circumstances, till they met with Mrs. Bell, which was a great relief to Gatty's oppressed and perturbed mind.

That night, when she retired to her garret-room by herself, her mind was ill at ease. She repented her sore of having snubbed her lover's protestations in the very first opening of the desired bud, and in particular, of the ungenerous reflection cast upon his country, which looked like an intended affront. She could not but wonder at her own inconsistency, in checking the words that she longed most to hear, and determined with herself to make it all up in complacency the next time.

Another opportunity soon arrived, for they were to be had every day; and though nothing save commonplace observations passed between them, with some toying and tilting of words, yet it proved a happy and delightful afternoon to both parties. But, like the other, it passed over without any protestations of love. Twice or thrice did the tenor of their discourse seem approaching to it; but then, when it came to a certain point, each time it stood still, and silence prevailed till some common remark relieved them from the dilemma.

There was now but one other time remaining, in which, if M'lon did not declare himself, he was never to have another chance in the way that lovers like best. Long was it ere Gatty durst risk that sole remaining chance; for she hoped always to find matters in a better train; in a state that the declaration could not be eluded. Again she condescended to give him her hand in the dance at the gentlemen's evening parties, (for every farmer is a gentleman in that country.) Again she condescended to give him her arm to church, in the face of the assembling congregation, and even saluted old Elen, as she passed, as if proud of the situation she occupied. After these things, she accepted of an invitation to go and visit the Rowntree Lynn, where they had often been the year before. They admired the scenery, spoke in raptures of the

wonderful works of nature, and the beauties of the creation. They even went so far as to mention the happiness of the little birds, and the delight they had in their young, and in each other, and then M'Ion fixed his manly eyes on the face of his youthful and blooming companion. It seemed overspread with a beam of pure and heavenly joy, a smile of benevolence and love played upon it, and her liquid eye met his without shrinking; there was neither a blush on the cheek nor a shade of shame on the brow. Their eyes met and gazed into each other for a considerable space.-0 M'Ion, where was thy better angel, that thou didst not avail thyself of this favourable moment, and divulge the true affections of thine heart? What delight it would have given to a tender and too loving breast, and how kindly it would have been received! But his evil destiny overcame the dear intent; and, instead of uttering the words of affection, he snatched up her hand and pressed it to his lips. Gatty turned away her face, and the tear blinded her eye. This was not what she expected, but the mere fumes of common gallantry; "And is my heart to be made a wreck for this?" thought she; "No, it never shall. I must know better on what stay I am leaning before I trust my happiness and my reputation in the hands of mortal man, far less in those of a young and deluding stranger any

more."

During the rest of their walk, she kept silence, save by simply giving assent to some of his observations. She was busied in making up her mind to abide, without shrinking, by her former resolution. But as it was the last chance ever her lover was to have, she determined to hear all that he had to say. She stood still five or six times to listen to what he was saying, and after he was done, she was standing and listening still. When they came to her father's gate, she turned her back on it, to breathe a little before going in; and while in that position she fixed on him a look so long, and so full of pathos, that he was abashed and confounded. It was a farewell look, of which he was little

aware, for his constant aim had been to gain a hold in her youthful affections, and he flattered himself that he was succeeding to his heart's desire. But delays are dangerous; at that moment was she endeavouring to erase his image from her heart; and the speaking look that she fixed on his face, was one of admiration, of reproach, and of regret, each in its turn. She laid her hand on the latch, and pressed it slowly down, keeping it for a good while on the spring. Would

he but speak yet," thought she, "I would hear and forgive him." He spake not; so the gate opened slowly, and closed again with a jerk behind them; and with that closing knell, was the door of her affections shut against the farther encroachments of a dangerous passion. So the maiden conceived, and made up her mind to abide by the consequences.

From that day forth her deportment towards her lover underwent a thorough change. He lost her countenance, and no blandishment of his could recover it; but for all that, love, in either heart, continued his silent ravages, and M'Ion retired from Bellsburnfoot that second year under grievous astonishment how he had offended his beloved mistress, but resolved, nevertheless, to continue his assiduities, until he could, in the full assurance of her affections, ask and obtain her as his own.

Gatty's mind continued in torment. In the bosom of that maid there was a constant struggle carried on for the superiority, by duty and prudence on the one part, and love on the other. The former, indeed, swayed the outward demeanour; but the latter continued to keep the soul in thrall. She spent not a thought on the conqueror of which she did not disapprove, yet she continued to think and languish on."{ fear I am in love still," said Gatty; "and what a business I am like to have of it!" And thus, by a retrograde motion round a small but complete circle, am I come again to the very beginning of my story.

I like that way of telling a story exceedingly. Just to go always round and round my hero, in the same VOL. I.

4

way as the moon keeps moving round the sun; thus darkening my plot on the one side of him, and enlightening it on the other, thereby displaying both the lights and shadows of Scottish life. And verily I hold it as an incontrovertible truth, that the moon, descending the western heaven on an evening in autumn, displays these lights and shadows in a much more brilliant and delightful manner, than has ever been done by any of her brain-stricken votaries. There we see nature itself; with those it is nature abominably sophisticated.

CIRCLE SECOND.

"WHAT Were you saying about love last night, cousin Gatty, when I fell asleep in your bosom? Either you spoke a long time to me after I was more than half asleep, and told me an extraordinary story, else I dreamed a strange and unaccountable dream." "Tell me your dream, cousin Cherry, and then 1 will tell you all that I said to you about love."

"Ah! you told me now,-did you not, Gatty ?either you told me, or I thought you were gone to a lovely place far above me, and I could not reach you, and neither would you return to me. And then I

thought I saw hangings of gold and velvet, and a thousand chandeliers, all burning brighter than the sun; and I saw you dressed in gold, and diamonds, and bracelets of rubies; and you had a garland of flowers on your head. And then I wept and called long, but you would not answer me, for I was grieved at being left behind. And I saw a winding-path through flowery shrubs, and ran alongst it, asking every one whom I saw, if that was the way; and they all said, 'Yes.' I asked my mother, and she said 'Yes;' and I asked young Boroland, and he said Yes;' and so I ran on, till at length I saw you far above me, farther than ever. And then you called out, Dear cousin Cherry, you shall never get here by that path. Do you not see that tremendous precipice before you? Yes, I do,' said I; ' but that is a delightful flowery bank, and the path is so sweet to the senses! O suffer me to go by that road!'-'Nay, but when you come to that steep, the path is of glass,' said you; and you will slide and fall down into an immeasurable void, and you will be lost, and never see this abode of beauty. Remember I have told you, for the name of that rock is LOVE.'