do, dear Grannie, haste and give me something for the child."

My Grandmother left the room, but soon returned, followed by the old butler, bearing a basket with necessary cordials for the sick child.

"If

"Gude e'en to you, Howison," said Madge. the basket be ready, I must hasten away, for I have eight miles across the country, and the moon not so old as I could wish it."

"Would you allow me to escort you, Miss Murray?" said Lord Derwentwater.

"Escort me! Truly no; but I thank you all the same. Harry will protect me from all earthly foes, and should we meet others—"

"Wheest! wheest! Miss Murray," said Howison, "wha kens what may be near you. Gude be atween us and a harm. The Warlock's Knowe, and the Deadman's Moss, are no that canny in the day, let alane the night: are ye no fleyed?"

"I am a Murray, Howison, and know not fear: a Murray of Ashton, and court danger:" and waiting no longer, she ran lightly down stairs; and, in a moment afterwards, we heard the clatter of the horses' hoofs, as she and Harry galloped down the approach.

"I'm thinking ye're a Murray, and some skeerie. They're a' a thocht queer in the tap storey," muttered Howison, as he left the room.

"Is Miss Murray perfectly safe riding so late, and so poorly attended?" said Lord Derwentwater.

"Oh, yes, perfectly so," replied my brother. "Harry would cut down any who dared molest her; but, in

D

truth, she is so well known, and so well liked by all around, that none would attempt such a thing."

"She's a brave lassie, that I'll never deny: she has her father's wit, and the courage of her clan; and were the secretary to raise another regiment of light horse, he would need no fremit folk to lead them; for I'm mista'en if Madge would give place to Colonel Bagot."

"The secretary's character," said Lord D., "has ever been a puzzle to me—to all, indeed, who knew him. His bravery none can deny, it was too often proved: he discharged the perilous task of publishing the manifestoes, and warning the different parties, with a courage never surpassed, and address unequalled. He was in constant danger of arrest for three weeks, ere he quitted that occupation to join the Prince: his stratagem for surprising the Duke of Argyle, and his ruse of misleading government by false information, were admirably conceived, and, had they been well followed up, would have been of incalculable service to our cause. He was entrusted with the internal management of the whole scheme. He acted as guide to the Camerons when they surprised and captured the town of Edinburgh. Yet this man was capable of betraying us, to save his life."

66

No, my lord, pardon me-not to save his life; but, as Howison says, they are skeerie," said Lady Lincluden.

"And facing death on the field of battle is very different from meeting the same grizzly shade on the scaffold, after the spirit has been broken by a long and cruel imprisonment," said my brother.

"It is indeed different. Who would not volunteer to lead a forlorn hope? who would fear to march up to the deadly breach? and yet how few of us can meet death calmly on the scaffold:-how much greater the courage of acting like a man there, where death is robbed of its glory—”

My lord's voice faltered. I doubt not he was overpowered by sad recollections, and thought of the heroic courage displayed by his two nearest and dearest relatives on the scaffold; who had indeed

"Encountered darkness as a bride, and hugged her in their arms."

After a pause he resumed:-" And Miss Murraydoes she know? and her mother, her heroic mother! how bitterly she must have felt the utter worthlessness of a life purchased by betraying others!"

"She did, indeed, feel it bitterly; so much so, that her life soon fell a sacrifice. Madge, poor lassie, knows nothing of it; poor bairn! she has sorrows enow to bear, without breaking heart and spirit—as it would, did she know the truth. She was so young at the time of her father's imprisonment, that she was not told how he saved life and lands-how dearly he bought them, and I trust she may ever remain in ignorance; but when I hear the free use she gives her tongue, I often tremble lest some one retorts on her. Her father fears the same, and keeps her so secluded that we are the only family she is intimately acquaint wi; and poor Harry her only companion: and he is at once her greatest grief, and chief joy. You must know, she

blames hersel, and no without reason, of being the

cause of his misfortune. A finer, braver, bonnier boy than Harry Murray never gladdened a father's heart. Madge was aye a bauld lassie, and being four years aulder than Harry, was the leader in all their sports. They were ever fond of riding, as ye see. One sad day, they were amusing themselves in leaping, they came to a stane-dike; Madge cleared it at once; Harry hung back, a little nervous. Madge, who knew not fear, urged him to follow; and when that wadna do, she taunted him wi letting a lassie gang where he was feared to follow. Harry was a real Murray, and the taunt struck home; he raised his pony to the leap; both fell, and his head came against the stanes of the dike, and there he lay, senseless. Madge, poor Madge! ye may imagine her agony at seeing her darling lying dead before her. She uttered no cry; she shed no tear; but taking the bairn in her arms,c arried him back to the hall. She walked into the room where her father was sitting, and laying him down at his feet, she said, 'It's your son, and my only brother, that I have murdered.' Ashton saw that he would soon be childless if he was harsh wi the wretched lassie; he asked nae questions, uttered nae reproach, but carried the bairn to Madge's room, and laid him down on Madge's bed. The doctor was sent for, and he said there was life, and where there's life there's hope. Harry recovered his health, but his mind was gone for ever. And now came Ashton's punishment; and oh! is it no a heavy one? He had turned king's evidence on his friends: he had betrayed the confidence of his Prince; and a' to keep the bonny lands o' Ashton for his young son; for I will

From that day to

never believe that the fear o' death made him do it; and he lives to see the bairn he sacrificed his honour for, a poor harmless innocent! What Madge suffered nane can tell, she never did; but night and day she sat beside the boy, and watched his return to health-to health without reason! Poor Madge, she had need of her brave spirit now. this she has never been separated from him, and never will. She watches over him with all a mother's care, and has adopted, like a brother, all his pursuits, and tries as far as she can to fill his place with her father. You may wonder, I'm sure I often do, that with him ever before her, she can keep up the brave spirit she has; yet it is a blessing from heaven; for what would become of Harry were she to turn

dowie, and who

would be to him what Madge is? They are all the world to each other, and she lives but for him and her father."

"If," said my brother-" if her expiation for an unintentional injury ought to be a life of tears and loud reproaches, then is Madge guilty of neglecting to atone for the evil she has done; but if a life devoted exclusively to the being she thinks she has irreparably injured; if by the daily sacrifice of her time, hopes, and wishes, she can at all compensate, then does Madge most nobly, most cheerfully do her duty; and I doubt not, dear grandmother, that the thought of it costs Madge many a salt tear, many a bitter sigh, unheard and unseen indeed, but not the less sincere."