which made him hold his head down, so -that he did not remark a turn in the road, about three miles -out,--indeed, by this time, the road and hedges were covered with snow, -and anyone who knew the road even better than he did might have taken -the wrong turn. On, on he walked for several miles, when he began to -think he had missed his way,--for he now observed that he passed no -houses on the road, as he was accustomed to do when he walked home -before. At length, after walking some distance further, he saw a light, -and, thinking it might be a roadside-inn, he made towards it. On -approaching cautiously, however, he found it was not an inn, but a -solitary cottage, partly surrounded by a garden--the entrance to which -was through a small gate at the side; and nearly opposite this gate -there was a window. The light that he had seen, came from a window in -front of the house, facing the road. It was getting dark, but the white -snow threw a shadow of light all round, and he opened the little gate, -went round to the front, and looked in at the window, which was but -partially covered by a thin blind, and there he saw a woman sitting by -the fire alone. The room seemed comfortably furnished, and the table was -evidently laid for supper. - -"It was now getting late, and Mr. Morley was cold and tired and hungry, -for he had been walking several hours; so he knocked at the door, which -was quickly opened by the woman he had seen sitting by the fire. She was -apparently about forty years of age, but not very prepossessing in -appearance, nor very courteous at first, but any shelter was better than -being out in the snow on such a night as this. He explained to her that -he had missed his way in going to his sister's house from Bristol; and -he begged her to let him partake of her meal, and rest a little, and -warm himself--for which he said he would willingly pay handsomely; and -he moreover said, incautiously, that he had more money about him than he -thought it was prudent for him to travel any further with alone that -night. This communication seemed to warm the woman's heart. She placed a -chair by the fire, and proceeded to get him some refreshment at once. - -"'It is a dreadful night!' she said; 'and it has come on so suddenly -too. Who'd have thought it this morning?' - -"'No indeed,' said Mr. Morley. 'This seems a lonely place for a -habitation. You have a husband, of course. He is out on business, I -suppose.' - -"'No, sir, I have no husband. My father and brother live here with -me;--they are engaged in the seafaring line. My mother has been dead -some years.' - -"'You are not far from the sea, then?' enquired Mr. Morley. - -"'No,' she replied; 'a very short distance. I expect my brother home -soon, and was preparing supper for him. My father I don't expect home -for the night, so you shall occupy his room, if you please. It is on the -ground-floor, and looks into the garden. His business often keeps him -out late. We are gone to bed frequently when he comes in, and then he -can go into his room on the ground-floor without disturbing us. I -believe that was his fancy for having his bedroom there.'" - -"Why, Fowler!" exclaimed the squire, "you are making quite an -interesting story of it. What it will end in, I haven't the slightest -idea; but go on." - -"I'm afraid I am tiring you," replied the lieutenant; "but I have heard -the story repeated so often, that it is quite familiar to me." - -"Oh! do go on," said Blanche, looking at him earnestly; "it is quite -like a tale one reads in the old romances." - -"Old romances!" said her mamma, in alarm; "why where on earth have you -met with any old romances, I should like to know, child?" - -"Well, if you would like to hear the end of my tale," said the -lieutenant, "I will proceed; but I haven't much more to tell. Let me -see. Where was I? Oh! the bedroom." - -"Mr. Morley, having warmed himself and taken some refreshment, said he -was feeling very tired and sleepy, and should like to lie down for a few -hours, if perfectly convenient. The brother had not come in, so he -followed his hostess into the little bedroom, leaving his hat and stick -in the sitting-room. It was a comfortable little room enough. The bed -was small, and very near the door,--so near, that immediately you opened -it you faced the side of the bed, and you had to close the door again -before you could pass down by the side of the bed into the room. On the -other side of the bed, nearly opposite the door, stood the wash-stand, -and dressing-table, and one chair. The window faced the foot of the bed. - -"Mr. Morley looked out at the night. It was very dark, and still snowing -a little. When he began to reflect on the acknowledged irregularity of -the men in the house, he did not feel very comfortable; for their -calling was evidently not a very reputable one. The woman seemed -superior in her manner and address to her present situation; but there -was a cunning, restless expression in her eye, which he did not at all -like. They might be a gang of desperadoes connected with the smugglers -that infested the coast. He did not like his position at all;--he was -unarmed, and in their power, and he had left his stick in the -sitting-room. If he went back for it, it would cause suspicion. He -determined, therefore, to lie down on the bed without taking off his -clothes, and be off in the morning as soon as he could see. There was no -lock to the door, nor bolt to the window, as far as he could find. He -tried the door cautiously, and found it was barred outside, and so was -the window;--so far, then, he was a prisoner. He threw himself on the -bed to rest, but not to sleep; and after some time he heard a man come -in at the front door. Then there was a savoury smell, and a good deal of -talk in whispers,--and then the brandy was asked for, and all was quiet. - -"After a time he saw a man approach the window outside. He had the -appearance of being intoxicated. He opened the window after a little -trouble, and prepared to come in. - -"'This is the father, no doubt,' thought Mr. Morley, 'come home -unexpectedly, and evidently very much intoxicated.' - -"The man seemed too drunk to listen to reason, even if Mr. Morley had -got up and spoken to him; and a quarrel with him, in that state, would -be very unpleasant, and bring the other members of the household also -upon him. Besides, no doubt these men carried arms with them, wherever -they went; and if this man found a stranger in his bedroom, he would not -hesitate to shoot him, especially in his present state. - -"What should he do? There was not a moment to be lost. The old man had -by this time tumbled into the room through the window. He would be on -the bed in a minute, for he was getting up from the floor. Mr. Morley -therefore slid down the side opposite the door, and got under the bed, -intending, as soon as the man was asleep, to get away from that house at -all risks. - -"The old man threw himself on the bed, and was soon fast asleep. - -"The door was now gently opened, and he heard a few heavy blows struck -with a heavy bludgeon on the poor old man's head, as he lay sound asleep -on the bed. There was a deep moan, and then the door was closed again. - -"'Murder!' he said, as he crept from under the bed. He felt the body in -his fright; it was too dark to see it. There was no motion. Blood was -flowing from the wounds,--he could feel it, warm and clammy, although he -could not see it. He knew not what to do. The blows were no doubt -intended for himself, and if he raised an alarm he would still be -victimized. He was in an agony of fright and terror. His only thought -was to save his own life; for if the murderer discovered that he had not -killed his intended victim, he would be back again, no doubt, to finish -his work. He snatched up the hat that the old man had dropped on the -floor, thinking in his frenzy that it was his own, and got out of the -window, which had not been fastened again, and fled through the snow, he -knew not where." - -"Oh! Mr. Fowler," exclaimed Blanche, shuddering; "this is too horrible. -Oh! don't go on! I can't bear it;"--and she placed her hands before her -eyes, that had before been so intently gazing on the speaker. - -"Nonsense!" exclaimed the squire; "we've heard the beginning; now let's -hear the end. Go on, Fowler. Those who don't wish to hear any more can -leave the room." - -No one left the room; so Mr. Fowler continued:-- - -"The brother and sister were horror-struck, on entering the room the -next morning, to find that _their father_ had been murdered instead of -the stranger, and that the stranger had escaped, and was probably then -giving information to the authorities. Their first thought was -self-preservation. Circumstances favoured the guilty pair. The stranger -had evidently touched the murdered man, and had blood about his -hands--for there were stains on the window-frame--and he had worn away -the murdered man's hat, and left his own behind; and it was with _his -stick_ that the murder had been committed. Here was circumstantial -evidence enough; so the guilty pair lost no time in rousing the nearest -neighbours and constables; and information was given to the magistrates -by the brother and sister, accusing the stranger of the murder, which -appeared on the face of it very plausible; for the accused man's stick -and hat were found in the bedroom, and the name 'Morley' was written -inside the hat. The stick was covered with blood, and the sharp knots -corresponded with the marks in the murdered man's head. The stick was -easily identified. The murdered man's hat was missing too. But what -motive could such a man as Mr. Morley have had for committing such a -crime?" The woman said he might have been tipsy, and lost his way in the -snow, and finding the window so near the gate, and so easy to enter, he -had perhaps gone in, and a struggle might have taken place between him -and her father, who slept in that room. There was money in that room -too, she said; but it was not believed that Mr. Morley would murder -anyone for the sake of money. No one wished to believe him guilty; but -what could they do in the face of this circumstantial evidence? There -were his hat and stick, which he admitted at once were his--his name was -in the hat--and the stick was covered with blood. He was easily traced -in the snow, and when overtaken he was walking like a maniac. His hands -were bloody and so were his clothes; and he had the murdered man's hat -on his head. - -"The sister told the tale before the magistrates very plausibly. It -might have been done in self-defence, she said. He might have got in at -the window, perhaps, for shelter; but why not have come round to the -door, and why did he not alarm the house, instead of going off in that -unaccountable way. - -"He told his own tale, and concluded by saying that he had a -considerable sum of money about him, which he had lost or was robbed of. -No money was found, however. - -"His tale did not appear plausible. The woman founded her belief that he -was tipsy, she said, on the fact of his having come so much out of his -way, if he was really only going from Bristol to Ashley Hall. He was a -comparative stranger in England, and very few knew him except in the way -of business. - -"The circumstantial evidence was so strong that the magistrates could do -no other than commit him to the county gaol to await his trial for -murder at the next assizes. - -"The assizes came, but there was no evidence against Mr. Morley, and he -was acquitted. - -"The brother and sister had found the bag of money, no doubt, which he -had dropped in his agitation, and had absconded no one knew where. They -were afraid of the close cross-examination to which they would be -exposed, and under which their evidence must have broken down. - -"Mr. Morley returned to India immediately, leaving his two children in -their aunt's care. It was a severe shock, from which he never -recovered. He felt that although he was innocent, yet the stigma of his -having been committed to prison on a charge of murder would still hang -over his family, until it could be properly cleared up by the conviction -or confession of the real murderer. He died soon after his return to -India; and on his death-bed he enjoined his children to make every -search in their power after those wicked people, who had so cruelly -murdered their own father and thrown the guilt upon him." - -"Can you wonder, now, ladies, that my friend should feel low-spirited -sometimes?" - -"It is indeed a dreadful tale," said Miss Pendray. "I wonder what became -of the guilty parties?" - -"It is that which is preying on Morley's spirits," replied Mr. Fowler; -"he has searched and enquired everywhere--at home and abroad--but as yet -to no purpose. They have, no doubt, taken feigned names; but they will -be found out one day, I have not the slightest doubt." - -"Now let us change the subject, and speak of the living," said the -squire. "What has become of young Morley, I wonder?" - -"I shall have a search for him to-morrow morning," said the lieutenant. -"I fancy he is gone to St. Just, for he is anxious about his brother, -who was expected from India about this time, having amassed a large -fortune, besides what his father left, which he was about to divide -between the three children, according to his father's will. The wreck of -the Indiaman, the other day, has upset him rather; for he has an idea -that his brother might have been one of the passengers." - -"Poor young man!" said Mrs. Pendray; "how many troubles he has had to -bear, for one so young!" - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE LAND'S-END CONJUROR. - - -Mr. Brown and his companion returned, after a three-hours' search, -without having found the boy or learnt any tidings of him. The mare had -eaten her warm mash, and Mrs. Brown had procured the assistance of -Josiah Trenow to give her a good rub-down and make her comfortable, and -he was having a glass of beer after his exertions, when Mr. Brown and -his companion came in. - -"Thank 'ee, 'Siah," said Mr. Brown; "I do b'lieve the mare ha'n't had -such a rub-down for a month. Look here's a great strong arm, sir," he -continued, taking Josiah by the arm, while he called the gentleman's -attention to it. - -"I shouldn't like to engage in single combat with him," replied Mr. -Morley, smiling, "if he is as strong as he looks." - -"No fie! no fie!" said Mr. Brown. "Peggy! Peggy! Polly! Polly! Why the -women are all run away after the boy, I s'pose. Peggy, my dear!" - -"Well, landlord," said Josiah; "what news have 'ee got about the boy?" - -"Why no news," replied Mr. Brown, sitting down thoughtfully in his -wife's chair, a liberty he seldom took, unless he was "up in the -clouds," as she called it. "Sit down, sir, if you please. Why, a good -many people seed the boy and the mare go up, an' a fine passle seed the -mare come down again all of a rattle, without the boy, but nobody seed -the boy thrawd, an' nobody have seen the boy since, so far as we can -hear. Whisht, esn't et, 'Siah, boy?" - -"Whisht! iss fie, 'tes whisht enough," said Mrs. Brown, coming -downstairs to hear the news too. - -"That boy es so sure ill-wished as ever anybody wor in this world," said -Josiah; "he's in a queer por, an' ha' be'n so for a bra' bit." - -"Why what are 'ee tellen', 'Siah," said Mr. Brown; "how shud 'ee think -so, boy?" - -"Why for many things," replied Josiah; "the boy Bill wor took out of the -workhouse, worn't aw? and he ha'n't growd since--not an inch, I do -b'lieve. He can hardly reach to the mare's shoulder, and yet he do keep -that mare in good condition, with her summer's coat up all the year -round, like the squire's hunter, and better too, I b'lieve. He's mighty -fond of going out by night, too. I've seed that boy, when I've been -coming home from bal, two or three o'clock in the morning, going up by -Chapel-Carnbrea by hisself, whistling." - -"What! our boy Billy whistling that time o' night?" said Mrs. Brown; -"dear lor'! I should think he'd be afeard of the pixies. And up there, -too!" - -The conversation was evidently getting too dismal for Mr. Morley, and he -changed the subject by ordering a glass of brandy and water for himself, -and one each for Mr. Brown and Josiah. - -"Come, Polly," said Mr. Brown, as he went to get the brandies. "Polly! -Polly! pretty Polly!" - -He got no assistance, however; for Polly was gone out on some errand for -her mistress; and it really seemed as if he called the people about him -more from habit than anything else, for, like him who called spirits -from the vasty deep, poor Mr. Brown was not very much distressed or -astonished if they didn't come. While they were drinking their brandy -and water, the conversation turned again on the marvellous; and Mr. -Brown said, "I wondar ef 'twould be any good to ask 'The Maister' about -it." - -"About what?" asked Mrs. Brown. - -"Why about the mare, to be sure," replied her husband; "she's ill-wished -as much as ever the boy es. Something frightened her more than human, -I'm sure;--what do you think, 'Siah?" - -"Well," said Josiah, "I never seed a beast tremble like that afore. I -worked my arms off, purty nigh, afore she begun for to dry, an' then she -dried up all of a rattle, an' snorted brave." - -"I'll go up now and ask 'The Maister,'" said Mr. Brown; "the mare es -ill-wished, I do b'lieve;"--so he drank up his brandy and water, and -started at once. - -It was not, even then, very late, and Mr. Freeman's house was but just -outside the village. - -"The Maister" was at home, the maid said. What did Mr. Brown please to -want. - -"I do want to speak to him 'pon private business," replied Mr. Brown. - -So Alice Ann shewed him into the best parlour, and left him there in the -dark, as she had orders to do to all visitors who came to "The Maister" -on private business. - -Very soon he heard a rumbling noise in the room above, and then a -clanking of chains; and then he heard a voice, as if coming from the -floor of the room he was sitting in, telling him to beware of what he -was doing,--to keep all things secret,--and to tell "The Maister" all; -and then all would be well. All these mysterious sounds--coming -sometimes from above, and sometimes from one part of the room he was in, -and sometimes from another, when everything was shrouded in -darkness--were calculated to strike terror into a stronger mind than -poor Mr. Brown possessed; so that when Alice Ann came to the door and -asked him to follow her upstairs, he was confirmed in his belief that -"The Maister" was connected with "The Prince of Darkness," and was -prepared to see hobgoblins and spirits dancing about as he entered the -awful room. - -Alice Ann knocked at the door three times, and at the third knock the -door flew open, and Mr. Brown was pulled in by some invisible hand, and -the door was closed again. He remained standing just inside, having a -screen of thick black cloth hanging before him, to prevent his seeing -what was in the room. He thought his last hour was come, and trembled -until his knees knocked together, and his teeth chattered in his head. -At last, a voice from the furthest corner of the room said:-- - -"John Brown, your business is known, without your telling it--as most -things are. Are you prepared to go through the ordeal necessary to free -the mare from evil hands, and the boy from witchcraft?" - -"Oh! ye-es, Maister," said the poor man, in a tremulous voice: "I'll do -anything. I do know that your power is great, and your knowledge is -greater." - -"Then down on thy knees, trembler, and do my bidding to the letter, or -woe be unto thee! And listen to what is now to be spoken." And down -flopped poor Mr. Brown on his knees, and awaited the ordeal, which he -interrupted occasionally, by sundry interjections and parenthetical -remarks of his own. - -(_The Conjuror_) "You have a gentleman staying in your house?" - -(_Mr. Brown_) "Oh! yes; and a very nice gentleman he is." - -(_The Conjuror_) "He admires your mare?" - -(_Mr. Brown_) "He do so." - -(_The Conjuror_) "He must ride her!" - -(_Mr. Brown_) "He shall, Maister. (Oh lor'! a wild harum-scarum like he -to ride the mare. Oh lor'! Peggy! Peggy! Oh lor'!)" - -(_The Conjuror_) "Now listen. That gentleman must, within three days -from this time, ride the mare to the Land's-End point, and look over the -point, and the spell will be taken off which now hangs over the mare, -and the boy will be restored. If not, beware of what may befall you and -your household. The rider must have no friend or assistant within fifty -yards of the point." - -(_Mr. Brown_) "Oh lor'! Peggy! Peggy! What shall I do? No mortal man -would do that. Oh lor'!" - -A bell was now struck in the further end of the room, and the black -curtain was drawn up suddenly, when the room appeared to be all on fire. -There was a brilliant red light shed all around, and a thin vapour -filled the room, through which he saw the conjuror standing, dressed in -a black gown, and white wig, surrounded by ornaments composed of what -seemed to be silver, and small mirrors, which reflected the furniture of -the room, and multiplied them twentyfold. The conjuror then said, in a -solemn voice, "Do my bidding, or beware! your doom is fixed!" - -The black curtain was then suddenly dropped again, and, after a few -minutes, the door was opened as before, and Mr. Brown was pushed out by -some invisible hand, and the door was locked on the inside. - -Thus did this pretended necromancer work on the superstitious fears of -the ignorant and weakminded, and make them believe that he knew more of -their affairs than he really did; and thus did he gain a power over them -which no reasoning or persuasion could shake. - -This is no exaggerated picture; for, at that period, there were numbers, -with less pretensions than Mr. Freeman, both men and women, who -practised these arts and received handsome incomes--not only from the -illiterate and ignorant, but from people in the higher walks of life, so -rife was the feeling of superstition which prevailed at that period, not -only in the county of Cornwall, but throughout the whole kingdom of -England. Well-to-do farmers, it was well known, paid one of these -emperics annual salaries to keep the _evil eye_ from their cattle. It is -not to be wondered at, therefore, that poor Mr. Brown should place -implicit reliance on what such a notable man as "The Maister" should -tell him, and determine to have "The Maister's" commands carried out to -the very letter, if it were possible that it could be done. If he had -been commanded to ride the mare to the brink of the Land's-End point -himself, or over it, he would have done it, without hesitation; but how -was he to get a stranger to do so for his benefit? It required -consideration; and, as two heads are better than one, he determined to -consult his wife at once, and they could put their heads together, he -thought, and the thing would be managed somehow,--for he had great faith -in his wife's wisdom; so he went home to sleep upon it. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -LOVE AND MYSTERY. - - -The next morning, Alrina met her lover again by appointment, on the -rocks below Cape Cornwall; and here they renewed their former -protestations of love and constancy, and the hours passed pleasantly -away. But sunshine will not last for ever, and the brighter the sunshine -the darker will the cloud seem that obscures it for a time. In the midst -of their happiness a cloud passed over the countenance of Morley, and he -became thoughtful. - -"Tell me," said Alrina, "what has caused this sudden gloom?" - -"It is nothing, dearest," said he, putting his arm round her waist; "I -was just thinking how much more need we have of mutual sympathy than -either of us imagined. You have your secrets which you wish to -discover,--I mean as to your mother's and your father's early history, -and your own, and that secret which you seem to think your father has -hidden in his breast." - -"Indeed, Frederick," replied Alrina, "I scarcely wish now to discover -those secrets,--for I fear the knowledge of them, whenever they are -discovered, may deprive me of that which I prize more than anything else -on earth--your love!" - -"No, never!" replied her lover; "whatever your father may have done, or -whatever those secrets may be, as to the early history of your family, -will not alter my love for you, dear Alrina! I have a secret too," -continued he; "and mine is a terrible one--one that would terrify you, -were I to tell you--and therefore it is better, perhaps, kept where it -is; I can bear it better alone. But we are only dreaming--don't cry, -Alrina;--all will be well in the end." - -"But you have a terrible secret too, you say, Frederick?" she replied -through her tears. "I have told you all I know of myself; is your's a -secret to be kept from me? are you afraid to trust me, too?"--and the -poor girl burst into tears, and would not be comforted. She felt herself -an object of distrust to all, and her heart could not bear up against -such cold suspicion. - -"Be calm, dear Alrina," said Frederick, in a soothing tone; "I have -nothing to conceal that you may not know. It will do you no good to know -it, and it may prey on your sensitive mind too much, and therefore do -more harm than good; but if you wish to know all, and you think you can -bear to hear it, I will tell you the whole,--but you must be calm." - -"Oh! yes," replied Alrina, drying her tears; "I would rather know all. I -will be firm. I can bear anything with you, or for you." She placed her -hand in his, and looked up into his face with earnest love, as he -related to her the tale of his father's adventure in the snow, and his -accusation and acquittal for want of evidence. He told her also of his -brother, and that he was expected home from India about this time, and -how he feared he might have been in that Indiaman that was wrecked on -the coast but a few days before. - -"Oh! Frederick, don't distress yourself about imaginary evils," said -Alrina; "bad news flies fast enough. A thought struck me while you were -relating that dreadful tale,--my father!" - -"Your father!" exclaimed Frederick, hastily. - -"Yes," she said; "why not ask him to help you in unravelling this -terrible secret. He is very clever, and knows many things that other -people scarcely dream of. People come here to consult him from all parts -of the country, and they generally go away satisfied; so I suppose he -tells them what they require to know. He is gone to some distant part -to-day, I believe, to cure some poor wretch who thinks he is ill-wished. -Remember, I have no confidence in that part of his scientific -pretension; but I know he has a clear head to sift out a mystery, and -has resources which few else have, from keeping all these -'goostrumnoodles' under his thumb, and some of the sharpest of them in -his pay." - -"I will think of this," said Morley, smiling; "and if I become a convert -I will still consult the conjuror." - -He then began to talk of his sister, Alrina's former schoolfellow. She -had left school, he said, and was living with their aunt, Mrs. Courland, -who had returned to her old house again near Bristol, where they were -staying when that sad affair happened to their father. Alrina must go -and see them. - -The time passed swiftly on in such sweet converse, and they lingered on -and on--rising frequently to separate, and sitting down again; and in -the intensity of their love they neither of them saw that curious head, -nor those curious eyes and ears, which were watching them again, and -noting all their words and actions. - -"Ho! ho!" said the individual, as it bore that curious head away on its -shoulders; "_more secrets worth knowing!_" - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -ALRINA'S TROUBLES INCREASE. - - -Josiah Trenow resided with his father and mother in a small but neat -cottage, about a hundred yards from Mr. Freeman's house; consequently, -it was easy for Alrina or Alice Ann, when their elders were out of the -way, to run in and have a quiet gossip with Mrs. Trenow. Her husband was -underground-captain at Botallack mine, so that he was not much at home -during the day. - -Alrina could not settle down to anything when she returned to her -father's house after her interview with Frederick Morley, related in the -last chapter. She tried to work, but she could not get on. She then took -a book, but could not fix her attention on the pages; and after sitting -half-an-hour with the book in her hand, she found that she was holding -it upside down. - -Her father had returned, and had been closeted with her aunt ever since, -and it was as likely as not that Alrina would not see either of them -again for the night. They did not trust her with any of their secrets, -of which they seemed to have a good many; and her lover had imparted a -secret to her to-day, which made her feel very unhappy on his account; -but he had trusted her, and confided in her, so that was some -consolation; but then, if there should be any dreadful secret connected -with her past history, or her mother's, of whom she knew nothing, and -she were to lose his love in consequence, what should she do? She would -have no one then on whom she could lean for support and consolation in -her trials. All these thoughts, crowding one upon the other, made her -feel very sad, and she burst into tears, as she sat down in the little -parlour. Poor girl! how sad to be in the midst of relatives and friends, -and yet to feel that no one cares for you! Better to be a recluse at -once--far better. - -Alice Ann knew that her young mistress had something on her mind that -distressed her, but she did not feel herself competent to advise or -console her. She peeped in at the door, however, and said,-- - -"What's the matter, Miss Reeney? I shud think you'd lost your sweetheart -a'most!" - -"No, no, Alice Ann," she replied, wiping away her tears; "if I had one, -like you, and everything was going on smoothly, like your affairs, -perhaps it might raise my spirits a little." - -"'Tesn't all so smooth as you may think," said Alice Ann; "I ha'n't se'n -sight nor sign of 'Siah (ef that's what you do main) sence the day after -the wreck, when he an' 'The Maister' had such a tussle up in the -'private room.' I looked in through the keyhole, but I couldn't see -much. When 'Siah came out aw looked all flushed, but I don't think aw -wor frightened, like some of them are when they do come out. Hes -fe-a-thar an' mother ha'n't seed much of 'n neither since then, I -b'lieve. I wish you could stay for to run down there, an' ax about 'n a -bit, Miss Reeney." - -That was a happy suggestion. A good long chat with Mrs. Trenow, and, -probably, another secret, would relieve her mind a little from the heavy -weight she felt pressing upon it--almost more than she could bear. - -She found Mrs. Trenow alone, with a basketful of coarse worsted -stockings before her, belonging to the men, which she was "mending a -croom," she said. - -"How are 'ee, Miss Reeney, my dear," said she, as Alrina entered; "the -sight of you es good for sore eyes! Why, I ha'n't seed 'ee for ever so -long." - -"No," replied Alrina; "I have been pretty much engaged, and my aunt has -been out more than usual lately, and so I have been housekeeper, you -know." - -"Iss sure," said Mrs. Trenow, looking at her visitor over her -spectacles. "You ha' seed an' heerd bra' things lately, I s'pose. They -do say 'The Maister' es worken' the oracle purty fitty sence the wreck." - -"What do you mean?" exclaimed Alrina, in surprise. - -"What do I main?" asked Mrs. Trenow, taking off her spectacles, and -closing the door;--"why, this here es what I do main. The best of the -things that wor picked up from that wreck es up in 'The Maister's' -private room, and more wud ha' b'en there, ef et worn't for one thing -more than another. There ha' b'en more people ill-wished, and more -cattle an' things dead, sence that night, than wor ever knaw'd to be -afore in so short a time; an' where shud they go to ef et worn't to 'The -Maister?'--and what wud he do for them ef they dedn't cross his hand?" - -"I don't at all understand you!" said Alrina, more surprised than ever. - -"No, I s'pose you don't, my dear," replied Mrs. Trenow; "you must go -abroad for to hear news about home, so they do say. An' poor Maister -Brown, too, ha' b'en up there, an' came home frightened out of his life. -Our 'Siah wor up to 'the public' when aw came in. He wudn't spaik a word -then, so 'Siah said; but to-day Mrs. Brown told 'Siah all about et. But -'tes a secret, my dear;--hush!" - -"What is it, Mrs. Trenow? don't keep me in this suspense," said Alrina, -in an excited manner; "do tell me what has happened." - -"Happened!" replied Mrs. Trenow; "why, nothen' ha'n't happened yet, that -I do knaw of; but how he'll git 'n to do it I don't knaw. I wudn't ef I -wor he." - -"What! is Josiah to do something for Mr. Brown?" asked Alrina. - -"No, my dear, not 'Siah," replied Mrs. Trenow. "There's a young -gentleman up there stopping, so 'Siah said, and he must ride Maister -Brown's mare to the edge of the cliff 'pon the Land's-End point, an' -look over, to save the man and the boy from witchcraft. Now, mind you -don't tell nobody, for 'tes a secret, my dear, down sous." - -"I'd see them both at the bottom of the sea first," said Alrina; "why -should a stranger be mixed up with Mr. Brown's misfortunes?" - -"Why! sure nuff!" replied Mrs. Trenow; "you may say Y or X, whichever -you mind to, but ef 'The Maister' do give the orders to the likes of Mr. -Brown, 'tes likely to be done, ef et can be any way in the world." - -"What did my father know of the stranger, to give such an order as -that?" said Alrina. - -"That I do no more knaw than a child," replied Mrs. Trenow; "but here's -fe-a-thar; mayhap he can tell." - -"Your sarvant, Miss Reeney," said Captain Trenow, as he entered the -room; "you're a stranger, ma'am." - -"Not much of a stranger, Captain Trenow," said Alrina; "but you are so -seldom at home when I can run down for a gossip with your good wife." - -"Zackly like that," said the captain; "she's a bra' good hand for a -gossip, I do b'lieve. I'll back har agen the parish for tongue, Miss -Reeney. She don't do much else, I b'lieve in my conscience." - -"Areah! then," said his wife, indignantly; "I shud like to knaw how -you'd get your victuals cooked, and your clothes mended, ef I was so -fond of gossipping as some people I do knaw?" - -"Are 'ee going for to see the gentleman ride over the cliff to-morrow, -Miss Reeney?" said Captain Trenow, by way of changing the subject. "I do -hear that he's determined upon et, 'cause somebody said he cudn't. More -fool he, I do say." - -"Oh! Captain Trenow," said Alrina, in the greatest terror; "don't let -him do it--pray, don't." - -"Me! Miss Reeney," said the captain;--"why, I don't knaw the gentlemen. -Nobody here have ever seed 'n, 'ceps 'Siah an' the landlord's people." - -"But won't Josiah prevent him?" said Alrina. - -"That I can no more tell than you can, ma'am," replied Trenow. "'Siah es -gone up there now." - -"Why, Miss Reeney!" exclaimed Mrs. Trenow, who had been looking -intently on Alrina for the last few minutes; "I shud think that strange -gentleman wor your sweetheart, ef I ded'nt knaw that you never clapp'd -your eyes upon om in your life. 'Siah do say, f'rall, that he's a likely -young chap enough." - -This last expression of Mrs. Trenow's put Alrina on her guard. She did -not, at present, wish the gossips of St. Just to know that Frederick -Morley was either her friend or her lover; nor would he, under existing -circumstances, have wished it either. There were secrets on both sides -to be discovered and explained, before it would be prudent for them -openly to declare their attachment to each other. Frederick had not yet -even seen Alrina's father, and she was as yet entirely under her -father's control. She went home, therefore, with a sad heart; and -nothing that Alice Ann could say or do, could induce her to tell her -what she had heard, nor why she was so sad. She hoped that it might not -be true,--that was her only consolation. But it was true, nevertheless. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -FREDERICK MORLEY OBSTINATELY DETERMINES ON RIDING THE MARE. - - -When Frederick Morley returned to the inn, after his meeting with -Alrina, he found his friend, Lieut. Fowler, there in deep conversation -with Mr. and Mrs. Brown. - -"Hallo! old fellow," he exclaimed, as his friend entered; "a pretty -fellow you are, to keep the squire's dinner waiting, and two pair of -bright eyes languishing for something more sprightly than a poor -lieutenant R.N. to rest their weary lids upon. Why, where the deuce have -you been? You are not _ill-wished_, too, are you?" - -"It seems very like it," replied Morley; "for I seem to bring trouble -wherever I go. Only last night, when I simply wanted a note taken over -to you, and my bag brought back, the boy was taken off by the pixies, -and the landlord's mare caught St. Vitus's dance, or something -worse,--so the sooner I return to the place from whence I came, the -better." - -"I don't know that," replied Fowler; "for you have work cut out for you -here, it seems." - -"What do you mean?" replied his friend, smiling. "The French haven't -landed, have they? and you want me to take the command of the -volunteers?" - -"No, no," said Fowler; "but our friend, Mr. Brown, has been to the -conjuror about his misfortunes; and what do you think he told him?" - -"I'm sure I don't know," replied Morley; "some humbug, I suppose." - -"Nothing of the kind, I assure you," replied Fowler. "He merely said -that it would depend on the courage and skill of the person who was the -innocent cause of the misfortunes, to extricate him out of them." - -"If you mean me," replied Morley, "you know I don't want for pluck; as -to the skill, that's another thing,--that will depend on what there is -to do." - -"Well, then, Mr. Brown has confided to me the history of his visit to -the conjuror," said the lieutenant, "and he told him that the gentleman -(meaning you) must ride the mare to the edge of the cliff at the -Land's-End, and look over,--having no friend or assistant within fifty -yards of him." - -"Ha! ha! ha! that's easy enough," said Morley; "I was considered the -best horseman in my regiment, and I am passionately fond of riding. Why, -I have jumped on the back of a colt that had never been haltered before, -and broken it in, so that a child could ride it, before I got off its -back again. I know the secret, and can tame a horse by whispering in his -ear. So you may consider your misfortunes at an end, if that will do it, -my good friend Brown?" - -"No, sir," said Mrs. Brown, very decidedly; "there shall be no such risk -as that run for anything belonging to me. Lev the mare alone,--she'll -get round again; an' ef she don't, 'twas no fault of yours, sir." - -"But, ef the gentleman esn't afeard," chimed in poor Mr. Brown, "why -not----" - -"Brown!" said his wife, in a voice which made him start; "I wish to -gracious 'The Maister' had told you to ride the mare yourself. I b'lieve -you wud have b'en fool enough to have done et, and then I shud ha' got -rid of two troubles together. Drat the mare!" And, in her anger, she -took up a large bunch of furze, and threw it on the fire, which was -burning on the hearth, and sent it blazing up the large chimney, while -her husband shuffled away towards the door, intending to go into the -stable, his usual place of refuge from the two fires, which generally -blazed together within; for when his wife was in one of her tantrums, -and exercised her tongue more than usual, she generally put a good blast -into the chimney, and they blazed away together. Before poor Mr. Brown -reached the door, however, he was brought up "_with a round turn_," as -Lieut. Fowler expressed it, by the sweet voice of his wife, who said, -sharply,-- - -"Brown! did you hear Lieut. Fowler ask for a glass of ale for self and -friend?" - -"No, Peggy, dear, I dedn't," said he; "but I'll draw the glasses, of -course I will. Polly! Polly! Why, wherever es that maid?" - -So the glasses of ale were drawn, although the order was entirely in -Mrs. Brown's own imagination; for neither of the gentlemen had given -one;--but it was the very thing they both wished, and, no doubt, would -have ordered very soon, had not their wishes been anticipated by the -landlady, who always had an eye to business. - -The two gentlemen then took a stroll together, and Lieut. Fowler tried -to dissuade his friend from this rash and foolish undertaking, but to no -purpose. He was determined to do it, he said,--it was just the thing he -liked; for English sports were so tame, after those he had been -accustomed to for the last two years. Hunting tigers and Lions,--that -was the sport for him. - -"If you are really determined," said Fowler, "I shall bring the girls up -from Pendrea-house to have a look at you; but I think you will alter -your mind before the morning." - -Mrs. Brown had prepared a very nice dinner, and so the friends enjoyed -two or three hours' social chat. Morley had heard no tidings of his -brother, he said, nor had anyone found anything that was likely to have -been his, as far as he could learn; and so he supposed he was not in -that ship. But he should remain a day or two longer, he said, to make -further search. - -When his friend rose to leave, Morley said he would go out a little way -with him, and he would ride the mare to try her temper and her paces. - -Mrs. Brown was obliged to yield when she found that the gentleman was -determined on the feat, and she trusted that the well-known good temper -and tractability of the mare would carry them both through with -safety,--although the fright into which the mare had been thrown two -days before, without any apparent cause, as it seemed, tended to weaken -Mrs. Brown's confidence in the perfect steadiness of her husband's pet. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -THE AWFUL RIDE. - - -The eventful morning arrived. But it had been kept a profound secret, -fearing that, if a rumour of this dangerous feat being about to take -place got generally known, there would be a concourse of people on the -ground,--and the mare, however steady she was, might get frightened. - -Mr. Brown walked up early to the point, and sat behind a rock, from -whence he could have a good view without being seen. Lieut. Fowler and -the young ladies from Pendrea were early on the ground also; and they -took their stations also behind some rocks, but in a more conspicuous -place than Mr. Brown. There were a few other spectators, but very few, -scattered about among the rocks. They waited some time in anxious -expectation, but no rider appeared. - -"Morley has altered his mind, no doubt," said Lieut. Fowler to the -ladies; "and I am glad of it; for it is a dangerous feat to perform, on -a strange horse." - -"Oh! I wish it may be so," said Blanche; "for, although I came to oblige -Maud, I shall shut my eyes when he goes down to the point." - -"Nonsense," said the majestic Maud; "I don't think I should be afraid to -perform the feat myself, if I were a man;--I should like it. But here he -comes. I thought he wouldn't shew the white feather." - -At that moment the object of their solicitude came towards them, mounted -on the famous mare, Jessie. She had been well fed, and carefully -groomed, and her master's comb had evidently gone through her tail and -mane more than once that morning. - -Morley took off his hat to the ladies, and chatted with them a few -minutes, laughing at the idea of there being any danger in his riding -quietly to the point and back. The ladies admired and patted the -beautiful creature he was riding; and even Blanche thought there could -be no danger on such a beautiful quiet animal as that. - -Lieut. Fowler, however, even then, tried to dissuade his friend from the -attempt. - -"Don't be such a faint-hearted old codger," said Morley, laughing. And, -taking off his hat again to the ladies, he cantered easily down towards -the point. - -The promontory, clothed with short grass, slopes gently down towards the -extreme point of the Land's-End for about fifty yards, and then breaks -off suddenly, and the cliffs go down perpendicularly some two or three -hundred feet, except that, here and there, in the side of the cliff, at -various distances, may be seen, by a person whose head is steady enough -to look down, projecting rocks just sufficient to break the fall, but -not large enough for a body to rest upon for a single moment. - -At the bottom, the sea washes the base of the cliffs, coming booming in -with every wave, and surging and dashing against the rocks and cliffs -beneath, sending its spray sometimes in rough weather completely over -those towering cliffs,--a fearful sight for a man with a steady head to -look down upon, but for a horse! - -On comes the bold rider,--steadily,--carefully. The mare doesn't like it -at first, and turns round when she is within a few yards of the edge of -the precipice. The turf is soft, and she capers a little. The rider pats -her neck, and turns her head again, gently, towards the cliffs. She goes -on gently! gently! he patting her neck, and sitting steadily on her -back. At last they are standing on the very edge of the precipice, and -are both looking over. Hurrah!! The deed is done!! All eyes are bent on -the bold rider, and are holding their breath. A single false step, even -now, would precipitate them into the abyss below, and both must be -dashed in pieces. Awful thought! The deed is done, however, and Mr. -Brown's misfortunes are at an end. The rider turns his horse to ride -back to his friends in triumph. He has just turned her head round -towards the green turf again, when something attracts the mare's -attention. She trembles! Her back is towards the precipice,--her hind -feet close to the edge of the cliff! Neither horse nor rider sees the -extent of the danger, for their backs are towards it. The mare refuses -to proceed; the rider urges her; she rears! Another moment and they must -be dashed in pieces,--nothing can save them. All is breathless anxiety -among the spectators. No one has the presence of mind to speak. A voice -at this moment is heard distinctly, stentorian in its anxiety,--"_Throw -yourself off the horse, and hold on!!!_" The young officer obeys the -voice instantly, as if it had been a command from his superior officer. -He flings himself off, and holds on by the turf, _like grim death_, -digging his fingers into the soft ground to hold on the firmer; for he -now hears the horse go down over the precipice,--down! down! bumping on -the projecting rocks in the fall, and _screeching_, as horses and all -animals will do in extreme danger and suffering. The rider had fallen on -the turf, it is true; but he had barely saved himself, for _his legs -dangled over the edge of the precipice_! - -He could not stir. He felt as if he was holding himself up by his -fingers, which he had dug into that soft turf, and this seemed giving -way every instant; but it was not so in reality. His body was safely -lodged on the ground, although his feet were hanging over, and as long -as he could hold on he was safe; but he couldn't hold on so very long. -And then--oh! horror!--his terror and fright caused him to fancy a -thousand horrid deaths in an instant of time. Before he had been lying -on the turf two minutes, however, a tall, strong-built, powerful-looking -man, came bounding down towards him from one of the rocks just above, -and, seizing him round the waist, lifted him up in his strong arms, and -carried him to a safer resting-place. By this time he had fainted, and -was unconscious of the attentions which were being paid him. - -His providential deliverer was no other than Josiah Trenow, who had come -there to see the feat, and was standing behind a rock, at no great -distance from the point. And he it was who had the presence of mind to -shout to the rider to throw himself off, when he saw the horse rear; and -it was his strong arm that lifted the poor terror-stricken man from his -perilous position. - -Had it not been for the presence of mind of this bold strong man, the -young officer might still have gone over; for he had not the power to -move a limb, and, when he fainted, and let go his hold in the grass, he -must have followed the horse,--down! down! Oh! terrible fate!!! - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -ITS CONSEQUENCES. - - -No one thought of the fate of Mr. Brown's favourite mare. All the -spectators clustered round the prostrate man. Maud Pendray looked on him -as a hero; she seemed to worship him with her eyes. Blanche wept tears -of joy that he was saved from what everyone thought inevitable -destruction. Poor Mr. Brown didn't know what to say or do. He called -upon Peggy, and said several times, as if talking to his pet, "Wo! ho! -Jessie! gently, mare! steady, now!" And then the poor man sat down on a -rock, apart from the rest, and burst into tears. - -Those of the party who alone were equal to the occasion, were Lieut. -Fowler and Josiah Trenow. They collected the few men together who -happened to be present, and, between them, they carried the -terror-stricken man to "The First and Last Inn," at Sennen--that being -the nearest public-house to the scene of the accident. - -A man on horseback was despatched to Penzance for a surgeon, and the -patient was put to bed at once. - -A fortnight passed away, and the patient was fast recovering, but he -could not shake off the gloomy and depressing thoughts, which were -continually recurring, whenever he heard the sea, or saw the cliffs. - -One day, the surgeon announced that there was to be a grand ball at -Penzance, in about a fortnight,--the precise day was not fixed; and he -advised his patient to go. Change of scene, and the excitement of the -music and the dancing, and the company, he thought, would draw his mind -away from those ever-present and depressing thoughts. His friend Fowler -had promised to go with the Pendray party, and they were all delighted -to learn that Morley had consented to join them also. - -Poor Alrina! it was an anxious day for her. She knew that her lover was -gone out on the mare to attempt that daring feat; and she knew, also, -the extent of the risk he was incurring,--for she had often, in her -solitary rambles, walked down to the edge of the Land's-End cliffs, and -looked over, out of curiosity, and it made her shudder when she thought -of him. Even should he be able to get the mare down to the -brink,--sitting there at the mercy of the horse, one false step, or a -moment's giddiness, must be fatal to both. In the midst of her -meditations, news was brought that the horse and its rider had both -fallen over the cliff, and were dashed in pieces. She threw herself on -her bed, and tried to believe that the report was false; but no,--she -feared it must be true, for she had before worked her mind up to the -belief that the feat could not be accomplished in safety. - -She was overwhelmed with grief; and when Alice Ann came up, a few hours -afterwards, and told her that Josiah was downstairs, and had brought a -message for her from Mr. Morley, the sudden and blessed news that he was -alive, affected her almost as much as the dreadful news of his death had -done. She was quite overcome by her feelings. Sometimes she would laugh -heartily, and then burst into a torrent of tears, until it ended in a -violent fit of hysterics. - -It was a long time before Alice Ann could pacify her, and she dared not -call in the assistance of Miss Freeman, for she knew that her aunt did -not sympathize with "young ladies' vagaries," as she called them. -Besides, she was again closeted with her brother, who had been from home -nearly all the day, and had but just returned. - -When she was sufficiently recovered, Alrina saw Josiah, and received the -kind message which her lover had sent her; and from Josiah she heard the -true but sad tale. He told her all, from the beginning. Mr. Morley was -as weak as a young baby, he said, and for hours after the accident he -trembled all over, as he lay in bed, so that the bed shook under him. -The doctor had desired that he should be kept perfectly quiet, and that -a watch should be kept with him, night and day; for he feared delirium. -He had left Mr. Fowler with him now, he said; but Mr. Morley had -requested Josiah to return as soon as possible, and stay with him also; -for he had a strange nervous feeling that he was _still falling_, and -nothing relieved him but feeling Josiah's strong arm round his -waist;--he felt safe then, and so Josiah had sat for hours on the poor -terror-stricken young man's bed, holding him in his arms; and the -sufferer would cry out like a little frightened child, if his supporter -did but move, and beg him not to let him fall over,--for he could not -divest himself of the idea that he was still on the brink of the -precipice. - -Alrina listened with profound attention to Josiah's description of the -scene, and of her lover's present prostrate condition. She longed to go -to him, and to be his nurse; but there were many reasons, both on his -account, and her own, why she should not do so. - -She wrote a short note, which Josiah promised to deliver into his hands; -but he said he could not promise to bring an answer in writing, for Mr. -Morley's hand trembled so that he could not hold a pen, nor even the -glass in which he took his medicine. - -Although her mind was set at rest in a measure, yet Alrina had enough -to occupy her thoughts till bedtime, and so she retired to her room -again, and desired Alice Ann to tell her aunt, if she enquired after -her, that she had a headache, and was gone to lie down a little. - -Before she had been in her room long, however, Alice Ann came to the -door, and said "The Maister" wanted Miss Reeney at once. - -"My father!" exclaimed Alrina; "what can he possibly want!" - -"I do no more knaw than you," replied Alice Ann; "but he told me to -fetch you down, f'rall I told'n you wor gone to bed poorly." - -"Well, I suppose I must obey," said Alrina, heaving a heavy sigh. "I -wonder what he wants me for? it is so unusual for him to send for me. I -wish I knew why he was so cruel as to order Frederick to perform that -perilous feat to-day,--some hidden motive, no doubt. I'll try and find -it out. I've a great mind to ask him, point blank; but then----" - -"Come, Miss Reeney," said Alice Ann, coming to the door again; "'The -Maister' es axing when you're comin', so I told'n you wor dressin'." - -When Alrina came out into the front passage from her bedroom, which was -in the back of the house looking into the little garden, she found her -father waiting for her near the door of his "private room." He opened -the door and desired her to follow him. - -Her curiosity was to be gratified, then, at last, but not in the way she -very much liked, for she fancied that this interview would not be a very -pleasant one,--why, she didn't know. Perhaps her father was now about to -reveal some of those mysteries which hung over them. At another time she -might not have felt these painful forebodings, but her nerves had been -unstrung by the events of the day; and she felt now as if an unkind -word, or an unexpected disclosure, would upset her again. So much more -terrible are imaginary misfortunes and troubles oftentimes when seen at -a distance, than they are in reality, when they actually take place. - -Mr. Freeman took his seat at the top of the room, near a large table, -and pointed to a chair, which Alrina felt was intended as an invitation -for her to be seated also. This gave her courage to look round the room. -There were some large boxes about, and several cupboards and a few more -chairs; but, in general appearance, the room was pretty much like other -sitting-rooms, except that it required to be dusted, she thought. And, -when she had finished her survey of the room, she had time to look at -her father again, before he spoke. He was evidently trying to overawe -her, and when she found out that, it gave her fresh courage. - -Mr. Freeman, as he sat in that large, curiously-fashioned chair, seemed -a fine-looking man,--much younger in appearance than he generally -looked; because, as we have before stated, he affected the old man, and -seemed to wish to be thought much older than he really was. - -"Alrina," he said, at length, "how did you become acquainted with that -young man?" - -"What young man?" said she, as innocently as she could. - -"Alrina!" he said again, looking at her sternly; "you know whom I mean, -and therefore let's have no prevarication." - -"His sister was one of my schoolfellows," she replied, "and she -introduced me to her brother." - -"Oh!" replied her father, smiling; "and you each became affected with -that incurable malady which silly people call 'love;' and you have met -him again? And where is your old schoolfellow now, pray?" asked Mr. -Freeman. - -"She is residing with Mrs. Courland, I believe," replied Alrina, "at -Ashley Hall." - -"Thank you, Alrina. That was all I wanted to know. Now, you can go to -your room again, if you don't feel well, and let the servant bring you -up some tea. Good night." - -So, then, this terrible ordeal in the "private room," which Alrina had -dreaded so much but a few minutes before, and racked her brain to -imagine what her father could possibly want of her, had ended in his -asking a plain simple question or two, and her giving him answers to -match. And although she had intended to ask him why he had been so cruel -as to order that dangerous feat to be performed by that young stranger, -and many other important questions, she had been dismissed so abruptly, -that she had actually said nothing. - -The whole scene seemed so absurd that she burst into a hearty laugh when -she reached her own little bedroom once more. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -MRS. BROWN TELLS THE CONJUROR A BIT OF HER MIND. - - -Poor Mr. Brown! he remained on the rocks long after the other spectators -had left, and would have remained there much longer, had he not been -roused from his reverie by a gentle tap on his shoulder. - -"Billy," said he, looking up; "let's go into the stable and have a look -at Jessie, boy. She must have a good rub-down and a warm mash to-night." - -"Come along," said the boy. And, taking Mr. Brown by the arm, he led him -home to his amiable but eccentric wife. - -"What! Billy!" she exclaimed, as the pair entered the kitchen; "where, -in the name of goodness ded you spring from?" - -"Why, I ha'n't b'en away, have I?" replied the sly boy. - -"Now, that's enough--a plenty," said Mrs. Brown, looking at the boy with -her keen grey eyes. "I can see through a millstone so well as most -people. I ha'n't b'en away, says aw!" - -"No, have I?" said he, looking innocently at his mistress. - -"Areah, thon! Now, I'll tell 'ee, Billy. He that ha' b'en your maister -the last three days, may take 'ee for the next three days, for what I do -care; for in my house you sha'n't stop,--there, na. My eyes ha' b'en -opening wider and wider evar sence last night. A croom of chat with one, -and a croom of chat with another, have opened them so wide, that I can -see round a corner a'most." - -"I don't knaw what you do main," said the boy. - -"Iss you do," replied Mrs. Brown, shaking her head; "so you march,--and -dont you come anist my door agen for a bra' spur." - -The boy saw that his quondam mistress was in earnest; so he took the -hint and made himself scarce. - -"And now, Mr. Brown," said she, turning to her husband, who had seated -himself in the chimney-corner, "what do you think of yourself, I shud -like to knaw? Your Jessie mare es come to a purty pass, esn't she? Ef -the young gentleman had gone over cliff too, I shud nevar ha' b'en good -no more. To go for to slock the young gentleman into et like that wor a -shame, an' so et wor. You an' 'The Maister' too oft to be -spefflicated,--iss you ded." - -"'The Maister' wor right, Peggy," said Mr. Brown;--"the boy es come -back. Wo! ho! Jessie! gently, mare! steady, now! Wo! ho!" - -"John Brown," said his wife, "I ha' thoft for a bra' bit that there was -but one biggar fool than you in the world, an' that's me, for marryin' -such a g'eat lazy, knaw-nothen' pattick. John Brown, go to bed!" And -this command was given in such an authoritative tone, that Mr. Brown -took it literally, and, lighting a bed-light, although it was broad -daylight, he took off his shoes at the bottom of the stairs, as was his -wont, and went to bed in right earnest; and in ten minutes he was fast -asleep. - -"Well, that's a comfort," said Mrs. Brown. - -"What's a comfort?" said Mrs. Trenow, who had come in to have a croom of -chat with the landlady; "you've had your drop of gin an' peppermint, I -s'pose?" - -"No, sure, I ha'n't," replied Mrs. Brown; "but we will now, for I do -feel that there's something wantin', cheeld vean." - -So the two gossips were very soon seated comfortably over their little -drop of cordial, seasoned with a pinch of snuff; and they wound up their -moderate carousal with a cup of tea. - -"You said something wor a comfort when I came in," said Mrs. Trenow. - -"Iss fie! hark!" replied Mrs. Brown, turning up her ear in a listening -attitude. - -"You've got a pig bad, I s'pose?" said Mrs. Trenow; "but what comfort -there es in that, I caen't tell. Ill-wished again, I s'pose? Semmen to -me 'The Maister' ha' got bra' work now." - -"No, my dear, tesn't the pig. Hark again!" said Mrs. Brown. - -"Why, 'tes up in the chamber, to be sure," replied Mrs. Trenow, -listening. - -"Iss fie, 'tes up in the chamber, sure nuff," said Mrs. Brown; "and -there he'd sleep and snore till to-morrow dennar-time ef I dedn't -rouse'n out." - -"Dear lor'! like that, es aw? Whisht too 'pon om, now that the mare es -killed, I s'pose," said Mrs. Trenow. "Do 'ee think that 'The Maister' -had any grudge agen that young gentleman, do 'ee?" - -"What shud he knaw 'bout the young gentleman?" returned Mrs. Brown. -"I'll tell 'ee, Mrs. Trenow, 'The Maister' wean't lev you nor me knaw -what he do think; for thinken' es one thing and spaiken' es another, -weth he, I'll assure 'ee." - -"But the boy came back to the very minute, I do hear," said Mrs. Trenow, -who could not be persuaded out of her belief in "The Maister's" wisdom. - -"I tell 'ee, Mrs. Trenow," said Mrs. Brown, in a confidential whisper; -"'tes my belief that ef they two wor to take off their shoes you wud see -two cloven hoofs,--iss I do." - -"Oh! lor!" shrieked both the women, as they looked up, after their -little confidential whisper; for behind them stood Mr. Freeman himself. - -"A glass of mild ale, if you please, Mrs. Brown," said he, in his -blandest tone, as he took his usual seat in the chimney-corner. - -"Yes, sir," said the landlady. And while she was drawing the ale, Mrs. -Trenow took the opportunity of slipping out. Mrs. Brown was as shrewd -and cunning in her way as Mr. Freeman was in his, and, while she was -drawing the glass of ale, she began to reflect on the probable purport -of this early visit; for "The Maister" seldom came there until much -later in the evening, when he knew he should find some of those -peculiarly constituted individuals there, whom Alrina generally -designated "goostrumnoodles," and whom he seldom found much difficulty -in frightening to his heart's content. On these occasions, Mrs. Brown -never interfered; for she had an eye to business, and she knew that the -more terror there was produced in the brains of these poor numskulls, -the more stimulants they would consume. But, now, there was no occasion -for any dissimulation; and so she determined she would tell "The -Maister" a bit of her mind,--for she believed that he had some hidden -and wicked motive for prompting her husband to induce that young -gentleman to undertake so dangerous a feat as the one he had attempted -that day. - -"Your husband has met with a serious loss to-day," said Mr. Freeman. - -"Iss; and I s'pose you are come down for to make et good," replied Mrs. -Brown, rather tartly. - -"Me!" said Mr. Freeman; "what have I to do with Mr. Brown's losses, more -than having a feeling of sympathy for the misfortunes of an old friend?" - -"You dedn't tell Brown that the young gentleman must ride the mare up -there, I s'pose?" said Mrs. Brown, taking a cunning side glance at her -visitor. - -"What motive could I have had for such a suggestion as that?" asked Mr. -Freeman, looking innocently at Mrs. Brown; "and who could possibly have -said that I had anything to do with the matter?" - -"I tell 'ee, Maister Freeman," said Mrs. Brown; "there's more of your -doin's knawn than you do think. What you got out of that wreck es knawn -to a bra' many, f'rall they're afeard for to spaik et out, down sous." - -This made Mr. Freeman wince a little; for he had such confidence in his -own cunning and ability in frightening and deceiving his neighbours, -that he never for a moment supposed that they would presume to speculate -on, or try to pry into, his private gains, or discuss his actions or -motives. - -His eyes were now opened, and Mrs. Brown perceived that he felt very -uncomfortable--a most unusual and impolitic feeling for him to exhibit -in the presence of so shrewd a woman as Mrs. Brown, who drew her own -conclusions therefrom; and after her visitor had drank his ale, and left -her alone once more, she sat down, and, putting "this against that," saw -the "ins and outs of things," as she expressed it, more clearly than she -had ever done before. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER AT THE PENZANCE BALL. - - -Frederick Morley was getting strong again, and had met Alrina several -times, and pressed her to go to the ball at Penzance; but this she could -not think of doing, she said. Neither her father nor her aunt would -sanction that, she was quite sure; for, although her education had been -such as so fit her for ball-room society, and her beauty eminently -qualified her for a ball-room belle, yet the equivocal position of her -father, and the mystery which appeared to hang over them all, precluded -her from enjoying at present the society of him she loved so much, in -that sphere to which he of right belonged. He was unwilling to go -without her, and had almost made up his mind not to go; but she knew it -would do him good to mix in the society to which he had been accustomed, -and she knew, also, that if he declined accompanying the Pendray party -to the ball, his motives would be canvassed, and their secret love, -which it was best for the present should be concealed, might become -known; and so Alrina persuaded him to go. - -Carriages were sent out from Penzance to take the Pendray family and the -two officers to the ball, which was expected to be a very aristocratic -affair. When they arrived at the hotel, they found that the best -sitting-room and bedroom--which Squire Pendray wished to have secured -for his party--had been engaged that morning by a strange gentleman, who -came in from Hayle in a carriage-and-four, the waiter said. He was -dressed like a foreigner, and had a large trunk with him, but no -servant. He seemed rich, and gave orders as if he had been accustomed to -be waited upon by a good many servants, and would not be satisfied with -any but the best rooms. He took two tickets for the ball, the waiter -said, and therefore, he supposed, he expected a friend, but no one had -yet arrived. - -The ball was a very brilliant one, for a country ball in those days, and -everyone seemed in anxious expectation for the entrance of the -stranger--especially the young ladies. Miss Pendray looked splendid. She -had impressed Frederick Morley into her service, as her favoured beau; -for she had taken a great interest in him since his accident, and had -paid him marked attention,--indeed, she now looked upon him as a hero, -whom she could almost worship. Such deeds of daring had a charm for her -which few else could understand. But still, he did not come up to her -standard of manly perfection. There was scarcely enough of that romantic -devotion towards herself displayed, which she so much required, and -demanded from those she took an interest in. This placed Morley in a -very awkward position, for he could not help seeing that he had -attracted Miss Pendray's attention, and that she seemed more pleased -with his society than that of any other gentleman of her acquaintance. -But he could not return it as she evidently would have wished him to do; -for he had a secret treasure concealed within his breast, far dearer to -him than all the charms of person and mind and fortune which Miss -Pendray possessed. He would not exchange his Alrina's love for the -fairest and brightest jewel that the world could bestow; for, without -her, all the world to him would be an empty and worthless blank. - -He enjoyed the ball as much as he could do in the absence of her who was -uppermost in his thoughts. The excitement of the music, the company, and -the dancing, brought back reminiscences of similar scenes abroad. His -wonted spirits returned, and he entered thoroughly into the pleasures of -the moment, and forgot for a time the scene on the cliffs, the horse's -screech of terror, and the sound of his falling from rock to rock, as he -went down over that awful precipice, while he himself was dangling on -the very edge. He danced with all alike,--one lady was the same, to him, -as another, there,--and he did not notice that Miss Pendray had -withdrawn from the dancing, and was sitting alone at one end of the -room, when the stranger entered. All eyes were directed towards the -door, as the waiter showed him in; but his eyes were evidently attracted -by the magnificent form of Miss Pendray, as she sat alone on a seat -nearly opposite the door. - -One of the stewards immediately went up to him, introducing himself as -"steward," and offering to present him to a partner. - -The stranger bowed, and expressed a wish to be presented to the lady who -was sitting opposite. - -He gave his name to the steward who introduced him to Miss Pendray as -"Mr. Smith." The stranger was the topic of conversation throughout the -room. He certainly looked like a foreigner. His dress was that of an -Indian gentleman of rank of those days. His coat was of the finest -purple satin, trimmed and ornamented with gold; a white satin waistcoat, -tastefully embroidered with silver; and white kerseymere breeches of the -finest texture, fastened below the knee with a silver band; the white -silk stocking displaying to advantage a finely-turned leg,--his shoes -being fastened with small gold buckles. He was a tall, fine-looking man, -apparently between forty and fifty years of age--nearer the former, -perhaps, than the latter. He seemed to be making himself very agreeable -to Miss Pendray; for she became full of animation, and her handsome -countenance lit up radiant with beauty. - -The stranger would not dance, but was introduced, by turn, to almost all -the ladies of note in the room. Miss Pendray, however, was the principal -attraction, and he returned to her side again and again. - -Frederick Morley looked at the stranger several times with earnest -attention, and, after a time, became absorbed in thought. He was not -jealous of the attention bestowed on him by the lady whom he had led -into the room. No, it could not have been that. He did not care enough -for Miss Pendray to feel jealous of her attentions being bestowed -elsewhere. No, it was not that. He watched the stranger narrowly, and he -came to the conclusion that he was not the person he assumed to be. -"Smith" was a feigned name, evidently. His dress and ornaments betokened -him to have been a resident in India. India was a country familiar to -Morley by name, and dear to him, as having been the residence of his -father for so many years, and the birthplace of his mother, his brother -and sister, and himself. He had not seen his brother since he and his -sister were brought over by their father, when they were children, and -when that never-to-be-forgotten calamity befel his father, which -shortened his life. That false accusation was still hanging over the -family. He had been reminded of it, in almost every letter he had -received from his brother since their father's death; and, in his last -letter, he said he had wound up their father's affairs, and his own, in -India, and he intended to return to England by the next ship, to arrange -the property according to their father's will, and to make a strict -search after the wretches who had murdered their own father, on that -terrible night, and caused the suspicion and accusation to rest on an -innocent man. He would travel all over England, he said, and spend the -whole of his fortune, to clear his father from that foul suspicion. - -Frederick had but a very faint recollection of his brother; but a -strange, unaccountable idea, took possession of him during supper. He -thought he observed the stranger start once or twice, when the name of -"Morley" happened to be spoken by anyone at the table--as was frequently -the case; for Frederick was a stranger too, and, therefore, received -great attention from the stewards, and, indeed, from the ladies, whose -goodness of heart frequently prompts them to show greater attention to -strange gentlemen than to those whom they are in the habit of meeting -every day. - -Ever since he had heard of the wreck of that East-Indiaman at Pendeen, -he had been persuading himself that his brother might have been one of -the passengers on board that ill-fated vessel; and, as very few bodies -had been washed on shore, it was probable that one of the boats might -have withstood the storm, and, when the sea was more tranquil, they -might have landed somewhere on the north coast. It was possible. There -was just sufficient possibility in it to keep alive hope. - -What if this stranger should turn out to be his brother? It was scarcely -probable; but yet the idea had seized hold of him, and he could not get -rid of it. - -The discovery and exposure of those wretches, who had been the means of -hastening their father's death, and embittering his last moments, was -the constant theme in all his brother's letters, and seemed uppermost in -his thoughts. Year after year he longed to be able to give up his -business in India, and return to England seemingly for that one purpose. -He had witnessed the effect the stain of this false accusation had -produced on his father's mind and bodily health, and had seen him pine -away under it; and he had received his father's dying injunction to sift -the affair to the bottom as soon as he could return to England. - -He had refrained from marrying in India, that he might have no ties to -keep him there after his business affairs were wound up. He would, of -course, change his name in searching after the fugitives, and he might -have commenced at once, Frederick thought, however remote the chance of -his finding them on the narrow strip of land which terminates the -kingdom of England. - -In spite of its improbability, Morley could not divest himself of the -idea which had taken such a deep hold of him, and he determined on -speaking to the stranger after supper, and asking him if he had ever met -with a merchant of the name of Morley in India. He was disappointed, -however; for, almost immediately after supper, Frederick was seized with -one of his nervous attacks, and it was as much as his friend Fowler -could do to support him to his room; and when he came down to a late -breakfast, he found that the stranger had gone out for his morning's -walk. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -JOSIAH'S ASTONISHMENT AT THE EFFECT PRODUCED BY THE DISPLAY OF HIS -TREASURE-TROVE. - - -Josiah Trenow had been in constant attendance on Frederick Morley, ever -since the accident. It may appear strange that a young man so strong and -brave as Morley, and who had seen so much service abroad, and been -engaged in the most dangerous sports that can possibly be pursued, -should have been so entirely prostrated by this accident; but so it was. - -It was Josiah's strong arm that had lifted him up from his perilous -position on the cliffs; and, for many days, he did not feel safe unless -that strong arm was near, to be thrown round him when the terrible -thought of his perilous situation seized him; and Josiah was beginning -to like his young master--for such he seemed now to have become, without -any formal agreement having been entered into between them. - -While his young master was at Penzance attending the ball, Josiah went -to the mine where he had been working, to put things straight, and to -see the captain, and get another man put in his place; for Morley had -asked him to remain with him until he was obliged to join his regiment -again--which would not be for some time, as he had obtained an extension -of leave, in consequence of the accident, and the strong certificate -sent to head-quarters from the surgeon who attended him. He had remained -at "The First and Last Inn," at Sennen, ever since,--partly to be near -his friend Fowler, and partly because he fancied the removal to another -place might cause a return of those dreadful feelings of nervous terror -which he had now in a measure overcome. - -On the morning after his return from Penzance, Josiah came into his -master's room, after breakfast, carrying a small box under his arm, -which appeared to be very heavy, and, placing it on the table, he said, - -"I've got something here, sar, that I do want you to see. I picked 'n up -in the sand after the wreck, an' I oppened om, an' wor frightened sure -'nuff." - -"Frightened at opening a small box!" said Morley, smiling; "I thought -your nerves were stronger, Josiah." - -"You shall see for yourself," returned Josiah. And he proceeded to take -out the screws with which the box was fastened, when, to Morley's utter -astonishment, he saw that the box was filled to the brim with Indian -gold coins, and, in one corner of the box, closely packed down, there -was a piece of thick white writing-paper, neatly folded up. - -"There, sar," said Josiah; "es et any wonder that I shud be frightened?" - -"No, indeed!" said his master, taking up a few of the coins, and -examining them; "there must be many thousands of pounds in this little -box. Why, you're a lucky man, Josiah. And you consider these all your -own, of course, according to the doctrine of all Cornish wreckers?" - -"No, I don't sar," replied Josiah; "but I caen't tell whose they are,--I -wish I cud. I b'lieve that paper wud tell, ef so be that I cud read 'n; -but I caen't read writen', f'rall I can read prent, ef they're brave an' -big letters. I carr'd that paper up to Maister Freeman, but I dedn't -car' up the box,--no fie! Ef you had seed his face when he looked 'pon -the paper fust, you'd never forgit 'n no more. 'Twor whisht sure 'nuf." - -"Well, what did he say?" asked Morley, who felt more interested in -hearing something about the conjuror, who had so nearly caused his -death, than curiosity as to the contents of the paper. - -"Say?" exclaimed Josiah; "why, nothen' for a bra' bit. He read 'n down -twice, quite study, like, an' then aw looked up 'pon me, like one -startled, an' folded up the paper. An' then he said, 'Josiah,' says he -to me, 'I can't make this out 'less I do see the box that 'twor in; -bring et to me at once,' says he. ''Tes an unlucky thing for you to keep -in your house,' says he; 'your pigs will die, and, maybe, you'll all be -laid down, and rise no more,' says he. 'Bring the box, and all the -contents, within one hour,' says he, 'or else you are all doomed,' says -he. An' weth that he wor goen' for to put the paper in his pocket; but I -catched 'n by the arm, and made 'n screech ten thousand murders, an' -drop the paper, an' I very soon picked 'n up agen. An' then he tore to -me, an' tried for to catch the paper agen; but I wor too quick for 'n, -an' I tripped 'n up weth my toe, an' left 'n lyin' 'pon the planchen'; -and then I trapesed away down ste-ars. I reckon the maid Alice Ann wor -frightened too; for I b'lieve in my conscience she wor harken' outside -the door,--for I nearly knacked har down, poor soul, but I cudn't stop -to see." - -"Let me see the paper," said Morley, who was now as anxious to see it, -as he had been indifferent before. - -So Josiah took it out, and unfolded it very carefully; and if he had -been astonished to see the strange appearance of Mr. Freeman's -countenance when he perused that paper, he was perfectly astounded now, -to see the effect the perusal of it was producing on Mr. Morley; and he -began to think that the box and all it contained were bewitched, as Mr. -Freeman had said, and he entertained serious thoughts of carrying it -down to the cliffs and throwing it over. At length, Mr. Morley, having -finished the perusal of the paper for the third time, leaned his elbows -on the table, supporting his head with his hands, in which he still -clutched the paper, and sobbed aloud; for his nerves were still too weak -to bear up against any sudden shock without giving vent to his feelings. - -Josiah stood looking at his master and the box alternately, having a -confused idea of a shipwreck and a man and horse falling over cliff, -with a box of gold tied to them as a weight to pull them down. At last -Mr. Morley recovered sufficiently to see that Josiah was looking -bewildered; so he thought it right to read the paper to him, which did -not, however, enlighten him very much till further explanation was -given. - -The mysterious paper contained these words:-- - - - "_I, Alexander Morley, on my dying bed, enjoin my two sons, William - and Frederick Morley, to make the strictest search for those two - wretches, who committed the murder, of which I was accused, and to - use all possible means to bring them to justice, or to induce them - to confess their crime, that my bones may rest in peace. The - contents of this box to be used in the prosecution thereof._ - - "_Alexander Morley._" - - -"Well," said Josiah, "I ar'n't much furder footh, I think." And he -looked at his master with a vacant stare. Mr. Morley, therefore, thought -it best to entrust this faithful and honest man with the whole -circumstances relative to the murder, which made him stare more than -ever; but it was not a vacant stare now. - -"You must let me take this paper, Josiah," said Mr. Morley; "and perhaps -I had better take care of the box also, for the present." - -"By all mains, sar," said Josiah; "for, putting this and that together, -'tes surely your father's box, and sent here for a wise purpose." - -"This accident has brought many sad reflections into my mind, Josiah," -replied Mr. Morley. "I cannot now have any doubt of the fate of my poor -brother. He was, no doubt, bringing this valued box home, that we might -proceed together in the search. He is gone; but Providence has thrown -this box in my way, as a powerful incentive to use my utmost exertions, -single-handed, to perform the task allotted to my brother and myself by -our poor father." - -"You sha-ant go by yourself, sar," said Josiah; "I'll help 'ee as far as -I can, ef you'll lev me to." - -"You shall," replied his master. "I am indebted to you for my life, and -for the discovery of this box, so that our destinies seem blended -together, in an unaccountable manner. You shall not go unrewarded, I -assure you. We will use this money, as it is ordered, in searching for -the guilty parties." - -"Zackly like that," returned Josiah; "an' ef I wor you I wud ax Maister -Freeman. Whether et wor his conjuring knawledge, or what, I caen't tell; -but semmen' to me I thoft he knawed somethen'." - -"No, no," replied Morley; "it was the wish to get the gold into his -possession that made him look so odd. He is avaricious, and he thought -to frighten you into the foolish act of bringing the box to him, when he -would either have kept it altogether, or have taken a large toll out of -it." - -"Well, sar," said Josiah, "I'll allow you for to knaw best; but ef I wor -you, I'd see Maister Freeman;--he might look to his books an' tell 'ee -somethen' more than you do knaw now." - -This seemed very good advice; for, even if Mr. Freeman knew nothing, -Frederick thought he should at least see the conjuror in his "sanctum," -as he was going to him on business, and he might have a chance of seeing -Alrina, whom he had not met for several days; for she did not keep her -last appointment with him two days before the ball, and he feared she -might be ill, or might have been prevented by some lynx-eyed Duenna, as -she had been before, when he blamed her without cause. So, for all these -reasons, Frederick determined he would visit the lion in his den, and -make him divulge all he knew respecting the contents of that paper, if -indeed he knew anything--which, however, the unhappy young man very much -doubted. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE BORROWED FEATHERS OF THE PEACOCK FAIL TO CONCEAL ENTIRELY THE -NATURAL PLUMAGE OF THE JACKDAW. - - -The strange gentleman who had caused such a sensation at the ball, and -who called himself "Mr. Smith," continued to reside at the hotel, at -Penzance, in a style which evinced great wealth, and perhaps rank, as -the inhabitants generally thought; so he was called on by most of the -aristocracy of the neighbourhood, and invited to dine at their houses. -He frequently rode out to the Logan Rock, or Lamorna cliffs, where he -met Miss Pendray--sometimes by appointment, and sometimes by accident. -She seemed quite fascinated with the mysterious stranger, and would meet -him in the roughest weather, and wander with him over the cliffs, while -he related to her tales of romance and horror, which delighted and -fascinated her; and she would look into his face, and allow him to hold -her hand, as they sat side by side on the rocks, while he poured into -her willing ear those tales she so delighted to listen to,--and by -degrees he blended, almost imperceptibly at first, his own feelings with -the more romantic scenes which he depicted so well, and shadowed forth, -at length, in vague but unmistakeable language, his love and admiration -of the beautiful creature by his side, until the majestic Maud was -subdued into a mere mortal and received his protestations and vows of -love and constancy, and returned them as fully and freely and -confidingly as her sister, the gentle and innocent Blanche, would have -done to him she loved above all others on earth. But, although he was -always so ready and anxious to meet Miss Pendray out of doors, he -avoided going to her father's house. She would frequently ask him the -reason of this, but he would never satisfy her. On one occasion, after -an unusually tender and protracted meeting on the cluster of rocks -surrounding the Logan Rock, when he thought he had gained sufficient -power over her, he asked her to elope with him; at which she was at -first highly indignant. She drew herself up instantly to her full -dignity, and, looking down with scorn on her lover, while her eyes -flashed with indignation, she said, - -"Do you take me for a silly school-girl, that you presume to make such a -proposition to me? No, sir! while I reside under my father's roof, it -must be from his hands, and from his house, that I must be claimed and -taken, if at all." - -"Nay," exclaimed her companion, in the greatest alarm and humiliation; -"I meant not to offend you. My life has been one of romance from my -childhood, and I thought you possessed the same romantic ideas, but in a -loftier, and, I perceive, more chivalrous, form. Pardon me. The -anticipation of the possession of a jewel so valuable, dazzled and -disordered my brain, and I feared its loss, if left to others to -decide; your father might refuse his consent, and a thousand things -might happen in the delay, to deprive me of the possession of her on -whom my happiness and life depend. But your wishes shall be as commands -to me;--it shall be done methodically, and in as businesslike a manner -as other poor mortals perform the same ordeal: I will ask your honoured -father, who will doubtless give us his blessing: we will go to the -parish church and be united, as the Cornish clodhoppers are accustomed -to be, and have a quiet dinner, and after tea we will jog into Penzance, -and spend the honeymoon in some comfortable lodgings. Let me go now, and -speak to the good squire," continued he, taking her hand, and kneeling -on the grass at her feet. - -"Oh! Mr. Smith," she said, relenting a little; "you have drawn a very -rustic picture truly of the marriage ceremony. The one great event in -woman's life should be a little more brilliant and exciting than that, -certainly." - -"Yes, yes," said he, rising and kissing her hand; "I knew you would not -be satisfied with a humdrum marriage, and so I went, perhaps, a little -too far the other way." - -"Oh! Mr. Smith," she said, turning from him, and covering her eyes with -one hand, while he retained the other, "I am afraid I am doing wrong, -even now. I ought not to be here,--I know I ought not, and yet----" - -"Do not speak thus, dearest Maud," said he; "you know my devoted -attachment to you, and my admiration of your noble character, and the -beauties of your mind and person. Your majestic and dignified form, and -the brilliancy of your eyes, attracted my attention when I entered the -ball-room at Penzance, and----" - -"Allow me to remind you," replied Miss Pendray, rather haughtily, "that -I do not like gross flattery; it is repugnant to my nature; I cannot -endure it." - -These expressions were uttered abruptly and incautiously, and the fair -lady was aware immediately that she had said too much; but she was so -much accustomed to have her own way at home, and to be treated with the -greatest deference and respect by all, and was moreover so conscious of -her own perfections, that any plain allusion to them was quite repulsive -to her; it was not the first time that this mysterious stranger had -mixed up a little vulgarity, as she deemed it, with his more refined -conversation, and interesting and romantic tales. She did not quite -understand him even now. She had never before taken him up so sharply, -although she had often wished to do so; but she feared to wound his -feelings. She had now, in the excitement of the moment, expressed her -thoughts more fully than she intended, and she felt sorry, and would -have given worlds to recall those last expressions. She was relieved, -however, from her embarrassment on that account; for, just at that -moment, as she turned to reassure him, a gentlemanly looking man -suddenly emerged from behind one of those lofty rocks at a little -distance from where the lovers were standing, and approached towards -them. Miss Pendray's back was turned towards the intruder, so that she -did not notice his approach; but, as she was about to speak to her -companion, she saw such a terrified, horrible expression come over his -countenance, as he gazed at the gentleman who was now rapidly -approaching them, that she turned round instinctively to see what it was -that had so absorbed his attention, when she found herself almost face -to face with the stranger, as he jumped down from a rock near her. She -uttered a little shriek at the suddenness of the surprise, but -immediately recovered herself sufficiently to take a hasty glance at his -personal appearance, before he spoke; for he was a remarkable looking -man. He was considerably above the middle height, strongly built, and -robust. His hair was almost white, although, from his fresh complexion -and general appearance, he was evidently still a young man--perhaps -scarcely forty. His face was tanned with the sun, as if he had lived -long in a warm climate. He had the appearance of a gentleman, and, from -his manners, he evidently was one. - -"I beg your pardon, madam," he said, "for thus intruding on you. I -assure you it was quite unintentional. I was searching for Lieut. -Fowler. His men, at the station, told me he was out on the coast, near -by, somewhere; and, as I wished to see him, I thought I would take a -stroll, with the chance of falling in with him, rather than wait indoors -this beautiful morning." - -"Pray don't apologize," replied Miss Pendray; "I often meet Lieut. -Fowler on the cliffs, and this is not at all an unlikely place to meet -with him." - -"Thank you," said the stranger; and, taking off his hat to the lady, he -passed on in search of the lieutenant, while Miss Pendray turned round -towards Mr. Smith, whom she expected to find recovered by this time from -the shock, or whatever it was, that made him look so odd, and prevented -him, as she thought, from speaking to the intruder, who was now out of -sight. But where was Mr. Smith? He was nowhere to be seen. She looked -all round, and climbed to the topmost rock, but could see no trace of -him. It was very odd, she thought; and that demoniacal look haunted her. -What could it mean? Did he know that stranger, and fear him for some -reason? No, that could scarcely be; for he evidently saw Mr. Smith, but -he showed no signs of recognition. She knew not what to think. What did -she know of Mr. Smith? Who was he? Where did he come from? He was -comparatively a stranger to her. These were questions which she now -began to ask herself, as she walked slowly home; and she now began to -think that she had acted wrong, in meeting a mere stranger so often, -clandestinely, and allowing herself to be led away by his fascinating -conversation, after knowing him little more than a fortnight. These -reflections smoothed and softened her naturally bold and daring spirit, -and, instead of feeling a wish now to soar to the top of the loftiest -rocks and cliffs, and look danger in the face without shrinking, she -felt subdued and melancholy, and instinctively took the path which led -down towards Lamorna Cove--the spot so loved and admired by her gentle -sister. - -Here she met Blanche and Lieut. Fowler searching for some rare shells on -the beach, to whom she recounted her adventure with the strange -gentleman with the white hair, but she did not mention the other in whom -she was more interested. - -Lieut. Fowler knew no such person, he said, as Miss Pendray described. -Perhaps it was some inspecting officer. He could not have come on duty, -however, for in that case he would have been in uniform. But whoever it -was, he thought he had better go and see him; so he took leave of the -two sisters, and walked away in the direction of the signal-station at -Tol-pedn-Penwith, wondering who his strange visitor could be. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -THE BIRDS HAVE TAKEN FLIGHT. - - -Frederick Morley determined on going to Mr. Freeman's house, and taking -a copy of that document with him, when he hoped to be able to induce the -"man of cunning" to tell him what he knew relative to the contents of -that paper which Josiah had found in the box; for Josiah seemed so -convinced of his being able to enlighten his master, that he was -beginning himself to feel that the visit might turn out more successful -and satisfactory than he at first imagined. - -"I'll go weth 'ee, sar," said Josiah; "an' ef we caen't, both of es, -make 'n tell, why 'twill be whisht sure nuf. I'll maul 'n brave ef aw -don't tell everything; for I'm sure, semmen to me, that he wudn't look -like that there, ef he dedn't knaw somethen'." - -"No, no, Josiah," replied his master; "we must not resort to personal -violence. You shall go with me, for you know him,--I do not,--and we -shall soon see by his manner what he knows, although I have my doubts, -still, as to his real knowledge of anything connected with this affair. -It is his object to pretend to know more than he really does, in order -to mislead ignorant people; and he thereby induces them to communicate -enough to enable him to guess at the rest,--and so he gets credit for a -vast amount of prescience more than he really possesses." - -As they walked on slowly towards St. Just, on their important errand, -Morley's mind was filled with various thoughts and conjectures, all of -the greatest moment to him. He might now be on the point of having his -great secret unravelled, or at least of gaining some intelligence -respecting it, and he was about to see Alrina's father, and perhaps -herself. He should now also know the reason why she had not kept her -last appointment with him. All these serious reflections passing through -his mind, made him silent. It was likely to be an eventful day for him. -What Josiah's thoughts were we do not know--our little bird is silent on -that point. Perhaps he was also thinking of his Alice Ann; but this -thought did not seem to disturb him. His love was not quite so ardent, -perhaps, as his master's, or his love might probably be running more -smoothly; for he disturbed the air now and then by whistling snatches of -some old song or country jig, shewing thereby to his companion, if he -felt any interest in knowing the fact, that his faithful attendant's -thoughts didn't trouble him much. At length, after a weary walk, though -not by any means a long one, they arrived at the verge of the village; -and now Josiah took the lead, as he knew every house and almost every -stone in the place. The village was very quiet, for most of the men were -out at their work--some at the mine, and others at their little -farms--while the women were busy indoors, cleaning up a bit, and -preparing the men's dinners. - -They passed the "Commercial" Hotel, which seemed to be taking its -morning nap, and reposing its dignity in the sun, which was shining -brightly on its whitewashed walls, and looking in at the windows, and -stretching itself, as far as it could, in at the open door, making the -fine sand, with which the passage was strewed, sparkle again. The -stable-door was shut,--all was quiet there. Poor Mr. Brown's occupation -was gone. Morley shuddered as he thought of the beautiful mare; but they -passed on in silence until they arrived at the further end of the -village, when Josiah stopped opposite a neat looking farm-house, and, -after a few minutes' reflection, exclaimed, - -"Dash my buttons! why they're gone, to be sure." - -This expression, which was said in an excited tone, recalled Morley from -his reverie, and, looking up, he saw that the house they were standing -opposite, seemed to be deserted and shut up. The window-shutters were -all closed, and the garden-gate was locked. - -"That's unlucky, if this is the house," said Morley; "but they may not -be gone far. Let us enquire somewhere." - -"Zackly like that," replied Josiah, in a sort of bewildered manner, -while he led the way to a cottage at a little distance off, which he -entered very unceremoniously, bidding his master to follow him. - -"Where's 'The Maister' gone?" said he, addressing an elderly woman, who -was up to her elbows in soapsuds, washing at a small washtub. - -"Your sarvant, sar," said Mrs. Trenow, wiping the soapsuds from her -hands and arms, without noticing her son's question. - -"Set down, sar, ef you plaise," said Josiah, placing a chair for his -master; for he saw that he was fatigued. "Mother es like somethen' -that's very good to eat when 'tes boiled sometimes," continued Josiah; -"she don't always go foreright when she's wanted to." - -"Areah, then," said his mother; "the world es come to a purty pass, when -cheldern do begin for to taich their mothers manners." - -"Hush, mother," said Josiah, laughing, and slapping the old lady on the -back. "How are 'ee, thon? I ha'n't seed 'ee for a bra' bit." - -"No fie, you ha'n't," replied Mrs. Trenow. "He's gone, cheeld vean, an' -joy go weth 'n, says I." - -"You are speaking of Mr. Freeman, I presume," said Mr. Morley. "I came -here almost on purpose to see him, and we found the house shut up. Can -you give us any information respecting his movements?" - -"No, sar, I caen't," replied Mrs. Trenow. "About a week ago, or so--I -caen't tell to a day--Miss Freeman (that's 'The Maister's' sister, sar) -told Alice Ann (that's the maid, sar) that she might have a holiday in -the afternoon; an' glad enough the maid wor to have her holiday, I can -assure 'ee, sar. Well, she went out and stayed away till brave an' late -in the evenin', an' she went home thinkin' she shud have a bra' scold -for stayin' out so long; but when she came to the gate, she found it all -fastened up, an' the winder-shutters up, an' the house looking quite -whisht like." - -"That's very strange," said Morley; "but where are they gone?" - -"That's the very thing, sar," replied Mrs. Trenow. "'Where are they -gone?' says you; and 'where are they gone?' says everybody, 'ceps Mrs. -Brown,--she don't say nothin'. The maid's clothes wor left there for -har, an' that's all she'll tell." - -"Thank you, Mrs. Trenow," said Morley; "I think we must ask Mrs. Brown, -Josiah." - -"I b'lieve we must, sar," replied Josiah, thoughtfully. "Where's Alice -Ann, thon, mother; she esn't gone after them, I s'pose?" - -"No, no; she's up to har aunt's stopping a bit. Har fe-a-ther an' mother -do live a bra' way off, you knaw." - -"Now, I'll tell 'ee, sar," said Josiah; "you go up to Mrs. Brown's an' -knaw all you can, an' I'll go down an' see what Alice Ann have got to -say,--an', between es, we may find out somethen'." - -"Quite right, Josiah," returned his master, "that is a very good plan." -And each of them went his way on a voyage of discovery. - -Mrs. Brown was laying the cloth for the midday meal when Morley entered, -and her husband was sitting in the chimney-corner. The old lady was -overjoyed to see her visitor, and, running towards him, she took his -hand in both hers, and kissed it, saying,-- - -"I am glad to see you once more, Mr. Morley. It was a miraculous -escape; an' I hope it will be a warnin' to you, not to risk your life -agen at the biddin' of a rogue an' a fool." - -"My dear Mrs. Brown," replied Morley, "it was a narrow escape; but the -beautiful mare is gone! What does Mr. Brown do, without his Jessie -mare?" - -"The name of the mare roused Mr. Brown from his lethargy, and, coming -out of his corner, he said,-- - -"Where's my hat, Peggy? I'm goin' to get Jessie mare out, for the -gentleman to try her a bit before to-morrow. Come, sir. Wo! ho! Jessie; -wo! ho. Come, Polly! Poll! Poll! Polly! Where's that maid gone, Peggy. -Billy, boy, come an' saddle the mare." - -His hat, which was on his head, shone as brightly as ever, but his -internal brightness was gone. He never recovered the shock of seeing his -mare fall over the cliff, and the narrow escape of its rider. It was -very true he hadn't much to lose, poor man, intellectually. His one idea -was centred in the mare, and they both went together. He wandered in and -out of the house continually, and, as he didn't interfere with others, -no one interfered with him. - -"Poor man," said Mr. Morley, looking after him. - -"It's a blessin', Mr. Morley," said Mrs. Brown, "that the mare es gone. -She was no use here; and she was eatin' her head off, as the sayin' is. -What is, is best, I b'lieve." - -"My errand to St. Just," said Morley, "was principally to see Mr. -Freeman, and I find he's gone away." - -"Iss, he's gone, an' joy go weth 'n," replied Mrs. Brown. - -"Where is he gone," said Morley; "do you know?" - -"All I do knaw es this," replied Mrs. Brown. "He came here about ten -days ago, an' said he wor goin' to take his daughter for a little trip, -as she dedn't seem well,--she was so low-spirited, he said,--and he -asked me to take care of the maid Alice Ann's clothes for har, untel she -came back; for p'raps she wud be back before they wud. I thought they -wor goin' to Scilly, p'raps, or to Truro. And away they went, and Alice -Ann came for har clothes the next day. She dedn't go. Where they're -gone, I can no more tell than you can." - -"That's very strange; I wish I knew where they were gone," replied -Morley, thoughtfully. - -"You may wish agen, I b'lieve," returned Mrs. Brown; "he'll turn up -again one day, like a poor penny. Come, sir, have a snack weth us; we're -just going to dinner." - -So poor Mr. Brown was called in, and the three sat down to a nicely -seasoned beef-steak pie, which Morley enjoyed very much after his walk, -notwithstanding his disappointment. - -Josiah gained very little more information than his master. Alice Ann -told him that, for several days before they left, her young mistress, -Alrina, was confined to her room. She seemed drowsy, like, the girl -said, and didn't care to move nor to speak. - -"I do b'lieve, Siah," said she, speaking in a half whisper, "that she -had some doctor's trade gov to har for to put har to slaip,--I do, sure -nuf; and they took har away in a post-chaise while she wor slaipen'." - -Morley thought that if he could find where the post-chaise came from, he -might, by bribing and questioning the postboy, gain some clue to their -probable destination;--for, in addition to his anxiety to see Mr. -Freeman, which was now confirmed more than ever, he was doubly anxious -for the safety of Alrina, whom he was convinced her father and aunt were -persecuting--perhaps on his account, but why, he could not imagine; for -he was not aware that Alrina's relatives knew of his attachment to her, -or that he had ever met her. He little knew the resources of the "man of -cunning" for obtaining information of what took place in that -neighbourhood. He left a hasty note for his friend Fowler, stating that -he was unexpectedly called away on important business; and, taking -Josiah with him in the combined capacity of companion, assistant, and -valet, he proceeded on his travels in search of the fugitives. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -THE MYSTERIOUS ENCOUNTER. - - -We left Lieut. Fowler on the road between Lamorna Cove and the -signal-station, at Tol-pedn-Penwith. Various were the conjectures that -passed through his mind during his walk, as to who the stranger could -be, but to no purpose. He could not think of any of his relatives or -acquaintances, who would be likely to be in that neighbourhood, without -apprising him of their intended visit. If it should turn out to be a -good companionable fellow, he wouldn't mind, but then, he was an old -grey-headed man, as he construed Miss Pendray's description of the -stranger. His friend, Frederick Morley, had gone off in rather an -unceremonious manner, and had left him again to the resources of the -Land's-End for amusement and companionship; and he had therefore been -more frequent in his visits to Pendrea-house, and more attentive to the -young ladies, than during his friend's visit. - -It was not often that Miss Pendray favoured Fowler and her sister with -her company; for, as the reader already knows, she had more attractions -elsewhere; and so accustomed were her friends to her romantic wanderings -over the bold cliffs alone, that the innocent Blanche was continually -Lieut. Fowler's only companion, and the time generally passed so -pleasantly that neither of them regretted the absence of a third party. - -When Miss Pendray came upon them so suddenly and unexpectedly on that -eventful morning, they were in the midst of a very interesting, but, to -Blanche, rather an embarrassing, _tete-a-tete_. The gentleman was trying -to make himself understood, without saying what he meant, in so many -words; and the lady, although--sly little creature--she knew quite well -what he meant to say, and wished from her heart he would say it out -boldly, and not be hammering and stammering about it so--making her -every moment feel more nervous and embarrassed, and himself too; yet she -would not help him, even by a look, but kept turning a pebble round and -round with her foot, and looking as steadily on the sand as if she was -endeavouring to look underneath it, for some rich treasure supposed to -be buried there. - -In the midst of all this, came the majestic Maud, with the tale of her -adventure with the remarkable stranger with the white hair. Wasn't it -provoking to be interrupted just at that critical time? Fowler felt that -it was downright----we won't say what. He wished the white-headed -stranger was at the bottom of the sea, and Maud on the top of the -cliffs, or anywhere, rather than there, at that moment. However, the -spell was broken; there was no help for it now; and he had nothing to do -but just walk home to see who this confounded fellow was, and what he -wanted. - -With all these reflections passing through his mind, as he neared his -little cabin, he was not prepared to receive the stranger very -cordially, nor to give him a very hearty welcome. He was told by the -men, as he came up, that the gentleman was inside; and, as he passed the -window of his sitting-room to reach the front door, he looked in, -thinking he might catch a glimpse of the fellow before he went in. He -caught more than a glimpse of him; for the stranger was standing at a -little distance from the window, looking out over the bold headland at -the sea in the distance, apparently absorbed in thought. - -Fowler started, and turned pale, as if he had seen a ghost, and was -obliged to hold by the railing of the little porch for a minute, before -he could recover himself sufficiently to enter. - -Sailors are not easily alarmed at trifles; so he soon got over the -effects of his shock, or whatever it was, and, entering the room, in his -usual boisterous, sailor-like style, exclaimed, louder than there was -perhaps any occasion for,-- - -"Mr. Morley! how are you? I'm glad to see you once more." - -This stentorian reception made the stranger start, and, turning round, -he said, bowing to his host,-- - -"Lieut. Fowler, I presume. But how you should know that my name is -Morley, I am at a loss to conceive, as I am pretty sure we have never -seen one another before, and am quite sure you did not expect me." - -Fowler passed his hand across his eyes, as if trying to recall -something; and then he said abstractedly, as he placed a seat for his -guest,-- - -"Not seen you before? surely, yes!--and yet, no! that cannot be." And he -seemed so bewildered, that the stranger proceeded to explain; for he now -began to see that the lieutenant was labouring under a mistake. - -"You see the likeness to my poor father," said he. - -"Ah!" exclaimed Fowler, starting up; "I see it all now. When I last saw -your father, fifteen or sixteen years ago, he was the exact image of -what you are now. He was older, of course, but there was the same -remarkable white hair. Yours no doubt became white prematurely, causing -you to look older than you really are. When I saw you standing at the -window, I thought I saw your father standing before me. The likeness is -most remarkable; and, almost before I had recovered myself, and without -reflecting for a moment, I rushed into the room to welcome my old -friend." - -"I have heard my father mention the name of Fowler often," replied Mr. -Morley, "with expressions of gratitude for kindnesses bestowed by your -family--both on himself, and on my brother and sister, who were left -here after that terrible catastrophe, of which I believe you are fully -aware." - -"It is true," returned Fowler, "that, in your father's younger days, he -was intimate with my father, who also resided in India, but returned to -England on account of his health, some time before yours came over with -his two children. Your father often came to see him before that dreadful -catastrophe, but never came after. He said he would never see his old -friend again, until that foul stain was wiped from his name. My father -did not, of course, believe that he was guilty, although the -circumstantial evidence was so strong. It preyed on his mind, however, -and, in his weak state, he could not bear up against the feeling that -his friend was wrongfully accused; and he, like your father, pined under -it, and passed away from among us in a very short time; but his death we -were prepared for. Your father was a strong man then. But how did you -find me out, Mr. Morley?" - -"By the merest accident," replied Mr. Morley; "indeed, when I came here, -I had no idea that you were at all connected with my father's old -friend, although the name was familiar to me,--very familiar, I may say; -for I knew your eldest brother in India intimately. He remained there -long after your father left, and married a native, by whom he had one -child--a daughter, I think. I shall never forget his kindness. He was -the only friend whom I could depend upon, when my poor father died. He -remained with me, day and night, until the last. His wife I never saw -much of: she died in giving birth to her second child which was -still-born. Your brother then made up his mind to come to England. He -would not do so while his wife lived; for he did not like introducing a -native as his wife, to his English relatives and friends. He was in good -spirits when I took leave of him, and we both looked forward to meeting -in England ere long; but, alas! he never reached his native shore alive. -The ship was wrecked somewhere on this dangerous coast, and he and his -little daughter perished. His body was found afterwards, but the child's -was never heard of again. It makes passengers, and even sailors -themselves, almost dread to approach this rock-bound coast. It is to be -hoped that, ere long, warning-lights or beacons will be erected all -round the coast. They are beginning to do so, I see; but there are more -wanted yet." - -"True," replied Fowler; "there are few families residing along the -Cornish coast who have not had to lament the loss of some relative or -friend in the merciless waves. But I am curious to know to what lucky -accident I am indebted for this visit?" - -"You have had another of those dreadful disasters on the coast," said -Morley. "Another East-Indiaman has lately been wrecked here. I was a -passenger on board that vessel. The weather was rough for several days -before, and we touched in at the Scilly Islands, where I landed, taking -a trunk with some clothes and a few valuables with me; and, meeting with -an old friend of my father's there, Mr. Samuel Lemon, the collector, -whom you know well, he pressed me so heartily to remain at his house, -that I determined to spend a few days there, and partake of his kind -hospitality, and I permitted the ship to proceed to her destination -without me; and a miraculous escape I have had, for I find that all on -board perished." - -"Not all," replied Fowler; "there was one sailor saved. It was a -miraculous escape, indeed. But you must have had some property on -board?" - -"I had a large chest containing some valuable clothes, and silks and -jewellery, and a considerable sum in hard cash," replied Mr. Morley, -"and, what I valued more than anything else, a small box, which belonged -to my poor father, into which he had placed, with his own hands, some -thousands of gold coins, and a written injunction to his two sons, to -use their utmost exertions to find out the wretches who committed that -foul murder of which my poor father was accused; and he directed that -those gold coins should be expended in the search. My object, therefore, -in coming to the Land's-End first, instead of going on direct to my -relatives, was, with the hope that this property might have been washed -ashore somewhere on the coast, and my good friend Mr. Lemon told me -that Mr. Fowler, the lieutenant at this station, would be the most -proper person to apply to for assistance and information." - -"You may rely on my doing all I can for you," replied Fowler; "but I -have not heard of any boxes answering the description of yours being -picked up anywhere, and I fear there is little chance of their being -washed on shore now; for their weight would sink them deeper and deeper -in the sand, and the calm weather we have now would not throw them up. -You have not lost all your property, I hope!" - -"Oh! no," said Mr. Morley; "I had sent home the bulk of my fortune, and -my father's, through agents, some months ago. That, I am happy to say, -is safe enough. All I regret now is the loss of that little box." - -"Your brother was a true prophet, after all," said Fowler, thoughtfully. - -"My brother!" exclaimed Mr. Morley; "where is he?" - -"Oh! I forgot to tell you," replied the lieutenant; "I was so interested -in the history of your miraculous escape. Your brother was my guest for -several weeks, until he met with an accident at the Land's-End." And he -proceeded to relate to his visitor the exciting tale of the fall of the -horse over the cliffs, with his brother's narrow escape, and the belief -that Frederick still entertained, that his brother was one of the -passengers on board that ill-fated vessel. - -After dinner, the two gentlemen walked up to Sennen, and enquired at -"The First and Last Inn" whether anything had been heard of Frederick -Morley. Nothing had been heard of him, the landlord said; but a letter -had been brought there for him that day, by a boy who said he was going -on to St. Just, and would call again for an answer should the gentleman -return in time. The letter was addressed, in a neat female hand, to -"Frederick Morley, Esq., 'First and Last Inn,' Sennen, Cornwall." - -"Who was the boy?" enquired the lieutenant of the landlord. - -"I don't know," replied he; "but my wife do say that she es sure 'tes -the same boy she ha' seen riding the mare that went over cliff." - -"I thought as much," said Fowler. "We must see that boy, and I have no -doubt we shall find him in his old quarters at St. Just." - -So the two gentlemen extended their walk to St. Just in search of the -boy. - -Neither of them had the slightest idea from whom the letter could have -come, unless it was from Morley's aunt or his sister; and in that case -there would most probably have been a postmark. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -ARISTOCRATIC CONNECTIONS. - - -Mrs. Courland, Frederick Morley's aunt, had been a celebrated beauty in -her youth. Her father, the Rev. Octavius Morley, was a scion of a high -family, with a small preferment; and his wife was also of aristocratic -birth. Too poor to put their only son, Alexander, into a leading branch -of one of the learned professions, and too proud to allow him to work -his way on as a merchant in England, they wisely sent him to India with -a friend, who soon put him into the way of making a rapid fortune; for -he possessed business talents of no ordinary kind, and steady and -persevering habits of industry. Having thus provided for their son, -their only care now was the education and marriage of their daughter, -who at nineteen was one of the loveliest girls that can possibly be -imagined. Rather above the middle height, elegant in form, and graceful -in all her movements, she attracted admirers wherever she went--very -much to the annoyance of her parents, who destined her either for one of -the aristocracy or for some rich Indian merchant. High birth, or riches, -were indispensable in the aspirant to Isabella Morley's hand; her heart -was left out of the question entirely by her honoured and honourable -parents. Not so by the young lady herself;--she had already fixed her -affections on a young officer, whom she had met at a ball to which she -had been taken by a lady friend with whom she had been staying in a -neighbouring town. He was the younger son of a country squire in an -adjoining county; but as he was neither rich nor noble, his alliance was -not deemed eligible by the aristocratic parents of Miss Morley, and they -therefore discouraged the intimacy, when they became aware of it, -although they did not positively forbid it; for they did not really -believe that a young man in his position--a lieutenant in a light -infantry regiment only, and the younger son of an obscure country -squire--would presume to approach the only daughter of such high-born -parents, except in the way of common politeness and courtesy. And, -besides, they placed implicit confidence in the lessons of ambition they -had taught their daughter; and therefore, having heard the rumour of -this flirtation in a casual way, and not knowing to what extent it had -already gone during her visit at Middleton, the young officer was -received with politeness when he called to enquire for the young lady, -after her return from her visit. - -These calls were repeated again and again, and _tetes-a-tetes_ were -observed in the garden and shrubbery, and Mrs. Morley began to open her -eyes to the true state of things, when it was too late. Cupid had by -this time planted his arrow too deeply to be easily eradicated. The -gentleman was forbidden the house, and the young lady was kept in -strict seclusion for some time; but, "Love laughs at locksmiths,"--and -the two lovers managed to meet, notwithstanding the locks and bars. - -Mrs. Morley's aristocratic notions could not be properly satisfied -without a lady's-maid, such as she had been accustomed to in her -father's house. But she soon found that a grand, high-and-mighty -lady's-maid, such as she and her sisters had been accustomed to at home, -would not put up with the inconvenience of a small vicarage-house in the -country, where a suitable number of servants could not be kept, and, -consequently, she was continually changing. This was both annoying and -expensive; so when her daughter left school, at seventeen, Mrs. Morley -hired a young woman whom they met with at a watering-place where they -happened to be rusticating that summer. She was the daughter of a -sailor, with whom they lodged; and Mrs. Morley found her so shrewd and -useful in most respects, that she pressed her mother to allow her to go -back with them in the capacity of double lady's-maid--to attend on -herself and daughter. - -Miss Fisher was apparently bold enough, and certainly old enough, to -have decided for herself,--for she was upwards of thirty years of age; -but she had cunning enough to read Mrs. Morley's character, through and -through, and she knew that a seeming deference to her mother's opinion -would have great weight with her new mistress. The old woman did not -like to part with her, but she knew it would be useless to oppose it, as -she saw that her daughter had set her mind on accepting the situation, -and so she consented; and Mrs. Morley returned to the vicarage with a -lady's-maid to her mind, as she thought. Miss Fisher proved all she -could wish, yielding to her in everything, as she supposed; instead of -which, the new lady's-maid, while seeming to yield, and, indeed, -yielding sometimes, in smaller things, very soon gained such an -ascendancy over her mistress, that, by a little clever manoeuvring, she -could turn her any way she liked. Miss Morley was not so easily ruled; -nor did Miss Fisher seem to wish it,--she appeared to have taken a great -fancy to her young mistress, and would do almost anything to please her; -and many a scold and reprimand did she prevent by her tact and cunning. - -Two years rolled over their heads, and Miss Fisher still acted in the -capacity of lady's-maid to both mother and daughter; and when the latter -received the invitation to pay a visit to her friend at Middleton, for -the express purpose of attending the ball which was about to take place -there, Mrs. Morley, in order that her daughter might be properly dressed -and taken care of, and also to display the aristocratic style of her -establishment, dispensed with the services of Miss Fisher for a time, -and allowed her to accompany Miss Morley to her friend's house. They -were more like companions than mistress and maid; for Miss Morley -confided all her little secrets to Miss Fisher, and she was therefore, -of course, made acquainted with the attentions of the young officer; and -as Miss Fisher highly approved of his person and manners, and the pretty -presents he occasionally gave her, she determined on favouring the -lovers, and doing all in her power to assist them,--so that clandestine -meetings were easy, although the young officer was forbidden the house, -and the young lady was under close confinement indoors. She was -beginning to exhibit signs of ill health, from the close confinement and -anxiety to which she was subject, and Miss Fisher suggested change of -air and scene. She was in the confidence of Mrs. Morley, who relied on -her, and believed all she told her. The young officer's regiment was -ordered abroad, she said, and therefore there could be no danger in that -quarter. This Mrs. Morley knew to be true, for her husband had been -making enquiries. Miss Fisher, however, managed to deceive her mistress -as to the time, telling her he was to sail immediately, and begging to -be allowed to take Miss Morley home to her father's house for a short -time, as she wanted to see the old people, and she thought the sea-air -would quite restore her young mistress's health, and the change of scene -might cause her to forget this foolish love-affair. So said the -designing Miss Fisher; and the pair went to old Mr. Fisher's house, -there to reside in strict seclusion, and luxuriate in country-walks and -sea-breezes. But, strange to say, they had not been there many hours, -before the young officer made his appearance there also, and the bloom -of health soon returned to the cheeks of the young lady, without the aid -of the sea-breezes--although they were often felt, as the two lovers -took their delightful walks over the rocks and along the cliffs. Lieut. -Marshall's time was nearly up; but a few more days remained before he -would be obliged to leave her he loved so much. He could not bear the -thought;--he was going to the battle-field, and might never see her -more; or, if he lived to return, he might find her the bride of another. - -"Never! never!" replied Miss Morley; "I will never be another's bride. I -am pledged and bound to you, dear James, by a sacred oath; I will die -rather than break my vow. Yours, and yours only, till death parts us." - -"I fully believe and trust in your good intentions, dearest Isabella," -said he; "but, should a rich man offer himself, you will be compelled to -break that vow, made only to me. Let us bind ourselves before the altar, -dearest; then nothing can sever us." - -Thus did he reason with the fair girl, and persuade her, when she had no -one to guide her aright; and so ably was the young officer supported in -his arguments, by the artful Miss Fisher, that they were married, and, -within a week after, were separated--perhaps never to meet again. - -Miss Morley (now Mrs. Marshall) returned to her father's house with a -heavy secret in her breast--one that she could not reveal. Letters came, -through Miss Fisher, which cheered her. Months rolled on. Her husband's -name was seen sometimes in the newspapers, and commented on by her -parents, little thinking how near and dear he was to her whom they -imagined cured of that foolish love-affair. - -At last there came an account of a great battle, and, amongst the list -of killed, was the name of Lieut. James Marshall. The shock was -terrible. Luckily there was no one in the room at the time but Miss -Fisher, who immediately rang for assistance, and took her to her room. -She was confined to her bed for several days; and when she got a little -better, Miss Fisher prevailed on Mrs. Morley to allow her daughter to -try change of air and sea-breezes again, as they had been so beneficial -before. So they went once more to old Fisher's house, by the seaside, -where she stayed several months, keeping up a continual and cheerful -correspondence with her parents, who were so pleased with her apparent -recovery, that the visit was prolonged, week after week, and month after -month. At last a letter came, peremptorily requesting her to return at -once, for reasons that would be explained when she arrived. - -Old Mrs. Fisher had died during her stay with them, so that Miss Fisher -felt bound now, she said, to remain with her father, who did not like -being left alone, although he was a strong able man yet, and did -something in the seafaring line beyond fishing--but what it was Miss -Morley (now Mrs. Marshall) could not make out;--they were very secret -about that. About this time also Miss Fisher's only brother, of whom she -had often spoken to her young mistress, returned, after a long absence. -He was a handsome young man, and was much struck with the beauty of -their visitor, and, not knowing at first her position, he began to pay -her marked attention. This did not suit Miss Fisher's plans, nor was it -at all agreeable to Mrs. Marshall. She therefore determined to leave at -once, although she was not quite recovered, and would be obliged to -trust to the safe keeping of Miss Fisher a secret which, if revealed, -would probably cause her parents to cast her off for ever. At first, and -before she was so completely in her power, she had placed the utmost -confidence in the fidelity of her maid; but during her last visit to the -old fisherman's cottage, her attendant's character had displayed itself -in its true colours. She now saw that Miss Fisher was working entirely -to suit her own wicked ends, and that her secret would only be safe, -while she could supply that wicked woman with funds sufficient to -satisfy her avarice. Mrs. Marshall was surprised and shocked at the -sudden change which she observed in Miss Fisher's manner towards her, -and could not account for it in any way, as she had always hitherto been -so kind. It was not Miss Fisher's fault, however, entirely; for the idea -of making money out of their too confiding visitor, was suggested by -the brother. He was piqued at her indignant rejection of his attentions, -and, having wormed the secret out of his sister, he suggested the plan -which she was only too ready to carry out. She now saw the advantages to -be derived from having this beautiful woman so completely in her power; -for she was quite sure that ere long her parents would insist on her -marrying some rich man;--she knew that their hearts were bent on this, -and there was nothing now to prevent it, except the opposition of the -young lady herself, whom Miss Fisher well knew now how to overcome. - -When Mrs. Marshall returned, she found that her father had become -acquainted with the captain of an East-Indiaman, who brought letters of -introduction from her brother. He was about forty years of age,--not -very prepossessing in appearance, nor gentlemanly in manners, but he was -rich, very rich, her brother said. So here was a husband for Isabella, -to whom Mr. and Mrs. Morley did not object--quite the contrary. - -The captain was much struck with the beauty of Miss Morley (as she was, -of course, still called at home), who looked more lovely than ever since -her last illness. The rough captain paid her most devoted attention, and -it was evident that he had fallen desperately in love with her. - -Her parents and all her friends persuaded, and even urged, her to accept -Capt. Courland's offer; and Miss Fisher urged it also most strongly, for -many reasons. Having lost her first love, Miss Fisher said, she thought -she ought to make a sacrifice now, to atone for her disobedience to her -parents in her first marriage. - -Money was a great consideration too--very great--to Mrs. Marshall -now,--why, we need not enquire. Ladies are not exempt from that passion -any more than men. She was a long time bringing her mind to the point, -but she did consent at last. She stipulated, however, for a very -handsome allowance as pin-money, to do what she liked with, and a -liberal jointure in case of the death of her husband. This made him -think odd things. "_A liberal jointure, in case of his death_," was an -awkward clause to be suggested by a young bride. However, this made him -think she was a good woman of business, and that he should have more -than beauty in his wife, after all. So they were married. And he went -his voyages as usual, and returned to his lovely wife every nine or ten -months, and spent a few months with her, and then off again, leaving -plenty of pin-money behind, and a most liberal allowance for maintaining -a large establishment. - -Capt. Courland was very intimate with his wife's brother, Mr. Alexander -Morley, the Indian merchant, and brought him to England when he came -over with the two children, and took him back again, after that dreadful -murder and false accusation. - -Mrs. Courland seemed to feel it more than anyone. She had now been -married to Capt. Courland, some three or four years, and he treated her -with the greatest kindness and liberality; but still she seemed unhappy. -She appeared not to have got over the loss of her first love,--something -seemed preying on her mind always. While her husband was at home, she -strove against this melancholy feeling, and exerted herself to the -utmost to return his kindness; and he, knowing nothing of the former -love-affair, and seeing her only at her brightest, when she did violence -to her feelings to please him, during the short time he remained at -home, was happy in possession and love, as he believed, of his beautiful -wife. - -It was a relief and a comfort to her to have her little niece, Julia -Morley, with her. The superintendence of her infant education (for the -little girl was then but five years old) amused her, and relieved her -mind from other thoughts. And when she was old enough to go to school, -she removed into a town with her, and took a house there that she might -keep her still under her own eye, and sent her to a boarding-school, as -a day-pupil, attended by a servant; and here Julia became acquainted -with Alrina Freeman, and they became bosom friends, as schoolfellows; -but Alrina was not permitted to visit or leave the school at all. These -injunctions were strictly laid down by her aunt, when she placed her at -school; and Mrs. Horton, who was a strict disciplinarian, carried out -her orders to the very letter. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -THE LOVE-CHASE. - - -Frederick Morley and Josiah met with very little success at Penzance. No -one had seen the Freemans, and no post-chaise from there had gone to St. -Just, except with pic-nic parties, for a considerable time. There was -not much difficulty in finding out this; for there were but few hackney -carriages in the town at that time. - -Determined to discover the fugitives, the travellers went on to Truro, -by way of Hayle, and there they were more fortunate. A party, answering -their description as to number, had passed through that town about four -or five days before. - -Morley bought a couple of horses at Truro, and on they went in pursuit; -for he found, by dint of the strictest enquiry, that a man and woman and -a young girl had gone on by Russell's waggon. These persons answered the -description pretty nearly in all but the dress; but they might have -changed their dresses; so Morley determined on following the waggon, -which was four days at least ahead of them. On they went, however, over -the great London road, tracing the waggon, which they were rapidly -gaining on, and changing their tired horses for fresh ones occasionally, -for which accommodation Morley had to pay very dearly sometimes. They -enquired continually at the wayside inns, where the waggon stopped to -change horses, or for refreshment, and at first the answers were -satisfactory. The fugitives had generally been seen by some one at the -refreshment-houses, either in the house or having refreshment taken to -them in the waggon. This was, so far, satisfactory; and on the two -pursuers went, and came up with the waggon at Bristol. - -The great lumbering vehicle was standing at the door of one of the -second-class inns, to which they had been directed--the horses having -been taken out, and the waggon unloaded. Morley thought it strange that -it should be empty; for the same waggon generally went through to -London; and while Josiah saw the horses taken care of, his master -entered the inn and sought an interview with the driver, who informed -him that he had brought three such persons into Bristol, and they were -gone on in another waggon; for he had the misfortune to break his -axle-tree as he entered the city, and was obliged to shift his load into -another waggon, which was ten miles on the road by that time at least. - -Fresh horses were procured, while the two travellers partook of a hasty -refreshment, and on they went again with renewed hope; for the fugitives -would not suspect pursuit, and would not, therefore, be prepared for -escape. - -That Mr. Freeman knew something of the parties connected with that -document, Morley felt convinced now, having brooded over it so long, and -had it constantly dinned into his ear by Josiah, who had held the belief -from the first; but perhaps, after all, "the wish was father to the -thought" in Morley's case. Now that he was drawing near the objects of -their pursuit, a thousand reflections crowded into his mind; but, -although the hope of finding some clue to "his secret" was very -powerful, yet the hope of meeting Alrina once more, and rescuing her -from the bondage which seemed now to enthral her, was uppermost. - -In the midst of these reflections, the sight of the heavy waggon -lumbering slowly up a hill, a little distance ahead of them, as they -turned a corner, sent a thrill through the frames of both. There they -were, and a brisk trot would bring the pursuers alongside of the waggon -in a few minutes. - -They spurred on their horses in great excitement, as if they thought the -waggon would run away; but it still lumbered up the hill at its usual -snail's pace, drawn by its eight fine horses, with the bells over the -collars jingling at every step. The riders soon came up with them; and, -jumping off his horse, and throwing the reins to Josiah, Morley sprang -into the waggon, and was greeted by the hindmost driver, who was walking -by the side of his horses, with a hearty crack of the whip, which made -his back sting most unpleasantly, and brought him round to face his -assailant, before he had time scarcely to look into the waggon. - -"What business have you in my waggon?" cried the principal driver; for -there were two. - -"I came in search of the three passengers that you have here," replied -Morley, who was still feeling the effects of the crack of the whip, -although he thought it best not to resent it just then, as he saw at -once that the driver was in the right. - -"I've got no passengers here now," replied the driver. "We brought three -coves along, as you say; but they left us about ten miles back, or so, -and turned down a narrow lane. They're a queer lot, I reckon; and that -young girl is afraid of her life of the old birds." - -This was a terrible disappointment to Morley, after having his hopes -raised so high at the sight of the waggon, and thinking he was about to -reap the reward of all his trouble and fatigue. - -"Did they say where they were going?" asked Morley. - -"Not they," replied the driver; "he's as close as a box--that old -chap--and the old woman is upon the next stave of the ladder, I -b'lieve." - -Morley gave the drivers a small piece of money for their information, -and the detention he had caused them, and held a consultation with his -faithful ally. - -"We must follow them, my friend," said Morley, looking very much -disconcerted. "Alrina is persecuted and ill-used by her father and aunt, -according to that man's account. But why? There lies the mystery. She -must be rescued, at all risks, and that at once." - -"Zackly like that," replied Josiah, thoughtfully; "but which lane ded -they go into, I wondar. I seed powers of lanes both sides." - -"True," said Morley; "I forgot to ask which lane." - -"'Twud ha' b'en all the same ef you had, I b'lieve," replied Josiah, -"for most of the lanes wor alike, so far I could see, as we came along." - -"We are losing time. Mount, man, and follow me; we must find them." And, -suiting the action to the word, Morley vaulted into his saddle, and -Josiah followed his example. - -They turned and rode back in silence for some miles, passing numerous -lanes on each side of the road; but the driver said the party left him -about ten miles back. The two travellers had not retraced their steps, -however, many miles, when they were accosted by a little beggar-boy, who -was coming out of rather a wide lane into the turnpike-road. - -Morley gave the boy something, and asked him if he had seen three -travellers--a man and two females--pass up that lane. - -"Yes, sir," replied the boy. "The man and the young woman turned down -another lane a little way on, and the old woman went up to the house." - -"What is the name of the house, boy?" said Morley. - -"Ashley Hall, sir," replied the boy. - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Morley; "I had forgotten the locality. I never -approached it from this road before." And, setting spurs to his horse, -he rode on as if Old Nick was at his heels, instead of his faithful -friend and follower, Josiah. At the end of the lane, there was a neat -lodge, at which the impetuous gentleman was obliged to pull up. - -"You ha' found a bra' keenly lode, I s'pose," said Josiah; "'tes looken' -brave an' keenly, I must say. The gozzan an' the indications do 'token -somethen' good furder in." - -"Oh! I forgot to tell you," said Morley, "that this is my aunt, Mrs. -Courland's, place. I haven't seen her since my return; and this old -place I haven't seen since I was a boy,--for my aunt left it for a long -time, in order to be near my sister when she was at school. I meant to -have seen her much sooner, but that foolish accident at the Land's-End -frustrated all my plans. We will take up our abode here, Josiah, at -present, and go out scouring the country every day. We will make this -our head-quarters." - -"Very good quarters to be had here, I'll be bound," returned Josiah. -"That's a grand house, sure nuf, that es," continued he, as they rode up -to the front door. - -They were admitted at once, when the man saw the name on the card which -Morley gave him; and, desiring another servant to take care of Josiah, -he conducted Frederick into the drawing-room, where he found his sister, -alone, making delicious sounds on the pianoforte--which had just -superseded the harpsichord, and was then quite the rage among the -affluent. She was delighted to see her brother, although she scolded him -for not coming to see them before. When he told her the reason, however, -and recounted the scene of the accident, which he could not, even then, -look back upon without a shudder, she readily forgave him. She offered -him some refreshment, which he was very glad to have; for he had ridden -far, and had been harassed by anxious and exciting thoughts for several -days. They had dined long ago, Julia said, and immediately after dinner -her aunt was called out of the room on business, and had not yet -returned. "Some more buildings, or improvements, or alterations, going -on, I suppose," she continued, in a more subdued tone; "wealth has its -troubles, Frederick, as well as poverty." - -"True," replied her brother; "and I really think wealth brings most -trouble very often. Aunt Courland has something of importance to settle -to-night, I should think." - -"Oh! I never mind her absence," replied Julia; "she has often -engagements that occupy her a whole day, and I see nothing of her from -breakfast till tea-time. But I'll go and see where she is now; she will -be glad to know that you are here; and none of the servants would -disturb her, I'm sure." - -Julia found her aunt, alone, in a little room looking out into her -private garden, from which there was a private communication with the -lane which branched off from the entrance-gate and skirted the gardens -of Ashley Hall. Mrs. Courland had evidently been weeping, and had gone -through some agitating scene; for she trembled still, as Julia felt when -she kissed her. She soon recovered, however, and accompanied her niece -into the drawing-room to welcome her nephew, who was a great favourite. -He, too, saw that something had agitated her, and he asked her what had -happened to upset her so. - -"Nothing," she said; "it will be all over in a few minutes." And she did -get better; but still a cloud hung over her countenance, which she could -not altogether dispel, although it was evident she made a great effort -to do so. - -The next morning, Morley and Josiah were on horseback before the ladies -were stirring. Josiah had gained some useful information from the -servants, as to the locality and the different lanes, and where they led -to, and how far they were from the sea. - -They rode all day without success. Every lane they saw they explored as -far as they could, and enquired everywhere, but could gain no tidings of -the fugitives; and they returned late, weary and out of heart. - -Day after day was passed in the same way, and with the same result. Mrs. -Courland requested that Frederick would use her horses to relieve his -own, so that he had always fresh horses at his command. One day they -rode along a narrow lane which seemed to lead to the sea. It was a -lonely road, skirted on each side by deep woods of tall forest-trees. -Not a house or human habitation was to be seen for miles. At length, as -they approached nearer the water, the trees appeared more stunted and -dwindled down to short coppice-wood. Still the road was lonely and -destitute of human habitation. - -Suddenly they came upon a solitary cottage, surrounded by what had once -been a garden, but which was now filled with weeds and rank grass. - -The entrance into the garden seemed to be at the end, through a little -wicket-gate, which had fallen off its hinges; but as the low wall of the -garden had fallen down in several places, Morley had no difficulty in -entering; so, leaving his horses to the care of Josiah, he made his way -through one of the gaps in the wall, and approached the front of the -cottage. The door was locked and the house seemed deserted. He looked in -at the windows, and, to his surprise, the house seemed furnished, and -everything in the rooms appeared as if they had been recently used. This -was very strange, Morley thought; so he went round the house, and, in -one end, he observed a window, rather larger than the front window; and, -looking into the room, he saw that it was a bedroom on the ground-floor, -which appeared as if it had been lately occupied. A sudden thought now -flashed across his mind, as he looked again in at that window; and, -returning to Josiah, he said,-- - -"We must make some enquiries about this house, Josiah; it seems to be -shut up,--and yet the interior has the appearance of having been lately -occupied." - -"'Tes a whisht old house, sure nuf," replied Josiah; "a purty place for -pixies and ghostes, I reckon." - -They mounted their horses again, and rode on about a mile further, when -they arrived at a farm-house. The farmer informed them that he had not -resided in that neighbourhood more than four or five years; but he had -heard that the house Morley was enquiring about, was haunted. A horrible -murder had been committed there many years ago, the farmer said, and no -one had resided there since. - -"To whom does it belong?" asked Morley. - -"I have heard that it belonged to the old man who was murdered there," -replied the farmer. "The son and daughter lived there with him, I -believe; but after the murder they went off, no one could tell where, -and they have never been heard of since." - -"Do you know the names of these people?" enquired Morley. - -"Well, I have heard," replied the man; "but I have forgotten." - -Morley's conjecture was confirmed. This was, no doubt, the very house in -which that dreadful murder was committed, of which his poor father had -been accused. The murderers had gone to some distant part of the -country, no doubt, or perhaps gone abroad, and left the house and its -contents just as they were, fearing to return lest they should be -discovered; and no one else would venture near the house, on account of -their superstitious fears of ghosts. The premises would not be worth -much, in that lonely district; indeed, no one would purchase them after -what had happened; and so the risk of returning was not worth incurring, -especially as the guilty parties must have taken away a considerable sum -with them; for the money which Mr. Morley had with him at the time, and -which he must have dropped in his agitation, at the time he slid down -from the bed, was, no doubt, picked up by the fugitives and carried off. -This was enough to enable them to live comfortably for a long time. - -It was getting late; so Morley enquired the nearest way to Ashley Hall, -and returned by a short cut which the farmer pointed out, determined to -explore the interior of the house the next morning. - -Julia ran down to meet her brother when she heard he had returned, and -begged him to have his dinner in the breakfast-parlour, if he didn't -mind, as her aunt was engaged with a stranger in the dining-room. - -"What! more mysterious visitors, Julia?" said her brother, smiling; -"why, my aunt Courland must be worried out of her life." - -"Yes. Now eat your dinner, like a good boy," replied Julia, leading her -brother to the table, which was already laid for dinner; "and then, if -you are very good, I will tell you a grand secret." - -"Hallo!" exclaimed Frederick, eating at the same time--for he was very -hungry; "why, this place ought to be called 'The Castle of Mystery' -instead of 'Ashley Hall.' You seem to have more secrets here than were -contained in 'Blue Beard's' secret chamber. But the tables are turned -here, and the ladies hold the secrets, and the poor men have to guess." - -"Heighho!" cried his sister, with a sigh; "I am sorry to say we haven't -many men here to hide secrets from. Their visits are 'like angels' -visits, few and far between.'" - -"Now, one glass of wine," said Frederick, who had been going into the -substantials heartily while his sister had been talking;--"one glass of -wine, my little sister, and then for your secret." - -"Two glasses, Frederick dear,--I must insist on your taking two glasses -at least; for I want to make you able to hear my terrible secret without -fainting outright." And she kissed him so kindly as she said this, that -he could not refuse his little sister's request. - -"Two glasses, then," said he, "if it must be so." - -When he had finished his two glasses of wine, she said she had such a -surprise for him in the dining-room, where perhaps he would have to take -another glass of wine. - -"You little mysterious puss," said he, as he drew her arm within his, -and suffered her to lead him to the dining-room. "What can you have to -shew me?--it isn't a lover, is it?" - -"Oh! no," replied she, sighing; "animals of that genus don't acclimatize -at Ashley Hall--the atmosphere here is too cold for them." - -"You little satirical minx," said he, as his sister threw open the -dining-room door, and introduced him to their eldest brother, William, -from India. - -It was a surprise indeed. The two brothers embraced most affectionately, -and then they looked at each other for some minutes. At last Frederick -said,-- - -"My recollection of our poor father is but faint--I was only ten years -of age when I last saw him; but it seems to me as if I saw him standing -before me now." - -"Yes," replied his brother; "the likeness has been remarked by all our -friends in India." - -"I was painfully struck with it," said Mrs. Courland, "when William -entered the room this morning. I felt as if my poor brother had come -back again, to bring to light that awful catastrophe. My thoughts went -back to that awful time, and I shuddered as he entered. I can scarcely -get over it now." - -"It shall be discovered, my dear aunt," said the elder brother--whom in -future we will call Mr. Morley. "We will not return till the guilty -parties are brought to light." - -A sudden change came over the countenance of Mrs. Courland as these -words were pronounced, in the solemn voice so like her poor brother's, -that alarmed her nephews. Julia had seen those fits on her before; and -she motioned to her two brothers to be quiet, while she held her aunt's -throbbing head to her bosom. - -It soon passed away; and then she rose and begged her two nephews to sit -a little over their wine, as she knew they must have much to say to each -other. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -ALRINA'S FIRST LOVE-LETTER. - - -The wine and dessert had remained on the table, although all but -Frederick had dined long ago. The two brothers sat over their wine, as -Mrs. Courland had requested them to do; but their time was otherwise -employed than in drinking wine. Mr. Morley related to his brother the -history of his life, from the time of their father's death, and his -miraculous escape from the shipwreck. Frederick, in return, related to -his brother the incidents of his life,--his miraculous preservation on -the cliffs at the Land's-End; Josiah's prompt assistance; the discovery -of the box of gold; the conjuror;--indeed, all except his love-affair. -That he retained as a secret still. They had much to tell, and the -brothers sat late. - -It was a great relief to Mr. Morley's mind to know that their father's -box was safe. That Mr. Freeman knew something about the parties, he had -no doubt whatever, and he was now as anxious as his brother was to find -him, in order to obtain any information he might be able to give them; -for Josiah, who had been sent for into the dining-room, to give them a -description of the "man of cunning," and his habits and mode of life, -said that "The Maister" knew "bra' things." - -Alrina was mentioned by Frederick; but he did not tell all respecting -her, nor did he so far confide in his brother as to tell him of the -plighted troth which existed between them. Mr. Morley guessed, however, -that there was something more than disinterested friendship in his -brother's anxiety on her account. - -The discovery of the house in which the murder had been committed was -also told; and the brothers determined to go to the deserted house again -the next day, and effect an entrance, when they might possibly discover -some clue to the mystery. - -When they were about to separate for the night, Mr. Morley gave his -brother a letter which he said had been left at the "First and Last Inn" -for him; but as he supposed it had come from Ashley Hall, he did not -think of giving it to him before, as he had no doubt heard its contents -from the lady herself. Frederick took the letter and put it into his -pocket, intending to read it in his bedroom. He could not imagine who -could have written it. It could not have been either his aunt or sister; -for they would no doubt have mentioned it, if it had come from them. - -The ladies had retired long ago; and the brothers, being tired, followed -their example. - -When Frederick had closed the door of his room, he took out the letter -and examined the address, which appeared to be written in pencil. He did -not know the handwriting. It was a neat lady-like hand. At first he -thought of Miss Pendray,--but what could she have to write him about? At -last he broke the seal, and was astonished as well as delighted, to find -that it was a letter from Alrina--a short letter evidently written in -haste. So he sat down and almost devoured its contents. - - - ALRINA'S LETTER. - - _My own dear Frederick_, - - _May I call you so? Yes; I feel I may,--and yet I scarcely know - what to say or how to begin a letter to you. But who else can I - look to? Oh! Frederick, I am very, very unhappy. My father - discovered our meetings. He knows our secret,--by what means I know - not._ - - _I was in a state of stupor for a long time, and when I recovered - myself I was in a strange place. How I was conveyed here, or when, - I do not know. I am puzzled and bewildered._ - - _The house is surrounded by high walls on every side. My father has - been absent,--I have only seen him once. I think this house must be - near the sea; for the owner dresses like a sailor, and I overhear - conversations which lead me to believe he is connected with - smugglers. His wife is older than he is. Oh! Frederich, she is such - a tyrant, and treats that poor girl shamefully. (I forgot to say - they have a young girl living with them, whom they call their - niece.) Poor girl! I pity her; but I am not allowed to speak to - her,--indeed, she seems to forbid it herself, by placing her finger - on her lips whenever I happen to meet her. I hear her cries, poor - child!_ - - _There is some mystery about her,--I feel convinced of this. I hear - whisperings. My aunt is in the secret, whatever it is. The two - women have been closeted continually. I am closely watched and - guarded--I know that; so that I amuse myself by watching too, and - listening; but I cannot learn much. Yesterday the man went out, and - took the girl with him; and soon after, my aunt told me she was - going a short journey, and I must remain here until her return. I - am accustomed to hear of her short journeys. She often went from - home; but the journeys appeared to be long ones,--she generally - stayed away a fortnight. All is mystery. The old woman keeps guard - over me. The boy Billy, whom you may have seen in poor Mr. Brown's - stable, came with my father, and he managed to get me this sheet of - paper and a pencil unknown to anyone. I am writing now as a - prisoner; for the old woman locks me in when she is not with me. I - am thankful to be alone, for then I can think of you,--and oh! how - pleasant the thought. When I shall see you again I know not,--and - whether I shall be able to send this letter after I have written - it, God only knows; but it is a pleasure, in my solitude, to write - my thoughts and my troubles, to one who will feel for me. I shall - try to send this by the boy, should he ever come here again. Hark! - I hear the bolt of the door drawn back. She comes! Adieu!_ - - _Your fond and loving_ - ALRINA. - - -Frederick read Alrina's letter over and over again, as he paced the -floor of his bedroom in mad agitation. He had wasted his time by coming -after this waggon, while his Alrina was probably still within a few -miles of her former habitation. Had he received this letter before he -started, he might have rescued her; but now! it may be too late. Several -days had passed,--days? yes, nearly a fortnight since that letter was -written. "Fool! madman! idiot!" he exclaimed as he paced the floor. "Why -did I not enquire more strictly before I took this fool's journey?" - -Exhausted nature gave way at last, and, throwing himself on the bed, he -slept heavily till Josiah came to call him for their usual early -morning's ride. He had not taken off his clothes, so that, after a -refreshing wash, he went out into the garden followed by Josiah. The -fresh morning air invigorated him, and restored tranquillity to his -mind; and he was enabled to tell his faithful follower the principal -contents of the letter. - -"Well, sar," said Josiah, "that's a whisht job sure nuf; but what's done -caen't be helped. Ef har fe-a-ther es a conjuror, you arn't, I s'pose; -so how cud you tell that she wor there?" - -"True," said Frederick, who now began to see the folly of reflecting on -himself for coming to Bristol instead of remaining in Cornwall--a -mistake which it was impossible he could have seen the result of. - -"We have done something by coming here, however," he continued, -reflectively; "we have discovered that lonely house. Now, I think you -had better remain here with my brother; for I feel convinced that by -entering that house, some discovery will be made. In the meantime I will -return and seek Alrina and her father. If I can find that boy, I shall -succeed without a doubt in rescuing her." - -"Iss; but semmen to me that two 'f's' do belong to that," said Josiah. - -"What do you mean by 'two f's?'" exclaimed Frederick. - -"Why, the fust es, _ef_ you cud find the boy," replied Josiah; "and the -next es, _ef_ she's there still. You don't knaw that boy so well as I -do; but 'tes no harm to try. I'll go home, or stay here, whichever you -plaise; but there's one thing I ha' got to say, that I b'lieve we wor -'pon a good scent, after all." - -"What do you mean?" asked Morley. - -"Why, I heard somethen' spoke down in the servants' hall last night, -that I ha' b'en thinken' about a bra' deal; but I cudn't, to save my -life, make the two ends to 'kidgey' like; but your letter ha' opened my -eyes all abroad." - -"You are speaking in enigmas, Josiah," said his master. - -"I don't knaw what sort of things they are, not I," said Josiah; "but -putten' this agen that, I can see a bra' way this mornen', I think." - -"What are you driving at?" said Morley, looking puzzled. - -"Why, this here es about the size of et," replied Josiah, looking very -wise,--"Miss Freeman wor in that woggen, so sure as my name es 'Siah -Trenow." - -"How can you possibly know that?" cried Morley, very much excited. - -"Well, I don't knaw et zackly," replied Josiah; "but the porter said, -last night, that there ha' b'en a woman up there two or three times -spaken' to Mrs. Courland, an' he watched her in an' out o' that little -gate in the garden; and by what he said, I do b'lieve 'tes she. He -chalked her out zackly, semmen to me." - -"Whatever could she be doing here?" asked Morley. "It is quite absurd to -think of such a thing." - -"Zackly like that," said Josiah; "but I do b'lieve 'twor she, an' that -man an' the little maid wor the ones that Miss Reeney spoke about. 'Tes -some new manoeuvre of 'The Maister's,' I'll be bound, an' I shall watch -like a cat watching a mouse. Dedn't Miss Reeney say that he knaw'd all -about you, an' everything. He wor watching you when you dedn't knaw et, -down there, I'll be bound. An' now he ha' sent she for to tell your aunt -somethen'." - -At this point of their conversation, they were joined by Mr. Morley, to -whom Frederick read the most material portions of Alrina's letter, and -Josiah repeated his suspicions that Miss Freeman was lurking about the -neighbourhood. If so, they had no doubt she was there on some errand -from her brother respecting Frederick Morley. What it was they couldn't -imagine. It was arranged therefore that Frederick should return to -Cornwall again in search of Alrina and her father; while Mr. Morley and -Josiah should remain at Ashley Hall, for the purpose of making what -discovery they could in the deserted house, and of finding out whether -Miss Freeman was really in the neighbourhood, and what she was about. -So, after an early breakfast, their plans were formed, and Mr. Morley -and Josiah proceeded to the deserted house, while Frederick rode on the -wings of love to the rescue of his imprisoned enchantress. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -THE SECRET. - - -Mrs. Courland was expecting her husband's return about this time. She -was anxious and nervous. He was a good, kind husband, and she -endeavoured to do all in her power to make him happy. It was a great -trial to her to look that kind, good man in the face, and know that she -was keeping a secret from him which he ought to have known from the -beginning. It made her unhappy,--miserable,--and she dreaded his return. -Should he discover it now, and find that she had been deceiving him for -so many years, it would be dreadful. And now he was on his last -voyage;--he would now retire from the sea and live at home. How should -she be able to keep the secret then? Some trifling circumstance might -occur at any time, to discover it; and then his kind affection would be -lost to her. He would not--he could not--look upon her with his wonted -loving confidence, after the discovery of her deception. Oh! why had she -kept it from him? - -Julia knew that her aunt was anxious about her husband's return, and she -did not disturb her therefore when she retired after breakfast to her -little private room. - -She retired, as usual, that morning, and sat brooding over her sorrows -and anxieties, until she became quite low-spirited; for the more she -thought of her difficult and unpleasant situation, the more guilty and -blameable she seemed in her own estimation; and, placing her hand before -her eyes, she wept in the bitterness of her heart. - -Still comparatively a young woman, and still beautiful, and the -admiration of all, when she chose to enter into society,--possessed, -also, of considerable wealth, a noble mansion, and a splendid -establishment--all, in short, which the world could bestow,--and, above -all, being blessed with a kind and indulgent husband,--yet, with all -these advantages, there sat that handsome and gifted lady in the midst -of all this splendour, a miserable, unhappy woman. - -A gentle tap is heard at the little door leading into the garden, which -makes her start and turn pale. Strange that so gentle a tap should -frighten her so much. Where are all the servants, that she should be -obliged to open the door herself? She seems to dread the admission of -the visitor; and yet she rises almost immediately, and unbolts the -little door and admits the intruder on her privacy. - -The visitor enters unceremoniously, and closes the door, as if she had -been accustomed to visit the beautiful owner of the establishment often. -She was a tall, masculine-looking woman, apparently about fifty years of -age, with an eye that betokened both boldness and cunning, and a -restless uneasy expression by no means pleasing. The compressed lips -expressed great determination of character, and the strong and well-knit -frame seemed formed more according to the model of the ruder than the -softer sex. - -This was the visitor who had just been admitted into Mrs. Courland's -private room. - -"Am I never to be at rest?" said the lady in a supplicating tone, as she -took her seat again. "Say, once for all, what will satisfy you, and -leave me in peace. This continual worry and anxiety is killing me." - -"You know," replied the visitor, "that I am not asking for myself. It is -in the cause of another that I occasionally trouble you. The poor child -must be educated according to the station she may one day fill; and her -maintenance must be cared for. And those who take the trouble, and keep -the secret, must be rewarded--and that with liberality." - -"I know all that," said Mrs. Courland, "and am willing to make a -sacrifice. What will suffice? say!" - -"I am acting for another, as you know; and my instructions are, five -hundred pounds--not a penny less," said the woman, sternly. - -"I cannot comply with your exorbitant demand," replied Mrs. Courland, in -an abject tone; "I have not so much money in the house. My husband's -allowance is all exhausted,--you have been a continual drain upon me. I -expect him almost hourly, and then my supplies will be almost unlimited -again. Pray leave me now, and let me have a little time to recover -myself before his return. Then you shall be liberally rewarded." - -"I cannot wait," said the visitor; "or, if I do, the money must be -supplied _by himself_, and all must be known." - -"Oh! no! no! not that," cried Mrs. Courland, almost in despair. "He is -kind--most kind. Spare him the knowledge of that which has been kept -from him so long, to my bitter, bitter cost. Oh! would that he had known -all at the beginning. It would have saved me many unhappy hours." And -the poor lady wept, as if her heart was breaking. Her unwelcome visitor -seemed moved, and begged her not to distress herself so. - -"You have not seen the child?" said she. "Let me bring her to you. Why -not take her here? she might be a comfort to you. Her misfortune and -dreadful calamity may induce you to pity, if you cannot love her, and -will afford some occupation for your leisure hours. She is within call; -I will bring her in." And before Mrs. Courland could collect herself -sufficiently to decide what she would do, or to ask another question, -the woman had disappeared. - -The grounds of Ashley Hall, as we have before said, were skirted on one -side by a narrow lane, very little frequented,--the hedges on each side -being overgrown with brambles and thick thorn-bushes. In this lane, -there was a door which led into Mrs. Courland's private room, through a -small garden, which she called her own private property--no one being -permitted to enter it, except herself, and the gardener, who at stated -times was admitted to keep it in order. - -Outside this little door in the lane, on the morning of this woman's -visit to Mrs. Courland, stood an elderly man, dressed in the garb of a -sailor, and a young girl, about fifteen or sixteen years of age--she -might have been a year or two more, or she might have been less; it was -difficult to determine. She was plainly dressed, and looked clean and -neat; but her general appearance was not at all prepossessing. She was -short and stout; and extreme vulgarity and impudent assurance, mingled -with cunning, were depicted in her forbidding looking countenance, which -was deeply pitted with the small-pox;--and yet, with all this, there was -a look of melancholy which seemed to indicate that the girl was unhappy. -Continued ill-treatment had perhaps produced this harsh and repulsive -expression of countenance which she now exhibited. - -"We must try what effect the girl will have," said the woman, as she -merged into the lane through the little private door, after having kept -her companions waiting a considerable time. "The lady says she has not -much money in the house, and won't have till the captain comes home." - -"She be hanged!" replied the man. "That's her game. Not money in a -house like that? Tell her to pawn her jewels, or sell her carriage. I -tell you, mistress, if you can't manage better than that, I shall go in -myself and play Old Nick with her." - -"Hush!" said the woman. "Let me take the girl in. That will be best. -Leave it to me, Cooper; I know how to manage her." - -"Now, mind," cried the man; "no nonsense,--money down, or else there'll -be the devil to pay. I won't wait one day longer. I've got other fish to -fry, and I don't like dancing attendance upon a parcel of women, like -this." - -Leaving the man alone in the lane, in not a very good humour, the woman -took the girl with her into Mrs. Courland's private room, where she -found that lady still weeping and in great agitation. - -"I have brought the child," said the woman, as she entered, "and I -intend leaving her here on your hands. I have a bold partner outside, -who will publish it far and near, and your husband will know all -immediately on his return. I have sufficient proof of all, as you have -seen before." - -"Oh! spare me! spare me!" cried the poor lady, as she looked at the girl -through her tears. "Oh! terrible fate. Not that! _She_ cannot be the -child. Oh! in pity take her away, and say there is some mistake. Oh! -dreadful. His child can never be like that!" And she turned her head -away, as if she loathed the sight of one so hideous. Had she been a -handsome girl, she might have reconciled herself to her fate; but to -have a low, vulgar, hideous creature there, and to present that creature -to her husband now,--she could not do it. Better die a thousand deaths -than face this terrible ordeal. Her husband would despise and hate her, -as much as he loved her now, when he discovered the extent of the -deception that had been practised upon him. He would be at home now -continually; and she would have to bear his frowns, day by day, without -relief. She presented to her own mind the darkest side of the picture, -and painted it in the dullest and blackest colours, like all who give -way to these low desponding thoughts. While these gloomy reflections -were passing in Mrs. Courland's mind, the woman disappeared through the -little private door, and left the poor girl standing in the middle of -the room. Here was a new difficulty. What could she do with that -repulsive looking girl? She ran out through the little garden and opened -the door leading into the lane. There was no one to be seen;--both the -man and the woman had either gone off very quickly, or were concealing -themselves behind some of the overgrown thorns and bushes. The girl was -left on her hands, evidently, and she must make the best of it. Perhaps -she might know where to find her friends, and might be induced to go to -them if she was provided with some money. Consoling herself, as well as -she could, with these reflections, Mrs. Courland returned to the room, -where she found the girl standing in the same place, and looking, with -stolid astonishment, at the elegant and costly ornaments which decorated -the room, and exhibited the refined taste and great wealth of its owner. - -Mrs. Courland seated herself once more, and tried to look at the poor -half-frightened girl with less abhorrence: but it was of no use. She -could not endure the sight of her: and the idea of keeping her there was -quite out of the question;--she must get rid of her, at all risks, cost -what it would. The girl, seeing that she was not noticed, turned round -to look at the beautiful bijouterie with which some of the tables and -the mantel-piece were strewed; and she was now standing with her back to -the mistress of the apartment. - -Mrs. Courland summoned up resolution enough at length to speak to the -girl, but she did not seem to notice it. Again Mrs. Courland addressed -her, but she neither replied nor turned towards the lady. - -"You are obstinate, girl," said Mrs. Courland. "I will soon let you know -who is mistress here;"--for she felt her dignity insulted, which she was -not accustomed to; and rising from her chair impatiently, she approached -the girl, and, taking her by the shoulders (for the girl's back was -still turned towards her), she gave her a hearty shake, which came so -unexpectedly, that the girl jumped round, and seized the lady by both -her wrists, giving at the same time a hideous and unearthly scream, and -looking more like a fiend than anything human. But, seeing that she had -frightened her, she released her grasp, which had been so strong and -powerful, that the marks of her hard, bony fingers were left on the soft -and delicate flesh of the lady, who dropped into a seat, terrified and -exhausted. Her situation was even worse than she had anticipated. - -_The girl was evidently deaf and dumb!_ - -She could not turn such a helpless unfortunate out into the world, -alone;--even if she filled the poor creature's pockets with gold, she -could not help herself nor make her wants known, and she would be -robbed. What was she to do? The woman, it was evident, meant to leave -her there: and now all must be known. - -The poor girl was still standing in the same place, looking at the lady -with a penitent countenance; for she saw, with natural instinct, that -she had done amiss. She had been accustomed to ill-treatment, and any -resentment she evinced subjected her to a more severe punishment; and so -she had become hardened and vindictive, and would take some opportunity -of doing her persecutors some mischief, treacherously, for which she -often got double punishment; so that she was always conquered, and her -temper became sour and morose, which gave an unpleasant expression to -her countenance, that, but for the ravages made on it by that dreadful -disease, the small-pox, might not have seemed so forbidding and -repulsive. A mingled feeling of pity and compassion took possession of -Mrs. Courland's mind, as she sat gazing at the poor creature, who now -looked so penitent, and seemed to be begging for pardon, in her way. The -expression of her countenance was quite altered and subdued. She now -felt the pride of being the conqueror over that delicate and beautiful -lady, by the strength of her sinewy hands; for there was no hand -uplifted here to fell her to the ground for her temerity and rudeness. -She saw, too, that the lady had been weeping, and that her delicate -wrists had been hurt by her powerful grasp; for the marks of her fingers -were still visible there. - -She had never, perhaps, been taught to kneel in worship or in penitence -to any higher being than the man and woman with whom she resided--and to -them only by accident, when struggling for the mastery, or in -endeavouring to evade the severity of her daily punishment. Her natural -instinct now plainly indicated to her, that she was standing in the -presence of a superior being, whom she had injured, and who bore the -pain without resenting it. She could not express her penitence and -sorrow for the pain she had inflicted, in words; so she threw herself on -her knees before the lady, and, bending her head almost to the floor, -burst into tears--the first she had shed, perhaps, except in pain or -anger, in the whole course of her life. - -Mrs. Courland's heart was touched at the natural homage and contrition -of this poor afflicted girl. She raised her from the floor and placed -her in her own chair, signing to her to remain there. - -The lady then left the room, and returned in a short time, and placed -upon the table, with her own hands, a little tray containing luncheon -for two,--dainty meat and wine, such as the poor girl had scarcely ever -seen before. She ate ravenously, and would have drank the whole contents -of the small decanter of wine, had she not been prevented. But the -kindness of those few minutes had subdued her into humble submission, -more than all the beatings and harsh treatment which she had before been -accustomed to receive to compel obedience. - -So far, all was managed easily; but the girl must sleep -somewhere--unseen and unknown. There was a small apartment within that -private room, which might be used as a sleeping-room. Mrs. Courland made -a sign to the girl, which she quickly understood, and in her strong arms -she carried in a small couch; and with shawls and rugs, which Mrs. -Courland managed to bring from other parts of the house, they made a -comfortable bed and hiding-place for the stranger for the present, until -Mrs. Courland could decide on the best course to be adopted. - -She could scarcely make up her mind to believe it; and yet it seemed -but too evident that this was the child she had grieved over so long, -and so often wished and yet dreaded to see. The plainness of the girl's -features she might yet get accustomed to, and art might be brought to -her aid to improve her appearance;--the vulgarity in her manner might -also be softened and ameliorated. But that sad calamity,--oh! that was -dreadful,--no art could get rid of that. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -"MAN IS BORN TO TROUBLE AND DISAPPOINTMENT, AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARDS." - - -Frederick Morley, in the meantime, was hastening on his journey. Love -added speed to his horse's feet, and strength to the rider; and by dint -of frequent changes on the road, he was not many days reaching Truro -once more, where he halted to refresh himself and to deliberate on what -course he should adopt. - -It was a lone house, Alrina had told him in her letter, near the -seaside, she believed, surrounded by a high wall, and not very far, she -thought, from her former abode; because she must have been taken there -during the night, so that the distance could not have been great. This -was a very vague description. There were many lone houses, in those -days, near the sea, surrounded by high walls;--indeed, the exception -was, to see a lone house, without having a high wall round it, for the -protection of the inmates against the lawless bands who infested the -sea-coast in those troublous times. His course seemed to be, to go to -the Land's-End at once, and see Lieut. Fowler, who might have heard -something, or perhaps have seen the boy. He determined, however, to go -by the road which would take him nearest to the sea; and, in his -journey, he could look out for the house in which his Alrina was -confined, and, to make sure of not passing her by this time, he -determined he would effect an entrance by some pretence or other, into -every house he saw surrounded by high walls in the course of his -journey. - -Having decided on this course, and taken some refreshment, he started on -his exploring expedition; but he was obliged to ride the same tired -horse, for there was not another to be had in the town. The horse, -however, having been well fed and groomed, the ostler assured him that -the animal was as fresh as a hunter going to the meet, and would carry -him a long journey yet before sunset. So Frederick mounted once more, -and, with whip and spur, got over a good bit of ground in a very short -time; for the horse was one of those plucky animals that will run till -they drop, under the spur of an impatient rider. Frederick did not -intend to be cruel; but he wanted to get on, and the horse seemed -willing to go, so on they went at a good pace, and soon neared the -sea-coast. The horse was flagging a little, but whip and spur kept him -up to the mark, and on they went still. They passed several farm-houses -surrounded by walls; but none of them at all answered the description -Alrina had given of her prison. At length Frederick thinks he sees, at -some distance ahead, some high dark walls, and he fancies he discerns -the roof of a house just peeping above them. "This must be the very -house," cried he, in the greatest excitement; so he urged the horse on, -thinking of nothing but the rescue of his Alrina. The road was rugged -and the horse was tired. He stumbled over a loose stone going down a -gentle declivity towards the building; and, not having sufficient -strength left to save himself, he fell heavily. The rider was thrown -with violence against the wall; he was stunned, and lay insensible and -bleeding beneath the wall of the house he had been so anxious to reach. - -The shadows of night are closing in all round, and the man and horse are -still lying in that lonely road, no one having passed since the -accident, nor has the garden-door been opened. At last a boy comes out; -and, seeing that some accident has happened, he returns to the house, -and a man and woman come out with him and examine the bodies. The horse -is dead--the man sees that at once; but the rider breathes and is -bleeding still. The man goes back to the house, taking the boy with him, -while the woman runs for some water, with which she bathes the face of -the wounded man, and washes away the congealed blood. The man and boy -presently appear again, carrying a board. The three, then, with their -united strength, place the wounded man on the board, and carry him in, -leaving the horse by the roadside. The wounded gentleman is placed in a -comfortable bed, and the man dresses his wounds and applies remedies -with considerable skill. Life is preserved, but delirium comes on, -caused by a slight concussion of the brain. No surgeon is sent for;--the -man says he can cure him himself; and the woman and the boy, having -apparently implicit confidence in his skill, yield to his wishes. They -watch with the sufferer throughout the night, and the boy is despatched, -in the morning, to the nearest town, for medicines and other things -necessary for the patient's use and comfort. - -Several days and nights pass, and the patient is still delirious. The -man continues most attentive and skilful. The patient gradually gets -better. He is out of danger; and, one evening, the man, after giving the -woman the most minute instructions as to her treatment of the invalid, -leaves, desiring her to keep strict watch over him, and keep the doors -locked, so that he may not get away from the house until his return. -The boy was left to assist the woman in attending on the invalid and -keeping watch. - -Frederick had now been an inmate of this lonely house about a week. He -was fast recovering from the effects of the fall, but still too weak to -leave his bed, although he wished most earnestly to get away, or to have -his questions answered; for he didn't at all remember what took place -after the horse fell, nor did he know where he was, nor who his -attendants were. - -The woman pretended not to know anything, and the boy generally evaded -the questions, or answered very wide of them. The morning after the -departure of the man, under whose skilful treatment Morley was -progressing so favourably towards recovery, the boy entered the room -with a cunning smile on his countenance, and said that he had a letter -for the invalid. - -"A letter!" said Morley, feebly, "who can possibly have written a letter -to me? no one but those I have seen about me, know where I am." Taking -the letter from the boy, however, he was astonished to find that it was -from Alrina. He was too anxious and impatient to read it, to think of -the bearer, or to ask any questions concerning the letter or its writer, -until he had read its contents, which he did with such eagerness, that -the boy was alarmed lest the invalid should relapse into delirium -again;--not that he was easily alarmed or frightened at anything he saw -or heard, but he knew that if the gentleman became delirious again, it -would give him extra trouble. - -In her letter, Alrina complained of her lot. She had thought, she said, -that Frederick would, at least, have written her a line in reply to her -first letter. She felt, now, that she was deserted by all. Everything -seemed going against her. Her aunt had not returned yet; but her father -came frequently, and she felt convinced there was some terrible secret, -which they endeavoured to keep from her, but she was determined to find -it out. The boy seemed willing to befriend her, she said, but she was -almost afraid to trust him. And so she went on to the end of the letter, -in the same desponding strain; winding up by asking Frederick, if he -really loved her to lose no time in coming to her rescue, or, at least, -to write a line, that she might know there was, at least, one person in -the world who cared for her. It was a melancholy letter from beginning -to end, and its perusal made her lover wretched. She was evidently under -restraint somewhere; but where? that was the question: even if he knew, -it was impossible for him to go to her at present; he was too weak. The -boy who brought her letter might know something, and he turned to ask -him, but he had left the room. He tried to get up; the exertion was too -much for him, and he sank back on his pillow again. His only resource -was to read the letter again and again. The more he reflected on -Alrina's position, however, and on the unfortunate circumstances which -had prevented his receiving her first letter in time, and his consequent -inability to render her that assistance and consolation which he would -have given worlds to have been able to do, the more irritated and -unhappy did he feel; so that when the boy returned, he was in such a -high state of excitement, that his attendant was afraid, at first, to go -near him. - -The wish for further information, however, which he believed the boy -could give him, caused Morley to subdue his feelings, and to induce him, -by the promise of a reward, to be a little more communicative than he -had hitherto been. By degrees, the boy approached the bed cautiously, -when Morley asked him, as mildly as he could, when and where he had -received the letter, and if he knew where Alrina was at that moment -confined, with many other questions too numerous for the boy to answer -without a little time and consideration. Before he answered any of them, -therefore, he gave that cunning smile, which had so annoyed Morley -before, and which now irritated him beyond measure, when he was so -anxious to hear something of her to whom he felt he had unwittingly -given cause for complaint; but he soon saw that he should get nothing -out of the boy by threats or angry expressions, so he changed his -tactics, and extracted the information he wanted by asking one question -at a time. That was certainly the oddest boy he had ever met with, he -thought; for, although, judging from his diminutive stature, no one -would have supposed him to be above eight or nine years of age, yet, -from his shrewd knowledge of the world, and aged expression of -countenance, he might have been eight- or nine-and-twenty. He was the -same boy whom Mr. Brown formerly employed to look after his mare; and it -was said, even then, and generally believed, that he was in constant -attendance on Mr. Freeman, and knew a good many of his secrets. - -He was found one night, when quite an infant, lying at the door of a -farm-house in the neighbourhood of St. Just, wrapped up in coarse -flannel; but it was never discovered who put him there, nor who the -child's parents were. He was placed in the poor-house; and when he was -old enough, he was apprenticed to one of the farmers of the district; -but he would never settle down under one master,--and after trying to -subdue him, without success, his master gave him up to his own -inclinations, and so he got his living by doing odd jobs. From his -constant intercourse with Mr. Freeman, he lost the broad Cornish dialect -in a measure, and only spoke in that way when he was associating with -the miners. He was fond of going into Penzance and mixing with the -gentlemen's servants there occasionally, from whom he picked up many a -slang expression, which he would retail to the frequenters of Mr. -Brown's bar, very much to their amusement. He was an awkward individual -to gain information from; so Morley was obliged to deal with him -accordingly, and put his questions with caution:-- - -(_Morley_) "I think I have seen you before, my boy?" - -(_Boy_) "I shouldn't wonder if you had, sir; and, maybe, I've seed you -before." - -(_Morley_) "You kept that mare like a picture;--I never saw a better -groom, either at home or abroad." - -(_Boy--smiling_) "It wasn't much odds, as it turned out, sir." - -(_Morley_) "No, no; but that doesn't alter the fact of your ability as -groom. Now, tell me--there's a good fellow--who gave you that letter." - -(_Boy--still pleased_) "Why, Miss Reeney, to be sure." - -(_Morley--excited_) "What! Alrina herself? Where did you see her?" - -(_Boy--putting on his cunning look again_) "Where? why here, to be -sure." - -(_Morley--more excited_) "Here! what, in this house?" - -(_Boy_) "To be sure; why not? She called to me through the keyhole -upstairs, and shoved the letter out under the door, and told me to take -it as before. I couldn't ask her anything, for I heard Mrs. Cooper -coming upstairs." - -(_Morley--rising up in bed in the greatest excitement_) "Oh! take me to -her!--or, stay, take a message to her at once; tell her I am----" - -(_Boy_) "Stop, stop, sir; you must lend me a horse to do that." - -(_Morley_) "I thought you said she was here, in this house." - -(_Boy_) "So she was; but 'The Maister' took her off with him last -night." - -(_Morley_) "Then that was Mr. Freeman who attended me; and Alrina has -been here all the time, and did not come near me! Oh! cruel, cruel! she -must be offended, indeed. Didn't she ask or try to come to see me?" - -(_Boy_) "No, she didn't, sir, 'cause she didn't know you was here." - -(_Morley_) "Not know it? strange!" - -(_Boy_) "Nothing strange at all, sir, that I can see; I have seed -stranger things than that, a bra' deal. She was kept at the top of the -house, and you down here--under lock and key, both of 'ee; and last -night 'The Maister' took her off with him. Where they're gone, I can't -say,--I heard 'The Maister' tell Mrs. Cooper something about America." - -(_Morley_) "America! do you think he intends to go there?" - -(_Boy_) "I do no more know than you do, sir. F'rall I've b'en with 'The -Maister' so often, an' have seed a good many of his quips and quirks, -and helped in them too, I do no more know what he do main by what he do -say, than a cheeld unborn. He ha' got something upon his mind, that's a -sure thing." - -The boy was beginning to throw off his reserve, as Morley thus -cautiously questioned him; but he saw that if he put his questions too -pointedly, the boy would "shut up" again; so he asked a few gossipping -questions about Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Trenow, which took the boy -off his guard, and he went on talking. It seemed at last as if it were a -relief to him to talk of "The Maister," as he called Mr. Freeman, in -common with most people of the neighbourhood,--and, in relieving his -pent-up mind, he told, perhaps, more than he intended; but he seemed to -feel that Mr. Morley was a gentleman who wouldn't betray him, and so he -threw off his reserve and trusted him. - -"You've heard of Chapel Carn Brea, I s'pose, sir?" asked the boy. - -"Yes; I've been there," replied Morley; "it is one of the curiosities of -the neighbourhood. No doubt it was a handsome building at one time; and -those mounds near it are tombs, no doubt." - -"You're right, sir," said the boy; "I've heard 'The Maister' tell -stories in Mr. Brown's bar, about that place, that would make your hair -stand on end, ef you b'lieved it all. The men he told it to, b'lieved -every word; and they wud no more go anist Chapel Carn Brea in the night, -than they wud clunk boiling lead. I've b'en there by night an' by day; -for I wor curious to find out somethen'." - -"You were not likely to find anything there," said Morley, -carelessly--which threw the boy completely off his guard; and, being in -a communicative mood, he went on,-- - -"I saw something there one night, that made me feel uncommon queer, sure -nuf; and I b'lieve that 'The Maister' ha' got some notion that I do knaw -somethen'; for he slocked me up there for to try to frighten me more -than once. It was somethen' that I'm sure he must have put there inside -one of the walls, that went off like a clap of thunder, and frightened -the mare, that night when I was throwed; and I'm sure 'twas his doing, -for, when I came to myself, I was upon a bed in 'The Maister's' house, -and nobody but his sister knaw'd a word about et. He gave me some stuff, -and I soon got about agen. He went out the next morning, and Miss -Freeman kept me there under lock and key; and when he came home in the -afternoon, he told all about the mare, and how poor Mr. Brown was -sitting down 'pon a rock by hisself, fretting about it, and he sent me -up to bring him home." - -"So you never saw anything more than that at Chapel Carn Brea, after -all?" said Morley, by way of bringing the boy back to the secret he -seemed about to tell,--for he saw, by his manner, there was something -more, and he was anxious to know all he could about this man, although -his thoughts were, even then, dwelling, with intense anxiety, on the -probable sufferings, both in body and mind, of his Alrina. - -"Iss I have," cried the boy, eagerly; "but I never told it to a single -soul, from that time to this. Now, mind, you must promise that you'll -never tell." And, without waiting for the promise, he went on eagerly -with his tale. "When 'The Maister' came here to live first," resumed the -boy, "I was but a little chap." - -"So I should suppose," said Morley, smiling, "even if you were in -existence, which I very much doubt,--for that must be fourteen or -fifteen years ago, according to the account of Mrs. Brown and Josiah -Trenow, and others of the neighbourhood; so I fancy you are about to -tell me a tale in imitation of your master." - -"No, no," replied the boy; "you don't know what I'm going to tell, and -p'rhaps you won't. I'm older than I do look, I can tell 'ee. I'm no -cheeld, f'rall I do look like one to a stranger, I dare say." - -"Well, how old are you?" said Morley; "for I confess I have been puzzled -several times as to your age. In stature you are but a very little boy; -but when I look into your face, and hear your shrewd remarks, I fancy -you may be almost any age." - -"Well, sir," replied the boy, looking pleased at the gentleman's having -noticed him so much as to be puzzled about his age; "I'm above twenty, -but how much I don't exactly know." - -"Billy!" cried a rough voice from below,--"Billy! I say. Where the devil -is that rapscallion?" - -"There!" said the boy; "Cap'n Cooper is come back, and the old woman is -gone out, I s'pose. There'll be the devil to pay if I don't go down." -And away he ran, leaving Morley in a most unpleasant state of suspense; -for he had calculated on gaining a great deal of information from the -boy, both with regard to Mr. Freeman, and, what he was still more -concerned about, the probable movements and present abode of Alrina. - -It was evident, from what the boy said, that he was a prisoner. He -wouldn't have minded the old woman and the boy so much; for he thought -he might be able to work upon their feelings, by bribes and fair words, -sufficiently to induce them to connive at his escape; and he speculated -in his mind, even while the boy was talking with him, that he might be -able to prevail on him to leave Mr. Freeman and follow him as groom and -valet, when he might be of the utmost assistance in many ways. But now -it seemed as if all his aerial castles were dissolving into the element -of which they were composed; for here was a more formidable jailor, if -he might judge by the rough voice and the commanding tone of the fresh -arrival. This was the master of the house, he had no doubt, from the -name;--Cooper was the old woman's name, he knew. These thoughts drove -him almost mad, and he lay back on his pillow and gave himself up to -despair. "Alrina!" cried he, in his agony; "I feel that all things are -working against us; but oh! Alrina, forgive your Frederick,--it was not -my fault. Alrina! Alrina!" And, after raving like a madman for some -minutes, he fell back exhausted. - -In the meantime, the boy, locking the door behind him, as he passed out -of the room in which Morley lay, hastened downstairs to meet the master -of the establishment. - -"Hallo!" exclaimed that gentleman, as he stood with his back to the -fire; "where's all the people?" - -"How should I know?" replied the boy, in the same unceremonious -manner,--for he feared no one but "The Maister," and could be as -impertinent as the greatest blackguard in the parish when he chose to -be, for which he frequently got punished by those who didn't know him -well, and these he generally took some opportunity of retaliating upon, -so that no one gained much by punishing little Bill. - -It was evident that the captain was out of sorts, and was inclined to -vent his spleen upon anybody or anything that happened to come in his -way. - -"Confound your impudence," said he, advancing towards the boy, with his -uplifted fist ready to make a blow at him, when he got near enough; -"I'll knock you into the middle of next week, you young rascal!" And he -struck at the young offender with such force, that the boy would have -been seriously injured, had he not nimbly jumped on one side. The -impetus of the blow not being checked by coming in contact with the -boy's head, sent the man forward, and he was caught in the arms of his -loving wife, who entered at that moment, and they both fell headlong on -the floor together, at which the boy laughed and ran out of the room. - -Nothing makes a person feel so awkward and foolish as when he measures -his length on the floor by an accidental fall; and Captain Cooper and -his better half felt quite ashamed of themselves, as they scrambled up -from their ignominious position. Fortunately there were no spectators; -for the boy had escaped, and was keeping out of sight for the present, -but not out of hearing. A little corner sufficed for a hiding-place for -him, and thus he frequently picked up a good many odd secrets, which he -repeated to "The Maister" when he was assisting him in any of his -necromancy, and obtained credit even from "The Maister" for shrewdness -beyond his years. - -"Where's Freeman?" asked the man, opening a cupboard and taking out a -bottle of brandy and a glass to solace him after his fall. - -"Gone," replied the woman, shaking herself to rights again; "he started -last night, and took Alrina with him." - -"The devil he did!" exclaimed the man, drinking off a full glass of the -exhilarating liquor; "that's a queer game, when he promised to----" - -"Don't you know that his promises can't always be kept?" said the -woman. "Circumstances alter cases. There's been a circumstance here." - -"A what!" cried the man, in an angry tone; "why, you're getting so bad -as the boy, Jenny Cooper." - -"Hush, Cap'n! I've got something to tell 'ee," replied his wife; and -seating herself on a low chair, opposite the fire, and blowing it up -lustily with the bellows at the same time, she related to her husband -the accident, and told him the young gentleman was still in bed -upstairs. - -"Whew!" whistled the captain;--"then his game is up for a spur, and -t'other is out of the way and off the scent,--so no herring-pool, after -all; but where is the old man gone to?" - -"I don't know," replied his wife; "but I shouldn't wonder if he's gone -down to the old place again, now the coast is clear. He'll be noted -again in St. Just, now that the breeze is blown over, and the scent is -in another quarter, as you do say it is." - -"Right you are," rejoined the captain, looking more pleased than he had -looked yet since his return. "And now I'll tell you our bit of spree." -And he related to his wife the expedition to Ashley Hall, and how his -companion had left the girl with the lady, thinking to frighten her into -submission to their terms, and that, when she went back again the next -day, to see how the land lay, she found the little door in the lane -locked and barred on the inside, and when she applied for admission, at -the front entrance, she was told that Mrs. Courland could not see her. -"So she's in a fix," continued the man; "but she stayed behind, and -she'll blow the gaff, if they don't come to, soon. I should have stopped -too, but I thought my old friend might want to be off at once, and so I -came back to get all things right and straight for the trip." - -"And you'd better get things right and straight now," said his wife; -"for he may be going off all the same, for what I do know." - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -RETROSPECTION AND RECRIMINATION. - - -Mr. Morley wrote to Lieut. Fowler from Ashley Hall, saying that he had -found his brother and Josiah Trenow there, and that they had discovered -a house, which they had every reason to believe was the scene of the -murder. He informed his friend also that he and Josiah would remain -there a little longer, to make further search, but that Frederick had -gone down into Cornwall in search of a party who had slipped through -their hands, so far. - -In consequence of this letter, Lieut. Fowler was in daily expectation of -seeing his friend Frederick Morley at Tol-pedn-Penwith. And the ladies -at Pendrea-house were in anxious expectation too; for, now that they -knew more of his history, which seemed so fraught with romantic -interest, he had become quite a hero in their eyes. Day after day -passed, but he did not arrive. The ladies were alarmed, and feared some -accident had befallen him; but Fowler ridiculed this idea, and -attributed his non-arrival to the strictness of the search he was no -doubt making. Who the party was that Frederick was in search of, Fowler -didn't know, for the finding of the box by Josiah had been kept a -secret. The search after Mr. Freeman was merely to get his help to -unravel the mystery of that document, which Josiah seemed to think, from -his manner, he knew something about, although it was most probable, as -Frederick suggested at first, that Mr. Freeman pretended to know more -than he really did, in order to induce Josiah to leave the box and its -contents with him. As a drowning man will catch at a straw, so did -Frederick catch at this little incident, improbable as he really thought -it, in the hope that it might assist him in his search, or that the -conjuror, by his skill, might be able to give him some clue to the -mystery. Fowler knew nothing of all this, nor did he know of his -friend's devoted, and, it may be added, romantic, attachment to the -daughter of the celebrated Land's-End conjuror. Had he known it, he -would, no doubt, have tried to convince his friend of the folly and -absurdity of such a connection. But love is blind; and it would probably -have required more eloquence than Lieut. Fowler possessed to have -persuaded Frederick Morley that the lovely and fascinating girl whom he -loved so passionately from the first moment he saw her, as a schoolgirl, -was unworthy of his affection, because her father did not move in the -first circles of society. Luckily Fowler was ignorant of this -attachment; and so his friend had been spared the annoyance of a -discussion with him on the subject. The old squire was as anxious as any -of them to see the young soldier once more. But he didn't come. - -Miss Pendray's mind was ill at ease--that was evident to all who knew -her. She still wandered over the cliffs, and braved the storm; but it -was not now, as it used to be, for the sake of looking at the bold -scenery. Her wanderings had now a more definite object;--she hoped, -every time she climbed those lofty cliffs, that she should meet with -someone to share her admiration of the beautiful scenery. She had become -accustomed to those pleasant meetings with one of the opposite sex; and -she felt a vacuum--a loneliness--that she had never felt before. The -stranger whom she met at the ball, and who seemed so enamoured of her, -had disappeared in a most unaccountable manner. She was beginning to -like his attentions, although there was something in his manner, -sometimes, which did not please her;--she told him as much, the last -time she met him. Perhaps he was offended; for she had never seen him -since the sudden appearance of that handsome man, who had intruded upon -their privacy at the Logan Rock. It was a strange coincidence--those two -men, meeting in that strange way. She was much struck with the -appearance and gentlemanly manners of the gentleman with the white -hair;--she couldn't put him out of her mind for the whole day; and, the -next evening, when Lieut. Fowler brought him to Pendrea-house, after -their return from St. Just, she thought him the most fascinating man she -had ever seen. There was an open frankness and ease in his manner, which -were wanting in Mr. Smith. As she reflected now on the difference -between the two men, she felt that Mr. Smith's manners seemed put on for -the occasion, and that he required to be on his guard, and to be always -watching himself, as it were, to prevent some hidden vulgarity from -peeping out under his apparently assumed garb of refinement. It was not -so with Mr. Morley;--he was a gentleman intuitively, and, therefore, had -no occasion to watch himself lest he should say or do, inadvertently, -anything he would be ashamed of. Mr. Morley, too, was much struck with -Miss Pendray's beauty; but he did not tell her so, point blank, as Mr. -Smith had done on more than one occasion. He asked her to shew him some -of her favourite scenes on the cliffs, with which he expressed himself -highly delighted, and he pointed out beauties in the rocks and cliffs -and headlands, which she had not observed before, and described to her, -in glowing colours, some of the magnificent scenery he had himself -witnessed in the East. And so they continued, day after day, to walk -together--sometimes over the cliffs and sometimes on the smooth sands -beneath--admiring the beauties of Nature, almost with the same eyes and -the same thoughts. They seemed to have so many ideas in unison, and each -became so fascinated with the other, that when the time arrived that Mr. -Morley thought he must in duty visit his relatives, they parted, with -sorrowing hearts, although neither of them knew what a pang the other -felt at parting. - -Miss Pendray had not been accustomed, in that out-of-the-way place, to -meet with men of that stamp;--she had never before come into contact -with a congenial spirit. Frederick Morley was better than most she had -been in the habit of meeting; but he would, occasionally, appear so -absorbed in his own thoughts, that he was, at times, scarcely -companionable. Mr. Smith was bold and clever, evidently, and as romantic -in his ideas and pursuits as she could possibly desire, and frequently -fascinated her with his thrilling stories; but there was something in -his manner sometimes that did not satisfy her; and his aversion to join -their domestic circle seemed most strange. - -Mr. Morley was quite different, in every respect; and, now that she -wandered over the cliffs alone, day after day, she could reflect on the -difference between the three men. She had always looked down with pity -on her younger sister's susceptibility, and often upbraided her for -exhibiting, so unreservedly, her attachment to Lieut. Fowler, who was -not at all suited to her, either in age or position, Miss Pendray -thought. - -The gentle Blanche could now turn the tables on her more prudent and -high-minded sister; for she saw that the handsome Mr. Morley had made a -conquest, and that the majestic Maud watched his every look and action, -and was pained, beyond measure, when, even in common politeness, he paid -the slightest attention to anyone else. - -While Maud and Mr. Morley were thus revelling in each other's society, -over the bold cliffs and headlands, Blanche and her lover were taking -their quiet walks along the rocks and sands beneath, where they would, -ever and anon, stop and rest themselves, and look out on the broad ocean -which lay before them, talking of the future, and hoping that all might -turn out smoothly in the end; for, although Blanche quite understood -what her lover meant now, and returned his love with the fondest -affection, and wished to her heart that all could be settled at once, -yet she was still afraid for her father to be spoken to on the subject, -lest he should get angry, and forbid their intercourse altogether. Poor -silly child! her timid nature feared she knew not what; and the more her -lover urged her to allow him to ask her father's consent, the more did -she recoil from the ordeal, dreading what the answer might be. She knew -her sister's thoughts and opinions on the subject, and she feared her -father might hold the same opinion, for they were much alike in pride -and lofty bearing; and so her timid fear overcame her prudence, and she -held her lover back from doing that which he well knew and felt he ought -to do, in common honesty and honour. But he loved his darling Blanche -too well to thwart her; and so the two went on in tender communing, and -each day brought fresh arguments on either side--the one, in manly -uprightness, urging the appeal to the father for his sanction to their -union; the other, in timid maidenly reserve, dreading the answer her -stern parent might give, and controlling her fond lover, who felt he -could not disobey her. - -"Only wait a little longer," she said, one day, as she sat listening to -his arguments, and looking up at him so earnestly;--"you don't know papa -so well as I do. In most things he is so kind; but I fear in this he -would not be so." - -"Why do you think so, dearest Blanche?" he replied, taking her hand in -his; "he seems to like me, and is continually asking me to come to -Pendrea-house. What objection can he have? have you ever heard him say -he disliked me, or----" - -"Oh! no! never," she replied; "but Maud and papa seem to hold the same -opinions on many points; and she has spoken to me often of the disparity -of age, and seemed so utterly against it, that I fear papa will think so -too." - -"It shall be exactly as you wish," said he; "but I would much rather -know my fate at once, than wait in suspense;--what good end can it -answer to delay it?" - -"Oh! don't talk in that way," replied Blanche, bursting into -tears;--"you know how much I should wish it settled, too; but then, if -papa should be angry, and refuse to give his consent, I should never see -you again. I cannot bear to think of that." - -Poor little innocent timid Blanche! she knew not what troubles her -timidity was bringing on them both. It was her first love; and, -childlike, she thought only of her present pleasure. She felt like one -in a pleasant dream, gliding through the air on azure clouds, wafted -gently onwards by a zephyr's breeze, with her lover ever by her side to -protect her from harm; and she feared lest the slightest change in their -present position should cause an angry storm to rise, and overturn all -their blissful happiness. She did not know, poor girl, in her ignorance, -of the changes and chances that are continually going on in the world, -where the greatest pleasures and the severest pains and trials last but -for a season, and they are gone, and old Time keeps on the even tenor of -his way, and pains and pleasures live only in the memory, and fade away -as time rolls on, leaving, in the end, but a faint shadow of the past. - -Blanche knew not this; and, anxious to secure present happiness, she -induced her lover, in the very innocence of her young heart, by tears -and entreaties, to delay his application to her father for a time, in -defiance of his better judgment; for he was older, and knew the world -much better than this poor innocent girl, but still he yielded, and they -loved on in secret. - -While Maud was so engrossed with Mr. Morley, there was no one to watch -and overlook them; but when he was gone, it seemed to her as if all her -occupation was gone too,--she had nothing left but to wander out alone -and think of him whose image ever haunted her;--and, in her wanderings, -she often surprised Blanche and her attendant lover, in one of their -favourite haunts. And, wanting some better occupation, she would chide -her sister when they were alone together. At first, Blanche didn't mind -it much; but its frequent repetition angered her, and she spoke up -sharply to her sister, contrary to her wont, which made Maud speak her -mind more freely. And as they sat at work alone, one afternoon, she -renewed the old subject:-- - -"I must tell you, Blanche," she began, "that I think it is very wrong -in you to encourage Mr. Fowler to pay you such marked attention, when, -perhaps, he means nothing, after all." - -"I will not allow anyone, in my presence, to impeach Mr. Fowler's -honour," replied Blanche, looking up from her work, her cheeks burning -with indignant pride; "I have the most perfect confidence in his -honourable intentions, and therefore I will not hear him traduced." - -"There we differ," returned her elder sister, hastily; "and, let me tell -you that, were his intentions ever so honourable, papa would never -sanction the engagement of a daughter of his to Lieut. Fowler." - -"And, pray, what would be the objection?" asked Blanche, indignantly. - -"There are several," replied her sister; "I know papa's opinion of his -position pretty well, for I have already sounded him on it." - -"And what right, let me ask, had you to sound papa on a subject which -you know nothing about?" asked Blanche;--"that subject has never been -named by Mr. Fowler, either to you or to papa, that I am aware of." - -"Then it ought to have been," replied Maud, "and that would have settled -the matter at once. It is neither honourable nor manly in Mr. Fowler to -ensnare your affections, and wish you to meet him clandestinely, as I -fear and know you too often do. What his intentions are, I don't know; -but, if I may judge from this circumstance, they cannot be honourable, -and it is time papa took some measures to prevent it, before it is too -late." - -"I am surprised, Maud," replied her sister, coolly, "that you, above all -others, should accuse me of doing the very thing that you have been -doing yourself for the last two months." - -"Me!" exclaimed the majestic Maud; "how dare you say such a thing?" - -"Yes, you!" replied Blanche. "If I have walked occasionally with papa's -old friend, Mr. Fowler, I have done so openly, and with him only,--while -you have had three strings to your bow, two of whom I know you met -clandestinely, often and often, my prudent sister. What has become of -the stranger you met at the ball, who called himself 'Mr. Smith?' did -you think your meetings with him were not known? And, having lost him, -you carried on the same game with Mr. Morley. Did either of these -gentlemen ask papa? If not, I say they ought to have done so, before -they induced you to meet them so often, clandestinely, at the Logan -Rock,--a nice secluded place for lovers to meet at, truly?" - -The timid Blanche had never spoken so fearlessly and sharply to her -sister before, and Maud was perfectly astonished. She felt conscious, -all at once, that the tables were turned on her deservedly--for she had -an inward conviction of the truth of what her sister had said; but, like -most people whose minds are filled with one great and absorbing passion, -she neither saw nor knew that her actions were observed and commented on -by the lookers-on in the outer world. Although she looked upon the world -in general with cold indifference, and would sit for hours as inanimate -as a statue, her handsome features looking, in repose, like a piece of -beautifully-chiselled, tinted, marble; yet, when anyone approached in -whom she took a more than ordinary interest, or any subject was -introduced which it pleased her to discuss, her countenance would light -up instantaneously, and you might see the fire of her soul shine out -with dazzling brilliancy, in her dark flashing eyes. Nothing, then, -could control the ungovernable passion that dwelt within; and the longer -it had lain dormant, the stronger would it now burst forth, seeing -nothing but that one object on which her mind was then intent. With such -an all-absorbing passion had she, during the last few days of his -sojourn among them, loved Mr. Morley. At first she was passive;--she -walked with him, and pointed out the beauties of the scenery, and -listened to his description of the scenes he had passed through in -India, with pleasure, certainly, but not with the rapture she now felt -in all he said or did. She liked him, at first, as a highly-gifted -gentlemanly companion,--when, all at once, she was seized with that -ungovernable love for him, which prevented her from seeing anything -else; nor did she care, in her mad passion, if the whole world was -looking on,--she was blind to all but him. She, like Blanche, thought -but of her present happiness, but, unlike Blanche, she thought not of -her father's consent nor dissent; and so she was taken quite by -surprise, when she found that all her doings had been seen and commented -upon. She had been like a little playful child, who covers its head, and -thinks, poor little innocent, that, because it cannot see the company -around, it cannot be seen by them. Maud was shocked at the discovery. It -roused another passion within her--that of anger; and, rising from her -seat, with a haughty frown, she swept from the room, and left her poor -timid sister trembling and frightened, wondering what she had said or -done to cause such a terrible commotion within her sister's breast. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -SQUIRE PENDRAY GETS ON HIS STILTS, AND VIEWS LIEUT. FOWLER FROM A LOFTY -EMINENCE. - - -When Lieut. Fowler called at Pendrea-house the next morning, to take -Blanche out, as he had promised, to finish a sketch she was making of a -scene near the Logan Rock, he was met at the door by the old squire -himself, who, bowing stiffly asked his visitor to grant him a few -minutes' conversation in the library. - -"This is an odd reception," thought Fowler; "the old gentleman is up on -his stilts this morning." But, however, as he knew the squire was very -uncertain in his temper, he followed him in silence; and, when they had -entered the room, the squire requested him to be seated, and, after a -moment's pause, in which he seemed to be considering how he should -begin, he said, rather abruptly,-- - -"I have not deserved this at your hands, Lieut. Fowler." - -"What, sir?" said Fowler, in the greatest surprise. - -"When you came into this district," continued the squire, without -noticing Fowler's remark, "I invited you to my house; and my family and -myself have tried to make it as agreeable as we could to you, as you -seemed lonely up there by yourself; and the return I have had for all my -kindness, has been your undermining the innocent simplicity of my -youngest daughter, and, in an underhand and clandestine manner, gaining -the affections of an unsophisticated, simple girl, and inducing her to -meet you in bye-places unknown to her family." - -"My dear sir!" exclaimed Fowler, scarcely knowing what he said--he was -so taken by surprise; "I protest----" - -"It is of no use your denying it," continued the squire; "for I am in -possession of the fact that you have destroyed my child's peace of mind, -without ascertaining whether your attentions would be agreeable to me or -not." - -"I acknowledge that I love your daughter, squire Pendray," replied -Fowler; "but I hold her and all your family in too high respect to do -anything underhand or clandestinely, to gain her affections; and I tell -you, sir," he continued, rising with calm dignity, "I have not done so; -and, if you had not been Blanche's father, I would not submit quietly to -be taunted in this way. I should have communicated my feelings to you -long ago, but----" - -"But what, sir!" exclaimed the squire, rising from his seat also. - -"But for a timid feeling which Blanche possesses," replied Fowler, -"that----" - -"Whatever fears Blanche might have had, sir, they ought not to have -prevented you from acting as an honourable man and a gentleman. You are -many years older than my daughter, Lieut. Fowler, and ought not to have -led her away thus. It is well, perhaps, that the discovery has been made -before it was too late. You have taken advantage of my hospitality, sir, -and I desire you will not enter my doors again; and whatever there may -have been between you and my daughter, it must cease. Sir, I wish you a -very good morning." And, bowing to his visitor, the crusty old gentleman -opened another door, which led to the upper part of the house, leaving -Lieut. Fowler standing in the middle of the room, and wondering what -could be the meaning of all this, and who could have informed the squire -of his attachment to his daughter, and of their meetings. He was -conscious of the rectitude and earnestness of his intentions, and knew, -of course, that he had been prevented from making them known to her -father, only by the earnest intreaty of Blanche herself. But he could -not compromise her--indeed he had not an opportunity of doing so, even -if he wished; for, before he had time to reply, or to defend himself, -the old gentleman was gone, and there was no one to receive his -explanation. At first he thought that, perhaps, Blanche might have been -questioned by her father, and had been induced to confess their -attachment and their frequent meetings, without having had the courage -or the opportunity to explain the reason. - -He could not remain in the house, of course, nor could he call again, -after what had taken place; but he thought he should like to hear from -Blanche herself how far she was implicated (unintentionally, he was -quite sure) in divulging their secret, and thus causing his dismissal -from a house which he had visited with so much pleasure ever since he -had been in Cornwall. He determined, therefore, that he would see -Blanche, if possible, before he left. So he rang the bell. The servant -who answered it said, in reply to his request to see Miss Blanche for a -moment, that she was confined to her room with a headache, and could not -see him; so he had no alternative but to leave the house. - -How little do we know what a day may bring forth! As he walked away from -that house where he had been accustomed to be received almost as one of -the family for a period of four or five years, Lieut. Fowler began to -reflect on the changes and vicissitudes of human life, and how easily -the merest trifle, light as air, will sometimes turn the scale. From his -first introduction to squire Pendray, to the present time, they had -been, as it were, boon companions; for the squire, although an old man, -was a jolly companion over his wine, and would frequently, even then, at -his advanced age, take his gun and have a day's sport with his friend, -and keep up with him too, to the end of the day without flagging, and -would enjoy the bachelors' dinner, and a glass of grog afterwards, at -the lieutenant's little cabin, where the dinner was cooked by a jolly -tar, and served up in sailor fashion, as much as if the table was -spread with the daintiest dishes, and everything was done in the first -style of fashion. And, only two days before, when Fowler dined at -Pendrea-house, he thought, as they sat at their wine after dinner, that -it was impossible his old friend could refuse him his daughter's hand, -if he could only be permitted by her to ask the question; for he had -been always treated more like a brother by the young ladies, than like a -stranger. And now, without even allowing him an opportunity of -explaining his conduct, or of exculpating himself from the insinuations -thrown out against his character as a man of honour and a gentleman, he -is unceremoniously expelled from the house, and forbidden all further -intercourse with her for whom he would willingly lay down his life. - -That some secret enemy had been at work, he had not the slightest doubt; -but who it could be, he could not imagine. He was not, therefore, in a -very serene state of mind, when he arrived home, as his men soon -discovered. He ordered them out on night duty, and said he should -himself take a long round and inspect all the outposts during the night. - -Blanche had not heard of her lover's having been at the house. She was -not very well, but a walk in the fresh air would have done her good, and -she sat in her room expecting to be informed by her maid, as she had -directed, when Lieut. Fowler called; but none of the female servants saw -him come in, and they did not know he was in the house; for he had been -admitted, as will be remembered, by squire Pendray himself, who, -anticipating that Lieut. Fowler would probably try to see his daughter -before he left the house, desired the footman to say that Miss Blanche -could not be seen; and so the servant was prepared with his answer -before the question was asked. Hour after hour passed away, and still -Blanche waited in anxious expectation, but he did not come--as she -supposed; and at length she went down into the drawing-room to join her -mother and sister. - -Maud had done her work cleverly and successfully, and she was satisfied -with herself;--she had avenged the unpleasant insinuations and -reflections cast upon her by her younger sister; and she had prevented -her, she believed, from being ensnared into a connection which was not -deemed eligible in any way for a daughter of the house of Pendray. - -Nothing was said by either of the ladies about Lieut. Fowler; and so -Blanche remained in ignorance of his visit and its termination. Day -after day passed away, but Lieut. Fowler did not make his appearance, -and Blanche became alarmed. She walked out occasionally with the hope of -meeting him at one of their favourite haunts, but he did not come. Maud -would now accompany her sister, which was very unusual, their pursuits -and ideas being so widely different. Blanche could not understand it; -and, after their late conversation, she did not like to mention the -name of Fowler to her sister, and so they went on--each having a secret -and reserving it in her own breast, fearing, and yet wishing, to talk to -each other with that confidence which should have existed between two -sisters, who had scarcely ever been separated in their lives. - -Blanche, at length, began to feel unhappy and uncomfortable. She -declined going out when her sister asked her, and would sit in her own -room, with her door locked, all day long, and never join the family, -except at meal-times, when she shewed evident signs of mental distress. -The tears would sometimes chase each other gently down her cheeks, as -she sat pretending to eat--for it was a mere pretence;--she had no -appetite, and merely came to the table because she was obliged to do so, -to prevent being questioned. She feared he was ill, but she dared not -ask; and thus, poor timid child, "she let concealment, like a worm i' -the bud, feed on her damask cheek," and pined away in lonely sadness. - -Squire Pendray and his eldest daughter divined the cause of Blanche's -melancholy; but, instead of commiserating and consoling her, they -privately denounced Lieut. Fowler as the cause of it all. And, the more -Blanche gave way to her secret grief, and pined for the loss of him -whose presence seemed almost necessary to her existence, the more did -they censure and reproach their former friend. - -The only comforter--if such it might be deemed--whom Blanche had, was -Mrs. Pendray, her kind indulgent mother. She, poor lady, knew nothing of -the love affair, and attributed her darling daughter's illness to -another cause, and overwhelmed the sufferer with well-meant attentions, -and loaded her with dainties of all sorts--none of which could Blanche -touch. - -The old squire was concerned to see his little pet pining away, and -refusing all nourishment; but his pride would not permit him to yield in -any one particular. - -Miss Pendray, too, had her moments of secret anxiety; for Mr. Morley had -not written to anyone, as far as she knew, since his first letter to -Lieut. Fowler, and he had now been gone a fortnight. Lieut. Fowler might -have heard, perhaps, but she had been the means of precluding the -possibility of knowing; for it was in consequence of her tale-bearing to -her father that he had been forbidden the house. She did not, perhaps, -calculate on the mischief she was doing, when her pride and her -ungovernable passion prompted her to betray her sister. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -THE STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. - - -It was a curious fact that everyone who spoke of Mr. Freeman, wound up -their description of him by saying that he had something on his -mind;--but what that something was, or by what means they had -ascertained the fact, or why they had come to that conclusion, they -could not tell. There was, certainly, some mystery about him, inasmuch -as he kept a good deal to himself, and generally appeared thoughtful and -taciturn. He had come to St. Just from some distant part of England, -many years before, and had bought the house in which he resided, and -lived there alone for some time. Then Miss Freeman came. He called her -his sister;--some said she was his wife; but, as neither of them cared -much what was said about them, gossips got tired at last, and allowed -them to be what they were--brother and sister. - -Years rolled on; and Mr. and Miss Freeman continued to reside at St. -Just, and to mix occasionally with the people, but no one seemed really -to know them a bit better than they did at first. Their motto seemed to -be, "to hear, see, and be silent." - -One hot summer, an epidemic broke out in the parish. There was no doctor -nearer at that time than Penzance. It was too expensive for the poor to -send for him at such a distance, and many of them died for want of -medical assistance. - -Mr. Freeman did not, at first, take much notice of it,--he kept aloof. -At length, a boy who went errands for him, and did other jobs, caught -the infection. Mr. Freeman went to see him, and gave him some medicine -which cured him. This got abroad, and Mr. Freeman was sought after, and -he cured many others. - -When the epidemic among the human beings was over, there came one among -the cattle and pigs. It was rumoured that the evil eye was upon them, -and that they were ill-wished. Mr. Freeman was applied to again. He had -been reading the minds of the people, and getting at their secrets while -he was attending them. And, storing up in his memory the petty strifes -and bickerings among them, he could tell pretty nearly how they were -affected towards each other; and the little boy he had cured of the -fever, and who was now his factotum, assisted him; so that, by a few -lucky cures of their cattle, and a very slight hint at someone with whom -the ill-wished party was at variance, the ill-wisher was sufficiently -indicated to procure "The Maister"--as he was now beginning to be -designated--a brilliant reputation, which he profited by considerably; -and the people feared him and honoured him, for his wonderful knowledge -and ability;--but, notwithstanding all his skill, everyone thought that -"The Maister" had something upon his mind. The brother and sister were -an odd pair,--no one could understand them,--and so they ceased to be -much talked about after a time. Their movements were very uncertain. -They would lock up the house and go away, and stay away for weeks, -sometimes. Some of their neighbours wished they would stay away -altogether; but they would not venture to say so, even to themselves; -for they believed that "The Maister" could read their very thoughts -almost. - -Years rolled on; and one day, Miss Freeman, having been absent longer -than usual, brought home a beautiful young lady with her. Here was food -for another gossip. Who was she? She was not like Miss Freeman, nor was -she much like "The Maister;" but they were told she was his daughter. He -had been left a widower when Alrina was very young, Miss Freeman said, -and so she had been at school ever since, agreeably to her mother's -dying request. Gossip wore itself out in this instance also; and Alrina -was allowed to settle down as Mr. Freeman's daughter,--indeed, there was -no one to dispute it; why should they? - -The idle gossip of a country village may suggest and insinuate many -things; but the proof is generally wanting when they come to the test. -Miss Freeman went to fetch the young lady, certainly;--and why not? -Gossip was at fault, and Alrina resided quietly with her father and -aunt. - -Whether Mr. Freeman intended to prevent his daughter from having any -intercourse at all with young men of about her own age, or whether he -had any objection to Frederick Morley individually, certain it is, that, -as soon as he discovered their meetings, he contrived to confine his -daughter to the house, by giving her some powerful narcotic. And, -leaving her in the care of his sister, he went to Portagnes, to make -arrangements for their removal to the house of Capt. Cooper, which was -more calculated for seclusion and confinement than his own. - -The two men were well suited to each other, and played a good game. -Capt. Cooper was bold, rough, and daring, and was the captain of a nice -little vessel in which Mr. Freeman held a large share. And in this he -would go across the water for contraband goods, and Mr. Freeman assisted -him in disposing of them in some of the large towns where he had -friends;--and many a daring adventure had Capt. Cooper been engaged in, -and many a clever run had he made, and evaded the officers of the -customs, and effected landings almost under their very eyes. His house -was a very large one; and underneath, there were commodious cellars, -which were of great use in concealing the contraband goods. - -Why Frederick Morley's appearance at the Land's-End had made these men -so uneasy, it is difficult to say. He was a soldier, and was on intimate -terms of friendship with Lieut. Fowler, the avowed enemy of smuggling; -and, if allowed to meet Alrina as a lover, secrets might be told which -she could not help knowing, they thought. This was one reason, perhaps, -why they wished to get rid of him. But they hadn't succeeded yet. Mr. -Freeman tried the ride on the mare to the Land's-End point, but the -rider was preserved. Now he was completely in their power, but they were -puzzled what to do with him. Alrina had been removed out of his way -again, and the secret of his being there had been kept from her, but the -boy knew it. He was the first who discovered him, when he was lying -insensible under the garden wall. The boy was useful to them, but they -feared him; for he knew too much, and, with all their shrewdness, they -could not fathom him. He might betray them any day. He knew enough of -their secrets; and, although he knew nothing criminal against them, he -was a check upon them,--otherwise Cooper would not have hesitated to get -rid of their troublesome visitor very quickly. Mr. Freeman, too, might -have got rid of him by allowing him to perish when they found him -outside the garden wall, wounded; but both the woman and the boy would -have procured medical aid, if he had not used his utmost skill in -restoring him,--and this would not have suited Mr. Freeman at all just -at that time and in that place; so he used his utmost skill, and cured -him, and there he lay a prisoner still. - -That unfortunate girl, before mentioned, had been a source of profit to -them all, notwithstanding her infirmity. Cooper and his wife had had her -in their keeping from her infancy. The neighbours thought she was their -own child; but they always called her their niece, and the poor girl was -pitied for her dreadful calamity, and for the unkindness with which most -people knew she was treated. - -At stated periods, Miss Freeman would go to Ashley Hall, or wherever -Mrs. Courland happened to be, and work upon her fears, as she best knew -how; for Miss Freeman was a shrewd and cunning woman, and the best -suited of the party for an expedition of this kind. And the dread of her -husband's knowing her secret, generally induced Mrs. Courland to comply -with the exorbitant demands made upon her. She had been applied to for a -large sum, but without effect, for she candidly told them that she had -not the money. This did not satisfy them. They wanted a large sum for a -particular purpose, and they might not be able to come again for some -time. They did not believe Mrs. Courland's statement, that she had not -the money; and, in order to terrify her into compliance, the girl was -brought and left on her hands, as we have seen. - -A tender chord was struck in the heart of Mrs. Courland by that look of -penitence and sorrow which the poor afflicted girl put on, when she -found that she had injured one who bore the pain without resentment. -When the poor girl dropped on her knees, and gave vent, to her feelings -by a gush of tears, the lady yearned towards her, and, looking at her -with compassion, she said, "Yes, it may be so;"--and, from that moment, -she made up her mind to keep the poor creature with her, and teach her -all she was capable of learning. She would, by this, be preserving the -girl from the ill-treatment which she saw by her countenance and manner -whilst the woman was in the room she had evidently been subject to, and -she would also, by this act, save herself from the continual annoyance -of this woman's visits and importunity. She might keep this poor girl as -a dependant, and account for her presence there, by saying that she came -into the garden through the little private door from the lane, and fell -on her knees in a supplicating attitude, which she (Mrs. Courland) -understood to mean, "Take care of me,"--and she had taken care of her, -out of compassion. This was, in fact, true, as far as it went; and of -course the girl herself could not betray her. So, instead of concealing -the girl in the little inner room, as she had intended, she sent for her -niece and told her the tale. - -It seemed so romantic, that Miss Morley was delighted, and amused -herself by trying to talk to the girl by signs, which she soon found she -understood with remarkable quickness; for, in all but the power of -speech and hearing, she was shrewd and intelligent. This was a new -occupation for Mrs. Courland; it opened out a new life to her; it -relieved her mind from the anxieties which had almost overwhelmed her -before. - -Her husband might come now,--she was not afraid of the tales of her -persecutors. She knew the worst, and was no longer harassed by suspense. -She could tell him as much or as little as she pleased,--her silent -protege could not enlighten him further; and the people she so much -dreaded before, she would not admit to her presence again. - -A suitable wardrobe was procured for the delighted girl; and Julia, -assisted by Mrs. Courland's own attendant, succeeded in making her look -quite presentable in a short time. They were very much amused at her -utter astonishment, when she looked at herself in the glass, after they -had dressed her and arranged her hair, according to the "mode,"--she -could not make it out at all. She looked into the glass and smiled, as -if pleased with the change, and then looked round, as if trying to find -her former self. They then proceeded to teach her how to conduct herself -in keeping with her dress, especially in the etiquette of eating and -drinking among well-bred people; and it was astonishing, how soon she -learned all they wished to teach her. The next puzzle was to find a name -for her; and, as she seemed remarkably fond of flowers, they called her -"Flora;"--not that it made any difference to her, poor girl, whether she -had a name or not; but it enabled her kind friends to designate her the -better when speaking of her. - -Mr. Morley and Josiah, in the meantime, had effected an entrance into -the deserted house, through the window in the end, which entered into -the bedroom on the ground floor. One glance sufficed to convince Mr. -Morley that this was the house,--he had heard it described so often by -his father. There were dark marks on the floor still, and the bed was -blood-stained, although time had softened it down into a faint tinge -only. - -That bed appeared never to have been touched since that fatal night, -except to remove the dead body of the murdered man from it; and the -other rooms also seemed as if they had been lately occupied, except that -everything was covered with dust and cobwebs, and the rats and mice had -made sad inroads into the bed-curtains and everything that they could -convert into food, or make an impression on with their sharp teeth. An -old rat came out of one of the bedrooms to meet them as they mounted the -stairs, and seemed astonished and indignant at the intrusion; but when -he saw that the intruders were not to be daunted by looks of defiance, -he turned and scampered back again to his old quarters between the -blankets. The beds had remained as they were when the fugitives left; -and on turning down the covering of the bed to which the rat had -directed its course, Josiah discovered a nest of young rats comfortably -settled. They soon scampered off, however, and, in their retreat, roused -others; and there was a precious noise through the house, as the inmates -rattled downstairs. No wonder that the house had the name of being -haunted. These noises had been heard before, no doubt, when some daring -thief had attempted to get in to rob it; and their superstitious fears -preserved the house and its contents from invasion. It was very easy to -account for the last occupiers having left all things as they were; for -they were, no doubt, glad to get away as soon as possible, after they -had thrown the scent off from themselves by accusing another; and Mr. -Morley's money, which they must have taken with them, was amply -sufficient to compensate them for the loss of the house and furniture, -and to provide them with all they would require for a very long time. - -The rooms were all in the same state. Some of the drawers and cupboards -were partially open, while others were locked, but the keys had been -left in them. Everything betokened a hasty flight. In some of the -drawers were found a few articles of clothing, both male and female; but -these were moth-eaten and discoloured. There were no papers of any kind -to serve as a clue to the discovery of the parties. - -In searching one of the drawers in what appeared to have been the -bedroom of a female, Josiah found a gold earring, of a peculiar pattern, -with a small diamond in the drop end of it. This he put into his pocket, -with the intention of giving it to the dumb girl, to amuse her; for all -the household, at Ashley Hall, had already begun to take an interest in -her, and she was getting quite at home with them, and familiar with -every part of the house, and she could now make herself understood, -without much difficulty. Mr. Morley thought it was very strange that -such a valuable ornament should be found in such a house. Those -earrings, however, might have been a present from some rich lady for -services performed. The other earring might have been lost; or this may -have been a stray one, taken in a hurry, among other trinkets, which the -owners of that house might have appropriated to themselves from time to -time, when they found an opportunity; for it was evident, from the -circumstances that had occurred in connection with that murder, that -plunder was their principal object. - -When Josiah gave Flora the ornament in the evening, she looked at it at -first with pleasure, and thanked the donor in her way. She then took it -into another part of the room, and examined it more minutely, and -admired every part of it. At last she gave a start, and her countenance -became overclouded with an expression of terror and pain. This was in -the servants' hall. And, running up to Josiah, she became quite -outrageous, pointing to the ornament as if in anger; and then, making a -sign, as if she thought it had come from a long way off, she threw it on -the floor, and would have stamped on it, had not Josiah snatched it up. -They could not at all understand what she meant. Josiah was about to put -the earring into his pocket again, when she snatched it out of his hand, -and ran out of the room. Nothing more was heard or seen of the ornament; -and so they supposed she had thrown it away or destroyed it. - -Mr. Morley was now beginning to feel uneasy about his brother; for he -had heard from his friend Fowler twice, and in both letters he said he -had seen nothing of Frederick. So Mr. Morley determined to return to -Cornwall again without delay. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -BY DOING A LITTLE WRONG, A GREAT GOOD IS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE END. - - -Frederick Morley's state of mind can better be imagined than described, -at finding himself a prisoner in the house which he intended to have -entered as the bold deliverer of his beloved Alrina, who was, perhaps, -by this time on her voyage to America. The boy continued to attend upon -him, and he was beginning, Morley thought, to take an interest in him, -and to pity his position; for Frederick, who was now getting strong -again, had proposed taking him into his service,--at which he seemed -pleased, although he did not say whether he would accept the offer or -not. Cunning boy! he knew very well that he was watched closely by -Cooper and his wife. - -"What the devil were you and that chap whispering about?" said Cooper to -the boy, one day, when the latter came down from attending on the -invalid. - -"If your ears had been long enough you would have heard," replied the -boy, in his usual saucy way. - -"Come, none of that!" said the man. "I wish 'The Maister' would come and -take him off, or give the orders what to do with him; for I don't like -this shill-i-shall-i game." - -"Nor I," said the boy; "I'm tired too with this work. I'd rather be out -than here tending 'pon the sick, like a maid. I tell 'ee what I'd do, ef -I wor you, Cap'n,--I'd give'n the run of the cellars." - -"What's the good of that, you fool?" replied Cooper, looking as if a -bright thought had struck him all at once. - -"Why, I'll tell 'ee," said the boy, coming closer to the man, and -whispering in his ear,--"he'd be starved to death, or else he'd run his -head agen the walls and batter his brains out." - -"You young rascal!" exclaimed Cooper, looking at the same time more -pleased than he intended to look; "you don't think I'd treat the young -fellow like that, do 'ee? He never did any harm to me. If 'The Maister' -ha' got a mind to do it, he may, but I sha'n't." - -"You're turned chickenhearted all at once," said the boy. "I tell -'ee,--I don't like to be shut in here all day, when a turn of the key in -the cellar-door would settle it all, and give me my liberty once more; -and I tell 'ee, Cap'n, ef you don't like to do et, give me the key of -the cellar, and I'll put 'n in there this very night, and nobody will be -the wiser." - -This was what Capt. Cooper would like to have done days ago; but he -feared a betrayal on the part of the boy; but now that the young rascal, -who was the acknowledged protege of Mr. Freeman, had proposed it -himself, he thought he might avail himself of the opportunity, and his -friend would thank him when it was all over, and he should be very glad -himself to get rid of an enemy so formidable. These were his thoughts -and reflections. Why he made them, or what reason either of them had for -their antipathy to this young man, did not appear. That they had this -antipathy was very evident,--and that their wish to get rid of him was -about to be accomplished, was now vividly apparent to the mind of Capt. -Cooper without the possibility of any blame being attached to him. He -had sufficient control over his feelings, however, to prevent his -showing the real pleasure it gave him, to the boy; but he stipulated -that, to prevent an escape, he should himself be present to unlock the -door, and put the prisoner into this safe stronghold. - -The boy then went back to the prisoner, and told him that Capt. Cooper -had granted permission for him to take a little exercise on the beach -that evening; at which Morley was much pleased, for he felt almost -suffocated, shut up in a close room for so long a time. Anywhere, he -thought, was better than that. So, when the boy came in the evening to -let him out, he almost leaped with joy. At the bottom of the stairs they -were joined by Cooper, and the three went down another flight of steps, -which seemed to Morley dark and dismal. The boy whispered to him that he -would soon be in the open air, but that it was necessary they should -reach it by a circuitous route. The man also spoke kindly to him; and -down they went, till they came to a door, which the man unlocked,--and, -in his eagerness to secure his prey, he gave his prisoner a push, which -sent him headlong down another flight of steps. - -The sudden fall stunned Morley for a few minutes; but he soon recovered -himself, and, on looking round, he found that he was in what seemed to -him to be a dark dungeon. This was worse than all. The boy had betrayed -him! This he was now convinced of, and he should be left there in that -dark cold dungeon to perish. He groped his way round the place as well -as he could, and felt that the walls were damp. He stumbled over some -casks and boxes, as he went cautiously along; and by degrees, as his -eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he could see that he was in an -underground cellar, not very large nor very high; but in going round by -the wall, he found that this small cellar communicated with a large one, -which he groped his way into, through a small archway. Here he sank down -on the floor from sheer exhaustion, and began to reflect on his -situation. - -Everything seemed going against him. It was evident, from the way in -which the man had pushed him down the stairs, that he was anxious to get -rid of him, and would perhaps resort to some speedy way of doing so; and -he feared and believed the boy was in league with him. Why Mr. Freeman -should have taken such a dislike to him he could not imagine, for he had -never seen him that he was aware of. Altogether, it was a mystery which -he could not understand; so he gave himself up to despair, and made up -his mind that he would never be permitted to leave that place again. -Whether his death would be a lingering one of starvation, or whether it -would be a quick one by assassination, he could not of course tell;--he -almost wished it might be the latter, for the suspense was dreadful. - -Hour after hour passed away, and there he sat brooding over his unhappy -fate, but no one came to end his woes. Night came on,--he could feel it -although he could not see it, for all was cold and dark and dreary -around him. The damp was coming out from the walls, and he felt a chill -pass through his frame; for he was still weak from his late illness. -Exhausted nature was giving way, and sleep was falling on him. He tried -to keep awake; for he feared that if he slept in that place he should -never wake again. He got up and tried to rouse himself and keep awake by -walking to and fro, but it was of no use. His thoughts were terrible. It -was better to suffer death than continue in that state of awful -suspense. He sat down at last on an empty box, and yielded to that -oblivion which soothes and invigorates the frame, while it relieves the -mind from harrowing and disagreeable thoughts and feelings. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -MRS. BROWN AND MRS. TRENOW INDULGE IN A CROOM O' CHAT. WHILE CAP'N -TRENOW GIVES SOME SAGE ADVICE IN ANOTHER QUARTER. - - -The gossips of St. Just were spared the necessity of inventing idle -tales to keep conversation alive,--a practice so prevalent in small -communities, where the events that happen in everyday life are generally -so uninteresting and monotonous. Events had happened within the last few -months which gave ample scope to the most inveterate and accomplished -gossip for exercising the art of conversation to the fullest extent, and -yet be most truthful; although they still had the power of embellishing -the facts according to their own lively fancy and vivid imagination. -They could talk of "The Maister" now with the utmost freedom; for he was -no longer in the neighbourhood to pry into their secrets, and read their -thoughts, and ill-wish them for talking of him and his doings. And, as a -reservoir of water that has broken through the embankment, after having -been pent up till it was full almost to overflowing, rushes with greater -force on its first outburst,--or the pent-up steam in a mighty engine -when suddenly let loose,--so did the long-restrained tongues of the -gossips of St. Just now pour out, to their hearts' content, their secret -spleen and antipathy to their dangerous and dreaded neighbour, Mr. -Freeman. There was not a house in which some scandal was not going on -continually;--and this was not confined to the women, the men being -equally intent on "giving the devil his due," as they termed it. - -Business was brisk at the "Commercial" Inn. The afternoons were -generally devoted to a gossip over a dish of tea and a drop of -"comfort," between Mrs. Brown and a few of her intimate female friends, -after which the kitchen was occupied until a late hour by the men, who -would drink a double quantity of beer if anyone could be found to amuse -them by relating some fresh tale. - -The chair in which Mr. Freeman had been accustomed to sit in the -chimney-corner, was generally left unoccupied by a seeming tacit -consent, the better to enable the speaker for the time being to -designate the person of whom he was speaking, without mentioning any -name, by simply nodding his head towards the vacant chair;--for they -were, even now, afraid that "The Maister" might be listening to them in -secret. - -Of all her female acquaintances, Mrs. Brown preferred Mrs. Trenow for a -quiet gossip, because, living very near "The Maister's" house, and -having been on intimate terms of friendship with both Alrina and Alice -Ann, she could impart as well as receive information. - -The whole neighbourhood was teeming with news. Events of the most -thrilling interest were happening every hour--and, being told and retold -from house to house, they lost nothing in their transit--when, one -afternoon, Mrs. Trenow paid her accustomed visit to her old friend Mrs. -Brown, whom she fortunately found alone, with the exception of her -husband, who was sitting in the chimney-corner, thinking of nothing, and -whistling for want of thought. - -As she entered, Mrs. Trenow closed the door after her, and looked round -the room in a mysterious manner, much to Mrs. Brown's surprise,--for -they had lately fallen into the habit of discussing their subject rather -more openly, in the conscious security of the absence of the evil-eye. - -"Arrah, then!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown, smiling; "the Franch are landed -sure nuf now, then, I s'pose. Ef so, we'll put up a red coat to John -Brown, and stick 'n out afore the door to frighten them away." - -"I don't knaw nothen' 'bout the Franch, not I," replied Mrs. Trenow, -drawing her chair as close to the landlady as she could, and bringing -her face almost close to the ear of her friend; "but he's come back, -cheeld vean!" - -"Who's come back?" asked Mrs. Brown,--in a tone, however, which seemed -to require no answer. - -"I wor setten' up brave an' late, doen a bit of menden'," continued Mrs. -Trenow,--"for, what with one body an' another comin' in chatting, I -haan't done much by day lately--when I heard footsteps outside, and a -woman's voice, complaining of a long walk, and how glad she was to get -home once more. So, after they were gone by, I opened the door an' -looked out, an' there I seed a man an' a woman. It was bright moonlight, -you knaw,--an' who shud they be, but 'The Maister' and Miss Reeney. I -cud see them so plain as I can see you now, as they went in through the -little gate. Alice Ann was sent for again to-day, an' there they are. -Where Miss Freeman es I caan't tell. They came back in a vessel, the -maid said, an' wor out a bra' while. Where they've b'en to she cudn't -tell, nor Miss Reeney neither, I b'lieve, for she wor kept fine an' -close; but I shall knaw more another time,--Alice Ann cudn't stop more -than a minute." - -"Well, I'm glad they're come back, for one thing," said Mrs. Brown--"an' -that's for the sake of Miss Reeney, poor young lady; I b'lieve she's -dragged about more than she do like." - -"Iss fie!" replied Mrs. Trenow, whispering into Mrs. Brown's ear again; -"she's grieving about that young chap, so Alice Ann do say. She wor took -away in the night, you knaw, an' never so much as wished 'n well; an' -now she don't knaw where aw es, f'rall she ha' sent two letters to un; -and she do b'lieve he's dead, for she haan't had a single line from him, -evar sence he have b'en gone. An' our 'Siah said that he wor mad after -har; an' ef he's alive he wud ha' found har somehow,--that's my b'lief." - -"Well, all I can say es," chimed in Mrs. Brown, "that I'm sorry for them -both. I took a mighty fancy to that young man. 'Tes whisht; but I caan't -think that he's dead at all. But what's become of 'Siah?" - -"Here!" exclaimed that individual, in a stentorian voice, which made the -two friends jump from their seats, as he stalked into the room. "Why, I -might ha' walked off weth your poor dear husband, Mrs. Brown, and you -wud nevar ha' know'd et; for I was standen' behind your backs a bra' bit -afore I spok', an' you nevar heard or seed me." - -"No, sure," said his mother; "we wor just then spaiken' about you and -your young master;--why, where have 'ee b'en, Siah; we thoft you wor -lost, but I'm glad you're come back, for more reasons than one. Miss -Reeney will be more contenteder now,--I s'pose he'll make et up now, -Siah. Ef they're so mazed about one t'other as you do say, why the -sooner they're married the better." - -"Married!" exclaimed Josiah; "I wish they cud be, poor souls; but where -es aw, says you?" - -"Where es aw!" asked both the women in a breath; "why, come home weth -you, I s'pose,--where else shud aw be?" - -"No fie," replied Josiah, in a more serious tone; "I wish aw wor. He -started from Ashley Hall a fortnight ago, or more, an' said he wor -comin' down here for to sarch for somebody, an' we thoft for to find om -here. Maister Morley, hes brother, es over to Leeftenant Fowler's. Mr. -Frederick not here! that's whisht, thon. What core to bal es fe-a-ther -this week, mother?" - -"He'll be home from bal about six o'clock to-night," replied Mrs. -Trenow. - -"I'll have a glass o' brandy toddy, ef you plaise, Mrs. Brown, an' then -go home to ax fe-a-ther's advice. He ded used to have brave thofts about -things." - -Captain Trenow was very glad to see his son returned safe and sound: -for, as he had never been a great traveller himself, he could not -understand the pleasure to be derived from locomotion and change of -scene. "I can get along brave here," he would say, "where I do knaw -everybody: but how I should get along among strangers I caan't tell. I -shud be in a whisht porr sometimes, I reckon." - -But notwithstanding his father's modest opinion of himself, Josiah held -his knowledge and shrewdness in high estimation; so he related to his -parent the whole of his adventures, from the time he left home until his -return, and then asked his advice upon the whole--not only as to his own -course, but as to the course he would advise his patron Mr. Morley to -pursue, and especially as to the search it seemed incumbent on them to -make after his young master. - -"I'll tell 'ee, boy," said Captain Trenow, after he had heard his son's -story, and had ruminated over it for some minutes,--"'tes like as this -here, you knaw--he's kidnapped, that's what he es!" - -"Hould your tongue, do," replied his son; "that's nonsense. Why, who wud -kidnap he, I shud like to knaw. What good wud that do to anybody? What -do anybody knaw about he, for to go for to kidnap 'n? No, no, ould man; -touch your pipe a bit. They'd be glad for to bring om back agen, I -reckon; for he's brave an' heavy, mon. No, he's no more kidnapped than -you are; he's fell in a shaft, more likely." - -"Like enough! like enough!" replied the father, seriously; "we must -sarch, boy,--come!" And the kind-hearted miner rose at once, and took -his hat with the intention of proceeding at once to search and drag -every open shaft in the neighbourhood. But Josiah thought they had -better see Mr. Morley first, and inform him that no tidings of his -brother could be obtained at St. Just or the neighbourhood. - -After a good supper, therefore, the two men started for -Tol-pedn-Penwith, where they arrived just as the two gentlemen were -about to retire for the night. - -Mr. Morley was much concerned when he found that his brother had not -been seen or heard of at St. Just; for he had fully made up his mind -that he would visit that place first in his search after the girl he -seemed so devotedly attached to; and would naturally endeavour to trace -the fugitives, in their journey from thence round the sea-coast, to the -solitary house in which Alrina said, in her letter, she was then -confined. - -"I am inclined to think," said he, at length, after a little -consideration, "that Captain Trenow's conjecture may be true, and that -my brother has been treacherously entrapped by some lawless band of -ruffians, for the sake of gain. I scarcely believe he is -murdered,--Cornishmen, from what I have heard of them, are not such -cold-blooded villains as that,--and I am inclined to hope and believe -that he has not fallen into a shaft; but wherever he is he must be -found." - -"With the morning's dawn," said Lieut. Fowler, "we must commence the -search all along the coast, from the Land's-End to Truro. He was last -seen at the latter place, you say?" - -"Yes," replied Mr. Morley; "we traced him there, but could gain no -further intelligence of him." - -"If Captain Trenow and Josiah can go with us," said the lieutenant, "I -think they will be of greater service than my own men; for, in the first -place, I shouldn't like to take so many of us off duty, and, in the next -place, I think these two strong miners will be able to assist us in -exploring the shafts in our way, and may tend to prevent any suspicion -being attached to our search; whereas, a party of my men searching and -exploring the coast, would attract suspicion at once, and put the whole -neighbourhood on their guard." - -Captain Trenow and Josiah readily consented to accompany the two -gentlemen; and, after a few hours' sleep, and a hearty breakfast, they -started on their expedition. - -For two whole days they searched unceasingly, exploring every shaft they -came near,--the two miners having brought ropes, by which one of them -was frequently lowered down, to search for their young friend in the -bowels of the earth. Houses were entered and searched thoroughly, and -all manner of questions asked of the inmates, very much to the -astonishment and terror of some of them, but all to no purpose. Yet on -they went, searching still, and searching everywhere. At length, towards -the end of the third day, they arrived at a solitary spot, which -attracted the attention of Mr. Morley. It was a house surrounded by high -walls on every side. - -"This," he exclaimed, "appears to answer the description given in that -letter, better than any place we have seen yet! Courage, my comrades! we -have found the spot at last." - -As they approached the outer door of the garden, they saw in a ditch by -the side of the wall, the carcase of a dead horse, on which the crows -were feeding so ravenously that they did not perceive the intruders -until they were almost close upon them, when they rose in a cloud that -almost darkened the sky, making a discordant noise, and flapping the air -with their wings, which was heard distinctly until they settled down -again in a neighbouring field to wait a favourable opportunity to return -again to the feast from which they had been so suddenly dispersed. - -Here was the spot, then, wherein, if not Frederick Morley, they felt -pretty certain his loved Alrina was confined; and it should go hard, -they said, if a clear discharge was not made of all prisoners inside, -whoever or whatever they might be. Lieut. Fowler and Mr. Morley were -armed with a brace of pistols each, while Capt. Trenow and his son had -only their stout cudgels to depend upon. - -"Never mind," said Capt. Trenow; "a stout cudgel and a strong arm ha' -beat a good many men afore now, and may again;--I arn't afeard; art -thee, 'Siah boy?" - -"No fie," said Josiah, flourishing his cudgel round his head, and -grinding his teeth with energetic determination; "I'll scat them all -abroad 'pon the planchen' ef I do come nigh them." And down came the end -of the cudgel on a log of wood near him, with such a crash, that the -crows were frightened once more, and rose like a rushing mighty wind, -and settled down again one field further off. - -Whether it was the noise of the crows, or the sound of Josiah's cudgel -on the log of wood, or a sudden impulse of female curiosity to see who -the strangers were, the door was opened from the inside just at that -moment, and a female head peeped out, and as suddenly Josiah sprang at -the door, pushing it wide open, and asked as deliberately as he could -under the circumstances, "ef the lady wanted to buy a hoss?" - -"A hoss!" said the woman, taken quite by surprise; "no,--how ded 'ee -think so?" - -"Why, the crows are getten' fat upon the hoss you lost last week, and so -I thoft you'd be wanten' another," replied Josiah, with the greatest -coolness. - -"Oh! that wasn't ours," said the woman, taken off her guard by the -coolness of Josiah,--"that belonged to a young gentleman that----" - -"Hold your jaw and bar the door, and be d----d to you!" exclaimed a man, -coming out of the house in a rage. - -"This looks suspicious and businesslike," said Lieut. Fowler, as he -rushed into the garden after Josiah, followed by their two companions. -The woman had disappeared at the first rush, but they were met midway -between the door of the house and the outer door of the garden, by a -rough, strong-built man, who seemed half sailor and half miner by his -dress. - -"What the devil do you want here?" said he, addressing Lieut. Fowler, -who was now the foremost of the party. "I'm d----d if I don't see light -through you in about two twos." And he drew a pistol from a side-pocket, -and presented it at the lieutenant's breast. - -"Two can play at that game," exclaimed Fowler, drawing a pistol from his -breast-pocket. - -"And three!" cried Mr. Morley, drawing his pistol also. - -"Now, I'll tell 'ee, soas," said Capt. Trenow, putting his cudgel very -coolly between the parties, and addressing the stranger on whom they had -intruded,--"'tes like as this here, you knaw; two to one es brave -odds,--the one might be killed--sure to be, I s'pose. Ef you've got any -more of your sort inside, comrade, bring them out and then we'll fight -fe-ar; or, ef you haan't got no backers for to fight, why lev es have a -croom o' chat. Now, I've done, soas; spaik the next who will. As for -fighten, I can stand a bra' tussle; but as for spaiken, I arn't wuth -much." - -No backers--as Capt. Trenow called them--came out; and, as the occupant -of the house sew that he was left so sadly in the minority, and felt, no -doubt, that he had been the first aggressor, by presenting his pistol at -the breast of a king's officer, as he knew Lieut. Fowler to be by his -dress, he began to make apologies as best he could, very much to the -amusement of Capt. Trenow, who really seemed to be the coolest of the -party, and, like a good and experienced general, was equal to the -occasion, and could by his coolness and shrewd common sense, persuade -where he could not command. And he very soon led the way into the house, -as if he had been the owner of it, and was followed by all the party. - -As resistance was quite out of the question, against four armed men, and -one of them a king's officer in authority, Capt. Cooper made a virtue of -necessity, and became very civil and obsequious. - -What the object of this visit was he was puzzled to imagine. If it was -in search of contraband goods he was safe; for they had all been -disposed of long ago. He was not left long in suspense, however; for Mr. -Morley was too impatient to find his brother to delay his enquiries, and -he thought the bolder he did so, the better. - -"We are in search of a gentleman," said he, "whom we have traced almost -to your door. If he is here you had better say so at once, and produce -him. If you decline, we shall proceed in our search; and if we find him, -after a denial by you, the consequences may be serious to you and your -household. If, on the other hand, you tell us honestly where he is, and -produce him, if in your power, you have nothing to fear." - -"If you will tell me the name of the gentleman," replied Cooper, -cautiously, "I will inform you if I have seen him or not. I am -accustomed to see gentlemen here on business often. But this much I will -tell you, that unfortunately at present the only inmates of my house are -myself and my wife; otherwise, perhaps you would not so easily have -entered." - -"The name of the gentleman we are in search of is Mr. Frederick Morley," -said the interrogator. "Have you seen him?" - -The mention of that name seemed to cause the smuggler to start -involuntarily; but he soon recovered his former coolness and said, "I -have no such person here; but, to satisfy yourselves, you are at full -liberty to search my house; I will get the keys." And he left the room -in search of his wife, who was not far off; and as he left the room, -Josiah slid out after him unperceived, and saw him give a key to his -wife, instead of taking any from her, and whisper something in her ear: -so he determined to watch below while the others went upstairs. He had -hid himself behind a door in a dark passage, from whence he watched the -momentary interview between Captain Cooper and his wife, unperceived by -them; and when Cooper returned to the party in the front room Josiah -took off his shoes and followed Mrs. Cooper stealthily down some dark -stone steps. It was so dark that even she was obliged to grope her way -down. Once or twice she stopped and turned round and listened as if she -fancied she heard someone following her; but Josiah was accustomed to -grope his way in the dark underground, and could, therefore, perhaps, -see better than she could under present circumstances; so he continued -to dodge her footsteps, until she arrived at a small secret door in the -wall on the right hand, which was so artfully concealed that a stranger, -even with a lamp in his hand, would most likely pass it, believing it a -part of the wall itself. Mrs. Cooper had evidently found the door by -counting the steps as she descended, and she now groped about with her -hand to find the keyhole, which she was not long in doing, for she had -evidently performed the feat many times before. When she had opened the -door Josiah heard her go down some more steps, into what he thought a -dungeon or vault; and he listened at the door, which she had left ajar. -When she was at the bottom of the steps, he heard her call to someone in -a low whisper, saying, "Sir! sir! where are you? follow me and I'll save -you. Come quickly!" - -Josiah now determined at all risks to follow the woman, and see the end -of it and rescue the prisoner if possible; for he now firmly believed -that his young master was incarcerated here, and that it was to him the -woman was calling, perhaps with the intention of murdering him, or -getting rid of him in some way; so he put on his shoes again and -approached the spot from whence the woman's voice proceeded. She -evidently took him for some other person, and, seizing him by the hand, -she dragged him along after her through the darkness, until they heard -the sea dashing against the rocks, when she said in a hurried and -agitated manner,-- - -"The smugglers are seeking your life;--fly if you would be saved. At the -end of this passage you will find an outlet. Run for your life! the -smugglers are after you! Fly! fly!" - -The truth now flashed on the mind of Josiah, and he saw exactly how -matters stood. It was evident that someone, most probably his young -master, was confined in that dungeon, and, fearing detection, she had -been sent to convey the prisoner away, and, by frightening him, and -pointing out a way of escape, induce him to run into the sea over the -rocks, at the entrance to the cavern, which perhaps communicated with -this dungeon, or, it might be, to jump over a precipice. - -She had evidently mistaken Josiah, in the dark, for the prisoner, and he -was determined to turn the tables on her; so, seizing her by the wrist -in his powerful grasp, he exclaimed, in a stentorian voice which struck -terror into the affrighted woman, and made her sink on the ground as if -she had been struck by a thunderbolt,-- - -"You cold-blooded old hag! tell me who you ha' got here locked up in -this gashly old place, or else I'll carr' you where you wanted me to -run, an' throw 'ee into the sea, and hold your head under water till -you're so dead as a herren'." - -"Oh! sir," said she, gasping and writhing with the pain that Josiah's -strong hand was inflicting; "it wasn't my doing,--'twas that boy; he put -the gentleman here." - -"Come, come," said Josiah; "no nonsense! Was it Mr. Frederick Morley or -who was it?" - -"Oh! sir," screamed the woman, "I b'lieve that was his name." - -"Then where es he gone to?" said Josiah. - -"Oh! sir," cried the woman; "I'm afraid he must be dead." - -"Dead!" exclaimed Josiah; "ef so, I'll break every bone in your body, -and your husband's too, and burn the house over your heads. We must have -a light and sarch." So saying, he dragged the woman back towards the -steps which led up to the dark passage, while she continued to scream -from the pain she was suffering; for he did not relax his grasp in the -least. - -When they had emerged on the main stairs again, Josiah flung the door -wide open that there might be no difficulty in finding it again, and -called out lustily for a light. - -The woman's screams and Josiah's vociferous calls for a light, reached -the ears of the searchers upstairs, and they all ran down in great alarm -to enquire what had caused such a terrible commotion. - -"He is here!" exclaimed Josiah, when his friends appeared;--"bring a -light quickly." - -Captain Trenow had seen a lantern in the kitchen as they passed, and, -being accustomed to emergencies in his daily occupation as a miner, he -went back, and, lighting the candle, appeared again with the lantern in -his hand, before the others had recovered from their surprise. - -Captain Cooper at first put a bold front on it, and denied all knowledge -of the young gentleman, until he saw the cellar door wide open and knew -there was now no escape. He then maintained a sullen silence, and -preceded the party down the narrow steps into the cellar. It was deemed -advisable to send him in first, coupled with Captain Trenow, fearing -treachery. Josiah still kept his hold on the woman. - -On they went in double file, slowly and cautiously, searching every nook -and corner, looking behind old casks, and turning up old canvass bags -that lay about in corners; but no trace of their missing friend could be -found. - -Capt. Cooper now began to hold up his head again. It had evidently -turned out better than he expected, and he called his wife a doating old -fool, to tell such lies and deceive the gentlemen in that way. They had -searched the whole of his house and premises,--and what more would they -have? He might complain, but he wouldn't, he said. They naturally felt -alarmed about the young gentleman,--who would not? He had no hesitation -in telling them that Mr. Freeman and his daughter Alrina had lodged at -his house for a few weeks, for change of air for the young lady, who was -delicate; but they had left, and, he believed, had gone back to St. -Just. - -What could they do, therefore, under the circumstances, but thank Capt. -Cooper for allowing them to search for their friend, and to bid him -adieu? Josiah, however, still held his opinion that his young master had -been confined in this dungeon, and had been got rid of somehow. He was -not at all satisfied. He must have been starved to death there, he said, -and the rats might have eaten him, and he believed they had. This idea, -however, was not entertained by the others of the party, although they -knew not what else to think. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - -THE TWO SISTERS PIERCED THROUGH THE HEART. - - -Our story now takes us back to Pendrea-house, where we left several of -its inmates ill at ease both in body and mind. For, as some mighty -warrior, who has borne the burden and heat of the day on the -battle-field, and received bravely many a thrust from the point of a -lance without flinching, when he retires to his couch after his -fatigues, is worried and tormented almost beyond endurance by the bite -of a small mosquito,--so were the inmates of Pendrea-house--one and -all--disturbed and thrown out of their natural course, by the -sharp-pointed arrows of a certain little mischievous creature, who is -generally represented as a little innocent-looking, chubby-faced boy, -with tiny wings and a laughing eye. He had shot many an arrow at Miss -Pendray before, which merely grazed the surface of her smooth delicate -skin, and the wounds disappeared almost as quickly as they had been -inflicted, leaving scarcely a trace behind. But now his arrow had -pierced deeper, and caused a wound which disturbed the peace of mind of -this haughty beauty. Mr. Morley had paid her great attention during the -short time he had been in the neighbourhood, and had given unmistakeable -proofs of his admiration of her, and she had been fascinated by his -handsome person and agreeable manners and conversation, and had met him -more than halfway, and displayed without disguise the interest she took -in him and the pleasure she felt in his society. Yet he never once spoke -to her on the subject nearest her heart, and had left the neighbourhood -abruptly, without seeing her or bidding her farewell; and now he had -returned with Lieut. Fowler, and left again without seeking an interview -with her, or even calling at Pendrea-house. She felt that she had been -deceived by his attentions, and that he was perhaps after all only -trifling with her. This her proud haughty spirit would not brook, and -she tried to drive his image from her thoughts, but she could not -succeed; for the more she tried to pluck out the little barbed arrow -that had already pierced her heart so surely and sharply, the deeper did -it penetrate, and the wound was now becoming almost unbearable. - -She tried to soothe her troubled mind, by taking her accustomed walks -along the cliffs, and sitting in solitary meditation on the bold -headlands, and watching the waves as they came surging and dashing -against the rocks beneath her feet. His image haunted her still, and -made her very miserable. She might now have sympathized with her poor -suffering sister; for she well knew the cause of her illness, although -her mother and her attendants attributed it to a different cause; but -her proud haughty spirit would not stoop to condole or sympathize with -one who had so boldly accused her of unseemly behaviour--even although -that one was her only, and till now her darling, sister. So the poor -little innocent Blanche continued to suffer in secret, having no one to -whom she could confide her sad tale. There was one consolation, however, -which she possessed unknown to anyone in her father's house except her -favourite maid, who was, as she termed it, "keeping company" with one of -Lieut. Fowler's men;--this was a letter which Lieut. Fowler had -contrived to send her through this medium; wherein he explained to her -the circumstances of his dismissal from the house, and the -cause,--reiterating his protestations of unalterable attachment, and his -determination to possess the object of his fond affection at all risks -and against all opposition, if Blanche was as true and devoted to him as -he believed her to be. - -This letter distressed while it consoled her; for she now felt in its -fullest force that it was owing to her own weakness and persuasion, -that Lieut. Fowler had incurred her father's displeasure, and she felt -also that she ought to sacrifice everything to exonerate her generous -and fondly devoted lover from the disgraceful suspicion attached by her -father to his conduct. She believed that her sister, who inherited all -her father's pride and aristocratic notions, had set him against Lieut. -Fowler, by relating with considerable exaggeration their apparently -clandestine meetings, which seemed no doubt, as she had represented -them, very reprehensible, and sufficiently culpable to justify her -father in acting as he had done. - -Blanche, therefore, thought that, if she could find an opportunity of -speaking to him alone, and explaining the nature of their meetings, -which were not clandestine, as her sister very well knew,--for she -generally knew when and where they met, and was frequently asked to join -them,--and if she could at the same time explain to her father that it -was by her own persuasion, and at her earnest request, that Lieut. -Fowler had refrained from naming his intentions to him earlier, he might -at least be induced to alter the harsh opinion he had formed of his -former friend. This she determined she would do;--she would take all the -blame on herself, to exonerate him who was all in all to her, and who -would, but for her, have boldly and honourably asked her father's -consent to their happiness long ago. - -Squire Pendray was very fond of his children, especially of his little -pet, the gentle Blanche,--indeed, no one could help liking her. She -possessed the good-natured simplicity and kindness of her mother, and -was beloved by the poor as well as the rich; and many a little act of -charity did this gentle, loving, girl do for the poor and needy, whose -cottages she often visited in the course of her rambles. - -Maud was kind and charitable to the poor also, and distributed her -bounties as freely and largely as her sister, and perhaps more so; but -her gifts were given with haughty pride, and the recipients were made to -feel their dependent inferiority, by the manner in which they were -bestowed. It was not so with Blanche;--she gave as if she were receiving -a favour instead of bestowing one. She conversed with the poor -recipients of her bounty, and freely entered into all their little -troubles, and sympathized with them as if she were one of themselves; -and yet they never presumed on her condescension, but looked upon her -almost as a being from another world, come down to minister to their -wants; and so her gifts were doubly valuable, and she was almost -worshipped in the parish. - -The squire was a shrewd man of the world, and was proud in the enjoyment -of his wealth and position, and happy in the possession of two such -lovely daughters; and it was with feelings of the deepest regret, that -he saw them both pining away under the influence of some secret malady -of which he knew not the cause. The best medical advice that could be -procured was called in, but to no purpose,--the doctors could do them no -good whatever. At last, when all their efforts had failed, Mrs. Pendray -said to her husband one night, when they were sitting alone in the -dining-room, taking their solitary supper,-- - -"I tell you what it is, squire,--those two girls are ill-wished, as sure -as you are sitting in that chair." - -"Ill-wished! nonsense!" replied the squire; "who can have ill-wished -them, I should like to know? What harm have those two innocent girls -done to anyone, to cause them to be ill-wished. No, no, I can't believe -it." - -"Well, whether you believe it or not," returned his wife, "I do,--in -fact I'm sure of it. What has happened to one may happen to another, any -time. There was Farmer Pollard's daughter, two years ago,--she pined -away, just as Blanche is doing now, and nothing seemed to do her good -until her father applied to the conjuror." - -"Yes, I remember that case," said the squire; "and the conjuror -discovered that she was ill-wished by another young woman, through -jealousy. But that can't be the case with either of our daughters." - -"There are many ways of ill-wishing, and many causes and reasons for -doing so," replied Mrs. Pendray. "I was talking with Mrs. Pollard about -it only yesterday, and she says that it may be that someone has a grudge -against you; and so they may have ill-wished our dear children out of -revenge, knowing how dear they are to us." - -"If I thought that," said the squire, rising passionately, and pacing -the room, "I would horsewhip the fellow within an inch of his life, -whoever he is;--he should have some cause for his ill-will, at any -rate." - -"You forget, my dear," replied his wife, "that you do not know who the -party is; and I only know of one way by which you can find out your -enemy." - -"And that is by going to the conjuror, I suppose," said the squire, in a -sarcastic tone. "I don't dispute his skill, for I have seen proofs of it -among our neighbours; but I don't like the fellow,--and I believe there -are many of the same opinion as myself respecting him, but they are -afraid of him, and dare not speak their minds; for he has great power, -and manages to know what is going on around him, and even what is said -about him, in a most unaccountable manner; but I tell you I don't like -the fellow, and I wouldn't go near him if all my family were dying." - -"Oh! don't say that," said Mrs. Pendray, putting her handkerchief to her -eyes to wipe away the tears which were trickling fast down her cheeks; -"you would not see our poor children pine away, and do nothing to avert -the calamity,--I'm sure you would not. Nothing seems to relieve -them;--the doctors have given them up; and now, alas! we have but one -sad prospect before us. After all the love and care we have bestowed -upon them from their infancy, and the many happy years we have devoted -to our darling children, and the pleasant future we looked forward to, -it is very hard thus to be deprived of them, and to see their strength -failing them, and the hand of death stealing over them in their prime, -when one word from their father would restore them,--yes, one sentence -spoken by their father, would restore them to their former health, and -relieve their parents from present grief, and a future of unmingled -misery and woe." And--overcome by her feelings, and the sad thoughts -that arose in her mind at the melancholy picture she had drawn--the poor -old lady gave way to a burst of grief, which touched the sterner heart -of her proud husband, who averted his head and brushed away a tear with -his hand, as he continued to pace the room in great agitation. - -It may seem strange in these enlightened days, that persons in the -position of Mr. and Mrs. Pendray should believe for one moment, that one -person had the power to ill-wish another, or that it was in the power of -any man, however skilful in the occult sciences, to counteract their -evil imprecations. Yet such was the case. Superstition was rife in those -days, as we have said before, even among the best educated; and many a -poor old woman had suffered seriously, for exercising the power of -witchcraft which she supposed she possessed. - -The district of the Land's-End was rather too remote for this crime to -be visited with severity by the authorities, and so the Land's-End -conjuror was left undisturbed,--indeed, he was too cautious, generally, -in his dealings with those who sought his aid, to give his enemies any -handle that they could take hold of against him. Like the master of a -puppet-show, he knew the mechanism of his figures, and knew what strings -to pull to make them work according to his will;--the only difference -was, that he exercised his skill on the minds of his figures instead of -their limbs. - -Squire Pendray was a man of good common sense, and a magistrate, and yet -he had not escaped the common feeling of superstition which prevailed at -that time--not only in Cornwall, but in every other part of the kingdom. -It was not, therefore, from any want of confidence in the skill of the -conjuror, that he declined asking him to exercise it, but simply -because, as he said, "he didn't like the fellow." Probably he would have -been puzzled to have given a reason for this strong dislike to a man he -scarcely knew; for Mr. Freeman avoided coming in contact with the -squire, as much as he possibly could, and they had scarcely ever met. No -doubt the conjuror had his reasons for this. It would not have been -convenient for him at all times to have had the squire prying into his -little secret doings. - -Mrs. Pendray had appealed to her husband's feelings, and revived in his -breast those chords of tender affection which she so well knew he -possessed, but which had, in a measure, lain dormant since his children -had grown into womanhood, and were able to take care of themselves. It -seemed now, however, as if his daughters had returned to their childhood -again, and required the tender care of their mother as much as ever they -did. - -"It is very hard," said Mrs. Pendray, still sobbing, and speaking more -to herself than to her husband, "that, after all our care of the dear -girls for so many years, they should be allowed to die now, because -their father has some foolish scruples about asking the assistance of -the only man that can relieve them from the spell that has been cast -around them." And the poor old lady's grief burst forth afresh, while -the squire continued to pace the room more slowly and thoughtfully; for -conflicting passions agitated his mind, and he was debating within -himself between his hatred of the man of science and his love for his -children. At length parental affection prevailed, and he determined to -lay aside the hatred which he somehow entertained towards the conjuror, -and be a supplicant at his door the next morning, for his aid in -relieving his daughters from the spell by which he now felt convinced -they were bound. It was a severe struggle; but he had made up his mind -to go through with it, and no obstacle would now prevent him from -carrying it out. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. - -OUT OF SCYLLA AND INTO CHARYBDIS. - - -We left our hero, Frederick Morley, fast asleep in the inner cellar at -Capt. Cooper's house. He slept soundly--for he was quite exhausted--and -dreamed of Alrina, whom he fancied he saw bending over him, and watching -him as he slept; but it seemed as if he had lost all power over -himself,--he could not speak to her. At last she glided gently away, and -beckoned him to follow her, but he could not move. He seemed spellbound; -and she faded away in the darkness, leaving him to lament his fate on -his cold, damp couch. He continued to sleep on for some time, until he -was roused by a voice which seemed to come from the innermost recess of -the dungeon. He started up--for he thought his hour was come--and -prepared himself to yield to the cold-blooded assassination which he -believed was now to put an end to his earthly career. He could not -defend himself, for he could not see from what point the blow would -come. It was, however, a gentle voice that called him,--a woman's voice, -he thought; he could not hear it distinctly, but still it called to him -in the distance. Could it be Alrina? Had she, whom he had followed so -long, hoping to be her deliverer, come to rescue him? But how could she -have discovered him, and how did she get there? He knew not what to -think. He answered in the same low tone, and approached the spot from -whence the sound appeared to come, and was taken by the hand by -someone--not by Alrina, however, but by his little attendant, Bill! - -"Hush!" said the boy; "follow me, and you will be saved,--quick! before -we are discovered." - -The boy still held him by the hand, and drew him on; for the place was -still very dark. They entered a narrow passage, and the boy dragged him -on and on through the darkness. At last he heard the sea, and saw a -glimmer of light in the distance; and presently a gentle breeze, which -was wafted towards him, convinced him that they were approaching the -outer world once more. They were now in a large cavern, into which the -sea flowed, and he saw a small boat moored to a rock within the cavern. - -The boy told him to jump into the boat; and in a moment, the mooring was -loosened, and the boy was by his side in the boat, which he skilfully -pushed out with one of the oars, and they very soon rode on the open -sea. The boy then gave Morley the other oar, and they pulled out with -all their might; for Morley felt that he was being rescued from the jaws -of death. - -When they were fairly out on the broad ocean, the boy said, "Now, sir, -you take both the oars--you are stronger than I am--and I'll steer." So -they glided swiftly over the still blue water;--for Morley had practised -the use of the oar, both at home and abroad; and the feeling that every -stroke of his oar placed a greater distance between him and the vile -wretches who had evidently sought his life, gave additional strength to -his arm, and he struggled against nature, and for a time forgot the -weakness and exhaustion which had overcome him in the cellar and caused -him to fall asleep in the midst of the danger that surrounded him. - -The subterranean passage through which they had passed, had been -excavated many years before. There was a large natural cavern running in -for some distance under the cliffs from the sea, in the entrance to -which there was water enough to float a boat at high-tide; and beyond -the flow of the tide were large rocks, which prevented the water, except -at very high tide, from encroaching on the interior of the cavern. In -this cavern the smugglers formerly secreted their contraband goods: and -many of them, being miners as well as smugglers, and being in the -employ of a former owner of the house long before Cooper occupied it, -they, at his suggestion and by his order--he being a great smuggler -himself, and having made a large fortune by the trade--excavated a -communication between that cavern and the cellar underneath his house, -by which means smuggled goods could be secreted easily and safely. Very -few people knew of this passage except the parties immediately -concerned. The boy, however, had been found useful on many occasions, in -watching the revenue officers, and putting them on a wrong tack, and, -thus knowing the secret passage, formed this plan for rescuing Morley -from almost certain death. - -The night was calm and serene, and everything around them was still. -Several small vessels were lying in the little cove--some ready to go to -sea again with the next tide, having discharged their cargoes,--and -others just come in, waiting for the dawn of day to begin their work of -discharging their cargoes of coal and timber into the merchants' yards; -and as the little boat glided by, the watch on deck would sing out, -"Boat ahoy! what ship?" or, "Good night, shipmates;" and then all was -still again; for the appearance of a small fisherman's boat going out at -that hour of night did not arouse the least suspicion, and on they went -swiftly and steadily. - -The moon was shedding her soft pale light all around; and the oars, as -they were "feathered" by the skilful rower, cast showers of silvery -spray back into the water again at every stroke. Some of the white -granite cliffs shone brightly in the moonlight, as its rays fell full -upon them; while others, hid in shadows, seemed like some huge monsters, -indistinct and terrible, towering above their lighter companions until -they appeared almost lost in darkness, and imagination pictured them -higher by many degrees than they really were. - -On, on they went, bravely and swiftly; for the fear of pursuit impelled -the rower to exert his strength to the utmost. But the strength of man -will not always obey his will, and ere long he fell back in the boat -exhausted and faint. He had but very recently, it will be remembered, -risen from a bed of sickness, and the exertion and anxiety had been too -much for him. His pluck had not deserted him, but he had exerted his -strength beyond its power. Nature at last gave way, and he fell back -insensible. His fall was sudden, and he dropped both the oars into the -water. The boy was too much frightened to think of anything but his -companion at the moment; so the oars drifted away, and the boat was left -to the mercy of the waves, while the boy did all he could to revive the -prostrate man. - -He had brought no provisions with him--not even a can of water; for he -thought that a few hours' rowing would bring them to the next cove, -where they would land without suspicion, and procure anything and -everything they wanted. Poor boy! he could do nothing but watch the -invalid, and support his head on one of the thwarts of the boat, and -this he did for a considerable time,--it seemed to him an age. At last -kind nature came to his rescue, and the invalid opened his eyes to the -boy's infinite relief, and in a short time he had so far recovered as to -be able to comprehend their perilous situation. Fortunately it was a -calm night, but there they were helpless and exhausted, and drifting out -to sea with no provision on board. Morley gradually regained his former -vigour of mind, if not of body, but it was only to bewail their sad -fate. - -Out, out they went to sea, drifting further and further from the land, -with no power to control the course of their frail bark. At length, as -morning dawned, the current changed, and they were drifted back again; -and here they exchanged the calm tranquillity of their former position -for the rough encounter between the two channels--always turbulent and -often dangerous, but in a little boat without oars to guide her course -doubly so. The rudder was of very little use in that turbulent sea. They -saw the rocks with which that part of the coast abounds, and dreaded -lest an unfortunate roll of the boat or an angry wave should drive it -headlong upon one of those rocks and dash her in pieces. Hour after hour -passed away in dreadful uncertainty. The turn of the tide again drifted -them out to sea in another direction. They heard the roar of the Wolf -Rock, and knew from that circumstance that they were drifting towards -the Scilly Islands. They now gave themselves up to despair; for it -seemed almost next to impossible that they could pass this Wolf Rock -safely without oars or any means of keeping the boat under control. - -Want of food for so many hours in his already weak and exhausted state, -rendered Morley entirely helpless, and listless to all that might happen -to them. He lay down in the bottom of the boat without the power to move -or speak. The boy bore up as bravely as he could, and tried to support -his companion; but he too gave way after a time, and then they lay side -by side in the bottom of the boat, expecting every minute to feel a -crash against the rock, and then all would be over. - -At last it came--a bump! a crash! The water seemed filling their mouths -and ears. They revived for a moment, and were fully alive to their awful -position. All the actions of their past lives rushed into their minds, -and they seemed to live their lives over again, in that short moment of -time. - -Alrina's form was vividly present to Morley's mind for an instant, and -then all was blank! - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. - -ALRINA'S TROUBLES ARE INCREASED BY AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY. - - -Mr. Freeman had returned to St. Just with his daughter, but neither of -them had appeared much in public since. The servant, Alice Ann, said -that her young mistress was looking very whisht and palched, and "The -Maister" worn't like hisself at all. He was continually locked in his -private room, and she had seen him through the keyhole more than once, -upon his knees before a great chest, taking things out and putting -things in. - -"What sort of things be they, then?" Mrs. Trenow would ask; for to her, -as her nearest neighbour and the mother of her sweetheart, Alice Ann was -most communicative. - -"Why, powers of things," would be the reply; "silks and satins, all -foreign like, and gold and silver I b'lieve--a purty passle." - -Miss Freeman had not returned, so that there was no one to watch -Alrina's movements, and she might have gone out and stayed out all day -if she liked, but she did not care to move. She would sit in her room -all day long, and scarcely touch the little dainties with which Alice -Ann tried to tempt her; nor did she care to speak, unless her faithful -attendant broached the subject of all others which she well knew -occupied her young mistress's every thought. Days and weeks and months -had passed away, and yet she had heard nothing of Frederick. She had -written him, but he had not replied to her letters. Alice Ann tried to -console her; but what could she, a poor ignorant country-girl, say by -way of consolation to one possessing the refined and sensitive feelings -of Alrina. - -It was hard to believe; and yet, what could she think? He had deserted -her! Perhaps he had met with another more to his taste, and more suited -to him in position and fortune--one whose family history could be -clearly set forth, and over whose heads no dark mystery hung. It was -natural, she thought, that on reflection he should shrink from uniting -himself with one whose family were so obscure and in many respects -objectionable. - -Many days did this poor girl sit brooding over her sad fate. She would -release him from his engagement with her; it was right, she thought, -considering all things, that she should do so, and she determined in her -mind she would do so. She would like to see him once more, however, just -to tell him this. When she had made up her mind to this step, she felt -more tranquil and resigned to her fate, and she now began to walk out as -usual, and wander over the rocks--perhaps with the dim hope that she -might one day fall in with Frederick in the course of her rambles, as -she had done before, when she could tell him her determination. Poor -girl! she knew not her own weakness; for had he, whose image she had so -fondly cherished from her childhood, appeared before her at that time, -her fancied courage would have forsaken her, and she would have taken -him back to her heart and forgiven him, even did she know beyond a doubt -that he had deserted her for another. - -Alas! she little knew how impossible it was for him to appear before her -then, as she secretly hoped and wished he would; nor did she know, poor -girl, how near he had been to her when she was under Cooper's roof. -Conflicting thoughts occupied her mind for several days. It was a hard -struggle; but she conquered her feelings, and the trial did not appear -to her so painful, now that she had fully made up her mind that it was -her duty to put an end to the engagement on account of this dark mystery -which hung over her family history. She felt that in doing this she was -acting honourably towards him whom she could not help loving still with -all the ardour of a first love. This she thought she could bear better -than the belief that he had deserted her;--she could not bear that, nor -would she think so again. She felt that it was her own act now, as she -had made up her mind that it should be so--not out of any angry feeling -which she bore towards Frederick, but out of pure love for him, and a -reluctance to place him in a position which might hereafter cause him -pain, and, when the first ardour of love was over, make him ashamed of -his wife's relatives. - -When she had fully made up her mind to this, she felt more at ease, and -would sit for hours on the rocks, in calm reflection on the past, and -hopeful meditation on the future. And thus she would pass whole days -without moving from the spot, watching the broad clear sea, and the -vessels passing and repassing, and the graceful gambols of the -sea-birds, as they flew from rock to rock, or took their flight far out -to sea--never heeding the meal-time hour, nor seeming to want food or -sustenance until her return, when her faithful attendant would upbraid -her for staying so long without food, and force her to eat some little -nice thing she had prepared during her young mistress's absence, with -which to tempt her appetite. - -In the meantime, her father continued to be occupied in his private room -all day long, looking over papers, and examining the contents of that -large chest. - -One morning, while he was so engaged, there came two tall men to the -outer gate of the little garden, who seemed impatient to enter; but not -knowing the secret spring by which the gate was opened, they shook the -gate in their impatience, and called loudly to the inmates (if there -were any) to open and let them in. - -Mr. Freeman's private room overlooked the little garden; and on going to -the window to ascertain the cause of all this noise, he started back -like a man shot, and trembled all over like an aspen leaf. Alice Ann -was surprised too when she recognized one of the visitors, but hers was -evidently a feeling of pleasure; for there stood her old lover Josiah, -accompanied by a tall handsome gentleman, with remarkably white hair for -a man of his age, as he did not look above forty. - -"Dash the old gate," said Josiah, shaking it to and fro; "you're buried -up brave, I think." - -"Iss fie," replied Alice Ann, opening the gate; "we do knaw who to keep -out and who to lev in." - -"Where's 'The Maister'?" asked Josiah, as they entered the little -garden. - -"How shud I knaw?" returned the girl; "in his skin, I s'pose." - -"Is Mr. Freeman at home, my good girl?" said Mr. Morley; "for I am very -anxious to see him." - -"He wor up in his room a bit a while ago, sar," replied Alice Ann, -dropping a curtsey to the gentleman, "for I heard a purty caparouse up -there." - -"Tell'n that there's a gentleman do want to see un 'pon partic'lar -business," said Josiah, "an' be quick about et." - -"Not sure nuff I shaan't," replied the girl. "He said he mustn't be -disturbed for nobody. Ef you'll stop till Miss Reeney do come in, she'll -go up, maybe,--_I_ shaan't, there na." - -The girl was not to be persuaded; so Mr. Morley walked into the common -sitting-room, as he saw the door open, while Josiah followed Alice Ann -into the kitchen, to persuade her, perhaps, to go up to her master; or, -probably as they hadn't met for some time, they had little secrets to -communicate, into which we will not be so rude as to pry,--indeed, these -little secret meetings between lovers are seldom interesting to -lookers-on. - -Josiah and Alice Ann would not have finished their _tete-a-tete_ for -some time longer, had not a thundering rap at the front door with a -large stick, roused them from their pleasant conversation. - -"Dear lor'! how my cap es foused, soas," said Alice Ann, as she jumped -from her seat, and surveyed herself in a small looking-glass which hung -in the kitchen; "whoever can be come now, I shud like to knaw. Drat -thom!" And away she went to answer the knock. - -"I want to see the conjuror," said Squire Pendray, in his pompous -manner; for he it was who had disturbed the two lovers so cruelly. - -"The what, sar?" exclaimed Alice Ann, opening her eyes to their fullest -extent; for to call her master "the conjuror" was an offence for which -she was sure the enquirer would suffer if her master heard it,--and what -couldn't he hear? - -The squire now became aware of his error; for he asked in his blandest -tones if Mr. Freeman was at home. - -"He wor home a bit o' while ago, sar," answered Alice Ann, curtseying -very low; for she knew the squire was a very great man, and a -magistrate. - -"Tell him I wish to speak to him in a case of life and death," said the -squire. - -"Iss sar," said the girl, curtseying again, lower than before, and -leading the way into the usual waiting-room, into which persons on -urgent business of this kind were generally shewn. - -Mr. Morley had walked into the common sitting-room, almost without being -bidden; for, although the little waiting-maid had seemed so cool in the -reception of her lover, she thought too much of him at the time to pay -much attention to the gentleman he brought with him. She now went up and -knocked at "The Maister's" door; and receiving no answer she peeped in -at the keyhole. There was the great chest still open on the floor, but -she could see nothing of her master, nor hear him. She knocked again a -little louder,--still no answer. She then called to him; but no notice -was taken of it, and she became alarmed. She tried the door,--it was -locked. She then went down to consult with Josiah, who thought they had -better tell the two gentlemen; so Alice Ann went into one room, and -Josiah into the other, to inform the respective occupants how matters -stood,--and then there was a general consultation as to what steps -should be taken. Each gentleman was surprised to see the other there; -but their thoughts were too much occupied in deliberating what was to be -done, to ask any questions. - -It was the general opinion that Mr. Freeman had either died suddenly -from natural causes, or that he had committed suicide. Mr. Morley -thought they ought to break open the door; but this Alice Ann would not -consent to at all. She knew her master's power, and remembered the -dreadful noises she had heard in that room, and the scenes which she -believed had been enacted there, from the appearance of the poor victims -when they came out. The squire also had some kind of superstitious dread -of interfering with the man of science, who was so much feared in the -neighbourhood; and Josiah, although so powerful in bodily strength, had -a touch of this same superstition too. At last it was determined to send -someone in search of Alrina, and to wait her return. - -After some considerable time, which appeared longer than it really was -to those who were waiting, Alrina returned, and was greatly surprised to -find the house occupied by two strangers;--Josiah she had known long -before. They were both much struck with her beauty and quiet ladylike -manner, and explained to her their position. They had come to see Mr. -Freeman on business, and it appeared he had locked himself in his room, -and could not be heard inside, nor would he answer to the calls of the -servant. Alrina was very much alarmed; but she said her father was very -peculiar, and would often refuse to answer when he did not wish to be -disturbed. She went up to the door herself, with the same result; and, -after hesitating for some time, she at length consented that the door -should be forced. This was easily accomplished by Josiah with the aid of -the kitchen poker; and the whole party entered the sacred room, -expecting to see some dreadful sight,--what, they could not imagine. - -There stood the chest wide open, as the girl had seen it through the -keyhole; but no one thought of looking into this,--their whole thoughts -were centred in the fate of the owner himself. They searched everywhere, -but no trace of him could be found. Alice Ann suggested that he had -probably gone up the chimney in a flash of fire, and that he might be on -the housetop at that very moment, looking in upon them, or riding -through the air on a broomstick. "We've heard of such things, you knaw," -said she. - -They were roused from their speculations on the mysterious disappearance -of "The Maister" by an exclamation from Mr. Morley, who had been -narrowly examining the room, and was now standing transfixed before the -large chest, which was open, and from which some things had been taken -out on the floor. - -"As I live," he exclaimed, "this is my chest! How could this have got -here?" - -"That's the chest," replied Josiah, "that 'The Maister' found after the -wreck, and told us to bring up here,--for what, we cudn't tell." - -"That chest contained money and papers of great value," said Mr. Morley; -"it has been overhauled evidently to some purpose, and no doubt -everything valuable is gone." - -"Oh! no, sir!" cried Alrina, in a pitiable tone; "don't accuse my father -of robbery,--he would never do that, I am quite sure." - -"My dear young lady," said the squire; "your father shall not be accused -of anything that cannot be fully proved; but I am bound to say it, -however painful it may be to you, that I have had my suspicions for some -time, and so have my brother magistrates. He could not have lived -without money, and the mystery is where he got it from. Now, pray be -calm, while Mr. Morley examines his chest." - -"'Morley!'" cried Alrina; "did I hear you rightly, sir? did you call -that gentleman 'Morley?'" - -"My name is Morley," said that gentleman, taking her hand; "I am the -brother of one whom I know you have been led to believe will take you -out of your present position, and raise you to his station in life." - -"No, sir," replied Alrina, indignantly,--"my family shall never be a -disgrace to anyone; and, let me tell you, sir, that neither you nor your -brother shall ever be disgraced by me! I will never be the wife of a man -who might afterwards despise me." - -"That was nobly spoken," said the squire; "you're an honour to your -sex. Gad! I wish my daughters could speak like that, and send the -jackanapes about their business that come swarming about my house." - -"Dear lor'! what a handsome coat," exclaimed Alice Ann, as she saw Mr. -Morley take a richly embroidered coat from the chest. - -"Yes," said he, holding up the coat and admiring it; "that coat cost me -a great deal of money. I had it made to wear at a grand fancy-dress ball -in Calcutta; and there are other parts of the dress to match, somewhere. -Oh! here they are; you have never seen anything like that in England, -squire, have you?" - -"Gad! but I have, though," exclaimed the squire; "if not that same -dress, there was one very like it worn by a stranger at our last ball at -Penzance. And now I begin to think,--why, it must have been Freeman -himself disguised. I never saw him very near that I remember, for he -always avoided me: but it struck me at the time that I had certainly -seen that face somewhere before, but he looked much younger than he can -possibly be." - -"Aw! 'The Maister' esn't so old nor yet so ugly as he do make out to -be," said Josiah. - -After searching still further, Mr. Morley found the bag in which his -money had been placed, but the money was all gone and the papers also. - -"Now!" exclaimed he, jumping up from the kneeling posture in which he -had been for the purpose of examining the contents of the chest; "here's -proof enough. Now let us use all our exertions to secure the man." And, -leaving Alrina and Alice Ann to take care of themselves, the two -gentlemen left the house more quickly than they had entered it, followed -by Josiah. But the object of their search had got the start of them by -several hours; for his fear so overcame him at the sight of Mr. Morley -entering his house--(why, was best known to himself)--that he opened the -room door at once, and locked it behind him, putting the key into his -pocket, and escaped through the back door, and over the back garden -wall, while Alice Ann was opening the front garden gate to let Mr. -Morley and Josiah in. And, making his way as fast as he could to the -cove, he there got a boat which took him out to Cooper's little cutter, -which was anchored a short distance out waiting for orders. It was his -intention to leave the country in this cutter, as soon as he had -arranged his affairs; for he found things were going against him, and -that his power was failing fast; but he did not intend to have gone -quite so soon. He had secreted a considerable sum in gold and jewels -round his person, inside his clothes, several days before,--so that, in -this respect, he was quite prepared for whatever might happen at any -time. - -The three pursuers traced him to the seaside, and were just in time to -see the cutter which bore him away. But the little vessel had gone too -far for any attempt to be made to follow her, with the least chance of -success; so they retraced their steps with disappointed looks and -feelings. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII. - -ALRINA VISITS A KIND FRIEND AND MAKES A PROPOSAL. - - -Alrina's cup of misery was now full to the brim. It had required but one -drop more to fill it, and here it was. Her lover had deserted her--that -was most certain; but she had forgiven him, and made up her mind that -she would exonerate him from all his vows,--indeed, she would insist on -breaking off the engagement for ever, on account of the dark mystery -which hung over her family history. - -But while the mystery was concealed, whatever it was, there was still a -hope that it might turn out in the end that there was no mystery at all, -and all might still be well. She secretly hoped this, although, in her -magnanimity, she considered it her duty to exonerate her lover from all -ties. But now the mystery was solved. It was no longer dark and -concealed, yielding a hope, however slight, that it might have existed -merely in her own imagination. It was no longer dark or mysterious. Her -father had robbed Mr. Morley (her lover's brother) of a considerable sum -of money, and had purloined his valuable papers, and had moreover gone -to a public ball at Penzance, dressed in Mr. Morley's clothes. There was -no getting over this;--there was no mystery here. All this could be -fully proved,--and he had gone off, no one knew where. - -What was she to do? She was left without a friend and penniless. There -was the house, it was true; but she could not live there without a penny -to buy food. - -Squire Pendray told the sad story when he returned home; and good Mrs. -Pendray went herself to Mr. Freeman's, and begged Alrina to go home with -her, and live with them as one of her daughters. This kind offer Alrina -respectfully declined. Mrs. Pendray then offered her a supply of money -to purchase necessaries until her father's return. - -"My father will never return, madam," said she, with dignity; "he -cannot. And, although I thank you from my heart for your kindness, I -cannot accept charity,--no, madam, I must gain my own livelihood, as -many a poor girl has done before." - -So the good lady, having failed of success in her good intentions, took -an affectionate leave of the noble girl, begging her to reconsider her -determination, and to come to her still if she altered her mind. "I -shall watch over you, my dear," said the good lady at parting, "and -shall get information brought me of your progress. Good bye! And may the -Almighty Giver of all good watch over and protect you." - -This disinterested kindness was almost overpowering. It was as much as -Alrina could do to prevent herself from giving way to her feelings. She -had borne her lover's supposed desertion, and the discovery of her -father's disgrace without shedding a tear, or allowing anyone to -discover how much she was affected by them. Now she could bear up no -longer. Mrs. Pendray's kind offer of protection and charity made her -feel the full force of her situation, and she returned to her room, and, -throwing herself on her bed, wept bitter tears of distress, mingled with -feelings of anger and wounded pride. She had been deserted, disgraced, -and humiliated. Long did she remain in that state of desponding -wretchedness. It was not in her nature to give way to her feelings, and -weep for every trifling thing that went wrong; she had been brought up -in a sterner school. But when she did give way, hers was not an ordinary -fit of weeping and then over; no, when she wept, it was a terrible -outbreak of pent-up feelings, like a large reservoir of water bursting -its banks, and carrying all before it. Nothing could stop it, until it -had spent itself out. And so it was now with Alrina;--she tossed and -rolled on her bed in her agony of mind, and wept until she became -exhausted, and then fell into a sound sleep, from which she awoke after -some hours, refreshed and renovated both in mind and body. She bathed -her eyes and face in cold water, and rearranged her hair, and sat in her -chair by the side of the dressing-table, calm and dignified, and began -to think of what she should do for the future. - -The past was gone for her. She must leave the house at once, and lock it -up, after allowing Mr. Morley to take what remained of his property. - -She rang for Alice Ann, and told her her determination, and offered her -some money--all she had in the world--in payment of her wages for the -past few weeks. This the poor girl as indignantly but respectfully -refused, as Alrina herself had refused but a few hours before the -proposed kindness and protection of Mrs. Pendray. - -"Why, she's maazed, I reckon," said Alice Ann, looking at her young -mistress as if she were some dangerous animal; "do 'ee knaw what you're -tellen' of, do 'ee?--_you_ go out for to get your livin'--no, no,--tarry -here, Miss Reeney, an' I'll tend 'ee the same as I do now, an' nevar -take a penny. An' as for meat,--'where there's a will there's a -way,'--we'll take in stitchen' an' sawen', I cud used to do plain work, -brave an' tidy; an' you cud do the fine work. We'll get along, nevar you -fear." - -"It is very kind of you, Alice Ann, to offer to help me to live," -replied Alrina; "but it cannot be,--I shall not remain in this house -another night after what has happened, if I can possibly help it. I -shall go out now for a short time, and when I return we will arrange for -the future." So saying, she put on her bonnet and shawl, and went down -the road, leaving Alice Ann at a loss to conjecture what she meant to -do, or where she could be going in such a hurry. - -"She's gone to chat it over weth somebody, I s'pose," said the girl, as -she stood at the door and watched her young mistress walking quietly -down the road. - -Alice Ann was right in a measure. Alrina was going to chat it over with -somebody, but not for the purpose of asking advice, nor by way of idle -gossip. She had fully determined in her own mind what she would do; and -when she had fully made up her mind to a thing it was not an easy matter -to turn her from her purpose. - -Mrs. Trenow's house was generally her favourite resort when she wanted a -quiet chat; but, to Alice Ann's surprise, she passed that house now, and -went on into the heart of the village, and she soon lost sight of her, -and returned into the house to put things in order, and prepare the tea -against her young mistress returned. - -Alrina stopped before the door of the "Commercial" Inn as if doubtful -what she should do. After a moment's hesitation, however, she walked -quietly in. Mrs. Brown had been working very briskly at her needle, -mending some old garment after a fashion; for she was no great hand at -that sort of work,--knitting she could get on with tolerably well, -because it required very little skill, and was therefore rather pleasant -work. She was now sitting looking at her work with an angry brow; for, -after all her trouble, she had put on the wrong piece. She had sat for -several hours, stitch, stitch, at that garment, patching it up, as she -thought, to look nearly as well as ever, and now all her labour was -lost, for the piece must come off again;--it would never do as it was. - -"Drat the old gown!" said she; "here have I be'n worken' my fingers to -the bone, an' puzzlin' my brain till I'm all mizzy mazey, an' thinken' I -had done a bra' job,--an' there it is." - -"Send for the tailor, Peggy! send for the tailor, to be sure," said Mr. -Brown from his place in the chimney-corner, from whence he seldom -stirred now; for he had become feeble in body as well as in mind, since -the shock he had experienced by the terrible death of his favourite -mare. Mrs. Brown was very kind to him and indulged him as far as she -could; but she could not help being irritated sometimes by his silly -remarks; for he prematurely declined into second childhood. - -"Send for a fool! and that's you, John Brown," replied his wife, -testily, as she turned the garment in different directions to see if -she could make it do at all, without ripping out the piece again;--but -it was of no use, out it must come. - -"If that lazy maid we've got here could stitch a bit tidy she wud be -some help," soliloquized the old lady; "but she's no good but to scrub -the floors, and tend the pigs,--she caen't draw a pint of beer fitty. -And there's Grace Bastian, the only decent maid we had in the parish for -to do a bit of sewing-work, she must prink herself off to Penzance too. -I don't knaw what's come to the maidens, not I. Miss Reeney! how are 'ee -my dear? Come in an' sit down;--why, you're quite a stranger," continued -the good landlady, as she rose to place a chair for her visitor. - -"Yes, I've been very much occupied since our return," replied -Alrina;--"but what are you about, Mrs. Brown?--you seem to have mended -your dress with a piece of a different colour. Why, here's a piece that -would have matched it exactly, and, if stitched in neatly, no one would -find out that it had been mended." - -"That's the very thing I'm thinken' about," said Mrs. Brown. "Here have -I be'n stitch, stitch, nearly all the day, putten' on that piece, an' -when I had finished it I found I had put on the wrong one; but I caen't -stitch any more to-day,--my head is bad already." - -"Let me see," said Alrina, taking the dress, and matching the right -piece on it;--"there, Mrs. Brown, that would do nicely, would it not?" - -"Yes, my dear; but the thing is to stitch it in." - -"Lend me your scissors, and I will soon manage it," replied Alrina. -"There," continued she, as she ripped off the piece that it had taken -Mrs. Brown so long to put in; "that's soon done. Now, lend me your -needle and thimble,--I'll put in the piece, while we gossip a little of -the latest news imported. Your thimble is too large;--haven't you a -smaller one in the house?" - -"I believe our maid Polly have got one somewhere," said Mrs. Brown; -"I'll sarch for it." - -"Poll! Poll! Polly!" said Mr. Brown, catching at the familiar sound: -"come out in the stable, Polly,--the mare must want her gruel by this -time. Wo! ho! Jessie, my beauty--wo! ho! mare!" - -"Will you be quiet, John Brown?" said his wife, as she came downstairs -with the thimble. - -"Here, Miss Reeney, I s'pose this is too big for your little finger." - -"Never mind, Mrs. Brown," said Alrina, who had by this time pinned on -the proper piece; "I'll make this do." - -The work now went on briskly--Mrs. Brown knitting, and Alrina stitching -and gossipping between. While the work was going on, two miners came in, -and asked for a pint of beer. - -"Let me draw it, Mrs. Brown," said Alrina, putting down her work--"it -will be a change of work too." - -"Well, you shall if you are fancical," replied Mrs. Brown, smiling. -"Take the brown jug, my dear--that's a pint exactly--and draw it out of -the end cask. Blow off the froth and fill up again,--our customers don't -like the jug half full of froth, I can assure you." - -So Alrina drew the beer, and received the money, as if she had been -accustomed to it all her life, very much to the astonishment of the two -men, who seemed puzzled at being tended by Miss Reeney;--but they liked -it very well, nevertheless, and ere long asked for another pint, for the -sake, no doubt, of receiving it from so fair a cup-bearer. - -The two men were in a little room leading out of the kitchen, so that -neither party could hear distinctly the conversation of the others,--nor -was there much said by either party, indeed, worth the trouble of -listening to. - -When the men were gone, Mrs. Brown said, "Why, I shud think you had been -used to the bar all your life, to see how handy you are; and you've -nearly finished the work that I wor all the day about. Your husband will -have a treasure, whoever he is." - -"I shall never be married, Mrs. Brown," said Alrina, with a heavy sigh. - -"Iss, Iss, you'll be married fast enough, and I think I can tell his -name, though I'm no conjuror, asking your pardon." - -"I have not seen the man yet that I would marry," returned Alrina, with -an effort. - -"Oh! fie!" said Mrs. Brown; "you mustn't say so to me; I wasn't born -yesterday, an' I can see a bra' way, though tes busy all, I'll allow." - -"What I have told you is perfectly true," replied Alrina; "and so far -from thinking of marrying, I am going to try to get my own living,--will -you take me into your service?" - -"My dear young lady," replied Mrs. Brown, taking off her spectacles, and -looking at Alrina steadily and seriously, "you mustn't make game of your -elders, nor look down with scorn upon those you may consider inferior in -station to yourself,--but that remains to be proved. Take her (a -boarding-school young lady) into my service! Did you hear that, John -Brown?" - -John Brown didn't hear that, or if he did he didn't understand it, for -he made no reply. - -"You seem as if you didn't understand me, Mrs. Brown," said Alrina. - -"No, sure, I don't understand your meanin' at all," replied Mrs. Brown. - -Alrina then related the circumstances of the morning to Mrs. Brown, whom -she knew she could trust, and whose advice she knew she could rely on, -for she was a shrewd intelligent woman. When she had finished her tale, -Mrs. Brown took her hand, and said, "You must forgive me for my hasty -speech just now. 'Tes an ugly business, but you shall never want a house -to shelter you, nor a bit of morsel to eat while I have got it for you." - -"You don't understand me now," said Alrina; "I will never accept -charity, either in the shape of food, raiment, or shelter. What I ask -you to do is this,--to take me into your service, to help you, as I have -done this afternoon, for instance. I will take the burden of the house -off your shoulders, and do the sewing, and attend to the bar. Poor Mr. -Brown is not able to do anything now, and indeed requires more of your -attention than you have time to give him, and I cannot but remember that -it was in consequence of some advice given him by my father (for what -reason I know not), that Mr. Brown lost his mare, and became in -consequence almost imbecile; and it is my duty, if possible, to repair -the injury that has been done. I cannot return the mare, nor give Mr. -Brown renewed strength; but I can help you, and by that means you will -have more time to devote to his little comforts. I don't want money;--I -merely want a home with a respectable family, to whom I can render -services sufficient to remunerate them for their kindness, without -having the feeling that I am maintained merely out of charity. Now do -you understand what I mean?" - -"I do," replied Mrs. Brown, "and it shall be as you wish, and I shall -always respect and honour you for the noble and independent way in which -you have acted." - -This being settled, Alrina went back to her father's house, to inform -Alice Ann of what she had done; and, having arranged with Mrs. Brown -that Alice Ann should sleep at her house also for a night or two, she -locked up the house where so many evil deeds had been performed, and -took up her residence at the "Commercial" Inn, as barmaid and general -superintendent of the stitchery of the household. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV. - -CAPTAIN COURLAND'S RETURN AND HIS WIFE'S ANXIETY. - - -The man of cunning had proved himself more than a match for his -pursuers. He had got the start of them, and was now out of their reach. -So the squire and Mr. Morley, accompanied by Josiah, prepared to retrace -their steps, angry and crestfallen at having been thus outwitted. They -walked on in silence until, on rounding a rock, they met Lieutenant -Fowler and one of his men, who were evidently out on duty. Fowler seemed -quite taken by surprise, and scarcely knew what to do; but he -instinctively touched his cap to the squire, and, shaking Morley by the -hand, was about to pass on. The squire, however, was too much engrossed -with the matter in hand to remember his late treatment of the -lieutenant, or the cause of it, and Morley was ignorant of the whole -matter. So they both greeted Fowler heartily, and told him the whole -affair, and pointed out the vessel which was bearing away their crafty -deceiver. Fowler put his glass to his eye, and scanned the horizon after -having looked attentively at the vessel. - -"She'll be back again" said he, "before long; there's a storm rising." - -"No! no!" replied the squire; "that fellow will not return to this coast -again if he can by any possibility keep away; they'll probably reach the -Scilly Islands before the storm comes on." - -"We shall see," said the lieutenant; "my men shall keep a good watch, -however, all night. Good day gentlemen." And he touched his cap again, -and was moving off. - -"Where are you going in such a hurry, my dear fellow?" said Morley, "I -haven't seen you for an age. Come! I'm going up to your station to have -a serious chat with you." - -"Go on, then; I shall be home soon; but I must go round to see what the -other men are about, whom I sent, some time ago, to watch a suspicious -looking craft, round the next headland. Go up to my cabin, there's a -good fellow; for I want to have a serious chat with you too." So saying, -he walked on, having seen that the squire had got on his stilts again -after the first impulse had subsided; for he had walked on without -taking any further notice of Fowler. - -Mr. Morley, true to his appointment, declined the squire's pressing -invitation to dine with him at Pendrea-house, and proceeded towards -Tol-pedn-Penwith station, where he had not been very long before his -friend returned. After dinner, Fowler confided to him his secret, and -the manner in which he had been treated by the squire. Morley at first -treated it as a joke, saying, "Faint heart never won fair lady;" but on -reflection he thought there must be some mistake, and that a mutual -explanation would set all things right, which he undertook to perform. -But he was so anxious about his brother that he could not settle his -mind to anything until he had found him or ascertained his fate. He had -evidently been at Cooper's house,--that was pretty certain, from what -the old woman had said,--and it was also certain that he was not there -now, for they had searched everywhere, nor was he at the Land's-End, nor -St. Just; nor had any trace of him been seen in that neighbourhood by -anyone, and the boy had not been seen either, for some time. Mr. -Morley's only conjecture now was, that he had probably escaped from -Cooper's cellar, and had returned to Ashley Hall, thinking that, as -Josiah had seen Miss Freeman there, Alrina might be there also, -concealed somewhere; and he no doubt thought that he would there also -have the advice and assistance of his brother and Josiah whom he had -left there; for Mr. Morley knew that neither of his letters had reached -him, because he found them both lying at the Penzance post-office. He -therefore determined at once to return to Ashley Hall. The more he -thought of it, the more was he confirmed in this belief, and he also -felt certain, that, having escaped through the underground cellar, and -no trace of him having been discovered in the neighbourhood, his brother -had, to avoid pursuit and suspicion, gone on board some vessel, bound to -Bristol, and proceeded thither by water. - -Mr. Morley wished to see Miss Pendray once more before he left; but his -sense of duty prevailed over love, and he determined to start at once, -that very night, and to leave nothing untried until he found his -brother--dead or alive. He would have gone to Pendrea-house, just to see -her for a moment, and take leave of her, but he was afraid to trust -himself. She would have kept him on and on, he feared, until the chance -of finding his brother might be gone. He knew her powers of fascination, -and he would not trust himself to them. He would come back to love and -pleasure with greater satisfaction after he had performed his duty. - -He took the faithful Josiah with him; and so hasty was their departure, -that poor Josiah had not time to return to St. Just, to take leave of -Alice Ann, and so they did not know of the change that had taken place -in the abode of the mistress and maid. - -So sure did Mr. Morley feel, now, that Frederick had returned to Ashley -Hall by water, that he did not make any inquiry on the road, but rode -night and day, hiring fresh horses at every stage, until they reached -the hall. Why he was so confident of finding his brother there he could -scarcely tell; but as that was the only hope he seemed to have, and the -only probable place to which he thought he could have gone, he seized it -as the "forlorn hope," as it were, and brooded on it, so that it became -fixed in his mind, and he would not allow any other thought to supersede -it. How great was his disappointment, then, when he arrived at the hall, -to find that his brother had not been seen there, nor had anything been -heard of or from him, since he left it some weeks before. It was like a -death stroke. He could scarcely believe it. He could not bring his mind -back to the thought that his brother was lost. He searched everywhere. -Mrs. Courland and Julia were alarmed also when they heard how matters -stood, and even the poor dumb girl was alarmed and agitated; for she saw -there was something amiss, but she didn't know what it was, and no one -had the time or the inclination to tell her; so she wandered about the -house, unheeded. - -Captain Courland had returned, and had now given up the sea, having -realized a handsome fortune, and looked forward to spending the -remainder of his life in peace and happiness, with his beautiful wife, -and her niece, Julia Morley, whom they had adopted as their own, and -whom they were both very fond of. The first day of his arrival was a -very happy one to him. He revelled in the society of his wife and niece, -and nothing occurred to mar his happiness. Flora was kept out of the way -in Mrs. Courland's private apartments, where she had first been -introduced to the house. These rooms had been fitted up expressly for -her. Here she had every amusement she could enjoy, and she liked being -here alone, and would frequently spend whole days there, and in the -little garden adjoining, planting, and watching, and cultivating the -flowers, of which, as we have said before, she was passionately fond. A -slight hint from Mrs. Courland that there was company in the house, was -quite enough to keep her in her apartments the whole day; for she did -not like mixing with strangers. She always seemed to have a dread, lest -she should meet with someone she had seen before, and who she feared -would take her away and beat her. - -Mrs. Courland knew whom she meant, but to the others this was a mystery. -Mrs. Courland still dreaded the introduction of this poor girl to her -husband, although she knew his kind heart would compassionate a poor -helpless creature thrown upon her charity, as she had represented it, as -much as the other members of the family had done. But she did not feel -the same repugnance at deceiving them, as she did at deceiving her -husband. She had already deceived him by keeping this secret from him. -And now, by the introduction of this poor girl into his house, the -secret might be disclosed at some unlucky moment. She at first decided -on introducing her at once on his return, and telling him the story she -had framed; but her courage failed her, and she thought she would put it -off until his return from London, where he was going the day after his -arrival, to arrange his business with the principal shareholders of his -ship. He was detained there some days, and had not returned when Mr. -Morley and Josiah arrived, although he was hourly expected. All was -confusion throughout the house at the intelligence brought by Mr. -Morley, that his brother Frederick could nowhere be found. He was a -general favourite there, and all the household turned out for this -hopeless search, leaving poor Flora a wanderer through the house. - -While the search was going on, Captain Courland returned from London, -and, finding none of the servants in their accustomed places, he walked -into the breakfast-room, where he saw a young lady standing at the -window, with her back towards him as he entered, looking intently into -the garden below. At first he thought it was his niece Julia, and he -asked her what had occurred in the house to make such a scarcity of -servants, and where her aunt was; but, to his great surprise, she took -no notice of him,--so he went up close to her and tapped her on the -shoulder, when she turned suddenly round, and gave a peculiar, -disagreeable scream, and ran out of the room. He thought this very -extraordinary. He could not imagine who the young lady could be, who -seemed so much at home in his house, and who treated him with such rude -contempt. He sought his wife for an explanation. On his mentioning the -circumstance to her, she seemed taken quite by surprise, and hesitated, -and looked confused while she told him her tale. He thought it very -strange that she had not mentioned this circumstance to him in any of -her letters, and he asked her rather harshly why she had not mentioned -it when he was home for a day and a night, on his first arrival from -sea. He spoke more harshly to her than he had ever done before, perhaps -without intending to do so; but the consciousness that she had done -wrong, and the fear lest her secret should yet be discovered by him, -overcame her, so that, instead of explaining the reason, which she might -easily have done, she burst into tears, which pained him, and made him -think there was something more in this affair than he had yet heard; -but, in the goodness of his heart and his devoted affection and love for -his wife, he never suspected for a moment that she had done any wrong, -or was concealing anything from him of a serious nature; while she, -poor, timid, guilty creature, read his thoughts by her own, and fancied -that her husband was looking into her heart, and reading there her -guilty secret. - -Had she possessed the moral courage to tell the truth in the beginning, -when they were first married, all would have been well. But she had -retained the secret in her own breast so long, and thereby deceived her -husband, that the telling of it now would be like the confession of a -twofold guilt. And if she had not the courage to tell her secret, when -it was but a little secret after all, how could she tell it now, when -years of deception had been added to it. And so, by this little -accidental discovery of nothing, as it were, her courage deserted her, -and the resolution she had formed of explaining the way in which the -poor dumb girl became an adopted inmate of his house, was told in a way -to create suspicion rather than allay it. - -As his wife had adopted this poor creature, Captain Courland tacitly -consented; for, although he felt that there was something that he could -not understand in the matter, he had the heart of a true British sailor, -and would not willingly wound the feelings of a woman if he could avoid -it, especially in such a trifle as this; and more especially as the -offender, if such she could be deemed, was his beautiful wife, to whom -he was attached with the most ardent and devoted affection. After a time -he became quite attached to the poor dumb girl: she amused him, and he -would spend hours in her private room, while she taught him to talk -with his fingers; and she was interested in her task, and would laugh -such a hearty, ringing laugh when he made a mistake, that the jovial -captain would throw himself back in his chair, and laugh, too, till his -sides shook;--and then he could burst out with a nautical phrase in her -society with impunity, which, when he attempted unwittingly in the -presence of his wife or niece, caused a gentle reprimand, and he was -obliged to "knock under," as he expressed it. - -Mr. Morley and the captain were old friends. They had met often in -India; and no one was more concerned than Captain Courland at the loss -of Mr. Morley's brother. Many days were spent in scouring the country in -endeavouring to find some trace of him, but, alas! without effect. Nor -could they gain any intelligence of the strange woman whom Josiah had -seen, at a distance, and who, he verily believed, was Miss Freeman. - -All their efforts having proved fruitless, Mr. Morley determined to -retrace his steps back to Cornwall once more; and Captain Courland, -feeling a deep interest in the discovery of his friend's brother, -proposed to his wife that they should accompany their friend there, and -help him in the search. This was the very thing Mrs. Courland wished--to -get away from the hall and its now unpleasant associations, and, above -all, to leave the object of her fear and guilt behind her. She believed -that Flora would be quite happy in the undisturbed possession of her -favourite rooms, and she could depend on her being taken care of by the -servants, for they all liked and pitied her. This would be a great -relief to her mind; and then she could give to her husband her undivided -attention, without the constant dread of discovery. But when the time of -departure arrived, to her great surprise and annoyance, Captain Courland -made arrangements for taking Flora in the travelling carriage with them, -and was quite angry at his wife's even hinting that Flora would be far -happier at the hall. The captain had become so attached to her, that she -seemed necessary now to his amusement and occupation. So she accompanied -them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV. - -THE DESPERATE PLUNGE. - - -Alrina had been at Mrs. Brown's several days, and was beginning to like -her employment, and to make herself very useful in the house, when one -evening, a strange-looking man came rushing in, and asked for a glass of -brandy, which he drank off in a hurried manner, and then said he had -seen a ghost. He had such an odd look, and seemed to speak in such an -incoherent manner, that both Mrs. Brown and Alrina thought he was -deranged: but, knowing the suspicious treachery of persons in that -state, they feared to let him see their timidity, lest he might do them -some injury. So Mrs. Brown pretended to believe in his statement, and -questioned him as to what the ghost was like, and where he had seen it. -The man was well known to Mrs. Brown, as a poor half-witted creature, -who wandered about in a kind of melancholy state, but perfectly -harmless: and the neighbours were kind to "Mazed Dick," as he was -called, and gave him meat, and occasionally Mrs. Brown's customers would -give him a glass of beer, at the "Commercial," for the sake of having a -little amusement; for "Mazed Dick" could perform various little feats of -dexterity, such as standing on his head, climbing a greasy pole, or -dancing in a grotesque manner, or allowing a whole pint of beer to be -poured down his throat, as through a funnel, without closing his mouth. -But Mrs. Brown had never seen him so excited before as he seemed to be -now, nor had he ever asked for brandy before; and after he had drank it, -she wished she had not given it to him. Without answering Mrs. Brown's -questions, he continued to talk in the same incoherent way, sometimes -laughing by way of interlude, and sometimes screaming as if he suddenly -saw some terrifying object before him. It was no use to ask him any more -questions, so they let him go on in his own way,-- - -"Down 'tween the rocks, Mrs. Brown, ma'm, a g'eat big ship (ha! ha! -ha!), bottom up, Mrs. Brown, ma'm, bottom up, ma'm (ha! ha! ha!), kegs -of brandy. Mrs. Brown, ma'm, kegs of brandy (ha! ha! ha!). Little Dick -creepy crawly, creepy crawly, up the top of the bottom (oh! -lor'!),--slip down agen,--see a g'eat hole, Mrs. Brown, ma'm. Dick put -in his hand to take out a keg of brandy (oh! lor'! oh! lor'!), catch -Dick's hand (oh! lor'! oh! lor'!) Dick run away,--a ghost!--a ghost!" - -From this story they gathered that a ship had been wrecked, and thrown -ashore with its bottom up. Some men who had seen "Mazed Dick" running -towards the public house, followed him, thinking he was in a good mood -for one of his performances; but on hearing that there was a wreck on -the coast, they started at once for the spot, taking Dick with them as a -guide, who continued to repeat the same jargon until they arrived at the -cove, where they saw a small vessel, as "Mazed Dick" had described it, -jammed between two rocks, with her bottom up. To climb up the side of -the vessel as she lay thus, bottom up, was a difficult task; for the -sides were slippery. No one but little Dick could do it; so he, to show -his dexterity, climbed up at once like a cat, and put his hand into the -hole, which they could see as they stood on the rock. He had no sooner -done so, however, than he began to scream and kick about his legs in a -vain effort to get clear and slide down again; but no,--there he was -held, as it seemed, by some invisible power inside. What could it be? -Whatever it was, however, it had not the power of holding its victim in -that position long; for poor Dick was soon released, and came sliding -down again among his companions, exclaiming, "A ghost! a ghost! oh! -lor'! oh! lor'!"--and this was all they could get out of him. He could -give no account of what he had seen or felt. So it was determined to -send for a ladder and examine this mysterious affair thoroughly. - -The ladder was soon procured, and with it a host of wreckers, both men -and women, although it was now getting dusk, and they would not be able -to see what was inside when they got to the hole; so lanterns were -procured, and there was a parley as to who should go up. All had been -eager to reach the spot, and would have braved any visible danger either -by sea or land; but there was a mystery about this which their -superstitious fears deterred them from attempting readily. In the midst -of their hesitation, Captain Trenow came down to see what it was all -about, and he volunteered at once to climb the ladder, and examine the -interior of the vessel; for he believed it was nothing but "Mazed -Dick's" timidity that made him scream, or perhaps one of his mad tricks. -So up went the brave old man, carrying a lantern in his hand; and, after -looking in at the hole for a few minutes, holding the lantern now on one -side and now on the other, to enable him to see every part of the -interior, as far as the size of the hole would admit, he came down -again, and said very deliberately,-- - -"'Tes a whished sight, soas!" - -"Why, what ded 'ee see, cap'n?" cried a dozen voices. - -"Why, I seed two men and a boy, so well as I cud make out," replied -Captain Trenow. - -"Dear lor'!" exclaimed the women; "the crew starved to death, poor -souls! That's whisht, sure nuff." - -"'Tes whishter to be standen' here like a passle of fools," said Captain -Trenow; "they mayn't be all dead, an' I don't think they are. Lev the -women run up to church-town for some blankets and sails an' things, and -some brandy, an' some of the men go down to bal for some ropes an' -planks, an' a hatchet or two, and a saw; for the hole esn't big enough -to hale a man through." - -Here was the master mind equal to any emergency; and, so accustomed is -the bal captain to be obeyed by the miners under him at the bal, that -Captain Trenow's commands were obeyed to the letter, such discipline -being as necessary in mining operations, where there is so much risk and -danger, as in a military army on the field of battle. In an incredibly -short time, the men returned with ropes, and planks, and more ladders, -accompanied by some of the mine-carpenters, who had not left work in -consequence of a breakage at the mine. - -"Go up," said Captain Trenow to the carpenters, "and enlarge that hole -three or four feet each way." And up they went at once and commenced -their work without asking a question; and very soon an opening was made -large enough to bring up any thing that might be below. - -By this time the women had arrived also, with plenty of blankets and old -sails, and brandy, accompanied by many more people from the village. -Captain Trenow, with three or four of the strongest men of the party, -now went up the ladders which were placed against the side of the -vessel, taking shorter ladders with them, which they let down through -the opening that the carpenters had made, taking ropes and blankets and -sails with them. On descending into the vessel they found two men and a -boy--the two men lying at the bottom, apparently dead, or in the last -gasp, while the boy was lying on a cask near the hole. He was alive, and -still retained the use of his limbs; and it must have been he who had -seized poor Dick in that mysterious manner. They were soon got out of -their perilous situation; and that infallible remedy--brandy--having -been applied to their lips, it was ascertained that they were all alive. -The boy revived considerably, but the two men, with all the remedies -Captain Trenow's experience applied, only revived sufficiently to -exhibit signs of life. - -They were speedily conveyed to the "Commercial" Inn, and Mrs. Brown and -her fair assistant prepared comfortable beds for them, while Captain -Trenow and one or two strong, trusty men remained to watch them during -the night. A little food was given them frequently; for Captain Trenow -saw that they were suffering principally from exhaustion and want of -food. - -The boy did not require much attention; and, after a moderate allowance -of food, he fell fast asleep. Mrs. Brown's household also went to bed, -at Captain Trenow's earnest request, while he and one of the miners -remained in attendance on the invalids all night. The boy slept soundly -till morning, when he awoke refreshed, but hungry; so he went downstairs -in search of something to eat. Mr. Brown was the only one stirring, and -he was in the back kitchen giving a finishing polish to his shoes. - -"What! Billy, boy!" said he, as the boy entered; "come, 'tes time to -look to the mare. Come, boy! come!" And he led the way into the stables, -as he used to do, and the boy followed him; for he knew that was the -only way to get anything to eat. "Mare first and breakfast afterwards," -was always Mr. Brown's motto. - -The sad reality very soon exhibited itself to poor Mr. Brown's shattered -brain; and he sat down on the pail which was standing useless against -the wall with its bottom up, and bewailed his loss. - -"Iss, boy," said the poor man; "I seed them both go over cliff,--and -that poor young gentleman to be killed too. 'Twas whist, Billy, boy. -Semmen to me I can see them now tumblen' over. I've seed his ghost -since, boy, I have." - -When Mr. Brown had exhausted himself with his monotonous lamentation, on -the loss of the mare and the young gentleman, the boy went up close to -him, and whispered something in his ear which made him start; and, -jumping up, he proceeded into the house at once, exclaiming, "Peggy! -Peg! Peg! Peggy! my dear,--here's that gentleman; get breakfast quickly. -What! Miss Reeney downstairs already! Good morning, ma'am. Come to see -"The Maister," I s'pose. Get breakfast quickly, Peggy! Ods my life! how -hungered they'll be! Out exercising the mare, es he? That's brave. Get -the corn ready and a clean wisp o' straw to give her the first rub weth. -Ods my life! how glad I am." - -"Hoity! toity! what's all the fuss?" exclaimed Mrs. Brown, as she came -slowly downstairs; "one wud think that the French were landed." - -"And so they are, I b'lieve, o' my conscience," said Mr. Brown. - -"Hold your tongue, John Brown!" said his wife, angrily, as she proceeded -to get the breakfast. She had not seen Alrina or the boy; for the latter -made a signal to Alrina to follow him out into the little garden at the -back of the house, while Mr. Brown was giving his silly and futile -orders about the mare, which his wife was now too much accustomed to, to -notice. - -Imagine Alrina's astonishment, when she heard from the boy, that her -father and lover were both in that house. What should she do?--That was -the first question she asked herself; and it was as quickly answered in -her own mind. She must do her duty; and her first duty was to attend to -her father, however disgraceful his conduct might have been. And, under -the circumstance, it was her duty also to avoid meeting her lover, both -for her own peace of mind and for his;--for she had fully determined -that nothing should induce her to continue an engagement, which must -bring disgrace on him and misery to her;--she could never endure to -marry a man whose family would despise her. She learnt the whole history -of his escape from the boy, and she shuddered when he told her of the -dreadful moment, when the boat bumped against the rock, as they thought, -but which in reality was a vessel they could not see, as they lay in the -bottom of the boat, faint and exhausted. They were picked up and taken -on board, but his master was so exhausted that he was unconscious all -the time. The boy soon discovered, he said, that the principal person on -board was no other than his old master, Mr. Freeman, who treated them -both very kindly; but a storm arose that night, and drove the little -vessel back again towards the Land's-End. He and Mr. Freeman were below, -he said, attending to the invalid, when the vessel struck on a rock, -and her mast was blown over somehow, and they felt the vessel turn on -her beam ends. The hatches had been closed down over them when they went -below, for the sea was washing over the deck. The two sailors must have -been washed overboard. How long they were in that awful state, beating -about, the boy did not know; it seemed an age. He was the strongest of -the party, he said; and, when he found that the vessel was at last -stationary, he got on a cask to be as near the hole which the rocks had -made in her as possible, and it was in this position that he caught the -man's hand; but he was too much exhausted to speak. - -Alrina consulted her good friend, Mrs. Brown, as to what she should do -with her father; and it was ultimately decided that he had better be -removed at once to his own house. - -Who the other invalid was, Alrina did not say. Mr. Freeman seemed in a -very precarious state; and if he was to be removed at all, Captain -Trenow thought it should be done at once. It was early, and few people -were stirring as yet in the village; and so the poor unconscious man was -removed gently and quietly to that house which he had left but a short -time before, knowing and feeling that his return to that place must end -in public disgrace and punishment. His faithful daughter, as in duty -bound, made everything as comfortable about him as she could, and her -attendant, Alice Ann, came back at once to her young mistress's -assistance. - -In undressing him to put him into bed, Captain Trenow discovered a belt -round his waist, which, on being opened, was found to contain a -considerable sum of money, principally in gold, and a quantity of -diamonds and other jewels apparently of great value. The money Captain -Trenow persuaded Alrina to take into her possession, and to use as much -as was necessary for the maintenance of the house and for comforts for -the invalid, while the jewels he placed in a drawer in Mr. Freeman's -private room, under lock and key. It was evident that he had been -preparing for flight for some time, and had secured enough of "the -needful" to enable him to live comfortably in some distant country. Of -his daughter's comfort he cared nothing; for he did not leave a single -shilling behind for her, and yet she forgave him all, and came back -again to the house she thought she had quitted for ever, to be his -guardian and ministering angel. - -A surgeon was sent for from Penzance, who said it was doubtful whether -his patient would recover. By care, and attention, and good nursing, he -might rally. - -Frederick Morley--for he was Captain Trenow's other patient--was -recovering slowly, when he learned that Mr. Freeman had been taken home, -and that his daughter was there also. He immediately got up, weak as he -was, and walked towards Mr. Freeman's house, determined to see Alrina, -whose image had been ever present to his mind, night and day, and from -whom he was now fully determined no power on earth should separate him. -When he arrived at the house he was told that Alrina was in attendance -on her father, who was not able to leave his bed. - -He waited some time in the little parlour before the object of his -adoration made her appearance, as she was obliged to school herself into -the proper state of mind in which she wished to appear, before she met -him to whom she must now say farewell for ever. - -She had been expecting this visit, and had been preparing herself for -the meeting, and thought, poor girl, that she could be firm;--but now, -when the time was actually come, she found that it was more than she -could go through. She came at last, pale and trembling, but firm. And -when Frederick rushed towards her with the impetuosity of a warm-hearted -lover, from whom his darling had been separated so long, she recoiled -calmly and coldly from his embrace, and requested him, in a dignified -manner, to be seated. - -"Alrina!" exclaimed he, in surprise; "what is the meaning of this -coolness? After so long an absence, I expected to have been received by -you in a very different manner. What have I done to deserve this? Or has -some vile calumniator been poisoning your mind against me? Tell me, -dearest!" And he attempted to approach her again, his eyes beaming with -the fondest love and devotion. - -"Mr. Morley!" said Alrina, restraining her feelings with a strong -effort; "circumstances have changed since we last met; and I am -compelled, more for your sake than mine, to tell you that all further -intercourse must cease between us." - -"Alrina!" exclaimed he, passionately; "what can you mean?--Can I believe -my ears,--that she, whom I so fondly and devotedly love, can coldly and -deliberately tell me that our intercourse must cease, without assigning -any reason. Tell me at least this. What cause have I given you for -treating me thus?" - -"None!" said she; "none! you have been to me more than I deserve. It is -not that, oh! no!" - -"You have seen another whom you love better," said he. "Tell me,--only -tell me, and relieve my racking brain,--anything is better than this -suspense. I will never give you up,--I swear I will not! The villain who -has supplanted me shall die!" And he paced the room in mental agony, -while poor Alrina scarcely knew what to do. She had made up her mind to -do her duty; and she was determined, for his sake more than her own, to -go through with it. He must not think he had a rival; it would endanger -some innocent person, perhaps; nor could she make up her mind to tell -him of her father's disgrace. He would hear it, of course,--he must know -it; but it should not come from her. What should she do? - -There was only one alternative that seemed open to her. She must take -all the blame on herself, and bear all his wrath, or scorn, or hate, or -whatever it might be, on her own shoulders. However painful, it must be -done. And, rising with as much coolness as she could command at that -awful crisis, she said, in a trembling voice,-- - -"Mr. Morley, we must part now and for ever; for I feel I cannot love you -as I ought." - -"Oh! Alrina!" he exclaimed, taking her hand, which she could not -prevent; "do not say so! oh! do not say so,--you cannot mean it,--say -you do not mean that. Not love me! Oh! Alrina! after all----" - -"I cannot stay longer," said she, hastily withdrawing her hand; "I can -only repeat that I cannot love you." And, in an agony of mind, which it -would be impossible to describe, she rushed to her own room, and, -locking the door, threw herself on the bed, and wept bitter tears of -agony unspeakable. - -Morley remained motionless for some minutes, as one thunderstruck. It -seemed as if he had received his death blow. To be treated thus coldly -by one who, but a short time before, had expressed the warmest affection -for him, was inexplicable. He could not understand it. There was only -one solution that presented itself to his disordered mind. She loved -another! And that thought rendered him desperate,--it maddened him. - -Revenge was his first thought. But how, and on whom? He staggered out of -the house like a drunken man, and directed his steps unconsciously -towards the sea. Life had become a burden to him within the last short -hour. He had nothing now to live for. He looked down into the deep blue -sea, as he stood on the rock. All his former hope of life and happiness -had faded away like a shadow. He could have lived on with the hope that -she might one day be his, knowing that she loved him still. But, now, -she had told him that she could not love him, and had bade him farewell -for ever! He could not endure the thought. Her coldness and the apparent -cause thrilled through his frame. This feeling of jealousy maddened him; -his brain reeled. One plunge into that deep blue water, and all his -mental sufferings would be ended. The waters would open to receive him; -and when they closed over him again, all the cares and troubles of this -life would be over, and she would be free from the dread of his -presence, if indeed she feared it. - -His brain was on fire; he was mad; a temporary insanity had seized him; -and he thought only of escaping from present troubles. One short plunge, -and all would be over. Alas! he thought not of the future. What mortal, -when in that state of frenzied madness, does think of that? - -For if, he did,--if, in the act of making his quietus by self -destruction, one sane thought remained,--"that dread of something after -death--the undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller -returns--would puzzle the will; and make him rather bear the ills he -has, than fly to others that he knows not of." Man's life is not in his -own hands. He who gave it, and He alone, has the right to take it when -it shall please Him so to do. Morley thought not of the future, but only -how to escape from "the pangs of despised love," which now oppressed -him. And the more he thought of this, the more did his brain seethe and -boil, till he could bear it no longer; and, taking a desperate leap from -the high rock on which he stood, he plunged into the deep blue water -that lay so tranquil at his feet. - -A splash was heard as the waters opened to receive their prey; and then -they closed around and over him, and down he went,--down! down!--five -fathoms deep, or more, for the water here was deep enough to swim a -three-decked ship with all her thousand men on board, and guns and -ammunition. 'Twas an awful plunge, not like the plunge of the agile -swimmer, who jumps from off a rock and dives until he touches the -bottom, only to rebound and then come up again some few yards ahead, and -strike out boldly with head erect, braving the restless sea, and riding -over each wave buoyant and graceful as a sea-bird, whose element it is. -The plunge of the victim of self destruction has a sadder and more -decided sound. Down he goes to the bottom, a dead weight, with all his -sins upon his head; for in that short space of time, all the actions of -his past life crowd on his mind, and he lives his life over again, as it -were, in a single moment. - -And so went down the body of Frederick Morley to the bottom. But as his -body touched it, up it came again buoyant in that unruffled sea. Ere it -rose to the surface of the water, another splash was heard, and a stout -strong swimmer came breasting the waves, ready to catch the rash young -man as soon as he appeared; and, seizing him in one of his strong arms, -he swam with him to the shore and landed him in safety. - -Frederick had not been under water long enough to receive any serious -injury, although the salt water in his mouth and eyes and ears, made him -feel very uncomfortable. And this might have a very serious effect, -after his late sufferings and confinement; for he had risen from his bed -to go to Alrina, on learning that she was at home, when he ought to have -remained quiet for a little longer, in order to be fully equal to the -double shock he had sustained. Perhaps had he been in robust health, he -would not have taken this rash step; but his nerves were weak. The -plunge into the water, however, had tended to cool his fevered brain; -and, when he turned to thank his deliverer, after he had recovered a -little, what was his surprise to find that he was indebted again for his -life to that noble fellow, Josiah Trenow, who had thus saved him a -second time from the jaws of death. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI. - -THE BROKEN REED. - - -Mr. Morley and Josiah had left Ashley Hall before the family could get -ready for the journey, and had travelled with speed and arrived at -Lieutenant Fowler's station on the morning of Frederick Morley's visit -to Alrina; and as Josiah had been hurried away without seeing Alice Ann, -he was anxious to know what had become of her; so, under pretence of -going to see his mother, he hastened to St. Just at once, and made -direct for Mr. Freeman's house, little thinking of the changes that had -taken place there during his short absence. He learned from Alice Ann -all that she knew of the history of the past few weeks, and she ended by -telling him that Mr. Frederick Morley had been there that morning, and -that something had happened between him and Miss Reeney, for that she -was locked in her room sobbing and crying her eyes out a'most, and Mr. -Frederick was gone down towards the sea, raving like a mad bull. - -Josiah thought there must be something very much amiss, but what it was -he could not imagine. However he deemed it prudent to follow his young -master; and it was lucky he did so, for he reached the spot barely in -time to see him throw himself from the rock into the sea. Josiah was an -expert swimmer so he did not hesitate a moment, but throwing off his -coat and hat, he plunged in after the demented youth, and saved him, as -we have seen. Now that he was cool and collected once more, Morley -seemed quite ashamed of the act he had attempted, and shuddered at what -might have been his fate, had he not been thus fortunately rescued; nor -would he satisfy his faithful follower as to whether it was accident or -not. After sitting in the sun to dry themselves a little, they walked -back to the inn, where they found Lieutenant Fowler and Mr. Morley -waiting their return. Fowler had not heard, until the night before, of -Frederick's miraculous escape from his imprisonment at Cooper's, and his -preservation in the vessel which had borne away Mr. Freeman from the -hands of justice;--and they came on to see Frederick, whom they expected -to find in bed, and to learn the truth about the return of Mr. Freeman; -for Fowler had heard only a rumour of that as yet,--the gossips being -still afraid to speak out openly about him, lest evil should come upon -them. - -Josiah had heard every particular from Alice Ann; and Mr. Morley, being -determined that he should not elude them this time, desired Josiah to -watch the house lest any one should escape, while he and Fowler -proceeded to Pendrea, for the assistance of the squire, whose warrant as -a magistrate would be necessary for the apprehension of the guilty -party. Josiah recommended Frederick to go to bed at once, for he feared -serious consequences would result from his remaining in his wet clothes -any longer, and he told the other gentlemen that their friend had -slipped off a rock into the water. They sat by his bedside for a little -time after he was in bed, and heard his adventures, and then proceeded -on their more important business. They refrained from telling Frederick, -however, the name of the party they were in search of, fearing the -consequences, in his present weak state, and knowing the pain it would -cause him, to find that it was Alrina's father whom they accused. - -Fowler forgot his own wrongs in his anxiety to serve his friend; and it -was not until they were within a short distance of Pendrea-house, that -he remembered his position with regard to the squire and his household, -and he scrupled to go on. - -"Nonsense, my dear fellow," said Mr. Morley; "you are going on a very -different errand now. That was pleasure, this is business; besides, we -don't know what it may lead to." - -Thus persuaded, but certainly not against his inclination, Fowler went -on without again alluding to the subject, well knowing the old adage -that "faint heart never won fair lady." - -The squire was at home, and received his two visitors with politeness if -not with cordiality; for his wife had got a crotchet into her head about -Mr. Morley and her eldest daughter, which had been told her by one of -the servants, and she had told it to the squire; and, putting this -against that, as he expressed it, he thought he saw clearly that Mr. -Morley had been trifling with his eldest daughter's affections, as -Fowler had been doing with her sister; and so he came to the conclusion, -without the aid of the conjuror, that the conduct of these two men had -caused the sudden and alarming change which they had observed in the -health and spirits of their two daughters, and which had baffled the -skill of all the doctors. Had Mr. Morley and Lieutenant Fowler, -therefore, called in the ordinary way, and claimed his friendship, they -would not probably have been admitted; but they now came on business in -which the squire was himself much interested; so he filled up a warrant -and agreed to accompany them to see the end of it. They could take a -constable from the village, as they passed, he said. - -The old squire did not forget his hospitality, in his pique at the -treatment he believed his daughters had received at the hands of these -two gentlemen. They were both gentlemanly men, and they were now engaged -in one common cause with himself, the punishment of a man whom the -squire had suspected and watched for some time, and who, they now -discovered, was a villain of the deepest dye. Mr. Morley had suspicions -even beyond what, at present, he thought it prudent to communicate to -the other two gentlemen. The squire unbent and came down from his -stilts, before they had conversed five minutes, and ordered lunch, which -he might in those days have termed dinner; after which the three -gentlemen started on their expedition. And so eager and anxious were -they in concocting their plans for the capture of the man who had so -cunningly eluded them before, that, if the ladies were not forgotten by -some of the party, they were certainly not alluded to. Perhaps this was -avoided from policy by the two visitors;--the stilts might have been had -recourse to again, if that subject had been revived just then in the -mind of the crusty old squire. - -The ladies knew that the two gentlemen were in the house, and expected -to be summoned into the drawing-room, but they were disappointed. The -three gentlemen lunched alone, and then started on their expedition. An -experienced constable was procured at the next village, and on they -went, a formidable party, determined not to be outwitted again by that -cunning man. They found the trusty Josiah watching closely when they -arrived near the house; no one had gone in or come out, he said, since -he had been there. He had not even seen Alice Ann come out, and he would -not venture too near the house for fear of causing suspicion. They knew -the depth and cunning of the man so well, that it was necessary to use -every precaution. He might feign extreme illness in order to put them -off their guard, and might again escape. So it was arranged that -Lieutenant Fowler and Josiah should watch the outside of the house, -while the other two went in, accompanied by the constable, who was well -up to his work, having been sent down from a larger place some years -ago, and recommended to the office by a gentleman high in authority. - -"'The Maister' es very bad in bed, sar," said Alice Ann, making a low -curtsey to the squire, as she opened the door; "Miss Reeney es up in har -room, very bad too, for what I can tell; for I haan't seed har for a -bra' bit. I'll call har down, sar. Step inside, ef you plaise." And she -ushered them into the best parlour. - -As the house was well watched and guarded, the squire and Mr. Morley -thought it would be but courteous to see the daughter, and smooth it -over to her as well as they could. Justice must have its course, but it -would have been cruel to have distressed the poor innocent girl more -than was absolutely necessary. They intended to try to get her away -somewhere first, and then she would not feel the disgrace so much. The -constable, however, was for executing his warrant at once without -showing favour or affection to anyone, man, woman, or child; and if the -magistrate had not been there in person to check him, he would have made -short work of it; for he was a rough, determined character, and had been -in office long enough to be hardened in the stern duties he was -sometimes obliged to perform. He had suffered for showing too much -lenity to persons in his early career and he was determined that -shouldn't happen again. - -After a short time, Alrina made her appearance, pale and wretched, with -swollen eyes, and a fevered brow, which her visitors, who knew not the -real cause, attributed to her grief and anxiety for her father. The -squire told her as gently as he could, that they had an unpleasant duty -to perform, which must be done; and he advised her to leave the house, -and seek the protection of some friend. - -"Alas!" she replied; "what friend have I to fly to? I have no one in the -world but my father and my aunt, to look to for protection. My father -lies upstairs on a bed of sickness, and he has no one but myself to -nurse him; and where my aunt is I know not. Oh! gentlemen, have pity on -me, if not on my father;--he is my father, whatever evil he may have -done. Spare him for my sake! Consider, squire Pendray, you have -daughters of your own,--consider their feelings if placed in my -situation. My poor father to be taken from a bed of sickness, where I -have endeavoured to do all in my power to relieve his sufferings, and to -ease his pain,--to be taken out by the rough hands of the executors of -the law, and cast into a cold damp prison! Oh! gentlemen, on my knees I -beg you to allow him to remain here with me. It may not be long." And, -falling on her knees, she clasped the squire by the hand, and burst into -a flood of tears. - -It was an affecting sight. The squire remembered his own daughters, and -their fond affection for their father, and would have relented; and Mr. -Morley, although he was the one most aggrieved, turned away from the sad -scene. It was heartrending to see one so young and lovely on her bended -knees, praying for her father's relief from present punishment. - -It was but a slight request after all. - -"Why not let the constable remain here?" said Mr. Morley at last. "Two -if you like." - -"Yes! two!" exclaimed Alrina, rising suddenly, and approaching Mr. -Morley; "only allow my father to remain here under my care and nursing, -until he is able to be removed (if it must be so), and I will ask no -more. Oh! squire Pendray!--Oh! Mr. Morley!" continued she, appealing to -each of them by turns; "think what it is to have a father taken from -you, and in this way! Let him remain here,--oh! pray, let him remain." - -The constable was made of sterner stuff. He had been constable many -years, and knew his duty when he had a warrant placed in his hands; and, -seeing that Mr. Morley had given way already, and that the squire would -soon follow his example, he thought it was time to speak. - -"I tell 'ee what et es, squire," said he; "you have put a warrant in my -hands agen John Freeman, the Land's-End conjuror, and what not, and Mr. -Morley's oath es gone forth agen him; and ef you wink at et now, and the -man shud escape, what do you think will be the upshot of et? Why, we -shall have to take the conjuror's place for compromising a -felony,--that's about the time o' day, gentlemen. I've suffered before -for tender-heartedness, and I don't mean to do et agen; so ef miss will -show me the room I'll follow her, or else I'll find et out by myself." - -Alrina now turned to the constable and besought him to pity her, and, if -it must be so, to remain there, and she would make him as comfortable as -possible. - -"Oh! sir!" she said, "if you have a daughter, think of her feelings, -should her father be taken from her, as you would take away mine,--oh! -in pity think of that sir!" - -"That's the very thing I'm thinking about, miss," replied the constable; -"and I'm thinking that my daughter wud have to go through the same trial -as you are going through now, ef I wor to lev the conjuror go. No! no! -miss, rather he than me, axing your pardon. Why lor' bless you, miss, -tesn't much when you're used to et. We'll take care of the old -gentleman, as much as ef he had be'n the old gentleman hisself. I've got -a tidy little covered cart outside, and we'll clap 'n in, and travel to -Penzance to-night, and to-morrow mornin' he'll be broft before the -magistrates and committed, ef he's guilty,--and he's sure to be, I -s'pose,--and then on to Bodmin. Why, 'twill be a nice little ride for 'n -miss." - -"Oh! don't, please don't, paint such a terrible picture as that," said -Alrina, looking' up at the inexorable constable, with the tears -glistening in her eyes. - -"Come," said he, "I'm not going to be made chicken-hearted. Show me the -way to his room,--we're wasting time." And he led the way out of the -room, followed by the others. - -Alrina, now, seeing that tears and entreaties would not avail, preceded -the party upstairs; but when she arrived at her father's bedroom-door, -she stopped and begged the constable to allow her to go in first, to -break the nature of their business to him, and prepare him for their -approach. - -"No!" said the constable, sharply, placing his hand on the handle of the -door; "that dodge won't do, my pretty lady. A cunning man and a shrewd -woman are a match for the devil, when they get together." So, seeing she -had no alternative but to open the door and admit them, Alrina, with a -trembling hand, lifted the latch, and, preceding the others, hastily -gained the side of the bed, and, kneeling down, begged her father not to -be frightened, for he would be treated kindly. She said this without -looking on his face; for she knew she could say nothing to comfort him, -and she did not like to witness the shock which this untimely intrusion -must occasion, and so she pressed her face on the bed, as she knelt, and -said these few introductory words, and waited to hear what he would say -to his unwelcome visitors. No one spoke for a few minutes. A deathlike -silence prevailed throughout the room. At last the constable broke the -spell by saying,-- - -"Escaped again, by George!" - -"Escaped!" cried Alrina, jumping up from her kneeling posture; "thank -God for that. But how escaped? how could he----?" - -She did not finish her sentence; for, looking down where she had dreaded -to look before, the awful truth was but too evident. There was no -mistaking it. There lay the earthly remains of her poor deluded father, -it was true, but the spirit had indeed escaped, and fled to regions -unknown! - -The shock was too great for her. She had suffered the severest mental -agony that day that it was possible for mortal to bear. She had borne up -bravely while there appeared a chance of saving her father from -disgrace; but now she broke down altogether, and fell on the floor -insensible. Alice Ann had followed the intruders into the room; and, as -all her efforts to rouse her young mistress were in vain, she asked the -gentlemen to assist in carrying her into her own room. - -Fowler and Josiah were called in, and a consultation was held as to -where Alrina should be placed for the present. She could not remain -there, under the circumstances,--that was very clear. Several plans were -proposed and discussed, but nothing could be decided on for her. She -might object to them all when she recovered her senses. At last Squire -Pendray proposed that she should be conveyed to his house, where he was -sure she would be taken care of; and he felt, moreover, although he did -not express it, that the companionship of such a noble strong-minded -girl might lead to the recovery of his own daughter. This was thought an -excellent plan, and everyone declared that the squire was most kind and -considerate. But then came another difficulty. She would not accept his -offer now, he feared, any more than she would the offer that was made -her by his wife, before. And in this he thought she acted -foolishly,--more foolishly than he should have imagined from the good -sense she had displayed in other respects. - -Under these circumstances, he thought, they must get her to -Pendrea-house by stratagem, and, when there, he felt sure she would like -it too well to run away, and he was sure his family would approve of the -plan, and would make her as comfortable as possible. So it was arranged -that she should be taken carefully, in her present unconscious state, -and placed gently in the covered cart, well wrapped up, and that Alice -Ann should go also to take care of her, on the road. This plan Alice Ann -thought capital. So the poor unconscious girl was carried out gently by -Josiah in his great strong arms, and placed comfortably in the covered -cart, with Alice Ann by her side, and Josiah was left in charge of the -house and the dead body of its late owner. - -Mr. Morley said he must go and see his brother again; for he feared that -the sufferings and privations he had lately undergone, had seriously -impaired his health and undermined his constitution. So he went on to -"The Commercial" inn, while the squire and Lieut. Fowler proceeded -towards their respective homes; and as their road lay the same way for -some distance, they walked together. Fowler made himself so agreeable to -the old gentleman during their walk that he was sorry to part with him -when their roads turned in different directions. He did not ask him, -however, to continue his companion all the way to Pendrea-house; but -during his solitary walk after they had parted, he began to think that -such an agreeable fellow could never really be the villain he supposed -him to be with regard to his conduct towards his daughter. His opinion -of him was softened a good deal; and if a satisfactory explanation of -his conduct could have been given just then, and a proposal made in a -straightforward honourable way, the old gentleman would, no doubt, have -consented, rather than leave his daughter pine away thus,--the cause of -which he now devined so truly. But the explanation did not come, nor was -the proposal made; so the old squire walked home alone to prepare his -family for the reception of their visitor, who was being brought slowly -round by the broad road, while he and Fowler had taken a short cut -across the common. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVII. - -JOSIAH'S LONELY MIDNIGHT WATCH IN THE CONJUROR'S HOUSE. - - -Mr. Morley found his brother still in bed; not because he was too ill to -get up--for the walk and the cold bath had done him good--but for the -simple reason that he had no clothes to put on. Those he wore in the -morning were too wet, and he had not yet received a fresh supply from -the "First and Last" inn, at Sennen, where he had left his things when -he started so suddenly on his journey some weeks before. So Mr. Morley -sat by his bedside, and got him to relate his adventures, which he did -very faithfully, until he came to the adventure of that morning; and -then Mr. Morley saw there was a reluctance to tell all. But he was -determined to know everything, and he pressed his brother to confide in -him; and, after some little hesitation, he told all, except his attempt -at self-destruction. He didn't tell that; but he dwelt long on the -conduct of Alrina, and asked his brother if he could give him any clue -to the discovery of Alrina's motive for treating him so coldly and -cruelly. - -"Yes," replied his brother; "I think I can fathom it; and although I -think Miss Freeman is a noble girl, yet I think, when I have related to -you my adventures of the last few weeks, you will think that she is -right, and that you have luckily escaped being mixed up in a most -unpleasant affair, that must have embittered your whole life, had not -that noble girl been more prudent than yourself." - -It will be remembered that Frederick knew nothing of his brother's -search at Mr. Freeman's house, when he found his chest there, and the -money gone,--nor did he know of the second attempt, that morning, to -secure the man of cunning, nor of his death,--nor, indeed, had he heard -of his brother's success in entering the deserted house near -Bristol;--so that Mr. Morley had a long and interesting tale to relate. - -Frederick was very much excited several times during the recital, and -seemed to drink in every word, as it were, especially when his brother -arrived at the latter part of his recital, wherein Alrina pleaded so -piteously for a delay of her father's punishment. - -A long silence ensued when the tale was ended. At last Mr. Morley -said,-- - -"Now, do you see Miss Freeman's motive for her treatment of you this -morning?" - -"Noble girl!" exclaimed Frederick; "I see it all, she knew her father's -guilt, and did violence to her feelings to save me from being involved -in the sad affair. But after all, I cannot understand why she should say -she couldn't love me;--why not have told me all, and have left it to me -to act according to the dictates of my own feelings?" - -"She knew you better than you knew yourself," replied his brother; "and -I repeat that she acted nobly, and you ought to consider yourself lucky, -that you have escaped a life of misery; for, however deeply you may love -this girl now, in the warmth of a first and youthful love, you would -find that your ardour would cool considerably, when you saw the world -looking coldly on your wife, and avoiding her society, as the child of a -felon, and worse, perhaps, however good and lovely she may be in -herself. No! no! take my word for it, my dear brother, you will thank -her for the course she has pursued, when you have calmly reflected on -it." - -"Never!" said Frederick, passionately; "instead of weakening my love for -her, this noble conduct of hers, has endeared her to me a hundred-fold. -What care I for the sneers of the world, if I have Alrina's love? I will -go to her at once, and have a full explanation; and if, as you think, -she declined my love for the sake of preventing my being subjected to -the sneers and scorns of the world, I will compel her to marry me." - -"Stay," said Mr. Morley; "you must first ascertain that my conjecture -is the right one; but I wouldn't advise you to see her yourself. Let me -see her for you." - -"No," said his brother; "I will see her myself." And as his clothes had -arrived by this time, he dressed and accompanied his brother back to -Tol-pedn-Penwith, where Lieutenant Fowler had no difficulty in -accommodating them both, although his house was so small. He ordered an -extra hammock to be slung up in the largest of the sleeping apartments, -where the two brothers slept soundly till a late hour the next morning, -as they were both very tired. - -Josiah, in the meantime, kept watch and guard over "the Maister's" house -and its contents. It was pleasant enough while the daylight lasted; but -when night came on, and darkness covered the face of the earth, Josiah -thought it was very whisht to be there in that house all alone. So he -went down to his father's, and had a good supper, and something to -drink. This made him feel very comfortable, and he wished them all -good-night, took a lantern with him, and went back again to his solitary -watch. - -Josiah was a courageous man at all times when there was any real danger -to be feared, and a strong man, as everybody knew. The man must be more -than mortal who could make Josiah afraid, but he had a strong -superstitious feeling in his composition; and who had not in those -days?--and if there was an excuse for the feeling at all, it certainly -might be excused in such a case as this. Here was the man who had been -the dread of the neighbourhood, and who was believed to have dealings -with the Evil One, lying dead in that lonely house, where so many evil -deeds had been done, some of which had been discovered within the last -few days. That he was a man to be feared and dreaded no one doubted; but -whether he really had the power which many gave him credit for, remained -to be proved yet. Josiah thought that perhaps it would be his fate to -prove this; and it cannot be denied that he felt rather uncomfortable, -when he found himself seated in the kitchen of that house, not only -without the pleasant society of Alice Ann, but, as he well knew, without -having any human habitation within some distance of him. - -His mother had kindly given him a flask of brandy, that he might indulge -in the prevailing amusement at that period, of "keeping his spirits up, -by pouring spirits down;" and so he sat down in the chair usually -occupied by Alice Ann, having first placed a glass and some water on the -table, and began to reflect on the vicissitudes of human life in -general, and of his life in particular; and then he began to speculate -on the prospects of happiness which seemed to loom in the future, when -he should have led Alice Ann to the altar, and settled down as a married -man. These thoughts were all very pleasant, and so was the -brandy-and-water. The candle was burning brightly and so was the fire, -and he thought he was "getten on brave." - -He had got nearly to the bottom of the second glass of -brandy-and-water, and was beginning to feel quite comfortable and happy. -He only wanted one thing to add to his perfect happiness he thought, and -that was the pleasure of Alice Ann's society. It was drawing towards -midnight, and he was feeling drowsy, so he dropped off into a sound -sleep as he sat in his chair, and dreamed of her he last thought of -before he fell asleep. He fancied he heard her upstairs, brushing out -the rooms, and knocking the furniture about, as servants frequently do, -merely to show that they are doing something. She was making a -tremendous noise certainly, he thought, and he called to her, in his -sleep, not to make so much noise, to disturb "The Maister." But the -noise continued, nevertheless; and when he awoke he found the candle -burnt down in the socket, and the fire nearly gone out; so he -replenished the fire first, and then looked about for another candle, -but before he could find one, he heard, as he thought, a strange noise -in "The Maister's" room. What could it be? No one could have got into -the house; he had locked the doors,--he was sure of that, but still -there was a noise--that was evident; and someone was walking up and down -the room upstairs. What could it be? - -The candle, which had been flickering in the socket, and wavering -between life and death, as it were, for some seconds, now went out -entirely, and left Josiah in perfect darkness. He searched in vain for -another candle,--he couldn't find one anywhere; and then he tried to -find the door of the kitchen, but he could not find it. He went round -and round the room, as he thought, but no door could he find; so at -length he came back to his chair again, which he found by the aid of the -glimmer of light from the fire which he had nearly extinguished in his -haste to replenish it, when he saw the candle flickering away. - -He now fully made up his mind that he was spellbound, and that "The -Maister's" spirit was walking through the house; but as the noise had -ceased he became a little more reconciled, and helped himself to some -more brandy, after which he fell fast asleep again, and when he awoke it -was broad daylight. - -He rubbed his eyes and looked about the room, forgetting for a moment -where he was; and then he began to think of his absurd fancies about -being spellbound and "piskey-led," and such nonsense; and he laughed -aloud and went out into the fresh morning air. The doors were barred and -all secure, as he had left them when he came in the night before. But -still he heard those strange noises in his ears, and he could not get -rid of the feeling that the "The Maister's" spirit was walking in his -room last night. He locked the door behind him, and went down the road -towards his father's house to breakfast. - -"Why, 'Siah, boy," said Captain Trenow, laughing, as his son -approached, "you're looking so whisht as ef you'd seed a ghost. "The -Maister" dedn't trouble 'ee in the night, ded aw?" - -"I caen't tell," replied Josiah, "what et wor, but I heerd a bra' noise -in the night." - -"Why, what are 'ee tellen?" exclaimed Mrs. Trenow, coming to the door; -"I always thoft hes sperit wud walk, ef anybody's ever ded." - -"Nonsense!" said Captain Trenow; "you're two patticks, both of 'ee." - -Josiah would not be persuaded out of the belief, however, that "The -Maister's" spirit was walking in his room last night. - -"I'm no coward, fe-a-thar, and that you do knaw," said he; "but I arn't -fitty for to stop up there another night by myself, nor I wean't nether -to plaise nobody,--there, na." - -His father turned the whole tale into ridicule, and laughed at the idea -of noises being heard in "The Maister's" chamber, when there was no one -in the house but Josiah. - -"I'll tell 'ee, my son," said the old man, at length, with a wicked -twinkle in his eye; "the brandy was too strong, I reckon. Ha! ha! ha!" - -Josiah was about to reply indignantly to this insinuation, when they -were disturbed by a knock at the door. - -"Dear lor'!" said Mrs. Trenow, rising to open the door; "why, who can be -come so early, I wondar?" - -She soon returned, saying that the undertakers wanted to go in to do -their work. - -"Aw! iss, sure," said Josiah; "the door es locked, sure nuff." - -"Come," said Captain Trenow; "we may as well go down too, and make sure -that no more noises shall be heard. I shudn't like for 'ee to be -frightened worse than you are, boy." - -So they went down together; and, as Josiah unlocked the door, his father -said in a sarcastic tone,--"Now, don't you be frightened, my son." - -Josiah did not answer, but led the way upstairs to "The Maister's" -bedroom, which adjoined the mysterious room, so often referred to in -this history; and having unlocked the door, he led the way into the room -where only a few hours before that affecting scene had been witnessed, -which we have before recorded. - -The awful escape from the hands of justice of one who seemed deserving -of a severe punishment, and the consequent shock to the nervous system -of a lovely and noble-minded girl, who would have braved everything to -save her father from ignominy and suffering,--this scene was no novelty -to the undertaker's mermidons. They were accustomed to view dead bodies -continually, in their calling. They had been working all night, in order -to be in time, and they had brought the fruits of their labour with -them, and proceeded, without ceremony, towards the bed, when they -started back in amazement! for,--the bed was empty! - -"The Maister" was gone!--fled! But where?--that was the question. They -searched the room, but found nothing. There was a communication, -however, between the bedroom and "The Maister's" private room which no -one remembered ever having seen before;--it must have been concealed by -some paintings hung against the wall. It was open now--wide open. They -went through, into the mysterious room, and there they found that the -drawers had been opened and ransacked, and all the valuables taken away. -The belt containing the diamonds and jewels, which had been put into one -of the drawers in that room, was gone. Captain Trenow was the first to -discover this; for he had found it in undressing "The Maister," and he -it was who had suggested to Alrina the propriety of locking it up in one -of those drawers. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII. - -THE SEARCH. - - -The news soon spread that the conjuror--body and soul--had vanished from -the room in which he was supposed to have died; and various were the -reports that got into circulation. Some said they didn't believe he had -been there at all; others thought he wasn't dead when the squire and -party left him; while others again believed that he was really dead, but -that, by some supernatural agency, he had been resuscitated and taken -away through the keyhole, or up the chimney, and that probably he was -then wandering about invisible. And those who held this belief were -pitiable objects; for they feared to speak a word against "The Maister," -lest he should instantly appear in his bodily form, and annihilate them -as they stood. The dread of "The Maister" and his evil eye was bad -enough when he was alive and in the flesh, but now it was ten times -worse. Little knots of gossips might be seen here and there, holding -private conversations in whispers;--but that was all nonsense, the -believers in the supernatural would say. If "The Maister" was walking -about invisible he could come close enough to hear them, whisper so low -as they would. - -Josiah was rather glad than otherwise that things had turned out as they -had; for his father didn't laugh at him now for fancying he heard noises -in the night. Captain Trenow thought it was Josiah's duty to go and -inform the gentlemen at Tol-pedn-Penwith what had happened, and Josiah -was of the same opinion, but he said he wouldn't go unless his father -went with him. - -"What! afeard to go up there in the day-time now, art aw?" said his -father; "why, we shall be forced for to have a little maid for to lead -thee about soon." - -"No, no," said Josiah, smiling; "I arn't afeard. Tesn't that altogether, -but you knaw what 'twas this mornin' when I told the story, and it may -be the same up there,--sure to be, I s'pose, weth them youngsters, that -don't believe in no such thing as ghosts. No, no, I arn't going for to -be made a maagum of, don't you think et." - -"Well, ef that's the case," said his father, "why, I'll go too." - -So away the two men started at a brisk pace; and it was well they both -went, for the gentlemen could scarcely believe the tale, although it was -confirmed in a most solemn manner by the old man, who did not look or -speak as if he was trying to deceive them. - -As the squire had taken an active interest in the affair, it was thought -advisable to consult him before they took any steps to follow the -fugitive, for although they did not believe that there was anything -supernatural connected with it, they were at a loss to conjecture what -it was, or how such a strange affair could have happened. - -They appeared a formidable party as they emerged from the lieutenant's -cabin, each man stooping to avoid knocking his head against the upper -part of the low doorway as he came out. They were all tall and -strong-built,--indeed you would not meet with five such fine-looking men -again in a good distance. They were embarked in one common cause; so -they kept together, and approached Pendrea-house, a strong body. - -Alrina, after a good night's rest, seemed more cheerful, and was pleased -at the little attentions shewn her by Mrs. Pendray and her daughters. -Blanche was most attentive to her;--she would not leave her for a single -moment, and seemed to be continually thinking what she could do more -than she had done to make their guest comfortable. Maud received her -kindly and paid her great attention, but it seemed constrained; she -appeared to look upon her as an inferior, almost an infected, being, -from her unfortunate connection with that man, whom everyone now spoke -of with disgust and abhorrence; for all his evil doings that had yet -been discovered were now pretty generally known and perhaps exaggerated. - -In the course of the morning, as Alrina regained her wonted composure, -her situation became more apparent and galling. She could not but -appreciate the kindness of the family, and especially the delicate -attention of the gentle Blanche, for whom Alrina conceived an almost -intuitive love, as for a dear sister; and therefore, for the present, -she thought she must accept their kindness, and when all was done that -was necessary for the interment of the remains of her poor erring -father, she would seek some employment by which she might maintain -herself without being a burden on others. - -The money and jewels which Captain Trenow had found on her father's -person, she determined she would not touch; for doubtless they had -belonged to others and had been unlawfully obtained. Poor girl! -notwithstanding all that the ladies at Pendrea were doing for her, and -the kind attention they bestowed on her, she was ill-at-ease. She had -many heavy thoughts and afflictions weighing her down, which her kind -friends knew not of. Her father's death was not the greatest. Alas! she -had, in her loftiness of soul, discarded the only being in the world who -could have relieved her present sufferings and made everything smooth -and bearable for her at this terrible juncture. She had decided on her -course, however, in that respect; and the deep love she felt for him -made her now more than ever determined not to bring disgrace upon him. -After the treatment he had received at her hands, however, she did not -believe he would ever come near her again, or think of her but with -disdain;--indeed she did not deserve that he should,--she had taken her -course, and she felt that she did not deserve his love or pity any more. -This thought racked her brain, and rendered her silent and reserved. Her -kind friends imputed it to her grief for her father's death, and the -circumstances under which it had taken place. They knew now the strange -story of the body having disappeared; but the squire thought it best not -to let Alrina know this until they had ascertained more fully concerning -it, and for this purpose he cheerfully received the formidable party -that now sought his aid and co-operation. - -They sat long in consultation,--one suggesting one plan, and one -another. Frederick Morley, however, did not feel capable of joining in -their deliberations. He walked to the window, and looked out on the -dreary scene which bounded that wing of the house; but nothing that he -could see without seemed so dreary, at that moment, as that which he -felt within. He didn't care for the old conjuror, he said to himself, he -might go to the devil if he would,--perhaps he was gone there. He wanted -to see Alrina, and he knew that she was in that house, but how could he -get an interview with her without betraying their secret? - -He excused himself to the squire, and went out into the garden. Here he -met one of the female servants, whom he had seen before in his former -visits to the house with Lieutenant Fowler. He entered into conversation -with her, and asked her in what he thought a disinterested off-hand -manner, about Miss Alrina Freeman. But the shrewd girl saw at once how -matters stood, and she pitied them both. He tore a leaf from his -pocket-book, and wrote a few hurried lines in pencil, and asked her to -convey them to Miss Freeman, which the girl undertook to do as soon as -the way was clear. Cunning girl! she knew at once, almost by instinct, -that there was something between those two, which they did not wish the -world to know at present. Even the prospect of having these few lines -conveyed to Alrina was some relief to Frederick and he returned to his -friends, who were still deep in consultation, but no plan had as yet -been decided on. At length Captain Trenow, who had listened to all their -plans without giving an opinion, said,-- - -"I'll tell 'ee, gentlemen,--'The Maister' dedn't walk off by hisself, -that's a sure thing. Now, who helped 'n?--that's the point. Who are his -friends? Tell me that, and we may guess, purty nigh, where he's likely -to be carr'd to. - -"Why I'll tell 'ee, fe-a-thar," said Josiah; "I b'lieve the friends he -ha' got are them that slocked away Maister Frederick Morley here, and -pocked 'n down in the cellar." - -"Zackly like that," replied his father, looking at the gentlemen in a -knowing way; "'Birds of a feather do flock together.'" - -"A good thought!" exclaimed Mr. Morley, rising. "Don't let us lose any -time, but proceed at once." - -Horses were procured from the neighbouring farmers--for there were no -gigs or dog-carts in those days at the Land's-End--and they started on -their expedition; but lest so formidable a party should alarm the -neighbourhood, they agreed to go by different routes and to meet at -Portagnes, and to go in a body to Cooper's house; for that the body of -the conjuror was taken there no one seemed to doubt;--it was the only -place they could think of at all likely. For, although one of the party -strongly believed that the noises he heard, and the removal of the body, -were caused by supernatural agency, he did not express his thoughts on -that point, but followed the others, fully persuaded that they would -find their labour in vain. - -Frederick Morley lingered behind his party a little, and under pretence -of having left something behind at Pendrea, he returned there, promising -to overtake his brother and the squire shortly. Fowler had gone another -way, accompanied by Captain Trenow and Josiah. - -Frederick had indeed left something behind at Pendrea, and, knowing that -Alrina was there, he determined not to leave that place without having -an interview with her, and hearing from her own lips an explanation of -her conduct; and if it was from any feeling of delicacy, or as he deemed -it foolish fear, that by uniting herself with him she would be bringing -disgrace upon him and his family, he would insist on her recalling her -vow, if she had made one; and if she still loved him as he believed she -did, nothing on earth should prevent him from making her his own, and -claiming it as his right to cherish and protect her against all the -world. - -This feeling had become a thousand times stronger than ever now, since -he knew that she so much wanted protection. It strengthened his love, if -possible, and made him more determined than ever not to leave that -place without seeing her, and compelling her to give up her foolish -scruples, and become his wife without delay; and the more he thought of -her present destitute position, the more did he blame himself for ever -having left her. - -In the meanwhile, the squire and Mr. Morley pressed on their horses -towards Portagnes, thinking that Frederick would overtake them; but as -he did not, they supposed he had taken the other route, and had joined -Lieutenant Fowler's party. They met according to appointment; but -Frederick was not there. No one had seen him since he left them to -search for what he said he had left behind at Pendrea-house. However, -every moment was of consequence now, and they determined on proceeding -at once to Cooper's house, where they believed they should find the -fugitive. No one except Josiah doubted this for a moment; so it was -determined that the outside of the house should be closely watched, by -two of the party, while the others effected an entrance, by force if -necessary. The constable, with his warrant, had accompanied Fowler and -his party; and the lieutenant had left orders for two of his men to go -round by water to the entrance of the cavern, and keep a look-out -there,--so that escape was now impossible. - -Lieutenant Fowler and Josiah watched outside, while the other three, -accompanied by the constable, proceeded to effect an entrance into the -house. They found the outer door of the garden unlocked, and they -thought they should gain an easy entrance; for the fugitives had -evidently either not returned there or were confident of their security. -These thoughts passed through the mind of each as they passed from the -outer door, through the garden, to the door of the house. Here, however, -they found an obstacle, for the door was bolted. They knocked several -times, and, no answer being returned, they held a consultation as to the -best way to break open the door, when a head protruded from one of the -upper windows, and they were asked, rather sharply, what they wanted. - -"Come down, you old hag, and open the door, or we'll break it open," -said Mr. Morley, in an angry tone, giving the door several knocks at the -same time with his walking-stick. - -"Don't be so hasty, gentlemen," said the woman; "I was fool enough to -let you in last time, but you shan't come over me so easy again, I can -tell 'ee. You should oft to be ashamed of yourselves,--iss you ded--for -to come here with your staves and clubs to frighten a poor lone woman -like me." - -"Come down, you miserable specimen of humanity," said the squire, "and -open the door, or it shall be broken open, and your house ransacked from -top to bottom, and you will not be let off so easily this time, I can -tell you." - -"What did you please to want gentleman, when you do get in?" asked the -woman, in what the squire thought a very impertinent tone. And he was -about to reply, in a manner which would have given the woman an -opportunity of keeping up the conversation, and thereby keeping them out -of the house for a considerable time longer, when the constable thought -it was time for him to begin; for he was a shrewd man in his way, and -saw the woman's object. He believed she was keeping them in conversation -outside, in order to give the other inmates time to get away or to -conceal themselves in the house somewhere; so he said in as commanding a -tone as he could,-- - -"You know me, good woman, don't you?" - -"No, I don't," she replied, "and, what's more, I don't want to." - -"I'm the head constable of the district I am," said he; "and I claim -entrance, in the King's name, under a bench warrant." - -"I don't care if you're the tail constable; you shan't come in here," -replied the woman, shutting down the window. - -"Thank you for nothing," said the constable; for at this moment the door -was opened from the inside by Captain Trenow, who had gone round the -house to reconnoitre, while the others were still trying to persuade the -old woman to let them in; and, finding a window open at the back of the -house, he entered that way, and now admitted the whole party. The old -woman protested there was no one in the house but herself, and so it -turned out; for they searched everywhere--upstairs and down--in the -cellars and even out to the extremity of the cavern. There was no one -there; so they beat a retreat and went back to the house they had before -met at, hoping that by this time Frederick had arrived; but in this they -were also disappointed. He was not there, nor had he been seen by -anyone; so, after partaking of a hasty refreshment, they turned their -horses' heads once more in the direction of the Land's-End, crestfallen -and disappointed. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIX. - -THE UNEXPECTED MEETING AND MYSTERIOUS COMMUNICATION. - - -While the gentlemen were holding their consulation at Pendrea-house, the -ladies of the establishment were variously occupied. Mrs. Pendrea was -superintending the cooking of some nice little sweet dish for a poor -sick child in the neighbourhood, and the two young ladies were seemingly -playing at hide-and-seek with one another, and wandering from room to -room, in hopes of hearing something, or of catching a sight of their -lovers; while Alrina was left alone to meditate on her sad fate. - -She had not been alone long, however, before the door was opened -cautiously, and a servant entered, and closing the door after her in a -very mysterious way, and, approaching the couch on which Alrina was -resting, she put her finger on her lips, as much as to say, "Be silent," -and gave Alrina a slip of paper on which was written, or rather -scrawled, hastily in pencil-- - - - "_Dearest Alrina.--I am wretched,--miserable! Grant me an interview - for a few minutes. I have something of the greatest importance to - communicate. I will be in the garden at the back of the house as - soon as the other gentlemen are gone. I shall go out with them to - prevent suspicion, and return on some pretence. The faithful bearer - of this will assist you and let you know when._ - - "_Adieu--my dearest love,_ - "_Frederick._" - - -When her attendant saw the agitation into which the young lady was -thrown, on the perusal of this scrap of paper, her former conjectures -were confirmed, and she determined to do her best to assist the two -lovers. She had a sympathetic feeling, and she retired to the window -under pretence of putting the blind straight, while Alrina perused, and -reperused, these few pencilled lines, so dear to her. She thought but a -few hours ago that she had overcome every feeling but that of duty and -honor, and that she could look upon him whom she so dearly loved, as a -brother. It was for his good that she had decided on this course; and -she believed that she should have firmness and courage to carry it out -to the end; and but a short time ago she felt so strong in her mind and -will, that she wished to see him once more to tell him so again. But she -then feared that no opportunity would ever offer, and that she should -never see him again to explain to him fully the state; of her mind, and -her real motives of action; for she felt that she had wronged him in -what she had said, and wounded his feelings when she told him she could -not love him. She knew she ought not to have said that; but what else -could she say? Her father was alive then, and might recover; she could -not tell her lover of her father's faults and crimes; and what was she -to do? Now, that he was dead, all was known, and Frederick believed, she -must now know all too, and she could now tell him why she could not -marry him; and she wished and longed to see him once more--only once -more--and now the opportunity had come; it might never come again. But -her heart failed her; she could not see him and tell him calmly that -they must part for ever, and explain her reasons fully, so as to make -him understand clearly what she meant. No, she could not do this; and -yet she felt that she must see him once more. So she decided on obeying -the promptings of her heart; and calling the maid to her, she said she -wished to be informed when the gentlemen left, and then she would walk -in the back garden a little. It was not at all necessary to explain -anything further to that shrewd girl, for she immediately saw how things -stood, and managed accordingly. - -The Pendrea ladies were summoned to the drawing-room, almost immediately -after the departure of the gentlemen, to entertain Captain and Mrs. -Courland and their niece, who had come to return the call the squire and -his lady had made on them a few days before at Penzance, where they had -taken lodgings. Nothing could be better for the interview between the -lovers. - -Grace, the go-between, as she styled herself, was delighted. She -immediately went to Alrina's room, and informed her that all was ready, -and that the coast was clear; which information rather astonished the -young lady,--for she could not conceive how Grace should know that she -wanted the coast clear; unless Frederick had told her more than she -thought was prudent. However, she had made up her mind to go through -with it; and, having put on her bonnet and shawl, which the prudent -Grace had brought with her, followed her conductress into the garden, -when Grace shewed her prudence again by withdrawing and leaving the two -lovers to themselves. - -Alrina trembled at the thought of the terrible trial she was about to go -through, and her heart throbbed at every step as she walked down the -narrow pathway of the little garden, which was at the very back of the -house, secluded from view and sheltered by high walls, with no window to -overlook it, although, when you were inside, every part of it was -exposed enough, for the trees were very few and stunted. - -Frederick had not arrived, evidently, unless he was concealed in the -little arbour at the bottom of the garden. Alrina walked down to it and -looked in. No, he was not there,--something had detained him, no doubt. -She waited, and waited, and walked up and down; still he did not come. -She was getting cold. She climbed up so as to look over the wall, but -could see nothing of him; and now she began to think he had deceived -her. He had taken this course to be revenged for the insult she had -offered him, when she told him--he to whom she had so often before -avowed the fondest love--that she could not love him. Yes; he had indeed -been revenged, and she felt that she deserved it all. - -But hark! she hears a footstep approaching towards the garden-door. Her -ears are quick; they have been listening intensely for some time. Yes! -it must be. She rushes towards the door, and is caught in the arms of -two lovely girls. - -"Alrina, you naughty girl," exclaimed Blanch, "how could you be so -imprudent as to come out in this cold wind? - -"Alrina!" exclaimed the young lady; "can it be possible? you, here!--and -have I found you at last, my darling schoolfellow!" And the two girls, -in their gushing love, embraced most lovingly and affectionately; and -then there were explanations to be given and rereceived, and Blanche led -the way into Alrina's room, where Julia informed Blanche how they had -been at school together, and how her brother Frederick had fallen in -love with Alrina, when she was out walking, and how she had carried -letters and messages between them, and how her brother had searched for -Alrina everywhere, when he returned from abroad, and had written her to -search everywhere for his lost lady-love too; and kissing Alrina, in her -girlish way, she said, "Oh! how glad Frederick will be to find you -here." - -Alrina could do nothing but kiss her friend, in return for all her kind -expressions and caresses. What could she say? She felt glad--very -glad--to see her old schoolfellow; but, under the circumstances, it was -mixed up with too much pain and sorrow to give her any permanent -pleasure. - -Very soon Julia was summoned to attend her uncle and aunt on their -return to Penzance. They had taken a very substantial lunch while the -three girls had been having their _tete-a-tete_. - -Captain Courland and his party had travelled by easy stages, for they -had come all the way in their own carriage with post-horses. It was one -of those old lumbering carriages intended to hold six inside--a regular -family coach. - -"Well, ladies," said the Captain, as he seated himself; "I wish you -would take pattern by Mrs. Pendray; she had no hoops, nor farthingales -on,--a plain homely woman. No nonsense,--everything above board." - -"Yes, my dear," replied Mrs. Courland; "a very pleasant, agreeable, -little woman, as I have met with for a long time; but in the country -they are not always dressed for receiving visitors." - -"And didn't you like Blanche, aunt?" asked Julia; "she is such a dear -girl." - -"A nice little girl enough, I dare say," said the captain, answering the -question for his wife; "but her elder sister seemed to snub her, I -thought. 'Shiver my mizen,' thinks I, I'd haul down your topgallant -sails, miss, if I were your father." - -"My dear," said Mrs. Courland, "I wish you would try to forget your sea -terms when you are in the society of ladies. I observed Miss Pendray -looking at you with astonishment several times, when you were giving out -some of your elegant expressions." - -"I wish the squire had been home," replied her husband, without noticing -the remarks of his wife; for he was accustomed to these rebukes,--not -that she said them or meant them ill-naturedly, but she inherited her -mother's aristocratic notions, and could not endure anything approaching -to vulgarity or coarseness. She had not had very much of her husband's -society in former years, for he was only at home for a few months at a -time, and then his time was very much occupied, being the principal -owner of the ship he commanded. But, now he had nothing to do, and was -at home constantly, so that his elegant and accomplished wife had more -frequent opportunities of experiencing his rough sailor-like manner; not -that he was at all a coarse-minded man,--it was only his manner, which -he had naturally imbibed from the persons he was obliged to come into -such close contact with on board ship. He was naturally kind-hearted in -the extreme, and would do any good that lay in his power for a fellow -creature in distress; but he couldn't overcome his habit of using -nautical expressions, nor indeed did he try to now. He did try at first, -years ago, to speak a little more "dandified," as he called it, to -please his beautiful wife; but he found it too hard to accomplish, and -so he gave up trying, and contented himself with listening to her -lectures, good-humouredly, which he said came in at one ear and went out -at the other: and so he had listened patiently now to her remarks, and -then continued the conversation as if nothing had been said on the -"vexed" subject by his sensitive wife. - -"I wish the squire had been home," said he; "he's a jolly fellow. I hate -to be stuck up with a parcel of palavering women, and be obliged to sit -bolt upright in my chair and take out every word and look at it before I -speak, or else be hauled over the coals for it." - -"I'm sure you behaved very well to day, uncle," said Julia; "I saw Miss -Pendray looking at you several times, as if she admired your blunt, -straightforward manners." - -"Did you?" replied the captain, looking rather pleased; "I looked at her -too when she got round to the starboard-tack. Brace my rigging, says I -to myself; but you're as tight and well built a frigate from stem to -stern as ever I clap'd my two eyes upon, save one." - -"It was well you put in that saving clause, uncle," said Julia, -laughing; "or you would have made Aunt Courland jealous." - -"No, no," said the captain, taking his wife's hand affectionately, "I'm -a rough knot; but if she never makes me jealous, I shall never make her -so. Everything is upright and downright and aboveboard with me. No -secrets from my wife, no, no; and I don't think she has any secrets or -mysteries from me, although we do have a breeze now and then about the -lingo." - -"Talking of mysteries," said Julia, turning to her aunt; "who do you -think I met at Pendrea? You'll never guess, so I may as well tell you. -Why, no other than my old friend and schoolfellow, Alrina." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Courland; "you quite surprise me, where did she -come from?--how did she get there?" - -"I don't know," replied Julia; "for just as I was about to enquire all -the particulars, I was summoned to attend you." - -"Has Frederick seen her, or does he know she is there," asked Mrs. -Courland, with more than her usual energy. - -"I know no more than I have told you," replied Julia; "I only met her a -short time before we left; for Blanche and I had been wandering over the -curious old house, and we were just going to have a peep at what they -call their garden, when Alrina came rushing out to meet us. I was struck -with her peculiar beauty at once, for I didn't at first know her until -Blanche mentioned her name. She was but a girl when I knew her at -school; she has now grown a beautiful woman,--oh! so beautiful, Aunt, -and so fair, with that auburn hair which you admire so much. I have seen -someone very like her, but I can't remember who it is. The expression of -her countenance when she met us, was so like an expression I have seen -in some one before; but who it is I cannot remember,--it was so -strange." - -"We must ask the family to visit us at Penzance, my dear, and bring this -wonderful stranger with them," said Mrs. Courland, thoughtfully; "I -should like to know something more about her, and where she has been -hiding so long, that no trace of her could be found." - -"Oh! yes, Aunt," said Julia; "for the sake of Frederick, I'm glad she is -found again; he was so passionately devoted to her." - -"For his sake, perhaps, it would have been better if she had never -crossed our paths again," replied Mrs. Courland, talking to herself -rather than to her companions; "but the destiny of all must be -fulfilled. There is some mystery about this girl,--I am convinced there -is." - -"So am I," replied Julia; "and I shall not rest till I have found it -out." - -"Mystery!" exclaimed Captain Courland, in a voice which startled the two -ladies; "I hate mysteries. Everything open and aboveboard, say -I,--there's no occasion for mystery. I'd throw the lubber overboard, and -let him sink into Davy Jones's locker, if he didn't out with it at once, -whatever it was. 'Speak the truth and shame the devil,'--that's my -motto. I'll have no mysteries hid from me--no matter who it -is--overboard he'll go--damn me!" - -This outbreak was so sudden and so unexpected, that it made the two -ladies feel very uncomfortable, especially the elder lady, whose -conscience smote her, and made her feel that, some day, the secret she -was keeping so rigidly from her husband might be revealed to him, and -then all her happiness would be gone. For she now saw, from this sudden -outburst of feeling, how angry he could be, and to what lengths he could -carry his vengeance, if he ever found out that terrible secret, and -discovered how long he had been deceived. It was a dreadful thought and -she shuddered at it, and lay trembling in the corner of the carriage, -while Julia, having no such pricks of conscience, and being, on the -whole, more amused than otherwise at the Captain's burst of passion, -apparently without a cause, answered him in his own language as far as -she could: for she believed that it was only a reminiscence of something -that might have happened on board ship, that had so roused him; and -turning to him, with a laughing eye, she said,-- - -"There's rough weather where you're sailing, Captain, I believe." - -"Rough!" said he: "yes;--but rough or smooth, I'll have the whole of the -crew overhauled from the first mate down to the loplolly-boy; I'll make -a clean sweep. Mysteries, indeed, on board my ship!" - -"Why, whatever do you mean, Uncle?" said Julia, now getting alarmed in -right earnest. - -"Why! this is what I mean," replied he searching his pockets; "I'd -forgotten all about it, till you began to talk about mysteries and such -nonsense. When I went out to have a look about the place there, after -lunch, a queer-looking 'son of a gun' came and gave me this letter, and -cut off again as if the devil was at his heels. Now, you just read that, -and see if I haven't enough to make me look out for squalls! what the -devil is the meaning of it? I don't know!" - -Julia took the letter from her uncle, and read the contents--first to -herself and then aloud:-- - - - "_Noble Captain.--A secret mystery, which now hangs over you and - your's, is about to be revealed; but fear nothing; be firm, and - bear it as a brave sailor ought to do, and it will add to your - happiness:--but should you be led away by passion, or weakness, and - receive it otherwise, misery and woe will be the portion of you and - your's for ever. Bide your time--you will have further notice._ - - "_A Friend,--who was formerly an Enemy._" - - -Julia read this strange epistle through two or three times, and so -intent was she in endeavouring to discover what it could mean, and who -the writer could be, that she did not notice the agitation of Mrs. -Courland, and the anguish of mind she was suffering as she lay half -concealed in the corner of the carriage; and the captain was too much -engrossed with his own irritating thoughts to pay any attention to -anyone else. So the poor lady was not disturbed by anything but her own -thoughts until they arrived at their lodgings, when she rushed upstairs -and gave vent to her feelings, harrowing up the most dreadful -consequences from this revelation, which she had no doubt was that of -her own secret. But, when she became more calm, and began to reflect a -little, she saw how absurd it was of her to anticipate evil so readily. -She had forgotten, in her haste, that she was now many, many miles away -from anyone who could possibly know her secret, and, as she became calm -again, she thought how very foolish she had been,--but so it is--an evil -conscience will start at a shadow. When the mind is constantly brooding -over one subject, and that, the consciousness of a crime committed, the -guilty perpetrator of the deed fears to look an upright, honest man in -the face; for he has the feeling that his breast is transparently open -to his gaze if he only gives him the opportunity to look in: and so he -slinks away, fearing that, in an unguarded moment, the transparency may -be penetrated. Just so did Mrs. Courland feel when she heard her husband -speak in those terrible and decided tones of his horror of secrets and -mysteries, well knowing that she was keeping one from him in her own -bosom which she ought to have told him long ago. And then that letter! -Could it be that _her secret_ was about to be revealed? She would have -given worlds to know: it would be a relief to know even the worst:--the -suspense was dreadful. - -Every moment, during the latter part of their drive home, she expected -her husband would say that he knew all, and denounce her as a faithless -deceitful wife. She had consented to come into Cornwall, thinking that -she would be here removed from any chance of a discovery, but she found, -to her sorrow, that her guilt followed her even here--at least, so she -believed in her weak and self-accusing mind. - - - - -CHAPTER XL. - -MISS PENDRAY'S SINGULAR ACCIDENT. - - -Alrina thought her cup of misery had been full long ago: but here was -another drop added to it. She was now fully convinced that Frederick had -taken her at her word and given her up, and, to be revenged of her -treatment of him, had induced her to come out into the garden, merely to -shew her that he could be as indifferent to her feelings as she had been -to his; and now Blanche knew her secret love, and would of course tell -it to all the family; and Julia would return, no doubt, and endeavour to -renew their former friendship until she discovered who she was, and what -her miserable father had been, and then she would spurn her. - -Blanche returned to her after the visitors had departed, and began the -usual good-humoured badinage which passes between young ladies when a -secret love is discovered: she spoke in a playful manner at first: for -she did not know how serious it was, and she intended, if Alrina had -placed confidence in her, and told her, as a friend, of her secret love, -to have imparted to Alrina, in return, her own sorrows; and she was -surprised and grieved to find that, although she could see clearly there -was something very much amiss which preyed on Alrina's mind, yet her -friend did not seem to have sufficient confidence in her to tell her -what it was; so, to gain Alrina's confidence, in some degree, she told -her own secret first. It took a long time in the telling, although there -was not really much to tell; but it was the theme on which she had been -dwelling for weeks, and weeks, and as it was uppermost in her own -thoughts, she fancied it must be interesting in its minutest details to -everyone else. She had never spoken of it before to a single human -being, and now that she had commenced, and found, as she thought, a -willing and attentive listener, she dwelt on every trifling incident. - -Alrina's thoughts were otherwise engaged, but she sympathised with the -gentle confiding creature who was pouring her thoughts and feelings into -her ear, and, when she had told her tale, Alrina said:-- - -"My dearest Blanche, there is some misunderstanding in all this--someone -has poisoned your father's mind: let some mutual friend but come between -and explain, and all will be well. But _my_ love, alas! is past all -healing! It cannot be! it cannot be!" and she burst into a flood of -tears, which Blanche tried in vain to assuage. - -Early in the evening, Squire Pendray returned, bringing Mr. Morley with -him, for the latter believed that his brother had remained behind at -Pendrea-house for some private reason of his own, instead of following -them to Portagnes; and, moreover, Mr. Morley was very anxious to see -Miss Pendray once more, after having been absent from her so long. He -had not, it is true, pointedly asked her the question, but he had seen -sufficient of her to believe that his attentions were appreciated by -her, and that he had a fair chance of being accepted, should he venture -on that important step: and this step would have been taken long ago, -but for his anxiety to secure the vile wretches who had so stained the -character of his father, and brought him to an untimely end. He had -spoken to the squire on the subject, during their ride home, and -although he was rather inclined to get on his stilts again at first, -believing that Mr. Morley had been trifling with his daughter's -feelings, yet, when all was explained, he promised that if Mr. Morley -and his daughter could make matters up, as he termed it, he would not -object. And, while the squire went to acquaint his wife with the result -of the day's search, Mr. Morley went in search of the fair creature -whose charms had so entirely enthralled him: and so sure did he feel -that his brother Frederick had returned to Pendrea, and was there -comfortably ensconced, that he did not even enquire for him when he -returned. Oh! Cupid! Cupid! thou little perverter of men's thoughts and -tormentor of women's minds! - -Alrina had scarcely recovered herself when Mrs. Pendray entered the -room and told the two young girls the whole story of the mysterious -disappearance of Alrina's father, and the fruitless search which had -been made for him by the gentlemen that day: the squire thought it best -that Alrina should be told the whole now, as there seemed no chance of -their being able to discover the body, or the parties who were concerned -in taking it away. This news came upon her so suddenly, that she could -scarcely realize it. That her father possessed more shrewdness and -knowledge than most other people she fully believed; but she did not -believe in his being possessed of any supernatural power, as many in the -neighbourhood did; and she therefore thought that the body had been -removed by some of his wicked assistants, to gratify some private end of -their own. Instead of giving way to tears again, she merely asked the -favor of being left alone for the remainder of the night, that she might -think on what course would be best for her to pursue under the -circumstances; and, so earnestly did she urge this, that her friends -were prevailed on to yield to her wishes, and she was left to her own -meditations. The gentle Blanche was very loth to leave her thus, after -the mutual understanding that had so lately sprung up between them; but, -as Alrina assured her that she required repose and meditation after the -excitement she had undergone, and that she should be better in the -morning, her kind friends retired, begging her at the same time, to -summon the domestics if she found she required anything more before they -retired for the night. - -Mr. Morley sought Miss Pendray every where, in doors and out, but she -was no where to be found. One of the servants had seen her go out soon -after Captain Courland and his party left; but no one had seen her -since.--She had not returned. - -This, however, was not at all unusual; she often wandered out alone, and -stayed away for hours. No one took much notice of her eccentricities. - -Mr. Morley enquired where she was likely to have gone. No one could -tell: she might be gone to the Logan-Rock; or she might be, even then, -sitting on one of the lofty rocks above Lamorna Cove, where she -sometimes sat for hours watching the waves; or she might even be gone on -so far as Tol-pedn-Penwith.--It was very uncertain which route she might -have taken. One thing, however, the household were pretty certain -about,--she was on the high cliffs somewhere, for she seldom went -underneath. - -Mr. Morley was determined to find her, and bring his suit to an issue at -once; and he thought that, if he could have the good fortune to meet her -alone on one of those distant headlands, he would have ample time to say -all he had to say during the walk back; so he started in pursuit. - -Miss Pendray's proud spirit could not brook the repeated slights to -which she had been subjected by Mr. Morley, as she thought, and the -indifference with which he had treated her: he had been at Pendrea-house -again, and had not thought proper to see her or even to inquire for her. -So, as soon as Captain Courland and his party were gone, she went out in -no very amiable mood, and walked along the edge of the highest cliffs at -a brisk pace; and so absorbed was she in thought, that she did not seem -to notice the wild scenery, which generally had such attractions for -her, nor did she think of the distance she was walking, until she found -herself standing on one of the highest and most dangerous of the -headlands to be found on that part of the coast, many miles from -Pendrea-house, and no great distance from Tol-pedn-Penwith. She had, by -this time, worked herself up to such a pitch of anger and -disappointment, that she did not see her dangerous position. As she -thought of the treatment she had received, she stamped her foot -indignantly, and, in doing so, the crumbling rock on which she was -standing gave way, and, with a shriek, she fell with it; but, -fortunately, there happened to be a ledge of rocks a few yards down, -standing out from the cliffs, which broke her fall and saved her from -being engulphed in a watery grave, if she was not dashed in pieces by -the fall from that great height. She was stunned by the shock, and lay -insensible for some minutes on the narrow slip of rock which had so far -saved her life. When she recovered her senses again she was afraid to -move, lest this rock should give way too; and she shuddered as she -looked down on the foaming water, which dashed against the rocks some -hundred feet beneath her. And there she lay, in unspeakable terror, -fearing that the next moment she might be precipitated into the abyss -below. - -Dreadful suspense! she had scarcely ever known what fear was until now. -The shades of evening were fast gathering round her, and the fear of -having to remain all night on that dread spot roused her, and something -of her wonted courage returned. Looking about, she saw that the ledge of -rock on which she was lying appeared to be the entrance into a cavern; -but how large it was, or whether it was merely a chasm in the rock -extending down to the sea, she did not know. She crept cautiously in, -feeling her way, as she went. For several feet she found the rocks hard -and firm; here she could rest securely. She sat and looked out on the -broad ocean before her; and the more she reflected on her awful -situation, the more disheartened did she feel. She saw nothing before -her but a lingering death. No boat could approach the rocks underneath; -indeed she could not be seen, unless she ventured out on that narrow -ledge of rock again. When she had rested herself a little, she explored -a little further, creeping cautiously along in the dark cavern. At last -she thought she saw a light. She stopped, and looked around. The cavern -was dark, except just at the entrance; but these lights seemed to be -coming from the further end. She crept on a little further, and was at -last convinced that this light came from some opening in the interior; -but whether it came from above or below she could not tell;--perhaps it -came from below. There was probably, she thought, a deep chasm running -down to the sea from the interior of the cavern, and if she ventured too -near she might be in danger of falling through. She crept a little -nearer, and then sat on a rock to meditate on her position, keeping her -eyes steadily fixed on this faint stream of light at the extremity. She -was now begining to feel cold and uncomfortable; her delicate hands and -arms were lacerated by the rocks, and her fingers were sore from holding -on to them so firmly: in her fear and anxiety for her safety, she did -not feel these injuries before, but now her scratches and bruises were -beginning to make themselves felt, and there she sat in the greatest -agony, both of body and mind. - - - - -CHAPTER XLI. - -MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS ARE HEARD ISSUING OUT OF THE EARTH AT MIDNIGHT. THE -CURIOUS COTTAGE ON THE HEATH. - - -The party who had gone in search of the body of Mr. Freeman and his -guilty associates separated as they approached their respective homes: -Captain Trenow and Josiah went to St. Just, Squire Pendray and Mr. -Morley went to Pendrea-house as we have seen, and Lieutenant Fowler -proceeded on his solitary journey towards his own cabin at -Tol-pedn-Penwith signal-station. On turning a sharp corner in the road, -he met one of his men, who had been ordered out on night-duty, and who -ought to have been watching the coast instead of travelling along on the -public road. - -The man touched his cap to his commanding officer, who spoke rather -sharply to him as he returned the salute. - -"What brings you here, Braceley?" said he, "when your orders were to -keep close to the cliffs to-night;--for there's mischief afloat, and we -want the coast well watched." - -"Yes, sir," replied the man; "I have obeyed orders, and have heard -something that I thought best to report at once, and I came this road, -thinking to fall in with your honor." - -"Well! what is it?" said Fowler; "bear a hand, and out with it; for it's -cold standing here in the wind." - -"By the powers! sir," said Braceley, looking very solemn, "I believe -'The Maister' isn't far off, for I've heard queer sounds." - -"Sounds," said Fowler; "nonsense, man, what do you mean?--This is one of -your confounded Irish superstitions." - -"No, sir! by the Holy St. Patrick, 'tis no superstition, nor anything of -the kind," replied Braceley, coming nearer to the officer: "I was coming -along over the cliffs, sir, and I heard voices in the air over my -head,--and I spoke to them, and they answered again. Spirits, I'm sure -they were, your honor! 'The Maister' is here, says I,--and I tould him -to be aisy while I called the praist." - -It was a queer story; but as nothing was too strange or improbable to -believe, in connection with "The Maister," after what had happened -within the last few days, Fowler determined he would go and see what it -was himself; so he accompanied the man in silence, until they arrived at -the spot where Braceley said he had heard those extraordinary sounds. It -was now getting dark, and the place was very lonely; not at all the -place that a nervous man would like to be in at night, if he heard -anything that he could by any means imagine was caused by supernatural -agency. Fowler had none of that superstitious feeling in his composition -which was so prevelant everywhere at that period, and he laughed at his -companion, who possessed a good deal of it, and told him that what he -fancied he had heard was entirely in his own imagination. The man could -not be persuaded, however, and they listened for minutes, but heard -nothing, and Fowler said, in a jeering, tone, "'The Maister's' ghost, no -doubt, Braceley! you shall have a guard of nanny-goats when you turn out -on night-duty again." - -He had scarcely finished his sentence, before they heard the most -piercing sounds rending the air all round them. Fowler was startled; the -sounds came upon them so suddenly: he listened, but could not make out -where they came from; sometimes they appeared above their heads, and -then again beneath their feet: he did not believe in the supernatural, -but he really didn't know what else to impute it to. His companion, -however, had no doubt whatever but that it was "The Maister's" spirit -hovering about, seeking rest. Neither of them spoke, but they walked on -towards the edge of the cliff, and, on approaching a deep hole or -opening in the rock, about fifty yards from the extreme edge of the -cliff, Fowler was convinced that the sounds were coming up from -underneath. This opening was partially concealed by the overhanging -rocks, and might be passed unobserved by a casual visitor. He however -knew the place well, for he had once, on his first coming to -Tol-pedn-Penwith, made a good seizure of kegs in the cavern beneath. -When they arrived at this place, he called down lustily and asked who -was there, although he could scarcely believe that it could be any human -being. He was soon convinced, however, and astonished beyond measure, -at hearing a well-known voice calling up to him in tones of the -bitterest anguish:-- - -"Oh! good sir, whoever you are, assist me out of this dreadful place; I -fell from the precipice several hours ago, and crept in here. I am -wounded, and bitterly cold. Oh! good Christian, make haste." - -"Don't distress yourself any more," replied Fowler; "you shall be -extricated at once; I know the cavern. I am Fowler of the -signal-station: I will be down to protect you in a few minutes." - -In her distress and fear, Miss Pendray had evidently not recognised his -voice so easily as he had recognised hers. He desired Braceley to -proceed at once to the station, and get ropes and lights, and all the -assistance he could. Braceley had a blue-light in his pouch, which -Fowler lit, and fired a pistol, which he knew would bring any of his men -who were within hail to the spot at once. He then descended cautiously, -by the aid of the light, to reassure the unfortunate lady, and to -convince her that relief was at hand. It was a perilous adventure; but -Fowler had been down before; and so he knew that the opening did not -descend perpendicularly. He had first to slide down over a smooth rock, -almost perpendicular, for several yards, and then to jump on a flat -rock, and then slide on again, and so on alternately; but in the descent -the greatest caution was necessary, lest, in jumping on one of the -narrow flat rocks, he should slip and be carried by the impetus headlong -down to the bottom. - -Miss Pendray was still sitting on the rock, afraid to move, when Fowler -jumped down at her side, carrying the light in his hand. She could -scarcely express her joy and gratification. She clasped his arm tightly -with both her hands and seemed afraid to let go her hold. She forgot all -her former animosity, and thought only of her present perilous position -and his ability and willingness to save her. - -Braceley soon returned with ropes and lights and more assistance, and -they were not long in getting Miss Pendray up from her perilous -position. She was most grateful for the attention and almost miraculous -assistance of Lieutenant Fowler. She was not so much bruised but that -she was able to walk, although her limbs were sore, and her arms and -hands were lacerated fearfully. Fowler accompanied her as far as the -door of Pendrea-house, where he was about to take his leave, but she -would not suffer it: she almost compelled him to come in; for she felt -that, after all he had done for her that night, it was incumbent on her -to dispel some of the clouds which had for some time hung over his -happiness, and which she could not but feel she had been the means of -gathering around him and her gentle sister, and which this evening's -adventure had determined her to make amends for, by explaining to her -father the true state of the case; for she well knew that she had -exaggerated, to use a mild expression, when she told him of the -clandestine meetings of her sister and the lieutenant. Anger and wounded -pride had led her to commit this treacherous and ungenerous act, towards -her younger sister, whom she ought rather to have advised and reproved -in private if she had seen anything wrong in her behaviour. This act had -been repented of often by Miss Pendray, but her proud spirit would not -bend to acknowledge her fault: now she was determined on acknowledging -the part she had played, and, if she could not be happy herself in the -possession of the love of the only man who had ever really gained her -affections, she would at least have the satisfaction of knowing she had -made two others happy, by candidly confessing her own dissimulation. - -Mr. Morley, in the meantime, had gone on in search of her; but, as she -had considerably the start of him, he did not overtake her. He walked -over the cliffs for some distance, until he felt convinced that she -could not be gone in that direction; for he did not believe that any -lady would walk even so far as he had gone, on those high cliffs alone -at that hour; so he struck into a path which seemed to lead towards the -high road, thinking that would be the safer way for him to return, as he -was not familiar with the coast. He walked on for some distance, until -he came to a spot where several paths met, and here he was puzzled; -however, he took the one which seemed the most probable, although he had -by this time almost entirely lost his bearings, for he was now on low -ground, and could not see the cliffs or the sea. He walked on briskly -for a considerable time, when he halted again, for he felt convinced he -had missed his way. There was no house or human habitation to be seen, -nor could he see anyone of whom he might enquire; so he walked on again. -The twilight was now getting more decided in its character, and the -shadows of night were closing in, and he began to fear that he might be -kept wandering over that dreary heath all night; for he frequently came -upon some other path branching off from the one he was pursuing, and he -would sometimes be tempted to try a fresh one. At length he thought he -perceived smoke rising at some little distance, and he made sure now -that he should meet with some one to direct him; for it evidently arose -from a cottage at no great distance. He thought of his father's -adventures in that lonely cottage, on that dreadful night, and he braced -up his nerves and walked manfully forward; when, on turning into a -narrow lane which seemed to lead to the cottage, a man ran against him, -and nearly knocked him off his legs. Mr. Morley was a tall, powerful -man, and was armed with a stout stick which he instantly raised above -his head, ready to strike if he found that foul play was intended. The -uplifted hand descended, but not to strike; for Mr. Morley, to his great -surprise recognized in the ferocious and excited individual before him, -his brother Frederick. - -"Where on earth did you spring from?" he exclaimed; "I thought you were -at this moment comfortably closeted with that unhappy girl you seemed so -infatuated with." - -"I left you with the intention of seeing her and having a mutual -explanation," replied Frederick, "and she, no doubt, now feels that I -have deserted her." - -"No! no! she can't think that," said Mr. Morley; "but better she should, -perhaps, than that you should unite yourself to the daughter of this -man." - -"But suppose she is not his daughter?" replied Frederick, looking -earnestly at his brother, and speaking hurriedly and anxiously. - -"That is a ridiculous speculation," said Mr. Morley, "after what we have -heard and know. Of course she is his daughter; there can be no doubt -about that: she has been known as such, at any rate, in this -neighbourhood; and even the association with such a wretch must carry -contamination with it. Give her up Frederick! let me entreat you to give -her up!" - -Frederick did not reply; but, taking his brother's arm, he led him back -to the cottage which he seemed to have just quitted. - -It was a lone cottage, and, but for the smoke which Mr. Morley saw -issuing from the chimney, might have escaped his notice in the dim -twilight: it consisted of several rooms, covering a considerable space, -but they were all on the ground-floor. The house was commonly built, the -rooms entering one into the other, without having any passages between -them. There were several doors in the walls, by which a person could -enter or escape, if necessary, and puzzle his pursuers. On entering the -outer room, by the principal entrance-door, Mr. Morley perceived an old -woman sitting at a table, on which were the remains of a substantial -meal, and a good supply of liquor in a small wooden barrel or keg. The -woman had just filled a jug from the barrel, and seemed about to carry -it to some other part of the house; but on the entrance of the gentlemen -she placed it on the table. She was a tall large-boned woman, with a -commanding appearance, and looked as if she was accustomed to be obeyed; -and yet there was an expression of low cunning in her countenance which -was not at all pleasant, and which made strangers feel uncomfortable and -suspicious. She was believed in the neighbourhood to be a witch, and -people went to her to have their fortunes told, and she very often told -them true, for she had her secret spies about as well as "The Maister"; -but, from want of education, her prophecies were seldom so startling or -so well or plausibly expressed as his were. It was generally believed -that they were connected in business, and that they played into each -other's hands, although no one had ever seen them together. - -Sitting by the fire, on a low stool, was a grotesque looking being, -somewhat between a man and a monkey; not that he was particularly -ill-formed, but the expression of his countenance as he intently watched -the woman's movements, had something ludicrous in it, and but for the -wild stare which occasionally lit up his countenance, he might be an -idiot or an imbecile. - -"Ha! ha!" cried he, jumping up and skipping about in a ludicrous manner, -as the two gentlemen entered; "'Maazed Dick' es the boy! 'Maazed Dick' -es the boy! Letter to the young maister;--get him down here! get him -down here! Letter to the cap'n; frightened out of his wits! frightened -out of his wits! ha! ha!" - -"Richard!" said the old woman, in her most commanding tone; "hold your -tongue and sit down." - -This seemed to have the same effect on "Maazed Dick" as the sharp -command of a sportsman has on a well-trained spaniel dog;--he ceased his -antics and retained his seat by the fire, keeping his eyes fixed on her -of whom he seemed to stand so much in fear. - -The old woman then, turning to the two gentlemen, said, "What's your -will, gentlemen? and what do you want here at this hour of the night?" - -"This is my brother," said Frederick, "and I want him to hear from your -lips what I have heard to-night: it may tend to convince him that he has -formed a hasty opinion and that all may yet be well." - -"Frederick Morley," she said, rising and extending her hand in a -commanding attitude, "you have heard all you will hear from me; do my -bidding and you may know more: if you neglect it, or tell what you have -heard to any human being, except the one named to you, it were better -you had never been born." Saying which, she took up the jug again which -she had placed on the table, and, waving her hand towards the door at -which the two gentlemen had entered, disappeared into an inner room, -bolting the door after her; and, almost at the same moment, "Maazed -Dick" took up the keg of brandy from the table and disappeared also, -somewhere in the wall, but where, the visitors could not tell; he could -not have gone through the wall, that was very certain: there was -evidently a secret cupboard somewhere in the wall; but, if so, it was -very ingeniously concealed. - -As there seemed no chance of learning any more, Frederick led the way -out of the house and walked on at a rapid rate, followed by his brother, -until they arrived at the end of the lane leading to the cottage. He -seemed so excited that Mr. Morley became alarmed, and insisted on -knowing what strange infatuation had seized him. - -"You heard what that woman said," replied Frederick; "I feel that all -my future happiness depends on my obeying her instructions, and I must -do so." - -"Nonsense!" said his brother: "it is perfectly ridiculous to suppose -that the old hag we have just seen can know anything or do anything that -can possibly influence your happiness in any way." - -"She has not told me much, it is true," replied Frederick; "but she has -told me enough to convince me that she knows more; but, however little I -have heard, I am bound not to tell it even to you." - -"Come! this is going a little too far!" said Mr. Morley, in a serious -tone; "we are engaged in a common cause, and circumstances have -prevented our pursuing our object together for several weeks: we must -not separate again until these dark deeds are brought to light." - -"I am convinced," replied Frederick, "that something will come out of my -adventure this afternoon, which will throw a light on the whole. I wish, -from my heart, I was at liberty to tell you; but it cannot be. I must -work alone for a short time longer,--it may be a very short time. You -are, I presume, going on to Fowler's station:--if so, we must separate, -for my way lies in another direction." - -"No," replied he, "I was going to Pendrea-house. I went out in search of -Miss Pendray, and I believe I missed my way somewhere; I don't exactly -know where I am." - -"Fortunately, then," said Frederick, "you have been walking in the right -direction, although not in the most frequented road: if you take the -next turning on the right you will soon be at the end of your journey." - -"But you will surely come with me," said Mr. Morley, taking his brother -by the arm. - -"My dear brother," said Frederick, looking earnestly at Mr. Morley; "it -grieves me to be obliged to refuse to accompany you to Pendrea-house -to-night, for many reasons; for I have another duty to perform which I -feel convinced is of vital importance to more than one, but the nature -of which, as I said before, I cannot now explain to you. Believe me, as -soon as I have accomplished the task I have solemnly promised to -perform, you shall know all." - -As Mr. Morley saw that his brother was in earnest, and seemed determined -to have his own way, he did not press him further, but bade him -God-speed, and returned to Pendrea-house, which he reached soon after -the arrival of Miss Pendray and Lieutenant Fowler. - - - - -CHAPTER XLII. - -THE POOR DUMB GIRL'S SUDDEN RESOLVE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. - - -Mrs. Courland remained in her room, for a considerable time after their -return from Pendrea-house, reflecting on the events of the day, and -especially on the unaccountable and unusual conduct of her husband. What -could be the meaning of that letter?--Who could have written it? While -these distracting thoughts were racking her brain, Flora, her poor dumb -protege, entered softly, unperceived by her protectress, and, leaning -over the couch in which Mrs. Courland was reclining absorbed in thought, -touched her cheek with her lips, and looked at her with a tender -sympathizing expression, as if she knew that her protectress was -unhappy, and was conscious that it was not in her power to comfort her, -although she longed to be able to do so; but the events of the day, and -the thoughts that had since passed through the mind of Mrs. Courland, -had made the sight of this poor girl hateful to her. She had wished, in -her heart, within the last hour, that this source and evidence of her -deception could be blotted out from the face of the earth. She wished, -in her agony, that she could be in any way got rid of and her existence -drowned in oblivion; for, even here, in this remote place, she seemed to -be followed by her dread enemies, and she believed that her secret was -about to be discovered; the thoughts of those who have committed an evil -deed, of however trivial a nature, being always suspicious and uneasy. - -Mrs. Courland seemed suddenly to have changed her nature: from a gentle, -beautiful woman, the sight of her she now so much dreaded seemed to have -turned her into a demon in human form. She rose from her reclining -position, and, seizing the poor dumb girl by the hair, dragged her down -on the couch. What she meant to do, in her frenzy, it is difficult to -say; for the action and look of the lady, together with the pain she -inflicted on the poor girl, and the terror she felt, brought back the -remembrance of former days, and all her old ferocity and strength -returned; and, seizing Mrs. Courland by the wrists, she made her let go -her hold, and pressed her back on the couch with all her might, until -she screamed for help, and the servants ran in and extricated her from -her perilous position. - -It was more from the fear of what might happen than from what had -already occurred, that Mrs. Courland gave the alarm; for she felt that -she was as nothing in the hands of her protege, when she chose to put -forth her strength and her passions were roused. She had conquered -again; and again did she seem to regret the part she had taken, when she -saw that poor delicate lady powerless in her grasp. She released her -hold at once, and the servants, having seen no violence used, believed -that their mistress had been seized with giddiness, as she had told them -she had, and that Flora, in attempting to support her, had, from over -anxiety pressed her arms more tightly than she intended. - -Flora, however, felt that Mrs. Courland had, without any apparent cause, -treated her as her former associates had done: she saw and understood -the look of determined hate and fury which was depicted in her -countenance when she rose so suddenly from her couch and seized her by -the hair. That look haunted her; she could not bear to think of it. She -could not tell her thoughts to anyone, and she determined, in her own -mind, that the lady, who had been so kind to her, should not have cause -to look on her with hatred and scorn again. She would go away; she would -die,--perhaps drown herself; she did not care what death it was; there -was nothing worth living for now. All the world seemed to be possessed -of the same evil passions, she thought,--they only wanted to be brought -out. She put on an old bonnet and a shawl and went out: the coast was -clear, for all the household were in attendance on Mrs. Courland. She -walked through the town, and beyond it,--far out into the country. - -It was getting late, and yet she walked on, not knowing where and -without having any fixed purpose. On, on, she walked, sometimes on the -broad road and sometimes through bye-lanes, she did not care where: her -only object was to get away as far as she could, and to avoid being -overtaken. At last she felt weary and sick at heart, and now she wished -to meet with some house where she could rest herself a little; but there -was no house to be seen anywhere: she had passed several at the -commencement of her journey, but she did not feel so weary then, and had -walked on. It was no use stopping in the lonely road, so on she walked -again till her feet were sore; for she had come out in her thinnest -indoor shoes. At length, when nearly exhausted, she saw a man coming -towards her. She was frightened, and tried to hide herself behind a low -hedge, but the man perceived her dress fluttering in the breeze, and he -approached and spoke to her. She did not answer him but made signs to -him, which he understood, for he had seen her before. It was Frederick -Morley whom she had thus opportunely met. He had seen her before at his -aunt's house, and he wondered to see her out alone at that hour, and in -such a place, and made signs to go back; but she stamped the ground, and -signified her intention of going on further away from her former -protectress. Frederick saw that something had happened, but what it was -he did not know, nor could she make him understand; she must be -protected, however, for the night, until Captain Courland's family could -be communicated with. He had just parted from his brother, and he at -first thought of calling after him, and asking him to take her with him -to Pendrea-house; but, on reflection, he thought this was a liberty that -neither of them ought to take, as they were both comparative strangers -to the Pendray family. He thought of the cottage he had just left, and -that, perhaps, the old woman would not object to give the poor dumb girl -shelter for the night; so he took her there, and the old woman received -her with more warmth than Frederick expected, or than was at all -necessary, he thought, under the circumstances. - -Although Flora was very tired and hungry, and was glad to rest herself -after her long walk, yet she did not appear at all comfortable. She -seemed to look at the woman with dread and suspicion, but she was too -tired to walk any further, so, after she had partaken of some -refreshment, she followed the woman into an inner room, where there was -a bed prepared for her. The old woman then gave Frederick some further -instructions and enjoined haste and secrecy, and he again commenced his -journey on the mysterious errand which had so puzzled his brother. - -While her protege was wandering through the lanes alone and trying to -get further and further away, and seeking some obscure place where she -should hide herself for ever, Mrs. Courland was receiving the attentions -of the whole household. Her kind husband was much grieved to find his -beautiful wife in this excited, and yet apparently helpless, state. She -seemed to be suffering great pain too, but she kept the cause of it from -them as much as she could, and covered her arms and wrists that they -might not see the full extent of the bruises which the strong hands of -Flora had made on her soft delicate flesh. The kind attention of her -husband reassured her of his continued love and esteem, and she began to -think that the mysterious letter might have been a mere hoax after all, -and that she had nothing to fear: and as these thoughts occupied her -mind in rapid succession, she began to feel more tranquil, until at last -she came to the conclusion, that, even if her secret was discovered her -husband would forgive her; and then she began to feel ashamed of her -conduct towards the poor innocent cause of all this, and she sent her -maid in search of Flora that she might atone for the part she had taken -as the first aggressor, and make her protege understand that she was -forgiven also for the pain she had inflicted on her protectress. - -The servants searched everywhere throughout the house, but Flora could -nowhere be found. Her bonnet and shawl were gone, and so they supposed -she had taken a stroll through the town, alone, as she was very fond of -doing, and would return when her curiosity was satisfied. - -Several hours passed by, but Flora did not make her appearance, and the -household became alarmed; they fancied a thousand things. She might have -missed her way and gone too near the sea, and have fallen in; or she -might have been entrapped by some lawless gang of sailors and taken to -one of their haunts. Captain Courland and the man-servant searched the -town all over; they were out nearly all night, and, as soon as it was -light in the morning he and the man started for St. Michael's Mount, in -the vain hope that they might find her there, for she had often -expressed a wish to see the interior of the ancient castle which -appeared to her to be built almost in the clouds. She had the most -romantic fancies sometimes, and amused her friends very much by the -manner in which she expressed her feelings by signs and pantomimic -dumb-shew. - -All who knew her, loved and pitied the poor dumb girl, and they all -joined in the search right heartily. Julia begged to be allowed to -accompany her uncle; and the women-servants, and even the landlady -herself, went out into the town and explored every part they could think -of, leaving Mrs. Courland in the house alone. She could not rest, so she -got up very early; but she was not equal to the task of joining in the -search. She was sitting alone in the drawing-room, when she heard a -hasty step coming up the stairs. Her first thought was, that Flora was -found, and that some one had been sent to inform her of the fact. -Without further reflection, she rushed towards the door in the greatest -excitement, exclaiming--"Is she found? Is she found?" - -"Yes, my dear aunt," cried Frederick Morley, catching Mrs. Courland in -his arms as he hastily entered the room,--"the lost is found;" and, -leading her to a seat, he explained to her that her daughter was found -and was now with kind friends, and that all was about to be divulged; -for the parties who possessed the secret, having already prepared -Captain Courland for it, he said, had determined to publish everything: -but they did not wish to do it to the injury of Mrs. Courland, and were -willing to give her the opportunity of informing her husband herself if -she preferred doing so. The parties had other secrets to communicate -also of the greatest importance, and they wished Mrs. Courland to meet -them at a certain house in the neighbourhood immediately. Frederick knew -the house, he said, and had been commissioned to bring his aunt there -without delay, as it was of the greatest importance. She hesitated at -first, but, knowing what those people were, she thought, on reflection, -that it would be wise for her to meet them and hear what they had to -communicate, provided Frederick would go with her, and protect and -assist and counsel her, which he promised he would do. He had engaged a -conveyance; so, dressing herself in the commonest things she had, she -accompanied her nephew to the outskirts of the town where the carriage -was waiting, to avoid suspicion. - -When they arrived within about a quarter of a mile of the cottage, they -got out and walked the remainder of the distance, leaving the carriage -in the road. Frederick could tell Mrs. Courland little more than he had -already told her; and she was impatient to reach the place of meeting -that she might know what those wicked people really intended to do, and -what other secrets they had to communicate; for she felt that this -suspense and uncertainty were worse than the reality, whatever that -might be. - -They found the old woman in the outer room of the cottage, anxiously -expecting their arrival. She received Mrs. Courland with a curtsey, -saying,-- - -"It is well, madam; you have been prompt in attending to my request. Had -you delayed your coming but a few hours, you would have been too late." - -"Too late!" said Mrs. Courland; "what do you mean? Has the poor -afflicted girl met with an accident, or what has happened to her?" - -Instead of replying, the old woman led the way into the interior of the -house and beckoned her two visitors to follow her. They passed through -two or three rooms, some furnished as sitting-rooms and some as -sleeping-apartments; at last they came to an empty, unfurnished room, -where the old woman desired them to wait while she prepared the invalid -for their reception. In a few minutes she opened the door, and asked -them to walk in. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIII. - -THE CONFESSION. - - -It was a comfortable and well-furnished bedroom; but instead of finding -Flora there, as Mrs. Courland expected, the bed was occupied by an -elderly woman, who appeared very ill, and was sitting up in the bed -supported by pillows. She motioned her visitors to be seated, and then -said in a feeble voice,-- - -"You do not recognise me, Mrs. Courland: illness makes great changes in -the human frame. The name you first knew me by was Fisher; I then -changed it more than once, for reasons you shall know presently." - -"I remember you, now," said Mrs. Courland involuntarily, shrinking -further from the bed, as if still afraid of the poor helpless creature -before her. - -"I am not long for this world," said the invalid; "and before I die I -wish to make some amends for the misdeeds I have done during my life, -and they have been many. I have requested Mr. Frederick Morley to attend -with you, for a part of the revelations I am about to make concerns him -also." - -"Do you know anything," exclaimed Frederick, "of the wretches who----?" - -"Don't interrupt me, if you can possibly help it," she said; "for I feel -my strength failing me, and I don't know if I shall be spared even long -enough to finish my recital. My father was not a poor fisherman, as you -supposed when you and your mother came to lodge with us. He was pursuing -a lawless employment,--sometimes bringing in great earnings, and -sometimes nothing. He had seen better days. In his youth he was captain -of a large trading vessel, and my brother and myself received a good -education. My father amassed considerable property,--more than he could -possibly have done by legitimate trading; and he was suspected, and -watched, and found out. He had turned his vessel into a smuggler, and, -under cover of fair trading, clandestinely carried on a lucrative trade -in all sorts of contraband goods. He was convicted, and fined heavily, -and, in fact, ruined. - -"We then retired to the small fishing-cove where your mother found us. -My brother had gone to France to reside some time before, and acted as -my father's agent there. He was very shrewd and intelligent, but a -determined character, and one who would never forget nor forgive an -injury. He was naturally cunning and crafty; and his smuggling pursuits -tended to sharpen his natural gifts in this respect. - -"Our fortune was at a low ebb when we first became acquainted with you; -and we were glad of the assistance of an aristocratic lodger. I saw your -mother's weak points, and your love of gaiety and admiration; and I -thought that, by residing with you in the confidential capacity of -lady's-maid, I could benefit myself in many ways. Your clandestine -marriage, and the birth of your daughter, which I persuaded you to keep -secret from your parents, gave me a double hold upon you. - -"After the death of your husband, and while you were with us on a visit -to recruit your health, my brother returned. He fell desperately in love -with you;--you refused to receive his addresses, and spurned him from -you with scorn. He was desperate. He begged me to intercede for him, -which I promised to do, but did not; for your marriage with my brother -would not have suited my purpose at all. I knew your parents wished you -to marry some rich man, and, as I was now the keeper of your secret, I -knew that if you married according to your parents' wishes, I could make -my own terms with you. You were summoned home, and eventually married -according to their wishes and mine. - -"My mother died. Your little daughter was left in my care, and I was -well paid. I sent her to school, but I watched her most carefully;--I -could not afford to lose her, for she was my nest-egg: and she grew a -lovely girl, just like you when you were her age." - -"How is it possible that she can ever have been even good-looking?" -exclaimed Mrs. Courland;--"but that dreadful spoiler of the human -face--the small-pox--has done its work: it was that, no doubt, that -altered her so much." - -"She was a lovely girl," continued the invalid, without noticing Mrs. -Courland's interruption. "My brother would gaze on her countenance for -hours without speaking, and then he would leave the room in a rage. He -hated the name of Morley, because it was under that name that he first -knew you, and was spurned by you. He seldom took much notice of the -child, except to gaze on her until he had worked his mind up to a state -of maddening jealousy. - -"We never lost sight of you. Wherever you moved, we followed, and lived -near you under feigned names, in order to worry you by continually -draining your purse, and threatening to expose your duplicity and deceit -to your husband by producing the child and telling him all, of which we -had ample proof, and have still. My brother would not see you -himself,--he could not bear it, he said. I was always your tormentor; -and when I brought the dumb girl to you, I thought the sight of her -hideous features, and her infirmity, would have so disgusted you, that -you would have given us what we asked, rather than have her left on your -hands as your acknowledged daughter. We were mistaken. You kept her, -believing her to be your child; and you thought that, by doing this, and -denying me an interview, you would be free from further worry, and there -could be no danger of the girl telling anything of her former life or -associates; and if we tried to expose you to your husband, he would not -believe us. - -"Since that girl has been with you, we have had other things to think -of; and our anxiety for my brother's safety prevented our taking the -steps we intended with regard to your secret. _That poor dumb girl is -not your daughter_, Mrs. Courland." - -"Oh! thank God for that!" exclaimed Mrs. Courland, rising in the -greatest excitement. "I hope you are not deceiving me again. If you can -produce her, and I can be satisfied that she really is my daughter, I -will acknowledge her in the face of all the world, and tell my husband -all, and throw myself on his mercy. I have suffered years of torture, -from having followed your advice in the beginning. Oh! had I but acted a -straightforward part, and kept no secret from my husband, my life would -have been much happier. I see my error now, and am determined to keep -the secret no longer. Where is she? let me see her at once; don't keep -me in suspense." - -The invalid had exhausted her strength in the recital of her tale, and -this outburst of Mrs. Courland's quite upset her. She could not speak -again for several minutes, until Frederick Morley handed her the glass -which she seemed to wish for, and which was standing on the table more -than half full of brandy. This, which she drank off at once, seemed to -give her new life and energy. Then, turning to Frederick, she said, in a -gayer tone than before,-- - -"You will be glad to hear, Frederick Morley, that the lovely girl to -whom you are so devotedly attached, is not the daughter of John Freeman, -the Land's-End conjuror, but _the daughter of your aunt--Mrs. -Courland_." - -"Alrina, of whom I have heard so much, my daughter!" exclaimed Mrs. -Courland; "impossible!" - -"Oh! this is indeed too good to be true!" cried Frederick; "I cannot -believe it. What proof is there of this?" - -"Proof in abundance," replied the invalid; "I am ready to make an oath -of the fact before a magistrate; and my brother----" - -"Your brother!" said Frederick; "where is he? is he still alive?" - -"I was about to say that my brother could have confirmed my statement. -Captain Cooper and his wife can also bear witness to the fact; but, even -if there were no other evidence, _the likeness_ would be sufficient to a -person who knew Mrs. Courland as Miss Morley." - -"Let me see her!" said Mrs. Courland; "where is she? It is very strange -that I have never seen her, although I have heard so much about her. Why -did you never let me see her?" - -"That would not have suited our purpose," replied the invalid; "you -would have braved all risk of your husband's displeasure, and taken her -home long before, if you had seen her. I think you would have seen the -likeness yourself. No, no, my brother's revenge was not complete. I led -you, from the first, to believe that she was disfigured by the -small-pox, and rendered very ugly and forbidding; but I never said she -was dumb,--indeed, it was not our intention to have left the other girl -with you entirely; it was only to frighten you into granting us the -money that we required, that the poor girl was taken into your house. My -brother knew that he must be found out, ere long, and he wanted all the -money he could get to carry with him; for he had made all his -preparations for leaving this country, and his associates and -accomplices wanted their share of the hush-money also. It was the last -we should get from you, and so we demanded a large sum." - -"But my daughter!" said Mrs. Courland--"if in reality she is such--pray -let me see her. Where is she?" - -"Your daughter, madam, is now at Pendrea-house, as Frederick Morley -knows. Let him go there and fetch her, while you remain here; for I have -something more to tell you in connection with this affair, which will -convince you I am not deceiving you now. Tell Alrina," continued she, -turning to Frederick, "that her aunt, Miss Freeman, is on her death-bed, -and she must come at once." - - - - -CHAPTER XLIV. - -MRS. BROWN ENJOYS ANOTHER CROOM O' CHAT WITH MRS. TRENOW, AND RECEIVES -AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR. - - -While the other gossips were going from house to house, collecting and -retailing the news respecting the mysterious disappearance of "The -Maister," Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Trenow were having a serious chat over -their "drop of comfort," according to custom. - -"So, you don't think he's carr'd away by the pixies, then," said Mrs. -Trenow. - -"No, I don't," replied Mrs. Brown, "'tes some of his hocus pocus work, -you may depend. I'm glad the old cap'n es gone weth Siah to see the -gentlemen. They'll find 'The Maister' somewhere, I'll be bound, afore -come back." - -"No, no more than you will, cheeld vean," said Mrs. Trenow. "The Pixies -have got 'n, or something wuss, so sure as my name es Mally Trenow. -They'll be home soon, I shudn't wonder, and then we shall knaw. They've -be'n gone evar since the mornin', an' now 'tes come brave an' late. Aw! -here they are, sure nuff,--'spaik o' the Devil and his horns will -appear.' Well, where's 'The Maister,' soas," continued she, addressing -her husband and son as they entered. - -"We do no more knaw than you do, old woman," replied her husband; "we've -sarched everywhere we cud think upon, and now we've returned, like a bad -penny. Two glasses o' brandy toddy, Mrs. Brown, ef you plaise, for we've -had a bra' tramp." - -"Iss sure," said the landlady, proceeding to execute the order; "you -must want somethin' to drink after your hard day's work; but you haven't -be'n to the right place, I reckon." - -"No fie, we ha'n't be'n to the right place, sure nuff," said Josiah. - -"You shud oft to ha' kept a sharper look-out, Siah," said Mrs. Brown, -taking a side glance at Josiah, as if she meant something more than she -said. - -"Zackly like that," said he, looking very serious, as he sipped his -brandy and water; "'Needs must when the devil drives' es an old sayin' -and a very true one; and I tell 'ee, Mrs. Brown, you may laugh so much -as you will, and squinny up your eyes till they're so small as the -button-holes of my jacket; but 'tes my belief that the Devil es at the -bottom of et all. He put me to sleep, and fastened the door, so that I -cudn't get out; and he took away 'The Maister' to have his -desarts,--that's my belief, down sous; and now you've got it all." - -Mrs. Trenow looked very serious at her son's earnestness; for she -herself held the same opinions, although she didn't express them;--but -Mrs. Brown continued to look at Josiah in her sarcastic way, without -uttering a word. - -"Where's Alice Ann, mother?" asked Josiah, at length breaking the -silence. - -"She's gone up to her aunt's again for a bit," replied Mrs. Trenow; "the -ladies wanted her to stop over to Pendrea-house too, I b'lieve; but she -thoft that one stranger wor enough for them to take in; and they wor -very kind to take in the one that wanted it most. Poor Miss Reeney! -she's worth her weight in gold. Talk about Cornish diamonds, soas! why, -she's a Cornish diamond, every inch of her, and a bright one too. But -where ded 'ee lev the young gentleman, 'Siah, boy?" - -"Aw! he's right enough, I reckon," replied Josiah; "I thoft how 'twould -be. When we went to sarch for 'The Maister,' he went to sarch for -somebody else, I reckon; and I s'pose he found her, for we nevar seed he -no more for the day." - -"That's very well!" chimed in poor Mr. Brown, from his seat in the -chimney-corner. "We sarched for the boy everywhere; but the mare came -home safe. Wo! ho! my beauty; she shall be rubbed down, she shall! The -boy came back at last, f'rall, zackly to the time,--dedn't aw, Peggy, my -dear?" - -"John Brown!" cried his wife; "hould your tongue!"--which had the -desired effect of stopping that unruly member, and bringing John Brown -back to the contemplation of the fire on the hearth--and nothing more. - -Early the next morning--very early indeed--almost before the sun had -taken down his shutters, Mrs. Brown was awoke from a sound sleep by -someone, as she thought, knocking gently at the front door. She -listened, and heard the same sound again, rather louder than before. At -first she thought it might be some sailor or fisherman who had been out -fishing all night, and wanted his morning's dram to warm him. - -"You must wait, whoever you are," said she to herself, as she turned -round to have a second nap. Still the knocking continued at intervals, -and prevented her from indulging in her morning's nap. "Whoever can it -be?" said she, as she sat up in the bed and listened; "I don't think it -can be any of the sailors; for they'd have rapp'd the door down by this -time, or else have gone away. I'll see who it es, at any rate." So she -went to the window, and, drawing back the blind a little, saw a figure -standing under the window which very much astonished her. It was not a -sailor, certainly. She put on some of her clothes, and went down as -quietly as she could, and opened the door to----Alrina! - -"Why, wherever ded you come from?" exclaimed Mrs. Brown; "why, you're -mazed, to be sure, Come in, do, and sit down, while I do light the fire -and fit a cup o' tea for 'ee. Dear lor'! wonders will nevar cease. Miss -Reeney here this time in the mornin'!" - -It was indeed Alrina, exhausted and hungry. She had walked all the way -from Pendrea-house to St. Just through the night. Her father's death she -had borne bravely, after the first shock, and she intended to have -remained at Pendrea-house until after the funeral, and then to have gone -into some respectable service to gain her own livelihood, as companion -to some invalid lady, or nursery governess. She was very grateful to her -kind friends, but she could not impose on their good nature. Then came -that cruel treatment which she supposed Frederick had planned, in order -to be revenged for the coolness she had shown towards him. She deserved -it,--she knew she deserved it; but it was hard to bear. Then came -Blanche's discovery of her secret love, and, to crown all, the news of -the mysterious disappearance of her father's body. Her friends would -still be kind to her--she knew that--and would pity her, and alleviate -her painful position as much as lay in their power. Of this she was -quite sure: but this was repugnant to her feelings;--she would rather -die, than live to be pitied,--she could not bear to think of it. She -requested to be left alone for the night, as she was tired and wanted -rest. - -What should she do? If she remained there till the morning, and named -her intention of leaving, the family would not hear of it; they would -compel her to remain, and would probably watch her, in their kindness. -After thinking over her position for some time, she made up her mind -that she would leave at once, or at least as soon as the house was -quiet. She would find her way to the road as well as she could; and then -she would go direct to St. Just, where she would be able to learn the -full particulars of this mysterious affair. - -The house was not quiet until late. Miss Pendray's adventure caused -great commotion, and kept the servants up late; but the interest they -took in their young mistress's adventure, and their concern for her, and -joy at her narrow escape, drove all thoughts of their visitor out of -their heads, and she was left quite undisturbed. She wrote a letter to -Mrs. Pendray, thanking her for all her kindness, and saying that -circumstances compelled her to leave; and when the house was perfectly -quiet, she put on some of the warmest clothing she had with her, and -went out into the cold night. She missed her way several times, but at -length got into the broad road, which she knew pretty well, and arrived -at Mrs. Brown's house, where she knew she would meet with a hearty -welcome, before any of the inhabitants of St. Just were astir. - -It was early, too, when Frederick Morley arrived at Pendrea-house that -morning in search of Alrina. In his haste and excitement to communicate -the delightful intelligence he had just learned to the one nearest and -dearest to his heart, he quite forgot the carriage which was waiting in -the lane, so that he was some time in reaching the house; and when he -arrived at the door, he was exhausted and out of breath, and totally -unfit for the duty which he had come there to perform. So he thought his -best plan would be to have a private interview with his brother, and ask -him to be the bearer of the message to Alrina from her supposed aunt. - -Mr. Morley was very much surprised at the tale his brother told him. He -could hardly believe it could be true; but as Frederick said that Mrs. -Courland seemed satisfied that Alrina was her daughter, and was at that -moment receiving more proofs of it, he felt bound to adopt the belief -too, and promised to see Alrina at once, and induce her to go to the -cottage to see her aunt. - -Frederick thought that, after what had occurred, it would be better for -his brother to see Alrina alone; for, although he had started with the -full determination of seeing her himself, and bringing her with him to -the cottage to hear the welcome and delightful news, yet, when he -considered the manner in which she had treated him in their former -interviews, and remembered also that he had solicited an interview with -her the day before, and had not kept his appointment, his heart failed -him, and he proposed that his brother should see her alone, and he would -wait his return. - -After some little time, Mr. Morley returned, saying that he had sought -an interview with Alrina through her friend Blanche, who immediately -went to her room, and found no one there. On the table she found a -letter, expressing her deep gratitude to Mrs. Pendray and all the family -for the great kindness they had shown her in her distress, but stating, -at the same time, she could not, after all that had occurred in -connection with her and her's, trespass on their kindness any longer. -She knew that their goodness and kind hospitality would not permit her -to leave them, she went on to say, if she remained to take leave of -them; and, therefore, to avoid pain to all parties, she had taken this -step, which she felt seemed like ingratitude,--but it was not so. From -her heart she thanked them all; and should she succeed in getting into -some situation, whereby she could gain her own livelihood honourably, -they should hear from her. If not,--God only knew what might become of -her. - -Mr. Morley read this much from the letter which he held in his hand, and -then handed it to his brother. - -"Gone!" cried Frederick, at length; "gone! just as the dark cloud was -being lifted, which had obscured her so long! Can it be possible? Gone! -But where can she have gone to? She had no friends--she has often told -me this--no friends but her father and aunt." - -"She is most probably gone to her father's house, to enquire for herself -into this mysterious affair," said Mr. Morley. - -"Yes," exclaimed Frederick; "she is gone back to the old house, no -doubt. I will go there immediately, and seek her." - -"Stay," replied his brother; "let us first consider what is best to be -done. I think I had better go to St. Just in search of Alrina, while you -return to the cottage to inform our aunt of her sudden disappearance." - -"That, perhaps, will be the best arrangement," said Frederick; "I will -be guided by you, for I know not what to do or say,--I am quite beside -myself. My brain seems bewildered; I cannot think steadily on any -subject. Let us go at once; I shall not rest till she is found. She is, -perhaps, even now, out on the cold bleak common. The whole country shall -be roused to search for her. Oh! why did I permit myself to be led away -by that wretched scarecrow;--but he said she was there,--yes, he told me -Alrina was at that cottage awaiting my arrival, and the letter he -brought confirmed his statement. Oh! cruel, cruel fate!" - -"It will doubtless turn out all for the best," said Mr. Morley. "Had you -neglected the message of that unfortunate woman, she might have died, -and then her secret would never have been told, and Alrina would have -lived on, believing herself still the daughter of that guilty wretch." - -"True," replied his brother; "I will believe in the wisdom of Divine -Providence. We see His hand in all things. I will trust, and all things -may yet be well." - -The brothers did not think it advisable to tell Squire Pendray's family -anything respecting their aunt in connection with Alrina;--they merely -expressed their great concern at her abrupt departure. - -Sir. Morley had not an opportunity the night before of seeing Miss -Pendray alone,--indeed, she was too much excited and overcome by her -late adventure, to receive his addresses with composure, and he was too -much rejoiced at her safety, and anxious that she should seek repose -after the terrible shock she had undergone, to think of himself. She saw -how anxious and concerned he was, and she was pleased at it. Her object -was gained; for she saw that he was feeling more than he could express -on her account. - -Lieut. Fowler was prevailed upon to stay and partake of their evening's -meal: for, although the squire had not forgotten his former opinion of -the lieutenant, which he in a measure still entertained, yet he had been -the means of preserving the life of his favourite daughter; and -ingratitude was not one of the squire's failings. Fowler would not, -however, intrude on the squire's hospitality longer than politeness -compelled him, but took his leave of them as soon as he possibly could -after supper. - -Mr. Morley had arrived some time before; and nothing was talked of but -Miss Pendray's accident. Almost immediately after Fowler left, Miss -Pendray rose from the table also, and, pleading fatigue, retired for the -night, leaving the others to entertain their visitor. Soon after she -left the room, a message was brought, that the squire was wanted on -business. - -"Dear me," said he, "who can want me at this time of night: it can't be -to tell me that the conjuror is found, I suppose." - -It was no stranger that wanted him. Miss Pendray had sent for him to -explain and atone for the injury she had done her sister and Lieut. -Fowler by her mischievous tale-bearing: she felt that she could not rest -until she had made that atonement which was due to them both. - -The squire was astonished to hear the confession of the proud and -haughty Maud, and, had it been at any other time, he would have been -very angry; but the recollection of her late sufferings and miraculous -escape, and the preservation of her life by Lieut. Fowler, subdued him, -and he promised to forget and forgive, provided he found that all was -straight and above board. But he was determined that he would not be the -first to invite him back to his house; for he still believed that Maud -had exaggerated a little in her estimation of Fowler's conduct, out of -gratitude for her own preservation. However he returned to the -supper-table a happier man then he had been for many a day, and paid -more than usual attention to Blanche, who could not understand the -change. - -Mr. Morley determined that he would not leave that house again without -knowing his fate; and, when breakfast was over, he told Frederick that -he had something of importance to settle there before he could leave, -but that if he would go back to the cottage, and relieve their aunt's -anxiety and send her back to Penzance in the carriage, he would meet him -at the cottage as soon as he had finished his business, and they would -then go on to St. Just together. - -This pleased Frederick very much, for he wished to go with his brother, -but did not press it before, as Mr. Morley seemed to think he had better -go alone: Frederick, therefore, returned at once to the cottage, where -he found his aunt and Miss Freeman anxiously waiting his arrival with -Alrina, and they were very much distressed when they heard that she had -left Pendrea-house unknown to the family. Mrs. Courland had received -sufficient proofs to satisfy her, she said, that Alrina was her -daughter, and she was most anxious to see her, that she might have the -further test of the likeness. As that was impossible, at present, -Frederick persuaded her to return to Penzance at once, fearing Captain -Courland might return before her and might be angry at her absence, -which she could not at present explain to him. - -Mr. Morley did not keep his brother waiting very long, for his business -was soon over. Miss Pendray knew quite well what he wanted, when he -requested an interview with her; for she saw by his manner the night -before, and from the tender concern he appeared to take in her -miraculous escape, and the expression of his fine handsome countenance -when he looked at her, that he felt a deeper interest in her than she -had before supposed from his seeming-indifference to her during the past -few months. Perhaps she measured his feelings by her own, and when they -met, each being anxious for the other's love, and well-knowing their own -feelings, and each being ready and willing to meet the other more than -halfway, the betrothal was soon settled, and Mr. Morley left the house a -happy man. - -Horses were procured, and the two brothers were not long in reaching St. -Just. They put their horses in Mr. Brown's stable, and went in to -consult Mrs. Brown. She had heard Alrina's account of her having left -Pendrea-house without taking leave of the family, and her reasons for -doing so, and she also knew her determination as to the future, and her -wish to avoid being seen by any of her former acquaintances at present. -Mrs. Brown listened attentively to the tale the two gentlemen -told:--that Miss Freeman, Alrina's supposed aunt, was lying at a cottage -near Pendrea-house on her death-bed, and wished to see her niece before -she died. - -This was very "whisht" Mrs. Brown thought, and Alrina ought to go and -see her aunt; for, however wicked "The Maister" had been, she never -heard that Miss Freeman had been concerned in his wicked doings, so she -determined that she would persuade Alrina to go. After thinking -therefore for some minutes she said,--"I was tould not to let anybody -knaw where Miss Reeney es, but in a caase like this, when a relation es -upon her death-bed, I think she oft to go.--Stay here, gentlemen, for a -few minutes, and I'll go and fetch her." - -"I think we had better accompany you," said Mr. Morley, "for I fear she -will take alarm and be off again." - -"As you plaise, gentlemen," she replied, "you may go by yourselves if -you like: she es now in the ould house trying to find out the mystery: -you are gentlemen and men of understanding, and your judgment, perhaps, -es better than mine." - -So they went to the old house, where so many scenes of different kinds -had been enacted within the last few months. Here they found Alrina, -wandering through the rooms alone. She was perfectly calm, and talked -to them both in a quiet and dignified manner. She looked pale and -care-worn, and bowed down with grief and suffering. The beautiful -roseate hue which formerly gave such a charm to her delicate complexion -was gone, and her bright laughing eye was now cold and stern. Frederick -could scarcely trust himself to speak,--the change which had come over -Alrina within the last few days quite shocked him. Mr. Morley took her -hand gently and led her to a seat, while he told her of the illness of -her whom she had been taught to call aunt: he then imparted to her the -tale he had heard his brother relate. She seemed like one in a dream -while he went on unfolding the dark cloud, and displaying, by degrees, -the silver lining; and when he had finished his tale, she looked from -one to the other of the visitors, without uttering a word; she seemed to -be trying to realize it all. At last she burst into tears, -exclaiming,--"Oh, Mr. Morley, can this be true?--Can it be really -true?"--and, giving way again to a burst of hysterical tears, which she -seemed to have no power to control, she rose and hurried out of the -room. - -The brothers heard her go upstairs; and there they sat in silence: -neither of them spoke for several minutes; at length Mr. Morley -said,--"Poor girl! how sensitive she is!--the prospect of a happy future -has affected her more than the misfortunes to which she had almost -become reconciled before. I hope it will not have any serious effect on -her: but what can we do?" - -"I'll go for Mrs. Brown," said Frederick, whose feelings were ready to -burst forth also; and, had he not thus escaped into the open air, he -felt that he should have been unmanned, and have made a fool of himself -before his sterner brother. - -Mrs. Brown readily accompanied Frederick, and by the time they arrived -at the deserted house he had recovered something of his former spirits. -Mr. Morley told Mrs. Brown that Alrina was overcome at hearing the news -they had communicated, and had gone upstairs in hysterics. They did not -tell her the extent of the news, so she naturally concluded it was -hearing of the serious illness of her aunt that had so affected her. - -Mrs. Brown went upstairs, and remained there so long with her charge, -that the gentlemen began to think it was a more serious matter than it -really was: at length they came down together. Alrina was still very -pale, and her eyes were swollen with weeping; but she was tranquil and -more composed,--almost cheerful. She was leaning for support on Mrs. -Brown, who looked on her sweet face and smoothed it with her hand -caressingly, as ladies will sometimes smooth and caress a favourite -lap-dog, playing with it as it were, and fondling it, while she -expressed her love by kissing the smooth white forehead. It was a -touching scene,--that kind, good, old woman leading in her whom she -loved and respected so much, and caressing her as if she were a little -child, while she looked up so lovingly in return, thanking by that look -her kind friend who had been to her a second mother, and feeling that to -express her gratitude in any other way would be more than she could do. - -Mr. Morley, at that moment, thought he had never seen so lovely a -creature before; and Frederick,--we will not tell his thoughts,--we -cannot. - -Alrina had told her kind friend all, and now Mrs. Brown wished to hear -it all over again from Mr. Morley, who told his tale once more; and, -with Frederick's assistance, a little more was added which he had not -before remembered. - -Alrina had not yet begun to realize her position:--her thoughts seemed -to be wandering; her brain was bewildered, and she knew not what to say; -her future had seemed before obscured by a dark cloud,--she could see -nothing but gloom before her; now the cloud seemed brighter, but it was -not quite dispelled. She had met with so many disappointments in her -short life, that she feared there might be a greater one than she had -hitherto felt still in store for her. What, if this tale should turn out -to be a fabrication of her aunt's,--and after she had buoyed herself up -with the hope of future happiness, it should be discovered that she was -not Mrs. Courland's daughter after all? This overthrow of all her hopes, -after having tasted of their pleasures, would be worse than remaining as -she was. All these thoughts, and a thousand others, passed through her -mind in rapid succession as she sat listening to the tale for the second -time, and hearing questions asked by Mrs. Brown which the two young men -could not answer; for Frederick knew nothing more than what he had heard -Miss Freeman relate to his aunt: he had seen no proof; all he could say -was, that his aunt seemed perfectly satisfied when he returned to take -her to the carriage, and was most anxious to see Alrina, that she might -judge of the likeness, as far as a person can judge of her own likeness. - -Mrs. Brown thought that, at all events, it was Alrina's duty to go and -see her aunt at once: but she could not go alone, nor could she go with -the gentlemen without some female companion. Mrs. Brown could not leave -her husband so long, nor the business; she suggested, therefore, that -Alice Ann should be sought,--she was in the neighbourhood she knew. -"Josiah will find her," said she, "if one of the gentlemen will run down -to Captain Trenow's house and ask him." - -Frederick volunteered to go; for although he was happy at having Alrina -to gaze upon, yet he was not comfortable, nor was she, evidently; for -neither knew how the other felt. They had both done violence to their -feelings,--the one intentionally, the other unwittingly, and a mutual -explanation was necessary before they could be certain how they now -stood towards each other. Frederick could scarcely bring himself to -believe that Alrina really meant that she had ceased to love him;--he -could not think that, after what had passed between them. But she had -told him so, and was he not bound to believe her? If so,--if that was -really true, he must try and win her love back again. He could not give -her up,--he would not. These were his reflections as he hastened on his -errand. - -Josiah was gone to Tol-pedn-Penwith signal-station, Mrs. Trenow said, in -search of his young master. He must have gone the other road, and so he -had missed him. - -Frederick told Mrs. Trenow his errand, saying that Miss Alrina had come -back to see the old house once more, and she wanted Alice Ann. - -"I'll run up for her myself, sar," said she, "tesn't very far. I'll just -clap up my 'tother cap fust. Where shall I tell her she'll find her -missus?" - -"I think you had better tell her to come to Mrs. Brown's," replied -Frederick. - - - - -CHAPTER XLV. - -AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE. - - -Mrs. Trenow was not long in executing her errand, and Alice Ann was -quite delighted at the thoughts of being once more in attendance on -Alrina. - -There were no conveyances to be had, so that the gentlemen were puzzled -how they should convey Alrina and her attendant across the country to -the place of rendezvous. Alrina had already walked from thence to St. -Just, that morning, or rather in the course of the night; so that, -although the distance was not more than six or seven miles, her walking -back there again was quite out of the question. It was decided that -Frederick should ride straight to Penzance, as fast as he could, to -inform his aunt that Alrina had been found, and to send a carriage for -her if his aunt wished it; and Alice Ann proposed that Alrina should -ride on the other horse to the cottage, while Mr. Morley and herself -walked by her side. As no better plan could be thought of, Alice Ann's -suggestion was adopted, and the party set out at a slow pace, which gave -them time for reflection and conversation on the road. Alice Ann could -tell them many a legend connected with the different places they passed, -and especially about Chapel Carn-Brea, where many a terrible deed had -been done, she said, in times past, and where ghosts might be seen -walking now, if anyone had the courage to go there at the midnight -hour. "That boy, Bill could tell a sight of stories about this and -that," said she, "I b'lieve he and 'The Maister' ha' be'n there brave -an' often together." - -"I wonder what has become of that boy?" said Alrina, joining for the -first time in the conversation, "I am sure he knows a great deal about -many things that are mysteries to other people." - -"He do so," replied Alice Ann, "he wor the cutest chap for his size that -evar I seed; and as for tongue, why, he would turn 'ee inside out in a -minute, ef you dedn't keep your eyes abroad. What's become of he I -caen't tell; but I can give a purty near guess, and so can Mrs. Trenow -too, so she do say." - -"Who was this boy?" asked Mr. Morley, "where did he come from?" - -"I can no more tell than you can, sar," replied Alice Ann, "he wor found -one night when he wor a cheeld, outside the workhouse door, an' wor -broft up by the parish, so I've heard; for tes a bra' many years -ago,--f'rall he's so small." - -"Do you think he knew anything of my fa----, of Mr. Freeman's mysterious -doings?" asked Alrina, who seemed now to take more interest in the -conversation than she had done during the first part of the journey. - -"Do I think?" replied Alice Ann, "I do knaw that he ded. 'Siah have seed -that boy up to Chapel Carn-Brea in the middle of the night, when he ha' -ben coming home from Bal, and 'The Maister' havn't ben very far off, an' -he whistling like a black-bird, that time o' night. I tell 'ee Miss -Reeney, that boy Bill wor no good. What's become of the boy? says -you.--What's become of 'The Maister?' says I. Find the one, and you'll -find the t'other; that's my b'lief." - -Thus they wiled away the time during the journey, until they arrived at -the brow of the hill which overlooked the cottage to which they were -directing their steps. Mr. Morley had turned round when they arrived on -this eminence in the morning, to view the surrounding neighbourhood, and -to mark the spot, that he might be able to find it again easily, for it -was situated in rather a secluded valley, the approach to which was by a -narrow path branching off from the main road. Everything looked serene -and calm then, and, but for a thin jet of smoke rising from one of the -chimneys and curling up against the clear blue sky, the cottage and its -locality would have passed unobserved by a casual traveller; for it -stood very low, as we have said before, all the rooms being built on the -ground-floor: the walls were rudely built of clay--earth and straw -wetted and well mixed together,--called in Cornwall, "Cob;" the roof was -thatched with straw; and the partitions, inside, were made of thick -wood, collected, from time to time, from the wrecks of vessels, with -which that part of the coast of Cornwall abounds in the winter season. - -As the party halted now on the top of this eminence, to enable Mr. -Morley to reconnoitre and take his bearings, to guide him in the -selection of the right path leading directly to the cottage, he saw, -instead of a thin curl of smoke, such as he had seen in the morning, a -large volume of black smoke rising from the spot, almost darkening the -sky; and, at short intervals, a long tongue of fire would rise into the -air above the smoke, and disappear again, as a darker and more dense -volume of smoke issued forth. - -"The cottage is on fire!" exclaimed Mr. Morley. "Follow me, as well as -you can; take the second turning to your right:" and away he ran, -leaving the two females to take care of themselves and the horse, and to -find their way to the cottage as well as they could. - -When Mr. Morley arrived at the spot, an awful sight presented itself to -his view. The cottage was in flames, which the straw roof and wooden -partitions were feeding most bountifully; and, as they consumed the dry -conbustible on which they were feeding so greedily, their long tongues -would issue, in fantastic spurts, from the doors and windows on the -leeward side of the building. It was a fearful sight; a good number of -men and women were already there, attracted by the smoke, which could -now be seen far and wide. Josiah had been there some little time: he had -received intelligence of the fire, as he was returning from the -signal-station, and he hastened down to the spot at once, having sent a -messenger on to Lieut. Fowler with all speed. Josiah, and the few -persons who were there when he arrived, did all they could in carrying -buckets of water from a well at a short distance off; but their efforts -seemed at first to be increasing the fire rather than abating it. They -continued however to pour water into the rooms on one side of the -building which seemed the most likely to be inhabited, and, by opening -the doors and windows on the other side, they, in a measure, diverted -the fire to that side; but whether they were doing right or wrong they -could not tell; they could only conjecture on which side the inmates, if -any, were located. - -Lieut. Fowler and his men, followed by a number of people from the -surrounding neighbourhood, had just arrived, and the lieutenant was in -the act of marshalling his men, when Mr. Morley rushed down among them, -in the greatest excitement, asking all sorts of questions, as to how the -fire had originated, and if there were buckets enough, and if the -inmates had been got out; but instead of replying, Fowler took him by -the arm, saying, "Take half a dozen men to the well, Morley, with -buckets and ropes, and keep them there. Let them fill the buckets as -fast as they can, and I will organize a double row of men and women from -thence to the cottage to pass the full buckets up and the empty ones -down; and my men and Josiah will then pour the water where it will be -most available for extinguishing the flames." And to Squire Pendray, who -also arrived about the same time, he allotted the task of keeping the -double row of men and women steady at their work. - -The commanding voice of the officer, and the example of his men, -accustomed to obey, very soon restored order, where there was nothing -but confusion before; and, by his judicious management, and the courage -and bravery of his men, assisted by the strong arm of Josiah, the flames -were soon got under sufficiently to enable some of them to enter the -house. Fowler set a guard outside each door to prevent the mob from -entering, and then, taking Mr. Morley and the squire with him, they -entered the house followed by Josiah, and opened some of the inner-doors -to let out the smoke, when something flitted by them and rushed into the -interior of the house; but whether it was a man or a woman they could -not make out. Josiah however, seemed to know what it was, for he -followed immediately in full chase, leaving the others behind, who -thought their most prudent plan was to emerge into the air to refresh -themselves, and be prepared for anything that might turn up; for, in a -very short time, the smoke would have evaporated sufficiently to enable -them to go through the house with ease and impunity. Josiah did not -return; so after a few minutes, the three gentlemen entered the house -again. The entrance-rooms were not very much damaged; but as they -proceeded, the ravages of the fire were fearful. The straw roof was -entirely destroyed, from one end to the other. They passed into one -room, if a room it could be called now, where the fire seemed to have -raged in its greatest fury, and, looking into what was once another -room, divided from the place where they stood by a thick wooden -partition, they beheld a sight which made them shudder. The door, which -was not so thick as the partition, was burnt to ashes, and a portion of -the thick partition was also burnt: it was evident that the interior of -the room had been partially preserved by the water which Josiah and the -first comers had thrown in when they first arrived; but it had been the -scene of a great conflagration, and the smoke had hardly cleared away -yet: the walls were blackened, and the ornaments and pictures which hung -against them had dropped off with the heat. It had evidently been a -well-furnished room, the remains of which were still to be seen. The bed -was reduced to ashes, and it seemed as if the flames from the bed had -communicated to some inflammable substance in the room, and thence to -the straw roof which was not protected or covered on the inside, and was -at no great distance above the head of the bed. But their attention was -not long confined to the destruction of the bed and the other furniture -of the room; for a more awful spectacle presented itself to their view. -On the floor, in a corner of the room, lay two females, the elder one -having her hand entwined in the long hair of the younger, who grasped -the elder woman's arms in a strong determined grip. That it had been a -death-struggle there could be no doubt; but how they got there, or what -the struggle was about, neither of the three gentlemen could divine. But -there they lay, behind the door, dead!--They had been suffocated, no -doubt by the smoke: their clothes were burnt and their flesh had been -scarred by the fire. - -The younger of the two, seemed well dressed, as far as they could judge -by the little that was left of it, and she must have been a well-formed -comely figure, in the hey-day of youth: the elder was an emaciated -figure, evidently the occupant of the bed which had once stood in the -middle of the room. It was a dreadful sight, and the three gentlemen -left the room in search of information as to their identity, when they -met Josiah, holding a boy by the arm. Mr. Morley pointed to the room -from which they had just retreated, and looked enquiringly at Josiah. -"Iss, sure I've seed them!" said he, "and 'tes a whisht sight, sure -'nuff; but there's a whisheder sight for 'ee to see yet. This way ef you -plaise, gen'lemen:" and he led the way, still holding the boy by the -arm, till they came to a room at the other end of the house, which -seemed to have suffered more from the fire than any they had yet seen; -for this end had been neglected by them all, supposing that nothing of -any consequence would be found there. - -This part seemed more securely built, and to have been better furnished -than any of the other rooms. The partitions were of thicker wood, and -the doors and windows were better finished with bolts and locks: the -door had not been burnt through, as the other doors and partitions had -been. Josiah said he had burst open the door from the outside, and it -now stood wide open. On the floor lay the body of a man, whose lower -extremities were literally burnt to a cinder; but his features, although -blackened by the action of the fire, were still discernible. One look -was enough! The whole party hurried from the scene with horror depicted -in their countenances, and it was not until they got out into the open -air, that either of them could find words to express their horror and -dismay at what they had just witnessed. - -Josiah still held the boy by the arm, who seemed very much distressed. -Outside the door they encountered Alrina and Alice Ann, who were most -anxious to hear all particulars. - -"You shall know all, after we have made the necessary enquiries," said -Lieut. Fowler. - -At this moment a carriage drove up to the scene, and the post-boy handed -a letter to Mr. Morley: it was from his aunt, begging him to bring -Alrina to Penzance at once; he therefore told the squire and Lieut. -Fowler that he was obliged to go to Penzance, but would be back again -immediately; so the squire requested all the others of the party to go -on to Pendrea-house and wait until Mr. Morley's return; for he said they -must need some refreshment after the fatigues of the morning. Josiah -took charge of the boy; for they all believed he could enlighten them on -all that had happened. Alice Ann accompanied her mistress and Mr. Morley -in the carriage to Penzance. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVI. - -THE DREADED INTERVIEW. - - -Her husband had not returned when Mrs. Courland reached their lodgings -after her early journey to that ill-fated cottage. - -This was fortunate, in many respects: it gave her a little time to -reflect on the events of the morning, and to prepare herself for the -ordeal she had yet to go through. Had Captain Courland returned before -her, she must have accounted, in some way, for her absence, and that -might have led to a premature confession, which she thought had better -not be made until she had seen Alrina, and been fully convinced that the -likeness could not be mistaken. She had received quite sufficient proof -from Miss Freeman of the identity of the child, and she had, moreover, -received from her a sealed packet, which she said would reveal all more -clearly, and other mysteries besides; but she made her promise, most -solemnly, that the packet should not be opened until after her death, -which she knew could not be far distant, she said. - -While Mrs. Courland was deliberating on these important matters, her -nephew, Frederick Morley entered the room in great haste, telling her -that he had found Alrina, and that she was gone on with his brother to -see Miss Freeman, and he was to send a carriage for her if his aunt -wished it. - -"That is my first wish, at present," replied Mrs. Courland; "I must see -Alrina before I confess my life of deception to my husband. Oh, how can -I tell him that I have been keeping this secret from him and deceiving -him for so many years! How could I have deceived him, who has been so -kind and good to me! It was his goodness that made me keep it from him: -I didn't like to wound his feelings: he will never forgive me--he -cannot! Oh, Frederick, how can I look into his honest face, and confess -my guilty secret!" and burying her face in the soft cushions of the -couch on which she had been reclining, she burst into tears. - -"My dear aunt," said Morley, "you are wrong to meet trouble half-way: my -uncle's goodness of heart will forgive all; and, when he sees Alrina, he -will take her to his heart as if she had been his own child:--I know he -will!" - -"No!" replied Mrs. Courland, "--you don't know him: he has the most -utter abhorrence of deception--he hates secrets and mysteries: he -expressed his opinion, in the severest manner, on this subject, only a -few days ago. Oh, I cannot--I cannot go through with it! Should he even, -in kindness, forgive the deception, he would look upon me with scorn and -suspicion during the remainder of my life: oh, that would be -terrible!--I could not bear it!--I could not live in such a state!--I -should be wretched and miserable!" - -"But consider, aunt," urged Frederick, "if you believe Alrina to be -really your daughter, what injustice you will be doing her by -withholding this confession.--What is to become of her? Would you send -your daughter out into the world a houseless wanderer? Think of this, my -dear aunt; oh, let me beg of you to think of this poor girl! Will you -spurn her from your door, after permitting her to know what has been -told her to day?--It would be cruel--most cruel! Uncle Courland must -know it then; although Alrina would rather die than tell it herself; -this I am sure of; but others would not be so scrupulous. Consider, -aunt,--consider, before you send your daughter out unprotected into the -wide world; those she once looked to for protection are gone,--scattered -abroad on the face of the earth. Consider, Aunt Courland, her position -and yours." - -Frederick spoke with energy and warmth; for, in pleading the cause of -Alrina, he was pleading his own cause too. - -For some minutes after he had finished Mrs. Courland remained with her -face buried in the cushions; at length she rose and wiped her eyes, -which bore evidence of the tears she had shed, and the hard struggle -that had been going on for the last few minutes in her breast, to subdue -her haughty, proud, spirit to the task of making this humble confession -of guilt, which she now felt she must and would make, whatever the -consequences might be. Frederick had touched a tender chord in the -mother's breast, and, rising with calm dignity, she approached the table -and wrote a brief note, which she desired Frederick to send to his -brother at once, with a carriage to bring him and Alrina to the hotel to -wait the result of her dread interview with her husband: but whatever -that result might be, she said her daughter should be cared for as her -daughter. - -Frederick lost no time in despatching the carriage, and waited -impatiently its return to the hotel, where Alrina would remain until -after Mrs. Courland's interview with her husband, the result of which -Frederick still seriously feared and doubted. For although he could -scarcely believe that the captain would refuse to take in this poor -wanderer as one of his household, yet he knew his temper was sometimes -hasty and impetuous, and he might say things in the first burst of -passion, which he might be sorry for after, but which would decide his -aunt in her course; for she possessed the haughty pride of her -aristocratic ancestors, and would never bend to ask, as a favour, that -which, in a hasty moment, might be denied,--even though the denial were -made madly, in the heat of passion. Frederick, therefore, although he -had urged the confession, and painted its reception by his uncle in as -mild colours as he could, still dreaded the meeting of two such spirits, -for such a purpose. But it must be done: and he thought "If it were -done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly." - -Captain Courland returned soon after Frederick left, disappointed and -out of spirits: they had not succeeded in discovering the slightest -trace of the fugitive. - -Julia was not satisfied with the search that had been made the night -before, and she was gone to some houses a little way out of the town, -which she knew Flora was fond of visiting sometimes; so the captain -returned alone. He observed that his wife's spirits were unusually -depressed. She had been weeping, evidently; but he imputed it to her -anxiety for their poor afflicted protege. She was sitting on the couch, -resting her arm on a table, and supporting her throbbing brow with her -hand. - -Her husband seated himself by her side, and, taking her other hand in -his, affectionately, tried to comfort her by saying that he had no doubt -Flora had wandered out into the country and missed her way, and, from -her infirmity, she could not, perhaps, make anyone understand who she -was nor where she came from. "So cheer up my dear," said he, "all will -turn up well in the end, no doubt." - -"My dear husband," said she, withdrawing her hand, "I am not worthy that -you should treat me so kindly: I have a dreadful secret to unfold to -you, which I feel I have kept from you too long." - -"A secret!" exclaimed her husband, rising hastily, "I tell you I don't -like secrets: everything right and straight and above-board--that's my -plan! I don't want to hear any secrets! Who says that my wife has been -keeping a secret from me? I don't believe a word of it! Who says it, I -should like to know? I'll have him strung up to the yard-arm!" - -He seemed in such agitation, as he hurriedly paced the room, that his -poor wife trembled for the result. She saw that a crisis was close at -hand, and probably her happiness was gone for ever: but she had made up -her mind to tell her secret, and she was determined to go through with -it, let the consequences be what they would. So she asked her husband, -in as calm a tone as she could command, to sit and listen for a few -minutes to what she had to say, and then she should throw herself on his -mercy, and would submit to any punishment he might think she deserved; -but she begged him to hear her tale to the end before he judged her. - -This serious appeal took the captain quite by surprise. He didn't know -what to do or say, so he took a chair, and prepared for the worst. - -With averted eyes, his guilty, trembling wife commenced her tale and -told all: her former marriage, the birth of her daughter, and the -concealment of the child by Miss Fisher: her treachery and heartless -importunities for money, and threats: and, above all, her own weakness -and guilt in keeping the secret from her good, kind husband. - -When she had finished, she leaned her head on her hands, and burst into -a torrent of tears. She had been keeping her feelings under control -during the recital, that she might not interrupt the narrative which she -had to relate. She could not restrain them any longer; and now she -expected a terrible outburst of passion from her husband. The crisis was -at hand. She waited the awful doom which she felt she deserved; but it -did not come. She dared not look at her husband. - -He had sat perfectly still and silent all the time she had been -speaking, and after she had finished he was silent still. At length he -rose, and approaching the couch seated himself by the side of his poor -weeping, trembling wife; and, taking her hand as he had done before, he -said,--"I knew my darling wife had no secrets that her husband was not -cognizant of." - -"No secrets!" she exclaimed, looking up in astonishment,--"I have been -confessing the knowledge of a secret that I have been keeping from you -for years and years, to my sorrow and shame!" - -"I heard what you have been telling me," replied her husband, "but you -have told me nothing that I didn't know before. Why I have known all -that for years." - -"You have known it!" exclaimed Mrs. Courland, in amazement. "How is it -possible! Who can have told you!" - -"Well, now 'tis my turn to spin a yarn, as we sailors say," replied the -captain. "Your first husband's name was Marshall, he had a brother in -the Indian army. After your poor husband was killed, his brother came to -England. He had been informed of the secret marriage; and he had been -enjoined by his brother, in his last letter, after he received the wound -of which he died, that when he came to England, he would see his wife, -and do all he could for her. He came to England in my ship, and he saw -you." - -"He did," replied Mrs. Courland.--"It was soon after the birth of my -little girl. He came to Fisher's cottage. Miss Fisher told him a -plausible tale, saying his brother wished that the marriage should never -be known until he came home to claim me as his wife. As the marriage had -been kept secret so long, it was thought best to keep it so entirely. I -was sent for to come home to my father's house, where I found you -waiting my arrival. You paid the most devoted attention to me.--You were -rich.--My parents and all my friends urged it, and we were married. I -was persuaded by Miss Fisher not to tell my secret, and so it was kept; -and it has been a burden on my mind from that time to this." - -"My beautiful wife," said the captain, kissing her affectionately, -"Marshall returned with me to India, after our marriage, and he told me -the secret, so that you see I have known it almost as long as you have -known it yourself; but I never mentioned it, fearing to distress you, -well-knowing that you had been imposed upon by a designing avaricious -woman." - -"My good, kind indulgent husband!" exclaimed his wife, caressing the -bluff old sailor, as if he had been a little spoiled child. - -"And now that we have had all these explanations," said the captain, -"and might be happy with our daughter, she is lost!" - -"She is found!" exclaimed Mrs. Courland: "our nephews have found her, -and by this time she is in Penzance; we will send for them." - -A servant was despatched to the hotel, which was very near, and in a few -minutes, Mr. Morley appeared with a beautiful girl leaning on his arm. - -Both the captain and Mrs. Courland were struck with her extreme beauty, -and the captain at once exclaimed,--"Isabella Morley the second, by all -that's beautiful!" - -"No, sir!" replied Mr. Morley,--"not Isabella Morley, but Alrina -Marshall!" - -"My long lost child!" exclaimed Mrs. Courland, rushing towards Alrina, -and embracing her tenderly, "I see the likeness myself!" - -"Good heavens!" cried the captain, "is this our daughter? Then what has -become of the other?" - -"What other?" exclaimed Mr. Morley and Mrs. Courland in a breath. - -"Why, the poor girl we have been in search of all night," replied the -captain: "I concluded she was the lost child!" - -"Alas!" said Mr. Morley,--"she is indeed lost!" And he briefly related -the dreadful catastrophe which he had witnessed so recently, which threw -a gloom over the whole party. They soon recovered their spirits, -however, and, leaving the newly-formed family group to enjoy their -unexpected happiness in quietude, Mr. Morley accompanied by Frederick, -who had remained at the hotel while his brother took Alrina to her -newly found parents, hastened, as fast as possible, back to -Pendrea-house, to assist in unravelling the mysteries connected with -that ill-fated cottage and its unfortunate inmates. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVII. - -MYSTERIES EXPLAINED. - - -Josiah did not let go his hold of the boy until they were safely seated -in a room at Pendrea-house. And, even then, he would not let him go -until the door was bolted, and he had seen that all the windows were -fastened, and had even looked up the chimney. - -"He ha' ben in queer places in his time I reckon," said he, "and seed a -bra' many things: he ha' gov'd us the slip oftener then he will again." - -Refreshments were ordered in and done justice to by all; and, when Mr. -Morley and his brother arrived, the squire requested all the party to -attend him in his library or Justice-room, as the domestics persisted in -calling it. - -Josiah still kept the boy in custody, and when all were assembled, -Squire Pendray said, addressing the boy,--"It appears that you can -enlighten us on all we want to know respecting the inmates of this -house, and we wish you to relate all particulars respecting them. You -can gain nothing, now, by keeping anything back; but may benefit -yourself a good deal by confessing everything, and informing us who were -there, and how they got there, and the origin of the fire, if you know. -Fear nothing: I tell you, in the presence of these gentlemen, that you -shall not suffer, in any way, for what you may reveal to us. If you do -not tell us the truth, and we think you are concealing anything that you -ought to reveal, you must suffer the consequences." - -The boy looked from one to the other, and seemed to hesitate for several -minutes before he spoke. His eyes were directed more than once towards -the door, as if he expected to see someone enter to relieve him of his -perplexity; no one came, however, and he seemed to feel that he was -standing alone in the world. His old friends (if friends they were) -could help him no longer, and his shrewdness told him he had better make -a virtue of necessity; so after a short pause, as if collecting his -scattered thoughts, he began his confession. He had been too much mixed -up with the conjuror to have imbibed very much of the Cornish dialect, -although he sometimes used it. Thus he began in very intelligible -English,--"'The Maister' saved my life, gentlemen, by his knowledge in -medicine, and I was grateful for it. He took a liking to me, and I -helped him in his business: call it what you will,--conjuring if you -like. I never grew after he took me into his service at eight years old: -perhaps I don't look more than that now, but I am eight-and-twenty. I -was useful to 'The Maister' on account of my size: I could worm out a -little secret by hiding in odd corners, and I never forgot what I heard; -I liked the post, and gloried in seeing the astonishment of some of the -people to whom 'The Maister' told some secrets he had heard through me, -which they thought no one else knew but themselves. Our adventures were -varied and frequent; the last was an awful one, when we came on shore -under St. Just in a vessel bottom uppermost. 'The Maister' persuaded me, -when I went to see him at his house afterwards, that he had been the -means of saving my life again, in return for which he wanted my -services. He expected the officers of justice. He was not so ill as he -pretended; but it would not have been safe for him to be taken away by -his friends then, nor to be supposed to have escaped in the ordinary -way; he would have been traced at once. I had the means of getting into -his room at anytime from the back premises, through a passage that no -one knew but ourselves. He had some drug by him which would cause the -party taking it to appear dead for a short time. I was in the room when -the constable and some of you gentlemen were below entreating Miss -Reeney to take you up into his room. We heard you coming: I gave the -mixture to 'The Maister,' and crept under the bed, and when you entered -you pronounced him dead, and left almost immediately. Another mixture, -which he had previously prepared, and which I had ready to give him, -restored him at once; and that night, with the assistance of our -friends, whose names I need not now mention, whom I had communicated -with by means of the poor fellow commonly called 'Mazed Dick,' whose -swiftness of foot is well known, we got 'The Maister' away, and the -report that he had been taken away by the spirits favoured us. We -brought him to the cottage that was burned down to-day, where we knew -Miss Freeman had been for some weeks confined through illness, brought -on by exposure to the cold; she fell and fractured a limb, in walking -from Penzance to Lieut. Fowler's station, where she was going on some -errand in connexion with that dumb girl--what it was I don't know. She -slipped her foot and fell and broke her leg, and there she lay, on the -cold ground, all night, until she was discovered by 'Mazed Dick' in one -of his rambles, and was taken to his brother's cottage. I could not -desert my master; I believed in his power, and do still. He was -recovering fast: he could get up and walk about his room, and intended -being off in a few days; I was to have gone with him. This morning, to -my surprise, I saw the dumb girl come out of a room at the further end -of the house; the mistress of the house, and her son, 'Mazed Dick,' were -gone away, and the outer door was locked: I watched her, but was not -seen by her. She peeped into several rooms, and tried the door of the -one in which 'The Maister' was; but that was always kept locked and -bolted on the inside. She then went on to the room in which Miss Freeman -lay in bed. She seemed to know her at once; for she darted into the -room, and drew something from her bosom; it seemed like an ear-ring, as -well as I could see it; and she pointed and made signs, which Miss -Freeman seemed to understand, and which seemed to irritate her very -much. Miss Freeman had a lighted candle, on a small table, by her -bedside, for the purpose of reading some papers. The room was very dark, -although it was early in the morning, but the windows were small, and -half-hid by the thatch of the roof, which hung down over them. She tried -to snatch at what the girl held in her hand; and, in doing so, she -overturned the candle on the bed, when a bottle of something inflammable -fell with it, and the bed in an instant, was in a blaze. She seized the -girl by her hair, and dragged her on to the bed, when they both caught -fire, and the poor girl seized the woman by the arms to make her let go -her hair, and so she pulled her out of bed, and they both fell together -on the floor, a mass of flames. I could not assist them, so I ran out -through a side-door which I knew how to open, in order to call -assistance, when I met Josiah, and he sent me on to Lieut. Fowler, but I -believe Josiah didn't know who I was, he seemed so frightened at what I -told him. When I met him again, it was at the door of 'The Maister's' -room. He had followed me when I ran through on my return from Lieut. -Fowler's. The door was locked and bolted on the inside. I told Josiah -whose room it was, and he forced the door open; for the wood in which -the bolts were fixed was still burning, and easily gave way: the fire -had reached this room and blazed in all its fury; and I suppose, from -the burning of the roof and the wood all round, the bolts of the door -soon became too hot for 'The Maister' to touch them, and so he was burnt -to death. That is my tale, gentlemen, and all I have spoken is the -truth." - -So saying, the boy or man which ever he might be called, placed his -hands before his eyes and awaited the result of his communication: -whether the thought of the awful death of "The Maister," whom he seemed -to have looked up to with fear and gratitude, drew a tear from his eyes -or not, was not known. His tale was believed; and, after a consultation -among the gentlemen present, it was agreed that something should be done -for the poor fellow, on his promising to lead a new life and give up all -evil practices in future. This he very readily and sincerely -promised,--and the party separated for the present, as Mr. Morley said -he must return to Penzance to see his uncle and aunt previous to his -commencing, in company with his brother, the search after the wretches -at whose hands his poor father had suffered such grievous wrong, and -which had been retarded by the occurrence of recent events. Now they -would have nothing to retard their search, he said,--and he would not -rest until he had found them and brought them to justice or confession. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVIII. - -A BRILLIANT CORNISH DIAMOND DISCOVERED AND PLACED IN A GOLDEN CASKET. - - -Julia was very glad, when she returned, to find her old schoolfellow -Alrina with her uncle and aunt; and astonished beyond measure, when she -learned that she was also her cousin. The story, altogether, was so -romantic, she said, that it reminded her of something she had read a -long time ago in one of the old Romances at Ashley Hall; and she was so -interested in it, that, when her aunt had finished her recital, she -begged her to repeat it over again; but this she was prevented from -doing, even had she intended it, by the arrival of Mr. Morley and -Frederick. - -Julia had not seen much of her brothers lately; she received them, -therefore, with warmth, especially Frederick, whom, being nearer her own -age, and better known to her from their having been thrown together in -their childhood, she loved with the tenderest affection. She saw that -the meeting between him and Alrina was not what it ought to have -been,--nor did the coolness wear off: so she took Alrina out of the -room, on some pretence, and asked her the reason; for she knew that two -fonder hearts never pledged their troth to one another than those two. -Alrina hesitated, at first, and seemed at a loss what answer to give, -until Julia reminded her that they were now not only old friends and -schoolfellows, but were near relatives, and, unless there was some -secret that could not be revealed, she should feel very grieved if her -newly-found cousin could not place sufficient confidence in her as a -friend, to tell her what had caused the coolness between two, who, but a -short time ago, seemed so devoted to each other. "If Frederick has said -or done anything to annoy or displease you," she said, "I am sure it was -unintentional on his part; and, if you will tell me, in confidence, I -will do my best to set all things right." - -Still Alrina hesitated, and Julia began to suspect that the coolness she -had observed was caused by something more serious than she had at first -imagined; but, whatever it was, she thought it had better be explained, -and, as Alrina did not seem inclined to speak, she went on with her -persuasive arguments. "Consider, Alrina dear, what years of pain and -mental suffering my poor aunt endured on account of her reticence. Had -she revealed her secret in the beginning, she would have been much -happier, and your life would not have been subject to so many changes -and vicissitudes as you have experienced. If your secret is not one that -you cannot reveal, pray unburden your mind to me, as your near relative -and dearest friend." - -Thus importuned, Alrina felt that she could not any longer refuse her -confidence to her friend, and, putting her arm round Julia's waist, she -led her into her own little room, which had already been prepared for -her, and there she told her all, as they sat folding one another in a -fond sisterly embrace. - -"You noble girl!" exclaimed Julia, when her cousin had finished the -recital of her troubles, and had told with what bitter pain and anguish -she had done violence to her feelings, by telling Frederick that she -could not love him, in order to save him and his family from marrying -one whose father's evil deeds must throw disgrace and shame upon all -connected with him. - -"I would rather have died than brought this disgrace on Frederick and -his family," cried Alrina; "and, having thus discarded him who is dearer -to me than my life, how can I think that he will ever look upon me again -in any other light than as a fickle wayward girl: he can have no further -confidence in me;--indeed, I will not ask it; I do not deserve his love -or confidence after my cruel treatment of him." - -"We shall see,"--replied Julia, smiling and kissing her friend -fondly,--"We shall see, my sweet cousin." - -While the two cousins were having their confidential chat, Captain and -Mrs. Courland and their two nephews were talking over the events of the -past few days, and Mr. Morley related to his uncle and aunt the boy's -confession. - -"Before you leave us to prosecute the search you are so anxious about," -said Mrs. Courland, addressing the two young men, "I should like to open -the packet entrusted to me by Miss Freeman (or Miss Fisher as I always -called her): she is dead now, poor woman; so that my promise is at an -end." - -"Yes!" said the captain, "let it be opened, now,--we won't keep any more -secrets or mysteries here." - -The packet was therefore produced and opened. It contained a long -manuscript, written in a neat hand, and was headed,-- - - "_The Confession of Maria Fisher, alias Freeman_":-- - -and Mr. Morley, being requested to read it, read as follows:-- - -"I, Maria Fisher, alias Freeman, being on my death-bed, make this -confession as the only atonement and reparation I can make for the evil -deeds I have done during my life: I have injured almost beyond -reparation, the whole of the Morley family. - -"First Isabella Morley was the victim of my avarice. I kept her little -daughter, to serve my own ends, and palmed off the poor dumb girl (of -whom more anon) on her as her child. Alrina, whom I called my niece, is -Isabella Morley's daughter. Proofs sufficient can be found.--The Coopers -know all: and my sinful brother knows all.--Sift it out. That poor dumb -girl was found by Cooper, washed on shore from a wreck: he picked her up -and carried her to his house. She had a peculiar pair of ear-rings in -her ears, very handsome and costly: I have one in my possession now--the -other I have missed. Her linen was marked '_Fowler_.' We have since -learned that Lieut. Fowler's brother and his little daughter were -wrecked on this coast on their voyage from India. He was drowned; the -child was saved. The Coopers know more;--my brother knows all. This -child's infirmity was useful to us: she was kept at the Coopers'. Sift -this out to the bottom to: here is the clue:"-- - -"Oh, miserable woman!" exclaimed Mrs. Courland,--"what a life of sin and -wickedness she must have led!" - -"Yes!" replied Mr. Morley.--"but that is not all: let me go on. The -remainder of the manuscript is not quite so legible: it seems to have -been written under the influence of stimulants: it is blotted, and some -words are erased with the pen and written over again: I will read it as -well as I can, but you must give me time." And, having smoothed out the -manuscript, and turned his chair, so as to let the light fall full on -the paper, he resumed his task. There were many stoppages in the course -of the reading, and many exclamations of surprise and horror, which we -will not notice here, but let the confession go on smoothly, to avoid -confusion and tediousness. - -"If the first part of my confession has startled the reader (whoever he -may be)" it went on, "let him close the MS.--What has been told, is as -nothing to what remains. How to approach this part of my confession I -know not. Brandy will assist me. Brandy! Brandy! That will drown my -better thoughts, and bring me back to that dread night, and help me to -tell my tale as fearlessly and heartlessly as the deed was committed. - -"Now I can go on again. Mrs. Courland, the once beautiful Isabella -Morley, had returned to Ashley Hall. My brother and myself followed, and -took a lone cottage near the sea-coast.--Our father lived with us. He -was a rover, though an old man: unsteady and intemperate in his habits: -he was useful to the smugglers, and they paid him well for his -assistance. My brother took a higher walk in the smuggling line. He got -connected with some of the Cornish smugglers,--Cooper among the rest; -and they bought a little vessel of which Cooper was the captain; and my -brother, living at a distance, and being connected with merchants, sold -the goods. One night!--I shall never forget that night!--a gentleman was -driven to seek shelter in our cottage from the snow: he had missed his -way.--My father and brother were both out. My father's bedroom on the -ground-floor, was vacant: I did not expect him home that night, so I put -the gentleman there to sleep.--To sleep! Yes!--It might indeed have been -a long sleep! - -"My brother returned. I told him Mr. Morley had entrusted me with his -name;--he had money, too, he told me,--a large sum. My brother hated the -name of Morley: he had been spurned by a Morley:--his love had been -rejected with scorn:--he was a man of strong passions. The brother of -her whom he now hated as much as he had loved before,--the man who had -introduced the rich captain to Isabella, and so overturned his hopes of -marriage with the lovely creature he had so passionately loved, was in -his power. Revenge seized hold of him. He called for brandy: he drank -deeply, and raved like a madman; then he became more calm. He took Mr. -Morley's stick and examined it: it was a curious stick. I left him still -drinking, and retired to my bedroom. - -"I knew not the extent of that night's work until the morning; when, oh, -horror!--my brother had murdered our father instead of ----! What was to -be done? My brother's ready wit hit on a plan. The intended victim was -gone; perhaps to inform the authorities. He had worn away the murdered -man's hat. His hat with his name in it, was left: it was with his stick -the murder had been committed: he was accused and committed. My brother -found the bag of money; we fled into Cornwall, changed our names to -Freeman, and took up our abode at St. Just: that money enabled us to -live comfortably. My brother was clever, and earned money in other ways -easily. My confession is finished. My conscience is satisfied. The minds -of the Morleys are relieved. When this is read I shall be no more, and -my brother and the Coopers will be out of your reach. Search,--sift as -you will, you can know no more!--We have outwitted you!--Ha! ha! ha!" - -The latter part of the manuscript was blotted and stained, as if brandy -had been spilt over it, and the writing was almost illegible, indicating -the unsteadiness of the hand that wrote it. - -When Mr. Morley had finished he threw the MS. on the table and -exclaimed,--"I had my suspicions of that fellow from the first. Our -minds are now set at rest, and we can publish this document to satisfy -the public of the perfect innocence of our father, and the double guilt -of those wicked, lawless people." - -"I think," said Captain Courland, "that it is sufficient that you are -satisfied, yourselves, and that the guilty parties have confessed:--the -public have forgotten all the circumstances long ago, and stirring it up -again, now, can answer no good end." - -"Perhaps you are right sir," replied Mr. Morley, "the guilty wretches -have had their reward in this life!" - -"What a shocking death it must have been," said Mrs. Courland, with a -shudder: "torture and pain the most acute and agonizing. How rarely the -guilty escape punishment, even in this life." - -"I should like our good friends, the squire and Fowler, to hear this -confession," said Frederick, "for they knew the story of the murder, and -all the circumstances connected with it, and felt, I am quite sure, a -deep interest in our search after the guilty parties." - -"Of course," said the captain;--"they ought to be informed at once; and -I have been thinking of inviting them all here. What do you think of it, -my dear?" he continued, addressing his wife. "We cannot have so large a -party to dinner at our lodgings, of course; but there is no reason why -we shouldn't ask them all to dine with us at the hotel." - -"I should like it above all things," replied Mrs. Courland, "and, if -Frederick will undertake to deliver the invitations, I will write them -at once, and invite the whole party for to-morrow. The ladies must come -also, or I shall have nothing to do with the party." - -"The ladies, by all means," said the captain, as his wife opened her -writing-desk. - -"I really think I must petition for Josiah to be invited, to be -entertained by Alice Ann," said Mr. Morley, smiling. - -"Of course," said the captain, in high glee: "and that poor boy mustn't -be left out. Shiver my topsails!--young sirs--we'll have a jovial party! -I'll go down to the hotel myself in the morning and superintend the -selection of the wine: we'll have the very best the landlord has in his -cellar.--and plenty of it too.--The squire is a two-bottle man--I'll -take my Solomon Davey to that!" - -While Mrs. Courland was writing the notes, Mr. Morley took up the MS. -again, and, on turning over another sheet, he exclaimed,--"here's -something more!" - -All ears were instantly attentive, and he read on:-- - -"I, Maria Fisher, alias Freeman, as an atonement, in some degree, for my -sinful conduct towards her, give and bequeath to Alrina Marshall, -formerly known as Alrina Freeman, the daughter of Mrs. Courland of -Ashley Hall, all my worldly goods and moneys now in my possession or in -the possession of my brother, John Fisher, alias Freeman, belonging to -me, and all property of any kind which I may possess at my death; and I -hope I shall be pardoned for my sins." - -This document was written in a legible hand, as if after due -deliberation, and properly signed and executed. It, however, gave very -little pleasure to the parties concerned, except that it shewed a shadow -of proper feeling on the part of Miss Freeman to make amends for past -misconduct. - -The notes were at length written, and Frederick was despatched with -them. The captain thought they might have been sent by a servant, but -Frederick would not hear of it. He wished to be the bearer of the -welcome news to Fowler, he said, with whom he should remain for the -night, as he had had riding and excitement enough that day already. - -When Alrina and Julia returned to the drawing-room after their -tete-a-tete, Frederick was gone: it was evident, therefore, Alrina -thought, that he didn't care for her now: she had offended him beyond -forgiveness, and he had given her up; she felt that she deserved it, and -that feeling made her more wretched than ever; she had treated him -shamefully, and had, she thought, wounded his feelings unnecessarily. -Had he treated her cruelly, she could, and would, have forgiven him; but -she could not seek him out, and ask him to forgive her. No, she could -not do that--besides, he seemed to avoid her. What could she do? She -must endeavour to bear it. She slept very little that night;--her -thoughts were too much occupied. The pleasure and happiness she felt at -the course events had taken in her worldly career, were quite absorbed -and overbalanced by the painful reflections she experienced with regard -to the hidden secrets of her heart. In the midst of all the newly -acquired pleasures of birth and fortune, and a happy home, her heart was -crushed and sad. - -Mrs. Courland could not make it out. She thought her daughter would have -been to her a delightful companion, and she had looked forward to years -of happiness; but she found Alrina silent and reserved. She asked Julia -if she knew the cause, and she told her aunt all. They both honoured and -respected Alrina for her noble conduct:--they both knew, very well, that -it only required a kind friend to explain to Frederick the state of -affairs, and all would be well. - -Mrs. Courland took the first opportunity of telling her husband how -nobly their daughter had acted (for she kept nothing from him now), at -which the old gentleman expressed the highest gratification. "We have -found a treasure, my dear;" said he, "many have searched among the -Cornish mines, and spent their all in the search, without finding such a -precious jewel as we have discovered here:--we will preserve her as the -most valued diamond that ever was discovered in Cornwall." - -"Don't be so absurd," replied Mrs. Courland, smiling, "I'm really -afraid our long-lost child will be spoiled if she remains with us." - -The captain's dinner-party was a right jolly one: and, soon after the -desert was set on the table, and the servants had withdrawn, he -said,--"I am not in the habit of throwing a wet blanket over any -company, especially when I have invited the party to my own table; but I -am sure you will all like to hear what these wretches say for -themselves: so, before we begin to enjoy ourselves, I will ask Morley to -read the confession which was placed in Mrs. Courland's hands a few days -ago." - -Mr. Morley, accordingly, read Miss Freeman's confession, at which all -the party were horror-struck, although several of them had heard it -before. - -Lieut. Fowler was perfectly astounded to learn that the dumb girl was -his niece, and was grieved at her sad end. - -"Now," cried the captain, when Mr. Morley had finished, and all had made -their remarks on the sad fate of the inmates of the cottage, "splinter -my topmast! but we'll have no more of this! Pass the bottle, squire, and -we'll drink to the health of my newly-found daughter:--she's a noble -girl! we have found her among the Cornish mines, and so we'll christen -her _The Cornish Diamond_!--ha! ha! ha!" and the old gentleman leaned -back in his chair and laughed right merrily. It was one of his old, -hearty laughs, such as he used to indulge in when he was in Flora's -room, and thought no one heard him;--a sort of exhilarating laugh, which -no one could help joining in, without great difficulty: and all, except -two of the party, did join in it,--even the glasses on the sideboard -echoed their sympathy. There were only two who did not join in the -laugh, and they were Alrina and Mrs. Courland. The former felt that it -tended to make her more conspicuous than she wished just at this time, -and she blushed up to the very roots of her hair, as we have seen her -blush before; while the latter was shocked at the vulgarity (as she -deemed it) of her husband, and dreaded lest he should expose his free -and easy manner still further to the Pendray ladies; so, in order to -check it, as she thought, she said, with quiet dignity, when the -merriment had a little subsided, "My dear, you really must remember that -you are not on board ship.--What will the ladies think?" - -"I tell you what it is, Mrs. Courland;" he replied, in perfect good -humour, "you've had it your own way a long time, and have put a stopper -on my lingo often enough; I mean to steer the ship my own way for once, -and to-morrow you shall take the helm again if you like. So, drink my -toast, ladies and gentlemen:--'The Cornish Diamond!' and a brighter one -was never discovered in the best of our mines. No heeltaps, mind! Fill -what you like; but drink what you fill!--that's my rule." - -Many other toasts were drank, and everyone except the party most -concerned and one other, spent a right merry evening. These two -melancholy ones were Alrina Marshall and Frederick Morley. - -Julia saw how unhappy they were, and, in the course of the evening, she -took Frederick aside, and told him (in confidence) the state of Alrina's -mind, and explained to him her reasons for saying that she could not -love him. He fully believed it, he said; for there was nothing too noble -and disinterested to believe of Alrina; and he only wanted an -opportunity to throw himself at her feet, and beg her to recall the rash -declaration she had made. - -"Come with me, then," said Julia; and she conducted him into a small -room, in which Alrina was sitting waiting for her cousin, who had -excused herself for a moment, having this object in view; and the -mischievous creature, having brought the two glumpy ones together, as -she called them, left them to fight it out in their own way. There was -no fighting, however; for, when they appeared again, they were the -merriest of the party. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIX. - -THE WEDDING BELLS. - - -The next morning gossip was rife in Penzance: nothing was talked of but -the captain's dinner-party, and the circumstances connected with it. - -Three pairs of lovers walked out from the hotel in different directions, -while Julia took a quiet walk with her uncle and aunt, who pretended to -pity her, because she was not so fortunate as the other three young -ladies of the party. They little knew what was going on behind the -scenes; for, if the truth must be told, Julia had received a letter, -that very morning, from the most devoted love-sick swain that ever wrote -sonnets to the moon, or vowed eternal constancy to the most lovely of -her sex. So Julia was perfectly happy, whatever her good uncle and aunt -might think. - -It was very hard, Captain Courland said, to be obliged to give up his -daughter again, as soon as he had found her, but Frederick was a good -fellow, and he should have her; and to enable him to procure a suitable -casket to keep the precious _diamond_ in, the captain gave him a -handsome sum as a wedding present. - -Maud was so happy in the consciousness of having gained the affections -of the only man she had ever known who possessed a congenial spirit with -her own, that she used all her persuasion with her father, in favour of -Lieut. Fowler's hopes with regard to her sister. The squire was taken by -surprise he said: to lose one daughter was bad enough, but to lose both -at the same time, was more than he could consent to. However, he -promised to talk it over with the captain over a bottle of wine after -dinner: and, either the wine had a peculiarly persuasive flavour, or the -captain was more than usually eloquent; for the consent was given the -next day, and it was agreed that the three weddings should take place at -Penzance on the same day; as soon as the necessary preliminary -preparations could be made. - -Josiah and Alice Ann had not been idle. Perhaps love-making is -infectious; if so, they caught the infection from their betters; for -Josiah popped the question, and was accepted, about the same time that -their master and mistress (Mr. Frederick and Miss Alrina) were making up -their little imaginary differences at the hotel. - -While the ladies were making their preparations for their weddings, the -gentlemen, finding time hang heavily on their hands, proposed going to -the conjuror's house, at St. Just, and having a regular overhaul, as -Lieut. Fowler expressed it. - -Alrina's consent was asked, and granted, as a matter of course; for what -had she to do with the conjuror's house now? So they went, and in their -search, they found money and jewels of great value; for, in his haste to -get away, the conjuror had not taken very much with him;--the belt was -gone, and this had, no doubt, been refilled. There was no one to claim -the property, nor to hinder them in their search, so they made a minute -investigation; and that nothing might escape them, where they supposed -or imagined there was a secret drawer, they did not hesitate to break -the piece of furniture in which they suspected it into a thousand -pieces. There could be no doubt, now, as to the disposition and -ownership of the property. The conjuror's nearest relative and -representative was his sister, and she had disposed of all her property -to Alrina. But Alrina, fortunately didn't want it now; so, after -consulting her good friends on the matter, it was decided that Squire -Pendray should lay out a portion of it for the benefit of the boy Bill, -and Mazed Dick and his mother, according to his judgment; and that the -remainder should be given to the poor and for charitable purposes. - -There was nothing wanting that money could procure to render the wedding -everything that could be desired by the most fastidious of gossips. - -Mr. Morley and Frederick presented Josiah and his wife with a handsome -sum of money on their marriage, which took place soon after their own, -to enable them to purchase a farm, to which the happy couple retired -after their wedding. - -Mr. and Mrs. Brown continued to keep the "Commercial" hotel for several -years, and were visited, frequently, by Mr. Morley and his brother and -their wives. But, of all her friends and customers, Mrs. Brown often -declared that she never loved anyone half so much as she loved Miss -Reeney, who was worthy, she said, of the name Mrs. Trenow had given -her,--"THE CORNISH DIAMOND!" - -[Illustration: FINIS] - -PRINTED BY W. CORNISH, THE LIBRARY, PENZANCE - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wizard of West Penwith, by -William Bentinck Forfar - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WIZARD OF WEST PENWITH *** - -***** This file should be named 41058.txt or 41058.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/0/5/41058/ - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |