Yar, that forms the deep water channel up the harbour which formerly passed close under the walls of Wolverton, has now entirely altered its course. It comes into the harbour just where it did, but, instead of running by the ruins of the old town, it turns short off, and makes a long round to avoid the place. If the visiter will stand upon the hill, above the haunted wood where the old town was, when the tide is low, he will be able to distinguish accurately where the course of the river formerly ran, and where it now is.

There is a tradition in the neighbourhood that the nightingales never sing in Wolverton wood-they get driven away by the owls.

But, amidst all this scene of desolation, there was one person who sustained no injury either in person or property. This was Edgar; his cottage was a short distance from the town, and was neither sacked by the French, nor burnt with the rest of the buildings. He offered his houseless Matilda a home, which offer was accepted;

and in the due course of time they were surrounded by a small family of chubby children, some of whose descendants still occupy a cottage on or near the spot where Edgar's formerly stood. Those who wish to see it will find it about a hundred yards from the Pilgrim's Lane.

74

THE ANTIQUARY'S GRIEF.

Man has another day to swell the past,

And lead him near to little and his last;
While mighty nature bounds as in her birth,
The sun is in the heaven, and life on earth.

BYRON.

WHEN I rose in the morning, I was told that my new acquaintance had been up and out some time; so I went out to take a look round the place. I soon fell in with him; he was standing by the sea-side, at the end of a newly-planted avenue, which the spirit of modern improvement had introduced there, apparently with a view of converting the little village into a fashionable wateringplace.

But such a change had come over him, that he hardly appeared to be the same person: his countenance bore the impress of deep grief. I indeed almost fancied that I