for me, though I might make much woe to others: I was therefore persuaded, and held out my hand. The old woman, who was ugly and dirty, looked at my hand attentively, and then told me that I would travel far, and see many countries; but far as I would travel I would never overtake happiness and— but here, Master Edwardes seeing me turn pale from terror, for in sooth I liked not to hear her, interrupted her, and told her to try his hand: "And, remember, no tricks with me," said he; " for I had my fortune told by a celebrated necromancer in Paris; so see that you say the same." He then laughed, and said to me: "She gave you ill luck because you gave her no money. I learnt in Paris, that they see the future more clearly when the present is covered with silver. Is it not so ?" and he put some silver into her hand.

She scowled on him, and said: "Ah! French gold— little good has it brought to Scotland."

"True, mother," said he, “and English less."

"Aye, lad," she replied, "say ye so then I'm thinking little o't has come your way."

He answered, laughing: "Though I am an Englishman; you are right there."

66

English, are ye! then ye come o' an ill and a cruel kind. Little do me or mine owe them," she muttered. And then taking his hand, she said: "Aye, an English loof-fyled wi Scotch blude. There's blude on this hand, for as white as it looks-mony a bludie danger past, and monie mair to come."

They'll be welcome," he said; "we shall meet as old friends."

"Friends!-aye, aye, ye say true; it's frae your friens that ye hae maist to fear. Do you see that reid mark crossing the line o' life?-sae young, and sae bonnie-but it's dim, and I canna see beyond it" and she stopped.

"Well, mother, what now! I have faced most dangers-what is this one that scares you? believe me, I shall be ready."

"To die a bludie death," she said, solemnly.

"Aye, to die a bloody death! It has been the fate of those nearest and dearest to me; why should it not be mine? Only say, that success crowns my fall; and then welcome death!"

"Success! aye, truly; ye're no the ane to fail in aught that a brave heart, a reddie han, or a winnin tongue can help on: but

"Nay," he said, interrupting her, "I'll hear no more. To die in the arms of victory has ever been the lot I most envied ;" and at that moment my brother joined us.

"Hola! Edwardes," he said, "are you getting a charm, or having your fortune spaed? Is he to be a lord, and ride in a coach and six? That, I think, is the general reward of merit accorded us here."

"That at least--but this old lady has been trying to frighten me out of a little money by predicting battle, murder, and sudden death. Now in Paris, for half the sum I gave her, my diviner promised me every kind of pleasure, and so pleased was I, that I gave the poor wretch a louis for her pains."

Master Edwardes seemed to treat the matter as a jest, and alluded to it no more: but I could not help

thinking again and again on the words I had heard. I quoted them to my grandmother, but she assured me that the woman was probably angry with him for laughing at her craft, and, having some grudge against the English, had said it on purpose.

In the evening Master Edwardes sang sweetly to us some French romances, and appeared to have quite forgotten the fate foretold him.

CHAPTER II.

SEPTEMBER 5.-The gentlemen were off to the hill early in the morning, so that we saw them not at breakfast. I assisted my grandmother in making arrangements relative to the ball on the 17th, and the number of guests likely to be with us. She tells me that she hopes Master Edwardes will remain over that day, as she esteems him much. I put a leading question to try and hear who he was, but my grandmother merely said, he was the son of a gude frien, and he and all his kith and kin were well known to her, and she looked upon him as her own.

I replied, I thought I must have seen him before, for his face was familiar to me.

She said I had seen him before, many years ago, and then laughing, she added, "But it is scarce seemly in young maidens to stare and gaze, and gossip about those they meet; therefore, dear Mattie, cumber not yourself as to who he is, or what he is, but know that he is a dear young friend of mine. So now go and look if May Hetley has fitly prepared the blue room for him."

"The blue room! dear granddame!" I said in amaze

ment; for the blue room was the one my honoured father had used, and was now our state apartment.

"Yes, burdalane, the blue room ;" and then, with a smile, she added, "see that the pictures are weel dusted, and a nosegay in the beau-pots, and I need not charge you, dear child, to let a white rose be in the posie."

I proceeded to the blue room, but found all there ready prepared. The blue room being the one occupied by my honoured father, has been little used since. My mother liked it not after he had left her; and, though heretofore this room has ever been appropriated by the head of the house, my brother affects it not, but has chosen for his own the east turret. We have therefore made it our state-chamber, and it being hung with blue velvet from Genoa, we ever now term it the blue

room.

I looked that the pictures were well dusted, and in especial that the portrait of my hero of romance, the brave, the chivalrous, though ill-starred Earl of Derwentwater, which hangs on one side of the large fireplace, was free from spec or stain. Amazement! when I raised my eyes to the picture, it was the likeness of Master Edwardes I gazed upon: the same gallant and graceful bearing, the same dark falcon eye and noble brow; the black hair worn in the same style, unpowdered, and hanging in long curls at the back; the small dark mustache shading a mouth of great beauty, but expressing firmness and decision. The picture had a peaked beard, which Master Edwardes lacked, but save for that, and the difference of dress, it was the picture of Master Edwardes. Who then could he be; this