'You'll never be able to stop us; you had better ride back and tell your master. Tell him that Mary Tyrrel is here, and will never leave Miss Hastings in life or in death.' I could not be sure of the exact words; but this she said or something like it."

The man perceiving that I had done questioning him, rode behind, and I consulted with Wriothesley as to what was to be done. To know the worst is perhaps less torturing than continually to dread it. That the woman Tyrrel, of whose fidelity I entertained no question, was with Julia, proved some mitigation of my suffering. It was a further relief to be able to act in place of speculating. The villain had laid himself open to vengeance. So far well; but, alas, he had my heart's treasure in his power. The direction which he had taken was known; but he might double on his route. Surely, he could not expect to realize his iniquitous purposes, or evade the retribution which his conduct must entail.

Our determination was soon taken. Wriothesley was to change horses with my servant, ride back to the university; and after having apprized Aitkins, and requested him to send a message to the Walkers, acquainting them with the results of their supineness, was further to procure a couple of men with fresh horses, and follow well armed, Perkins and Wriothesley, leading, in the direction which Heaviside had taken.

I was aware, from what I had already heard that Mrs. Hastings' abode was not very remote from Miss Netterville's; that lady indeed, had been at the pains to ascertain the exact spot. I first repaired to Miss Netterville's, and after experiencing her warmest sympathy, rode off without alighting, furnished, however, with a guide through the numerous cross lanes with which the country is intersected, in the direction of Mrs. Hastings' residence. It was now quite dark; and without the precaution just taken, we must inevitably have gone astray.

Mrs. Hastings was about to retire for the night, when I was announced. She had been surprised at my arrival; but preserved the selfpossession which habituation with good society always imparts. In brief terms, I stated that a carriage and four had arrived at Mr. Walkers, with intelligence of her sudden indisposition; on receiving which, Miss Hastings had instantly departed. From circumstances which afterwards transpired, I feared Miss Hastings had not reached her proper destination, and my anxiety for her welfare had induced me to inquire into the fact.

The unhappy parent could hardly bear to listen to the close of my short narrative. She rocked from side to side, repeatedly raised her clasped hands, while an agony too deep for tears, revealed itself on her features. She besought me to save her daughter-on her knees she implored my intervention. Bitterly did she regret having permitted her child to leave her side. Why did she suffer her to go among

strangers? Oh, why did she repel my honourable advances; surely my uncle would have sanctioned them, and then, she would have had a protector able and willing to take care of her?

I professed my instant readiness to depart. Not so my servant; he was cooler, and therefore, in so far, wiser than either of us. "Master," said he, addressing Mrs. Hastings, not to speak of myself, "has not been off his horse's back for twelve hours; neither has he tasted food all that time. As for the poor brutes, they will be famished. If I may be so bold Madam, it would be better we should take a little nourishment, and a few hours' rest; after which, the horses being fed and cleaned, we might go in search of the young mistress, without the risk of our cattle giving up on the road. At any rate, where should we go this dark night; I know nothing of these parts, and would have lost myself as it was, had it not been for the honest lad who brought us to your door."

The reasonableness of this proposal was obvious. Nature would not be defrauded of her rights; and however anxious to get on, the body was unable to follow the dictates of the impetuous mind. It was worse than useless to lose ourselves on the moors, and spend the murky night in their treacherous recesses, to the joint prejudice of ourselves, and wearied cattle, and without in the least advancing the objects which we had in view.

Mrs. Hastings acted at once on the suggestion. She made me enter her parlour, where a blazing fire was soon lighted up; chafed my gelid hands, procured water to bathe my feet, and served up meat and wine. In fact, now that I had alighted, I was sensible of my condition, and felt assured, such was the tension in which body and mind had been kept for many hours, that but for the thoughtful intervention of my servant, cold and exhaustion must have brought my efforts to a close.

Mrs. Hastings had a few other questions to