Well, now to proceed,' resumed Mactalla; all our misfortunes were brought upon us by that devil of a French boy I just told you about. He couldn't keep up with me and my master, and so fearing we'd give him the slip, he kept bellowing out every moment, like a young bull, that he was going to be robbed. Talk of the devil and he'll appear, used my grandmother Norah say, and by St. Patrick she said what was right, for the robbers did come at last. A great storm coming on towards night, I and my master took refuge in a wood by the road side; and snug enough we thought ourselves, till the squalling of Monsieur discovered us to a gang of about forty thieves, that had also taken shelter there. I placed myself between them and my master and the little boy, and though only armed with a horse-whip, gave a devil of a dressing to the forty rogues, notwithstanding the swords, and pistols, and carbines, with which they were armed. I fought them a long time, still crying out to my master, as I laid about me, to have courage.'

What! interrupted Farmer Stubbs, with only a whip were you able to fight and kill forty men, armed with swords and pistols!

What, kill them all! no, no, with such odds against him, that would have been more than Sampson himself could have done. I think I did very well in fighting them all for an hour, and then laying fifteen of them low. Here a burst of laughter from honest Stubbs again broke the thread of Mr. Mactalla's story.

By the powers, but you have got into a merry humour, Master Stubbs,' cried he, after viewing him some minutes in silence; I should like to know what it is has tickled your fancy so suddenly; it can't be the tragical battle, I am sure, I have been telling you of.'

Why, I'll tell you,' said Farmer Stubbs, as soon as he was again able to speak, which was not immediately. First, however,' (looking all round him,) asking pardon of this good company for interrupting you; but if I was to have been shot for it, I couldn't help laughing at your story Mr. Mac, it so put me in mind of one I read some years ago, written by a man of the name of....of Munchausen; ay, that was it I think; by goles, yours is as like it as one egg is to another, only that I don't think here are quite so many lies in yours.?

Lies' repeated M'Tullough, rising from his seat; by the Powers, Mr. Stubbs, but this is not the language of a gentleman.'

Come, come,' cried old Andrew, interposing, deil take me if there shall be any quarrelling on sic a happy day as this; come, Maister Stubbs, ye must beg Maister Mac's pardon, and then a' will gang weel again.'

This Stubbs readily did, protesting he meant no offence.

No, to be sure,' rejoined Andrew, for he must be a crankous churl, which I am sartain, from your sonsie looks, you are not, Maister Stubbs, who could wish to gi offence to a peerson who was putting their inveention to the rack to afford them amusement, as Maister Mac has been kind enough to do for us.'

Mactalla looked a little askance at this speech of old Andrew's; his natural good humour, however, soon got the better of all petulance, and to prove its ascendancy, he proposed singing some Italian airs, for the amusement of the company. His proposal was accepted; and such was the effect his quivering and shaking had upon his auditors, that in a little while several of them endeavoured to chime in with him, by each trying to adapt a song in their own language to the Italian air he favoured them with.

Old Andrew chose.... Green grow the rushes, O;? Farmer Stubbs.... Chevy Chace; and Mr. O'Grady and his lady.... Ellen a Roon.'

That the harmony their united exertions produced was of the most delightful nature, we shall not pretend to assert; such as it was, however, they were perfectly satis fied with it.

Their vocal was at length interrupted by instrumental music from an adjoining hall, in which by the command of the lady of the mansion, an entertainment was provided for the principal tenants, whilst the others were feasted at the inn in the village.

The mortification of Watkins on this occasion was such as to induce him to seclude himself from every eye; and shortly after resolve on quitting a place where his conduct to a worthy man had rendered him hateful to all.

The gentlemen looked in upon the happy party below, and for a short time the bridegrooms mingled with the

dancers, of whom Mr. Mac, as he was generally styled, was the most conspicuous. As he had before charmed and amazed by his singing, so did he now by his danc ing; but with such grand requisites as he was in posses sion of for dancing weil, namely, a light heart and light heels, it was not surprising he should excel in this accomplishment.

Most unwillingly did Mr. and Mrs. O'Grady and old Andrew set off the next morning for Glengary. Munro, however, determined never intentionally to give any one reason to complain of him, would not understand the hints they threw out, of their readiness to exchange bis father's service for his. He did not, however, per mit them to depart without receiving substantial proofs of the gratitude he felt for their long and disinterested attachment to him, neither.without a letter to Sir Patrick, thanking him for the place he had allowed him to retain in his remembrance; and entreating him, as soon as he was sufficiently recovered to be able to travel, to favour him with a visit, and, if agreeable, take up his residence in future with him.

Happy in the society of each other, the party at Fir grove neither wished nor thought of separating, when about a week after Munro and his family had become inmates of it, an express arrived from Sir Patrick, to in form him of the sudden death of his father, just after the old gentleman, in consequence of hearing of the change that had taken place in his circumstances, had destroyed a will made agreeably to the wishes of Mrs. Munro, and avowed a determination of being again on good terms with him.

Upon this intelligence Munro lost no time in setting out for Glengary, accompanied by his son and son-in-law, Their arrival so immediately after the decease of its late owner, was neither expected, (Sir Patrick having given her no intimation of the express he had dispatched to Heathwood) nor yet desired by the fair relict, as it prevented the removal of certain valuables she had taken a particular fancy to, and which, from conceiving employment the best antidote against sorrow, she had busied herself in selecting and packing up, almost from the moment of her husband's death.

Compelled by the arrival of the heir to see these restored to their usual places, her rage and mortification knew no bounds, and in a paroxysm of passion she quitted the house, though informed by Munro, that out of respect to the memory of his father, he should make no objection to her remaining in it, till she had provided herself with a suitable residence elsewhere.

We should here drop her entirely, but that we wish, as far as is in our power, to prove that there are but few instances of vice not sooner or later meeting with punishment in this life. From the neighbourhood of Glengary, to which she soon after bid a final adieu, con vinced, from her perfect consciousness of the impropriety of her conduct, that in losing the title of its mistress, she had lost all that had ever obtained, or could obtain her the notice of its inhabitants, she repaired to Edinburgh, where the property she was possessed of gave her such charms in the eyes of a professional gentleman there, as induced him to solicit her hand, very shortly after they became acquainted, and which under the idea of his being deeply enamoured of her, and in possession of a handsome fortune, she had no great hesitation in bestowing on him.

Scarcely, however, was the nuptial knot tied, ere she had convincing proofs of being mistaken in both suppositions: regret and repentance followed the conviction....but a regret and repentance which neither excited sympathy, nor yet amended her own heart.

Munro was too well remembered in the neighbourhood of Glengary for a general joy not to pervade it, at his succeeding to the inheritance of his forefathers....a joy which, but for propriety, would have been publicly manifested, on his arriving to take possession.

In about six weeks after the death of his father, he found himself comfortably settled with his family at Glengary. Their arrival was welcomed by those rejoicings which decorum in the first instance had prohibited; and for which, his health and Mrs. Munro's being by this time perfectly re-established, there was nothing to prevent their making suitable returns. But in doing this they did not confine their attentions entirely to their fashionable and wealthy neighbours; benevolence, as well as

send your family from you, but that exists no longer; collect them without delay, and let the evening of your days be spent in the enjoyment of that domestic felicity, to which the industry, honesty, and benevolence that dis tinguished their morning so justly entitle you....Mrs. Stubbs,' turning from the astonished farmer to his equally astonished wife, and presenting her his hand, I should deem myself very remiss, if I did not also avail myself of this opportunity to thank you for the kind attentions my family and I received from you. Long, long,' uniting the rough and sun-burnt hands of the honest rustics, and pressing them for a few minutes between his, long, long, with fervour he added, may you and your hus band he spared to each other; hand in hand may ye deSend into the vale of life together; may you live to see your childrens' children rejoicing around you; and when from this world translated to a better, may a race as virtuous as yourselves attend you to your last receptacle'.... Then dropping their hands, he rushed from the room, overpowered by emotion.

Amen! exclaimed Don Alphonso to what he had Just said, but in a voice scarce articulate, and dropping at their feet a rich and heavy purse.

Non, non,' cried the sobbing farmer, instantly picking it up, and following him; noa, noa, trying to force it upon Lim: if you do not all wish to break my heart outLight by your kindness, you'll take this back."

Nay, said Osmond, interposing, you must not refuse my grandfather; he means that purse to defray the expences of a housewarming, which we must have here as soon as your children arrive.',

Yes,' rejoined Delacour, and I bespeak the hand of your daughter for the first dance; so say no more on the subject, farmer, but do you and your dame,' slapping him on the shoulder, make haste and smarten yourselves to come down to the Hall, for I assure you, we shall take it much amiss if the healths of the brides at least are not drank there by you.'

• Well, well, if it must be,' said Stubbs, heaving a deep sigh, indicative of the fulness of his heart, why it must; but to be sure, I can't help thinking myself in a dream.'

The party now quitted the house, the bridegrooms