THE following day a servant entered and informed Sir Algernon that a strange man, apparently a sailor, wished to speak with Miss Lyndsey, but on hearing that she was ill, and could not be seen, refused to give his message to any one, and yet would not leave the house.

"Ask to speak to him yourself," said Mr Percy, eagerly; "do not let him go without our seeing him."

Orders were accordingly given that the sailor should be admitted. And a rough, weather-beaten, but honest-looking tar, was ushered into the room. He rolled his eyes round, and exclaimed—

"I don't see e'er a she amongst you, and that's the ballast that I'm arter."

Sir Algernon saw at once the sort of person with whom he had to deal; so begging him familiarly to take a seat, he filled him a glass of wine, which civility the honest man acknowledged by a nod of

H

the head, and a hearty smacking of the lips after he had drained the glass to the dregs. His heart seemed to open, and Sir Algernon found no difficulty in bringing him to the point; and having explained that the young lady was ill, and that he was her uncle and guardian, and could safely deliver any message to her, the sailor drew from his pocket a bit of greasy paper directed to Miss Lyndsey, which he handed to Sir Algernon.

"Ye're honour will please not to open it nor look at it, on any account whatsomever; for ye see, 'twas her Joe, as I thinks, trusted this bit o' paper to my care. He took on so, poor young fellow, that she should get it, that I said, 'I'm your man;' and he paid me handsomely, he did, on the very spot, and he says, says he,-'If you've ever had a desire to thank any one as had done the greatest of services to you, why then,' says he, 'you'll feel for me, and take this safely as it is set out in the direction.' So I was bound to set sail for this here place as soon as might be, and here I am, your honour, for nobody know'd me fail in my trust."

Sir Algernon asked him many questions as to the young man who had given him the letter; and

the sailor informed him he had seen the younker on board a fishing smack, which would soon take him to the Constance then in the offing, a fast sailer and a merchant vessel bound for the West Indies. "And will she not touch elsewhere?" demanded Sir Algernon.

"Maybe on the Dutch coast, if all is clear, your honour."

"No doubt, no doubt," said Mr Percy; "he's a lucky fellow, and has got safely off, that's clear enough."

And Sir Algernon replied, gravely, "He has had help in his hour of need, which truly fails not, a stronger help than any arm of flesh."

The honest tar was then dismissed with suitable thanks and recompence; and Sir Algernon hastened with the letter to Antonia's bedside, who, though still feverish, appeared so much better, that her uncle had no hesitation in giving it to her, and telling her, at the same time, of the sailor's visit, wisely concluding the good news was more likely to calm than to disturb her.

Antonia, however, returned the note to Sir Algernon, saying, "Read it yourself, my dear, kind uncle,

and read it to me; I have no more disguises, no more concealments from you."

Her uncle kissed her affectionately, and read aloud as follows:

"The kindness Miss Lyndsey has already shewn to an unfortunate person, induces him to suppose that the news of his safety will not be unwelcome to her. Though his gratitude cannot be expressed in words, and the day may never come of proving it by deeds, yet he must always carry the recollection of it in his heart, and pray Heaven to bless his kind preserver."

And thus the drama seemed to be played out, and the curtain fell as if the piece were finished; for months and months rolled on, not a syllable transpired, not a word was heard.

Sir Algernon, at Antonia's request, despatched a messenger to Castle Berenger, with an account of Mr Berenger's escape; but the messenger returned with the intelligence that the castle was shut up, that the family had left immediately after the late lord's funeral, and had given no information where they were to be found. A commissioner from the government resided there in a corner of the princely man

sion, and a few gray-haired domestics were still allowed to remain upon sufferance. The Sleyton Court messenger, in pursuance of orders, returned with his despatch, which he had been desired to leave in no other hands than those of Lady Berenger; and the only surmise that could be made was, that the unfortunate family were now probably re-united and living together on the Continent.

And thus this great subject of interest dropped. The wise precautions taken, and the reserve observed, had thoroughly answered. The mode of Mr Berenger's escape remained a profound secret, and was now apparently forgotten by those whose curiosity was urgent a few months before. Naturally it was vividly present with the Lyndsey family during the trials of the Scottish lords. The last of these unfortunate men, Lord Lovat, was not executed till March 1747-an act of such tardy justice, that to many it rather appeared in the light of a cold-blooded revenge.

Antonia shewed great emotion, but little surprise, when Sir Algernon informed her that the Berenger property was confiscated, and an attainder passed on the title of that family.