waiting some time, in hopes that a pair of horses that had gone southward would return in time for her use, she at length, feeling ashamed of her own pusillanimity, resolved to prosecute her journey in her usual manner.

"It was all plain road," she was assured, "except a high mountain, called Gunnerby Hill, about three miles from Grantham, which was her stage for the night." "I am glad to hear there's a hill," said Jeanie, "for baith my sight and my very feet are weary o' sic tracks o' level ground-it looks a' the way between this and York as if a' the land had been trenched and levelled, whilk is very wearisome to my Scotch een. When I lost sight of a muckle blue hill they ca' Ingleboro', I thought I hadna a friend left in this strange land."

"As for the matter of that, young woman," said mine host, "an you be so fond o' hill, I carena an' thou could'st carry Gunnerby away with thee in thy lap, for it's a murder to post-horses. But here's to thy journey, and may'st thou win well through it, for thou is a bold and a canny lass!"

So saying, he took a powerful pull at a solemn tankard of home-brewed ale.

"I hope there is nae bad company on the road, sir ?" said Jeanie.

"Why, when it's clean without them I'll thatch Groby pool wi' pancakes. But there arena sae mony now; and since they hae lost Jim the Rat, they hold together no better than the men of Marsham when they lost their common. Take a drop ere thou goest," he concluded, offering her the tankard; "thou wilt get naething at night save Grantham gruel, nine grots, and a gallon of water." Jeanie courteously declined the tankard, and inquired what was her "lawing ?".

"Thy lawing? Heaven help thee, wench! what ca'st thou that?"

"It is I was wanting to ken what was to pay," replied Jeanie.

66

Pay? Lord help thee !-why, nought, woman-we hae drawn no liquor but a gill o' beer, and the Saracen's

Head can spare a mouthful o' meat to a stranger like o' thee, that cannot speak Christian language. So here's to thee once more. The same again, quoth Mark of Belgrave," and he took another profound pull at the tankard.

The travellers who have visited Newark more lately, will not fail to remember the remarkably civil and gentlemanly manners of the person who now keeps the principal inn there, and may find some amusement in contrasting them with those of his more rough predecessor. But we believe it will be found that the polish has worn off none of the real worth of the metal.

Taking leave of her Lincolnshire Gaius, Jeanie resumed her solitary walk, and was somewhat alarmed when evening and twilight overtook her in the open ground which extends to the foot of Gunnerby Hill, and is intersected with patches of copse and with swampy spots. The extensive commons on the north road, most of which are now inclosed, and in general a relaxed state of police, exposed the traveller to a highway robbery in a degree which is now unknown, excepting in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis. Aware of this circumstance, Jeanie mended her pace when she heard the trampling of a horse behind, and instinctively drew to one side of the road, as if to allow as much room for the rider to pass as might be possible. When the animal came up, she found that it was bearing two women, the one placed on a sidesaddle, the other on a pillion behind her, as may still occasionally be seen in England.

"A braw gude night to ye, Jeanie Deans," said the foremost female, as the horse passed our heroine ; "What think ye o' yon bonnie hill yonder, lifting its brow to the moon? Trow ye yon's the gate to Heaven, that ye are sae fain of ?-maybe we may win there the night yet, God sain us, though our minnie here's rather dreigh in the upgang."

The speaker kept changing her seat in the saddle, and half-stopping the horse, as she brought her body round, while the woman that sat behind her on the pillion seem

ed to urge her on in words which Jeanie heard but imperfectly.

"Haud your tongue, ye moon-raised b! what is your business with or with heaven or hell

either ?"

"Troth, mither, no muckle wi' heaven, I doubt, considering wha I carry ahint me-and as for hell, it will fight its ain battle at its ain time, l'se be bound.-Come, naggie, trot awa, man, an as thou wert a broomstick, for a witch rides thee

'With my curtch on my foot, and my shoe on my hand,

1 glance like the wildfire through brugh and through land." "

The tramp of the horse, and the increasing distance, drowned the rest of her song, but Jeanie heard for some time the inarticulate sounds ring along the waste.

Our pilgrim remained stupified with undefined apprehensions. The being named by her name in so wild a manner, and in a strange country, without further explanation or communing, by a person who thus strangely flitted forward and disappeared before her, came near to the supernatural sounds in Comus :

"The airy tongues, which syllable men's names
On sands, and shores, and desert wildernesses."

And although widely different in features, deportment, and rank, from the lady of that enchanting masque, the continuation of the passage may be happily applied to Jeanie Deans upon this singular alarm :

"These thoughts may startle well, but not astound
The virtuous mind, that ever walks attended,
By a strong siding champion-Conscience."

In fact, it was, with the recollection of the affectionate and dutiful errand on which she was engaged, her right, if such a word could be applicable, to expect protection in a task so meritorious. She had not advanced much farther, with a mind calmed by these reflections, when she was disturbed by a new and more instant subject of terror. Two men, who had been lurking among some

copse, started up as she advanced, and met her on the road in a menacing manner. "Stand and deliver," said one of them, a short stout fellow, in a smock-frock, such as are worn by wagoners.

"The woman," said the other, a tall thin figure, "does not understand the words of action.-Your money, my precious, or your life!"

"I have but very little money, gentlemen," said poor Jeanie, tendering that portion which she had separated from her principal stock, and kept apart for such an emergency; "but if you are resolved to have it, to be sure you must have it."

D-nine, if it shall

"This won't do, my girl. pass!" said the shorter ruffian; "do ye think gentlemen are to hazard their lives on the road to be cheated in this way? We'll have every farthing you have got, or we will strip you to the skin, curse me.'

His companion, who seemed to have something like compassion for the horror which Jeanie's countenance nów expressed, said, “No, no, Tom, this is one of the precious sisters, and we'll take her word, for once, without putting her to the stripping proof.-Hark ye, my lass, if you'll look up to Heaven, and say, this is the last penny you have about ye, why, hang it, we'll let you pass.

"I am not free," answered Jeanie, "to say what I have about me, gentlemen, for there's life and death depends on my journey; but if you leave me as much as finds me in bread and water, I'll be satisfied, and thank you, and pray for you."

"D-n your prayers!" said the shorter fellow, "that's a coin that won't pass with us ;" and at the same time made a motion to seize her.

66

Stay, gentlemen," Ratcliffe's pass suddenly occurring to her; "perhaps you know this paper."

"What the devil is she after now, Frank?" said the more savage ruffian-" Do you look at it, for, d— me, if I could read it, if it were for the benefit of my clergy."

"This is a jark from Jim Ratcliffe," said the taller, having looked at the bit of paper. "The wench must pass by our cutter's law."

"I say no," answered his companion; "Rat has left the lay, and turned bloodhound, they say."

"We may need a good turn from him all the same,” said the taller ruffian again."

"But what are we to do, then ?" said the shorter man." We promised, you know, to strip the wench, and send her begging back to her own beggarly country, and now you are for letting her go on."

“I did not say that," said the other fellow, and whispered to his companion, who replied, "Be alive about it then, and don't keep chattering till some travellers come up to nab us."

"You must follow us off the road, young woman," Isaid the taller.

"For the love of God!" exclaimed Jeanie," as you were born of woman, dinna ask me to leave the road! rather take all I have in the world."

"What the devil is the wench afraid of ?" said the other fellow. "I tell you you shall come to no harm; but if you will not leave the road and come with us, d—n me, but I'll beat your brains out where you stand."

"Thou art a rough bear, Tom," said his companion. "An ye touch her, I'll give ye a shake by the collar shall make the Leicester beans rattle in thy guts.-Never mind him, girl; I will not allow him to lay a finger on you, if you walk quietly on with us; but if you keep jabbering there, d―n me, but I'll leave him to settle it with you."

This threat conveyed all that is terrible to the imagination of poor Jeanie, who saw in him that "was of milder mood" her only protection from the most brutal treatment. She therefore not only followed him, but even held him by the sleeve, lest he should escape from her; and the fellow, hardened as he was, seemed something touched by these marks of confidence, and repeatedly assured her, that he would suffer her to receive no harm.