but brown and withering, it appeared to conceal its meanness beneath the widespreading furze and bramble, which overran the earth: the road was now a heavy sand, and a slow walk the only pace at which the horses were able to drag along the carriage. Stony cliffs bounded the road on either side, and the few solitary trees which broke the uniformity of the scene were all bent in one direction, and barely clothed with a few brown and shrivelling leaves.

Rosalind remarked the change to Sir Maurice, and he replied" We are approaching towards the sea."

The ocean was a sight entirely new to Rosalind, with which she was yet acquainted only by description; and even in her present state of anxiety, she felt something like pleasure at the idea of beholding it."Shall we see it?" she asked of her guide.

"It will burst upon us," he answered, "at the next turn of the road."

"Indeed!"

"Indeed!" said Rosalind-" we are not far from it then?"

"Scarcely three miles," was the reply.. The shades of night were now descending fast, and when the carriage arrived at the anticipated spot, the object from which Rosalind expected gratification was scarcely visible even to one unaccustomed to behold it; for, in the duskiness of the evening, the horizontal line was lost, and the sea appeared but a continuation of the clouds, ultimately losing themselves amongst the cliffs.

But as her eye roved over the scene, it fell suddenly upon an object, on which it rested with a kind of superstitious awe and dread this was a building whose towers seemed mingling with the skies, and which, in the present twilight, she could only discover to be immense.

"What is that ?" she asked Sir Maurice, pointing to it with her finger. "Rockmount Castle," he replied.

She had heard the name before, but could not immediately recollect where or by whom, and echoed his words.

Yes, Rockmount Castle," he repeated, "the mansion of Lord Rufus de Madginecourt.'

"

"O God!" exclaimed Rosalind-"am I then in the power of Lord Rufus ?” "You are under his protection, lady," returned Sir Maurice,

"Oh! why am I not rather the captive of Allanrod?" continued Rosalind. "I should expect more humanity from that freebooter, than from Lord Rufus.".

"It is from his savage ferocity," answered Sir Maurice, "that Lord Rufus has rescued you."

The senses of Rosalind became bewildered, as in a hurried dream. The name of Lord Rufus brought with it the remembrance of never-to-be-forgotten horrors; a thousand ideas crowded on her mind, but she could dwell on none: recollection

recollection of the past united with it bitter regret; anticipation of the future the most sickening terrors-she burst into tears, and sunk back in the carriage.

CHAP. VIII.

Eye me, bless'd Providence, and square my trial

To my proportion'd strength.

MILTON,

THE roaring of the waves dashing their milky foam against the foot of the rocks, roused Rosalind from the trance into which she had fallen. Just sufficient of the light of day was remaining to shew her that she was on the point of entering the lofty gateway that led to the castle; the building itself appeared equally gloomy and sublime. The numerous lights which were moving within it, and constantly passing and repassing

the