to

hope, that he might escape the fangs of the law, although he was already within its clutches. Could she effect Reuben's deliverance, she would secure Adeline's present happiness, whatever might be the ultimate result of her attachment to him, and thus atchieve a double good others, while she afforded to her own heart the sweetest and noblest solace of which it was sus ceptible. Difficult of accomplishment as such a project might appear, a hint had been accidentally afforded to her which held out a feasible prospect of its realization, and, forgetting all selfish or minor considerations, she set about the execution of her plan with an energy proportionate to the vital importance of its object,

It will be recollected that on the morning of

the Lord Chief Justice's departure from Harpsden Hall, he had received a message from a gentleman who desired to speak with him on confidential business; when, as the drawingrooms were occupied, he had been ushered into Helen's painting-room. At this moment she herself was in the closet, preparing the imple ments of her art, and had thus unintentionally

become the auditress of a conversation, of which she could sufficiently gather the import from such detached portions as reached her ear. Of Jeffreys' share, indeed-for with all his blustering he could soften his voice upon occasion, she had heard but little; but from the louder and more angry expostulations of the stranger, she learnt that he was the near relation of a Mr. Prideaux, a gentleman of Devonshire, who had been imprisoned for his share in Monmouth's rebellion, and whose life Jeffreys had consented to spare for a bribe of ten thousand pounds to himself. To this proposition, on account of the largeness of the sum, or the circumstances of the family, there had been some demur; but the present visitant came in all haste to inform Jeffreys before he left the county, that they had at length raised the money, and were ready to accede to his terms.

"You were all fools together to boggle at my first offer!" said the rapacious and inhuman trafficker in blood; "for I must now have fifteen thousand for the fellow's life!"

The stranger loudly inveighed against the

cruelty and injustice of this extortion, until his
Lordship stopped him by exclaiming

"Remember, Sir, that every time you raise your voice, I shall raise my price!" When, knowing the character of the man with whom he had to deal, and fearing that he might enforce his threat, as he most assuredly would have done had any further objections been urged, he consented to give him the fifteen thousand pounds in a few days, and indignantly withdrew.

Prudently keeping to herself the secreto. which she had so unexpectedly become the depositary, Helen's curiosity had subsequently induced her to make some inquiries as to the fate of the individual so expensively ransomed; when she learnt that he had been discharged from prison, to the surprise of all those who were unacquainted with the infamous venality of the Judge, and was again quietly residing upon his estate.

From this occurrence she deduced her hopes

of Reuben's reprieve from the jaws of death.
His life might be purchased in the same man-

ner from Jeffreys; having occupied a less conspicuous station in society than Mr. Prideaux, he might, probably, be released for a much more moderate sum; his uncle was wealthy, and would scarcely hesitate at sacrificing a portion of his fortune for one whom he had adopted as his son; to him, therefore, she resolved to have immediate recourse; to reveal what she knew, and suggest the propriety of his hurrying to London, and tempting the cupidity of the Judge by a handsome offer for the life of his nephew. She felt that there was not a moment to be lost. If Reuben were once put upon his trial, the difficulties would, perhaps, be rendered insuperable; an account of his seizure had doubtless been already transmitted to London; the least delay might ruin them all, and extinguish every hope; and with these convictions upon her mind, the result of her deliberations through a long sleepless night, she arose at an early hour, ordered the carriage, and drove over o Goldingham Place. Not even to her mother would she communicate her intention; for she new the times to be full of cruelty and peril;

and, if she failed in her enterprize, she resolved
that the sole responsibility of it should attach
to herself.

She found Goldingham in deep affliction at the imprisonment of his nephew, which he had learnt soon after its occurrence, and not a little surprized at receiving so early a visit from an unaccompanied young lady; nor was this feeling diminished when he learnt the purport of her coming. Although he had devised various schemes for Reuben's escape, and had indeed just concluded an engagement with a Captain for procuring his conveyance to Holland, he had so utterly abandoned all expectation of saving him, from the moment he had learnt his committal to prison, that the prospect now opened to him by Helen's communication suddenly raised him from the very depths of despair to the pinnacle of hope. Her previous conduct had exalted her in his esteem, and her present intelligence, combined with the promptitude of her interference, and the forethought and sagacity of her suggestions as to the best manner of negociating with Jeffreys, raised his