alone, but I am determined not to let you in, Yet I can't fay but I wish to know what you can tell me fo much to my advantage; indeed, if it is for my good, I ought to know it."

Flatterwell, (Going out, turns back.) Dear Mr. Parley, there is one thing had forgot. I cannot get over the hedge at night without affiftance. You know there is a fecret in the nature of that hedge; you in the houfe may get over to us in the wilderness of your own accord, but we cannot get to your fide by our own strength. You must look about to fee where the hedge is thinneft, and then fet to work to clear away here and there a little bough for me, it won't be mif. fed, and if there is but the fmallest hole made on your fide, thofe on ours can get through; otherwise we do but labor in vain. To this Parley made fome objection through the fear of being feen. Flatterwell replied, that the fmalleft hole from within would be fufficient, for he could then work his own way. 66 Well," said Parley, "I will confider of it. To be fure I fhall even then be equally fafe in the caftle, as I fhall have all the bolts, bars, and locks between us, fo it will make but little dif ference."

"Certainly not," faid Flatterwell, who knew it would make all the difference in the world. So they parted with mutual proteftations of regard. Parley went home charmed with his new friend. His eyes were now clearly opened as to his mafter's prejudices against the robbers, and

he was convinced there was more in the name than in the thing. "But," faid he, "though Mr. Flatterwell is certainly an agreeable companion, he may not be fo fafe an inmate. There can, however, be no harm in talking at a diftance, and certainly won't let him in."

Parley, in the courfe of the day, did not forget his promife to thin the hedge of separation a little. At first he only tore off a handful of leaves, then a little fprig, then he broke away a bough or two. It was obfervable, the larger the breach became, the worse he began to think of his mafter, and the better of himself. Every peep he took through the broken hedge increafed his defire to get out into the wildernefs, and made the thoughts of the castle more irksome to him.

He was continually repeating to himself, "I wonder what Mr. Flatterwell can have to fay fo much to my advantage. I fee he does not wifh to hurt my mafter, he only wishes to ferve me." As the hour of meeting, however, drew near, the master's orders now and then came across Parley's thoughts. So to divert them, he took THE BOOK. He happened to open it at these words, "My fon, if finners entice thee, confent thou not." For a moment his heart failed him. "If this admonition fhould be fent on purpofe?" faid he, "but no, 'tis a bugbear. My master told me that if I went to the bounds, I fhould get over the hedge. Now, I went to the utmost limits, and did not get over." Here

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confcience puts in, "Yes, but it was becaufe you were watched."-" I am fure," continued Parley, one may always ftop where one will, and this is only a trick of my master's to spoil fport; fo I will even hear what Mr. Flatterwell has to fay fo much to my advantage. I am not obliged to follow his counfels, but there can be no harm in hearing them."

Flatterwell prevailed on the reft of the robbers to make no publec attack on the castle that night.

"My brethren," faid he, "you now and then fail in your fchemes, becaufe you are for violent beginnings, while my foothing, infinuating measures hardly ever mifs. You come blustering, and roaring, and frighten people, and fet them on their guard. You infpire them with terror of you, while my whole fcheme is to make them think well of themfelves, and ill of their mafter. If I once get them to entertain hard thoughts of him, and high thoughts of them. felves, my business is done, and they fall plump into my fnares. So let this delicate affair alone to me. Parley is a foftly fellow; he must not be frightened, but cajoled. He is the very fort of man to fucceed with, and worth a hundred of your sturdy fenfible fellows. With them we want ftrong arguments, and ftrong temptations; but with fuch fellows as Parley, in whom vanity and fenfuality are the leading qualities (as let me tell you, is the cafe with far the greater part,) flattery, and the promise of

eafe and pleasure, will do more than your whole battle array. If you will let me manage, I will get you all into the caftle before midnight."

At night the caftle was barricadoed as ufual, and no one had obferved the hole which Parley had made in the hedge. This overfight arofe that night from the fervants neglecting one of the mafter's ftanding orders, to make a nightly examination of the ftate of the caftle. The neglect did not proceed fo much from the wilful disobedience, as from having paffed the evening in floth and diverfion, which often amounts to nearly the fame.

As all was very cheerful within, fo all was very quiet without. And before they went to bed, fome of the fervants observed to the rest, that as they heard no robbers that night, they thought they might foon begin to remit fomething of their diligence in bolting and barring. That all this faftening and locking was very troublesome, and they hoped the danger was now pretty well over. It was rather remarkable that they never made thefe fort of observations, but after an evening of fome excefs, and when they had neglected their private business with their mafter. All, however, except Parley, went quietly to bed, and seemed to feel uncommon fecurity.

Parley crept down to his lodge. He had half a mind to go to bed too: yet he was not willing to difappoint Mr. Flatterwell, fo civil a gentlepan. To be fure, he might have bad defigns,

yet what right had he to fufpect any body who made fuch profeffions, and who was fo very civil. Befides, "it is fomething for my advantage," added Parley. "I will not open the door, that is certain; but as he is to come alone, he can do me no harm through the bars of the windows; and he will think I am a coward if I don't keep my word; no, I will let him fee that I am not afraid of my own ftrength; I will fhew) him I can go what length I please, and stop short when I please." Had Flatterwell heard this boaftful fpeech, he would have been quite fure

of his man.

About eleven Parley heard the fignal agreed upon. It was fo gentle as to caufe little alarm. So much the worfe. Flatterwell never fright ened any one, and therefore feldom failed of any one.. Parley ftole foftly down, planted himself at his little window, opened the cafement, and spied his new friend. It was pale ftar light. Parley was a little frightened, for he thought he perceived one or two perfons behind Flatterwell; but the other affured him that it was only his own fhadow, which his fears had magnified into a company. "Though I affure you," said he, "I have not a friend but wha is as harmless as myself."

They now entered into earneft difcourfe, ir which Flatterwell fhewed himfelf a deep politi cian. He fkilfully mixed up, in his converfa tion, a proper proportion of praife on thi pleasures of the wildernefs, of compliments