"O, I'm so delighted to hear you say so," said Mary, "I have been wishing it for such a time, -'twill be delightful!" Mr Peter Pearie looked at the animated countenance of his ward-and a strange cloud passed over his brow. "The lassie's in a creel," he replied. "Is't such a grand thing to mak' an outery about, that a man placed in my situation should gi'e a bit denner to an English fox-hunter that's come down a' the way to hunt wi' the Duke -what'll be delightful aboot it? eh?" "Oh, he'll tell me all about his horses; that beautiful black creature with the glossy mane-a Tartar of the Ukraine breed." "Na, na," said Mr Pearie, who had not studied Mazeppa so deeply as Cocker, " it seems a douce quiet bit beast, an' very clean in the skin. Chair lie Patieson's the lad for a Tartar. Yon was a real ane that cam' frae Embro'-but in my een it's a temptin' o' Providence to hae ony thing but a blind powney that's a wee short o' the wind-for when they're blind they canna see ony thing to shy at, and if they're a wee asthmatic they canna rin very far, and that's the reason I'll hae nae ither horse but Dapple-nor you either, Mary; so say nae mair, say nae mair." "But do you know any thing of this gentleman, his name, or whether he would like to be called upon ?" enquired the young lady. "His name's no of sae much consequence when I ask him to his denner as if I was asking him to pit it on the back of a bill-and as to likin' to be called on, ye'll remember, Miss, that it's me that's going to do't-me, the representative o' the firm, and indeed heed o' the"_ "Oh yes, I know all that," interrupted the young lady; " I only wish you could ask his horses along with him-such noble steeds. At the Baron De Mowbray's gate was seen, He sang this merry lay- "Does he so?" murmured Mr Pearie, as he gazed at the door through which his volatile ward had disappeared, while her voice was still audible, going on with the ballad" then by my certie the sooner he rides away the better-I wonder if this is some lover o' the lassie-if it is, and they've kept me in the dark, they'll find to their cost what it is to offend the heed o' the hoose. The gipsy! I maun tell Charles o' my suspicions, but in the mean time I'll hae the chap to his denner." While this great resolve was agitating the bosom of Mr Pearie, and while the harp was thrilling beneath the touch of Mary Peat, who still sang the ballad of the Fair Young Knight, Charles Patieson glided into the room, looking so pale and miserable, that the fair performer suddenly broke off in the middle of a stanza, and asked if he had seen a ghost? " I think I have, Mary," he replied, trying to smile. "What was it like? - what was it of? a bleeding nun-a murdered man -oh, what was it? do tell." "The Past, the buried Past! it haunts me still," "Poor fellow," said Mary, turning over her music in search of another song, " you must be terribly ill since you have taken to quoting poetry. How are stocks to-day, Charles; are the funds looking up ?" "Three and a half," mechanically answered the lover, " are same as yester; but pshaw! hang the funds, Has Mr Pearie told you his intention about this hunting stranger?" "Oh yes, he is to be asked to dinner -we shall get great friends, I hopepleasant acquisition in this dull place, won't it?" "Oh very," replied Charles, in a tone of voice that did not quite accord with the sentiment. "He is an officer." "Dear me! how charming!" interrupted Mary; " and his name, dear Charles, have you found out his name?" "Slasher. He is home on his three years leave from India." "Oh what a nice neighbour he will be; what delightful stories he'll tell us of Ormus, and of Ind, Delhi, Bussorah, Damascus! The very names are enchanting as fairy tales; what day is he to be asked on?" "On Thursday," said Charles; "I am surprised Mr Pearie runs such a risk." "Oh! I can't pretend to offer you information on points you must be so much better acquainted with yourself. However, it would have been as well to have consulted me before going quite so far. You will remember that, as my father's representative, I also am one of your guardians." "Hoity toity," exclaimed the young lady, "what is the meaning of all this? You first begin looking dismal, talking of seeing a ghost, quoting poetry, and now tormenting my head with riddles. Speak out, man, and don't ride the high horse any longer. The tall steed you had from Edin burgh should have taught you better behaviour. What have you got to say?" "Simply this; that Mr Pearie intends to marry you; he makes no secret of it; he told our new headclerk, Mr Dawson, who told it again to me; so there can be no mistake" A variety of colours passed over the beautiful brow and cheeks of Mary Peat, among which a bright scarlet soon gained the mastery, for her countenance was somewhat like a stormy sunset as she answered, " Who has dared to say this? Has Peter Pearie, banker and bachelor, heed o' the hoose, and fifty-seven years of age? 'Pon my word, Charles, Charles, didn't you knock Mr Dawson down?" "I had a great inclination to do it; but determined to ascertain the truth of the report from your own lips." "But what would be the use of my saying any thing?" continued Mary, in a different mood, with difficulty controlling a desire to laugh outright; "you know, Charles, you are one of my guardians, and may refuse your consent. You wouldn't agree to it? Would you?" "I would die sooner-ah! Mary, if it rested with me". "By the by, Charles, have you heard this new ballad? Such a pretty thing, though the words are contemptible;" and striking the harp-strings, she trilled one of the commonplace chansons of the day so sweetly, that Charles thought it would be a sin to interrupt her; and by the time the song was finished, the head of Mr Peter Pearie was poked in at the door for a moment, and uttered the following words, "I've ca'd on the chield over the way-he's coming at five o'clock on Thursday; so let us hae a good denner on that day, Mary, befitting our station in the town, and my position as heed o' the hoose. Pearie, Peat, and Patieson were aye famed for their five-year auld cheviots, and we've aye dealt wi' Bell and Rennie; so we needna turn our backs on the King." After this discourse the head was withdrawn, but we grieve to say that, from our knowledge of Charles Patieson's character, we are afraid he never summoned courage to renew the conversation, and allowed Mary to sing song after song till it was time for him to return to the Dene, and spend his solitary evening in envying the senior partner his happiness in living in the same house, albeit he was somewhat comforted by the way in which the young lady had received his information respecting that gentleman's matrimonial designs. CHAPTER II. A week, a month, a quarter of a year elapsed, and matters were not ostensibly much changed. Captain Slasher, indeed, was a frequent visitor, but, to ordinary eyes, his delicate attentions seemed exclusively devoted to Mr Pearie's claret; his reminiscences of Oriental beauty were too lively to permit his attaching much value to the lilies and roses of Mary Peat; and, with a persevering gallantry worthy of a scientific old soldier, he persisted in maintaining the footing he had gained in the worthy banker's family, even after it was abundantly evident that a retreat would have been agreeable to all parties, and particularly to the "heed o' the hoose." The "heed o' the hoose" was reduced to a very humble height in presence of the Indian soldier-his Cheeta shooting at Dhurwar-his steeple chases at Belgaumhis leopard-hunts at Bellary, threw the after-dinner boastings of Mr Peter Pearie, who in his day was considered a dead shot at a moorcock, completely into the shade; and it was with feelings of satisfaction, worthy of Milton's Satan, that Charles saw the fires of rage and jealousy slowly wasting away all the good-nature in his partner's bosom. In fact, it could no longer be concealed that Mr Pearie hated Captain Slasher, and it was also equally incapable of concealment that Captain Slasher didn't care three straws whether Mr Pearie hated him or not. Twice or thrice a-week, without any invitation, the gallant soldier stalked into the banker's diningroom just as dinner was announced, told all the feats of the day-the leaps, and falls, and other incidents-sent in his plate five or six times to the joint of beef, emptied his bottle of port and threetumblers of toddy, and concluded the evening by snoring an accompaniment to Mary's nicest songs. Now, whether it were from the perversity that is said to be a constituent part of the feminine disposition, or from some other cause with which we are unacquainted, Mary did not appear to share in her guardian's dislike to the society of her new acquaintance. She delighted in his tales of wild Indian adventures, and his accounts of the noble deaths of the wild monsters of the desert. On days when the hounds did not meet, he generally wiled away an hour or two listening to Mary's music, or escorting her in her walks; in these respects supplying the place of Charles Patieson, who had gradually withdrawn himself from his former inti. macy, and was endeavouring to wean himself from his foolish affection. One day when matters were in this state, -when the gallant Captain had escorted Mary to see the wax-work models of distinguished characters, which a provincial forerunner of Madame Tussand had brought into the town, VOL, XLIV. NO. CCLXXVIII, with the additional recommendation of modelling correct likenesses, in a few hours, of any one who chose to be immortalized in wax-while Slasher, we repeat, was escorting Mary to this sight, Mr Pearie, after many ominous and mysterious nods with his sagacious head to his junior partner, commenced a lamentation in the following terms"Charles, hoo does it happen ye sae seldom stay to yer kail?" "You have other company, sir; I might perhaps be intrusive," "Deil a bit, deil a bit. Ah, Charles, if ither folk had a wee taste o' your way o' thinkin', it would be a' the better for my peace an' comfort. Charles, hospitality is a wearyin' o' the flesh. I wish I had never askit that lang neckit Indian savage to see the inside o' my hoose." "He is an agreeable man, sir, I believe-full of anecdote" "Lees, every word o't; but, for a' that, the smooth-tongued leear is gainin' his point. I had ither thochts for Mary; but a wilfu' man will hae his way-and so will a wilfu' woman." "Mary will soon be of age-she will have a right to choose". "But is't no shocking she should leave the Bank, and settle in some wearifu' place wi' a name like Meritchgaum or Sholapoor? The lassie's an ass, and there's an end. Dogs on't! if I werena' sae braid in the waim, and gied ower fair a mark, I wad challenge him to fecht; or if I were a wee younger, hoo auld are ye, Charles?" "Three-and-twenty, sir," "Three-and-twenty! If I were three-and-twenty-ay, or twice threeand-twenty, I wad shoot him as I wad a pairtrick." -- "My indignation is not quite so warm, sir," replied Charles. "But it ocht to be, sir, -hot-boilin'. I tell ye this landlouper is going to break in on the customs of three generations. We've aye married thro' ither-an' Slasher wad be a grand name to pit into the firm! I'll no stand it I'll gang through wi' my plan, and marry her in spite o' her teeth-there's nae consent needed but yours an' mine; we are her guardians-you'll consent, I'm sure; and as for hers". "You, of course, have secured that," said Charles, with something of bitterness in his tone. "I thocht I had; indeed, as heed o' the hoose, I thocht it my duty to use all my influence, if it had been for 3 G naething but the sake o' the Bank; but deil hae this lang-backit ne'er-doweel, she seems to forget her auld freend and the kind o' promise she aince gave me". "She gave you a promise? sir," enquired Charles ; "I think she might have consulted me before going quite so far. In a matter like that my consent, I should think, is of some importance." "What the deil, sir! are ye dementit? Do ye think, young man, that it wad be seemly in me-the heed o' this hoose, sir-to hae nae discretion in the marryin', or not marryin', o' Mary Peat? It's yer ain faut, sir ye'll drive me to do something ye'll be sorry for I'll speak to this Captaininto this hoose he'll come no moreye'll repent it, sir; ye'll repent it, and that'll be seen and heard tell o'." While Charles Patieson looked on, awestruck at the unexampled agitation of Mr Pearie, that gentleman, as if suddenly seized with some great resolve, snatched up his hat and stick, enquired where Miss Peat and the Captain were gone to, and followed them to the exhibition room of the wax-works. " Slighted love is sair to bide," SO as Robert Burns sings and as Charles Patieson felt. How lonely he seemed that long, long evening; reflecting, in every possible way, over the words and innuendoes of Mr Pearie. The Dene had never appeared to him dull; even the bright moonlight trembling into his drawing-room, through the glass of his conservatory, failed to soothe him; and, in a fit of desperation, he rushed out into the open air. He wandered down the shelving banks of his beautiful villa to the river, which was brawling along beneath its overhanging rocks, sometimes hidden in darkness, sometimes, for a long expanse of its bright pure water, glimmering peacefully in the moonlight. Charles stood still beneath one of the great cliffs, for he thought, on the opposite side of the water, where the light was unobscured by trees, he heard the sound of distant voices; shortly afterwards he observed two figures emerge from the darkness, whom he easily recognised to be Mr Pearie, and Mr Dawson, the headclerk. They seemed to look round them very cautiously; and then they suddenly returned to the dark corner they had emerged from, and carried between them an object, which at first the breathless spectator found it difficult to recognise. Lifeless and limber, without sign of voluntary motion or resistance, it was dragged along the ground by Mr Pearie and his assistant. With a thrill of unimaginable horror Charles recognised, in the long blue surtout,the top boots and breeches-and above all, in the long, pale face, with the prodigious whiskers and moustaches, the lifeless form of the unhappy Captain Slasher! - Horror kept him silent-in voiceless, motionless terror and surprise he watched the dreadful proceedings of the pair. They dragged the body to the river, and apparently fixing heavy stones to it to ensure its sinking, they dropt it slowly into the water and rapidly retired. * * Pale and agitated with a night of sleepless distress, Charles Patieson presented himself next morning at the house of Mr Pearie. He had come to the resolution to warn the unhappy man to flee for his life, for he could not bring himself to give his friend, and his father's friend, into the hands of the executioner. At the same time concealment of the awful secret was out of the question-and not a moment was to be lost. Mary Peat received him. She was gayer and more friendly in her manner than she had been for a long time. "Dear Charles, I am so glad to sce you.-You're come to breakfast?" "I've no appetite, Mary," replied Charles," In fact" "Oh! you've breakfasted alreadyMr Pearie will be so glad to see you. "I doubt that" _ answered the young man, coldly. "But he will, though he told me so himself-he told me that he was busied to a late hour last night in your service." Charles shuddered as the dreadful scene recurred to him. "My service?" he said "Yes and do you know I think it must have had some connexion with Captain Slasher's departure." 66 Departure!" - echoed Charles, almost unconsciously. "Oh! yes he's away; quite suddenly-something or other carried him off." "Mary," said Charles, solemnly taking her hand into his" something has indeed carried him off; but something very different from what you suppose." "Mr Pearie called him aside for a very short time at the Wax-works,and this morning he told me, before he went out for his walk, that I should not see Captain Slasher again." "He told you so?-'Tis, indeed, too true." "I'm so sorry! Captain Slasher had seen such strange things in India; -but I don't think Mr Pearie ever liked him; Do you think he did?" "My dear Mary," said Charles, "don't run on so thoughtlessly it is of the greatest importance that this subject should not be mentioned. Never on any account allude to the dislike you perceived Mr Pearie entertained to Captain Slasher. Hush! he's coming! It may be the saving of a life. Beware!"-and Charles rushed out of the room to have his interview with the murderer alone. Never were happiness and peace of mind more clearly depicted on a human countenance than on that of Mr Pearie. His hands stuck in both pockets, his hat cocked airily on one side of his head, for he had just returned from his morning's stroll, and, his whole outward man swelling with comfort and satisfaction, he winked significantly to the horror-struck visi.. tor, and said "We've done him, Charles; yon birky will gie us nae mair trouble." A shudder passed over poor Charles at this dreadful commencement. "You allude-I presume-to-to Captain Slasher?" he stammered. "Just so-I gi'ed him a hint about some promotion that was going on in the Indian army, and he set aff that very hour for London." "Promotion?" enquired Charles, with a searching look at the unconscious narrator. "Yes-a sudden death had ta'en place in the regiment that he was aye puffin' and boastin' about. - Do ye mind hoo he used aye to be telling us hoo pleased he would be if we could see his corpse ?" Charles gathered the whole energy of his soul into one sentence. With compressed lips, and an eye rivetted on Mr Pearie, he said, "I have seen it, sir!" "Weel, was't a braw ane? - It maun hae been unco black, for ye mind he tauld us his men were a' niggers. But is't come hame? Whar saw ye his corpse?" "Old man!" said Charles, laying his hand solemnly on Mr Pearie's shoulder, "do you think I believe your tale about a promotion in Captain Slasher's regiment?" "What care I whether you believe it or no? He believed it, an' that's enough. He's awa' to Lon'on, his horses are a' to follow to-day; - his rent is a' paid, and sae we're quit o' him. You dinna seem half pleased about it, Charles?" "Look within, into your own heart, Mr Pearie, and tell me if you think I ought to be pleased." "'Deed ocht ye, for ye see we've the disposal o' Mary a' to ourselves,she'll still be in the firm; and between oursels, I ha'e every reason to believe she's as well pleased at the business as we are." "Once for all," said Charles, firmly-" I know all, Mr Pearie, mark me, -all. I was by the water's side, last night-you understand me." "Whisht! for God's sake whishtit wad ruin our credit in the townpoor Dawson has his way to makefolk wad think it was carryin' the joke owre far. It was grand fun! but sef us, man, whisht about it." During this recital, which was accompanied with many explosions of mirth, the listener was transfixed with a mingled feeling of pity and disgust. At last, however, a conviction of the insanity of the unfortunate banker took possession of his mind. But Dawson, the quiet, steady head-clerk -the confidant of his principal's plans about Mary the depository of his schemes of vengeance against his rival! It was impossible to believe that both were insane. Time pressed he resolved to leave Mr Pearie; to explain the whole business in a few words to Mary; and then to inform Dawson of the discovery of his misdeeds. At this moment a bell was rung in the street, and Mr Pearie, rushing to the window, listened for a moment to a proclamation of the bellman, then looking at Charles with a face in which alarm and vexation were very powerfully expressed, he exclaimed, "We're found out! we're found out! what'll become o' us? I'll gie the bellman five shillings, and bribe every ane else to haud their tongues. Not a word, Charles, o' what ye saw last night." But Charles was in no mood to make promises. Mr Pearie rushed forth to carry his plans of bribery into effect; and Charles hurried into the Bank. There, seated quietly at his desk, as if |
