"What an odd piece of eccentric wickedness!" he said. "But Donald and I will hunt the scoundrel down."

"Don't be too hard on him," said the Squire.

On the terrace, Donald gave a more complete recital than before of what had occurred. "Ah," said Simonet, "we shall get a clue to the matter when you examine that wretched girl to-morrow, Squire. There is something odd about the fellow's sudden disappearance; but it is evidently connected with Miss Silvia's somnambulism."

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Ah, by the way," quoth the Squire, turning to the Doctor, "you did not answer my question, whether there is any cure for somnambulism."

Said the Doctor, looking if possible wiser than ever, and talking with more emphasis, “I think there is one."

"What is it?" said the Squire, abruptly. "You see," replied Sterne, sagacious always,

VOL. II.

I 2

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somnambulism is caused either by imagination or digestion. The human race is divided into two classes, those whom the brain and those whom the stomach govern. Now, the latter, sometimes over-eating themselves, somnambulate. I do not lecture upon them. Their only cure is a close approach to starvation." "An excellent cure," said Simonet. nous autres for I walked in my sleep when I was a boy."

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"But

Imagination is a more difficult thing to deal with. In the case of a young lady I know but one cure."

"What's that?" asked the Squire.

"Marriage."

CHAPTER XV.

LÀURA BRONTE CONFESSES.

"Olim haec meminisse juvabit."

EDNESDAY was a day of breathless

excitement in the politics of Silchester. The giant Intimidation stalked sternly through the borough, threatening semi-solvent shopkeepers with utter withdrawal of custom, and loose labourers (potwallopers possibly) with prosecutions for past poaching. The cunning dwarf Bribery came in at back doors and side doors, with new gowns for wives and daughters, and new sovereigns for the free and independent electors themselves. These missorted twins of modern political enlightenment had

not yet arrived at full perfection; unborn was their younger brother Ballot, whom the Fates had destined to increase their prosperity and to lengthen their existence. Far in the distance still is the victorious fairy Voting Paper, destined inevitably to put an end to all three abominable Afrites.

Not much concerned need we be with the election, or with the servility of the candidates to persons whom inwardly they despised, but who had a better right to despise them, or with the rascally tricks played by Messrs. Wanklin and Pinniger and their followers. -Wednesday was a day of preparation for the battle, and the rival hosts worked very hard. It was merely a question which of the two ambitious gentlemen should get into Parliament at that particular moment, but really there were some people more interested in it than if it had been to decide a difficult reading in Shakespeare.

Leave we the crass combatants alone, and

pass to the Rectory, where our handsome heroic Louisa, after a night's full rest, is giving her uncle at breakfast as coherent an account as she can of the previous day's adventure. The Rector knew the pond with the white water-lilies, but had no idea the old tower was fit for habitation. Louisa told him all that we already know; told him, further, that she awoke fettered and in absolute darkness.

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You must have been dreadfully frightened, dear Louisa," said the Rector.

"No, uncle. I felt faith in God. I have You see, I was

never felt frightened yet.

right. Donald came."

"Ah, Donald is a noble fellow. We must make him a present."

"Leave me to do that, uncle. Among dear papa's old treasures, I think I can find something to suit him. And now had we not better go up to Silchester? I want to hear what is

found out, and I want to see how my Silvia bears her troubles."