to Ostende. The honest old follower of an 66 ungentle trade," was transfixed to the spot on which he stood with astonishment when he beheld his graceless nephew in the train of royalty.

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The

young urchin has thrust his head in the halter, as sure as my name is Luitje," he exclaimed, as he observed Huyp endeavouring to shun his glance, by throwing himself back in the carriage,

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the King has surely taken the boy up to confine him in the prison. Alas, my poor sister Aaltje will break her heart when she hears of it! This comes of his painting, and his playing, and clearing the old vrouws applezolders. I always thought that little good would come of it when I saw the jongeling set up for a gentleman, instead of following the business of his forefathers. After all, Huyp is to be pitied, and so I'll e'en turn back, and get the Burgomaster of Bruges to whisper a

word to his majesty in the lad's favor. It's not that I think they'll tie the boy up like the sign over a wyntapper's door, but I'll see what can be done for him."

This resolution taken, Luitje hastened back to the town, to request an interview with his worship of Bruges, who was a personage of vast importance in his own estimation, and lorded it over his fellows with a most excellent grace. Luitje, however, well knew the power of gold, and its influence over the human heart. The magistrate was in attendance on the monarch, and his deputy assured Luitje that it would be in vain for him to expect to be honored with an interview, as the great man would not leave the royal presence for an instant on any consideration.

Luitje coughed and hesitated a little, but being unwilling to give up his point, he placed a glittering Napoleon in the hand of the person whom he addressed, and

entreated him to use his influence with the higher powers for the liberation of Huyp. The bribe prevailed, and Luitje was assured that the necessary steps should immediately be taken for the emancipation of his nephew, and, provided his crime did not amount to any thing like treason, he was instructed to expect an immediate pardon from the clemency of the monarch, and the influence of the deputy of the first civil magistrate of Bruges.

"Treason!" exclaimed Luitje, as the third-rate man of power quitted the room-"treason! no, no, Huyp is no politician yet, whatever he may be in aftertimes, unless he plots against the safety of the fruit in an old vrouw's orchard. They might as well accuse a mouse of holding traiterous opinions against the whole community of cats, or a red-breast for disloyalty to the mandates of a hawk.”

Luitje anxiously awaited the return of

the mediator. Every minute seemed to him an hour, and twice did he view the minute hand of his watch perform the limited boundaries of its circle before any intelligence arrived. Luitje had a good heart, and trembled for his nephew, but he thought that gold would wash away his fault. He was by no means parsimonious, and where the reputation of the family of the Vuist Slaagens was concerned, he would willingly have given all his worldly wealth to preserve it in its pristine purity. The defalcation of Aaltje had been a bitter blow to their pride, but he conceived the apparent situation of Huyp to be infinitely more derogatory to their good name.

At length the messenger returned, divested of his former hauteur, and with much ceremonious courtesy informed Luitje, that he had been admitted to the presence of Mynheer Huyp, by whom he was commanded to

assure him, that his fears were wholly without foundation, and that he had the honor of being in attendance on his Majesty in quality of his page.

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"Twere better that he had been a cow-driver" said Luitje, "for he will do little good for himself at the court, which is like the web of a spider into which the poor fly falls to be devoured. However," continued he, "it is well that it is no worse, though I must say that the King might have made a better choice among the jongelings of Amsterdam if he were in want of a pagie. Huyp is a likely lad though, and, perhaps, may make his way in the world, if the King, or some of the great folks would take the trouble to set him right at the outset. Well, well, when the sun shines, the insects flutter in the beams it emits, so let the lad have his day of bliss."

The great man's deputy assured