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Except that you have made me out much better looking than I am. For, instead of dark

hair, mine is only chestnut; and my eyes merely grey, or what some call blue. I am thoroughly English in appearance and in feeling."

"Ah! what strange fancies come into grey heads, sir;' and the old man sat down, and stooped to pat the old hand that crouched at his feet.

“That has been a splendid dog," said the gentleman. "An old favourite, I suppose?"

"Yes, sir, he's very old, is this dog, old Wildrake. I've brought him up from a puppy, and we have grown old and useless together. I love him for the sake of his young master - poor fellow!" The old man sighed. Meanwhile Gregory the younger broiled a savoury, tender steak, for the traveller's supper; the fire was replenished, although it was early in July; several large dogs were let in, and lay basking on the hearth, in a perfectly amicable, free, and easy manner.

"Our cottage stands very lonely here, and we 're obliged to keep a sharp look out some

times; SO

we let the dogs loose at night.

For, now the

new road is made, we may chance to have some awkward visitors after

dark."

This was said, in explanation to their guest, by the young man who now sat down to his late and well earned meal. They had just finished when one o'clock struck, and startled the old man from a comfortable doze into which he had fallen.

"Bless me! why Gregory, lad, that was not the Bury clock sure?"

"No, grandfather: what put that into your head? Your mind is always running on the Bury ever since Father Clifford came over to see you when you were ill."

"I am rather startlish to night, lad, and I shall be better in bed: take care of the gentleman. Good night sir; I hope you will sleep well, and that the screech owls about here won't disturb you. Come along, old Wildrake, come along." And the grandfather, taking his oaken staff, and followed by the dog, retired to his room. The stranger was

shown into a neat sleeping-room, the furniture of which was far superior to what he should have expected to find in a house of greater pretensions: there were even some good drawings on the walls; a soldier's cap, an old fashioned musket, and a cavalry sabre, were hung over the mantel piece; and covered with crape was the very spirited likeness of a lad, that might rank as a good painting.

"This was the room in which my poor husband died," said the woman; "and these pictures were given to my mother by a dear, good lady that 's dead and gone."

"Your husband, I suppose, was a soldier?" inquired the stranger.

"He was sergeant in the troop that our young master was in. I wish you good night, sir. Shall I let down the curtains, for the sun shines right in at these windows; father would cut down the trees that we might have a view of the Bury."

"Thank you, I shall do very well, and need not detain you. I wish to set off early-Will you call me in time?"

"Some of them will be stirring, and we'll knock at the door."

Again good night was said, and the young traveller soon slept soundly. What further adventures befel him may be known from the following letter, which he despatched a few days afterwards.

My dear Charles,

We little thought that the Orestes and Pylades friendship, which we SO romantically contracted at Leyden, would ever have been renewed in England. The many happy hours we spent together in Holland were, I much feared, never likely to have been renewed, had we not met so unexpectedly in London. Strange that you, a wild, dashing, fiery-tempered lad-the champion of the school-should have settled down to such a drudging, laborious profession as that of the law and you really appear to like it, and to be deeply interested in it. I must congratulate you on your choice.

The few hours I spent with you and your family, passed too agreeably to be interrupted

:

by any domestic intelligence relating to myself; and yet, since I parted with you, I have met with some adventures that may very much influence my future fate. Do you remember when we were boys at school, and exchanged the usual boyish confidences, that you would speak to me of your home in England, of your family of your excellent but somewhat strict father of your kind, indulgent mother your good-natured eldest brothers—and your pretty sisters, with one of whom I was in duty bound to fall in love, had they not all grown up and married in the meantime. You could tell me of English friends and kindred, and I, the son also of English parents, and truly British in mind and manners, knew literally nothing of my fatherland. My earlier recollections enable me to remember that my first home was in France, in the sunny south; and I have a faint idea that our departure from the place of my birth must have been very sudden. I can just remember that I and my English nurse were one day followed by a tall, dark, military-looking man, who, after a scrutinising glance at me, inquired