proposed their breaking up watch for that night: to which proposal Munro, who, from the conduct the farmer had pursued, had no idea of their being able to effect any discovery, was on the point of acquiescing, when a tremendous noise, immediately over their heads, resembling that which thunder makes when rumbling over a building, arrested his words. He started, grasped his sword with firmness, and looked around him; while the eyes of the farmer began to stare, his teeth to chatter, and his complexion to assume a livid hue. The rumbling noise over head continued for some minutes, and was then succeeded by shrieks, or rather yells, of a most terrific nature, such as torture alone could be supposed to occasion.

Oh, Captain, Captain !" cried the farmer, on hearing these appalling sounds, and starting from the bench to which terror had at first rivetted him...." Oh, Captain, Captain!" extending his arms towards him.

Munro raised his finger significantly to mention him to silence: the next instant he heard the stairs creaking, he glanced his quick eye upwards, and at the head perceived a tall skeleton-like figure, enveloped in what appeared to be a winding-sheet, and surrounded by a pale luminous light. He instantly snatched up the lanthorn, and darted to the staircase, forgetful of its shattered state; scarcely, however, had he set his foot on it, ere he was reminded of this by the failure of one of the steps, and but that he caught, as it gave way, at a banister, he must have fallen through the chasm he had thus made. He now recollected what sudden emotion had before, rendered him forgetful of, that, at the side of the staircase, there was a door leading to a narrow shelving passage, ending at a flight of winding steps, which he doubted not having a communication with the apartments above; he therefore hastened onward, and had just reached them, when the frightful apparition he was in quest of rushed down them, and passing him with the quickness of lightning, vanished through a small space at the side of the passage which a door had once occupied. Munro pursued, and found himself in a small square stone room, half sunk under ground, and which he perfectly recol

lected having examined before, but without being able to discover more than one inlet into it. Again he went round it, feeling as he did so, all along the walls, but without meeting with any thing to impede the progress of his hand. After a little deliberation, he determined on pursuing this adventure no further for the present, since he could not avoid thinking his doing so incom patible with his safety, alone and unaided as he was; besides, he doubted not the farmer being in want of his assistance. He accordingly hastened back to the hall, where he found him exactly in the same spot in which he had left him, his pitchfork presented, his eyes staring wildly, his hair upright, every feature, in short, betokening horror and dismay. Munro shook him several times by the shoulder, and then made him swallow some ale which fortunately remained; this brought him a little to himself, and after heaving a deep sigh, or rather groan, and wiping his damp forehead...." Well, Captain, well," cried he, "did you catch it?" Munro informed him of the issue of the adventure. "The Lord have mercy upon us!" cried he, after hearing it...." Captain, Captain, let us be going: but don't ye think, don't ye that I'm afraid....no, no, if I had been so, instead of keeping my ground here, as you yourself saw I did, I should have kept at your heels."

"Oh, no doubt," cried Munro encouragingly; "but come, as you say, my good friend, let us be off, for we shall make no further discovery here to-night, I am sure. Take my advice, and keep what we have seen a secret, or else things will be worse than ever; and also take my word for it, that the spirit we saw this night is one enveloped in wicked flesh and blood, to which, I most sincerely hope, you may yet have an opportunity of giving a good ducking in your horse-pond, since I can scarcely think any punishment too severe for the person who wantonly sports with the feelings of his fellow-creatures."

The farmer readily promised the secrecy he desired, but by his silence relative to what he had said of the apparition, evidently proved he could not be persuaded to be of his opinion respecting it. They quitted the

building, and Munro saw his companion safely housed ere he parted from him.

The next day he re-examined the abbey more narrowly than he had ever done before, but without being able to discover the traces of any human beings, but the farmer and himself, having been lately in it. He again proposed having a watch kept there a few nights, but the proposal was now so universally negatived, and his wife and daughter expressed such uneasiness at the idea of his going thither again at such a time, that he gave up all intention of doing so.

His anxiety about his son now daily encreased, as every day tended still further to convince him of the impracticability of keeping him much longer at the University, except some unexpected change took place in his circumstances, of which he had not the remotest expectation; no, his prospects were now, on every side, cheerless and barren; and, by degrees, his incessant contemplation of them made him acquire a look of moodycare, which drew upon him the observations of his neighbours, and excited various conjectures among them as to the cause of it; some thought one thing, some another; all agreed, however, that it must be something very grievous which thus weighed upon him.

Farmer Stubbs, who, whatever may be thought to the contrary, was (ghosts and such like trumpery, as he styled them, out of the question) not only one of the bravest but honestest of men, saw and thought as much as his neighbours, but, unlike them, remained silent with respect both to his remarks and surmises, it being a maxim with him, that a man has no right to busy him self, unasked, about the affairs of another. He had somehow (doubtless from that secret sympathy which, be their education ever so different, exists between worthy hearts,) contracted a vast liking for the Captain, he said, such as at any time would have made him fight for him through thick and thin; and it now vexed him to the soul, though he said nothing about the matter, to see him drooping his head, like a blighted ear of corn, and going about as if crazed with care.

One evening, as this honest farmer was digging in a field, he was joined by a neighbour of the name of Watkins, a sly, cunning, canting man, of Methodistical manners and appearances, who, though he professed to love good works above all things, was supposed to love good cheer better; and who, having by some means or other (not altogether to his credit, if the report of the goddess who blew the brazen trump in the little village of Heathwood was to be believed) scraped together sufficient to permit him to indulge his propensity for idleness, the offspring of a creeping, grovelling disposition, passed much of his time in running about to collect news of his neighbours, which he detailed with the utmost avidity, especially if it was of an unfavourable nature, as he was quite as malicious and envious as he was greedy and hypocritical.

Against Munro he had what is vulgarly called a particular grudge, owing to his having espoused, and finally enabled her to triumph over him, the cause of a poor widow, who, by some unexpected casualty, had fallen into his power; as also on account of his having repulsed the efforts he made to be on familiar terms with him and his family.

Stubbs, who had but little notion of ceremony, and who, moreover, did every thing but hate Watkins, for to do that heknew would be unchristian-like, took no notice whatever of his approach, but continued digging away as if he had seen no one. Watkins, who knew him well, and stood much in dread of him, so much, indeed, that he did every thing he could think of as likely to conciliate his regard, attempted not to interrupt him by speaking, till he paused to take breath; he then, after "A fine evening, neighbour, a fine evening," added, with what he intended for an approving smile...." I see thou dost not eat the bread of idleness."

"No," replied Stubbs, as, after rubbing his hand against his waistcoat, he dug his spade with the assistance of his foot, again into the ground," no 'tis bad bread for any one.'

"Truly thou sayest right in saying so ; those who hanker after it will surely meet with punishment."

"Doubtless, doubtless," returned the farmer, again applying his foot to the spade.

"I say neighbour," resumed Watkins, after a short pause...." I say," twitching him by the sleeve, and pointing with his thumb over his left shoulder towards the house of Munro, conspicuous from the spot on which they were," some folks yonder will soon repent, if they already don't, having indulged themselves in it."

you

"Well, what's that to you?" replied the other, but without seeming to understand who he alluded to; won't be obliged also to repent for their having done so."

"Me! no, God forbid that any of us should be obliged to answer for the sins or indiscretions of others!"

"Why, I believe," and Stubbs leered a little slily at the demure and sanctified-looking Watkins, "it would be a bad job for some folks if they were, seeing as how they are loaded with so heavy a burthen of their own.'

"But I say, neighbour," cried Watkins, eagerly returning to the subject, for the purpose of discussing which with him, he had alone sought out Stubbs...." I say, you must lately have seen something wrong in the house of the Captain, as he is called, though why he should, since not receiving the king's pay, I can't tell?"

"No, not I," replied Stubbs, without seeming to notice this last observation...." not 1," digging away; what should I see wrong in it? have the rats eat through the walls?"

"The rats!....ha! ha!....No....yet, nevertheless, the prop, the main beam, the support of the building, is, I think, going fast; but thou dost not, perhaps," observing the other suddenly suspend his labour, and regard him with a kind of vacant stare, "understand metaphorical language; I will, therefore, explain.... Thou must know, then, that the Captain (I know I should not please thee if I styled him otherwise) has brought himself into such trouble, by trying to bring up his son as a gentleman, that I should not wonder if he soon went the way of all flesh," and he pointed with his finger to the ground," he frets, and takes on so....for which, verily, I should pity him, but that I think his pride merits chastisement; for what but