almost instantly withdrawn, and almost as quickly the bars and bolts of the chief entrance were pushed back, and the welcome voice of Jemmy as he threw down the steps of the chaise and assisted us to alight cheered us with the news that we were at length at our journey's end, and at the mercy of the Gretna blacksmith, whose duty now was to rivet the last link in the chain of our destinies.

CHAP. VII.

THE BIRDS IN THE TRAP.

On entering, and trying to look around, and well observe the sort of place we had flown to from so far, as a refuge and a hospice for the unfortunate in love, a place where the desperate and cursed of Cupid's maimed and wounded victims found relief and peace from the slings and arrows of outrageous parents and guardians, I found myself mightily puzzled. The single tallow candle or dip, with which we were at first honoured, added only a mystery to the general gloom and doubts which surrounded us. Agnes clung closely to my arm, and trembled probably with the dread of what was to follow, and the evident climax to our rashness. Our hour was come, and although the bell did not toll, the beating of our hearts, sufficiently warned us that we must prepare for the final scene. He was a curious old fellow was Linton, the blacksmith of Gretna, the priest of Hymen, the boureau of the blind and infatuated. He was a dry, thin, wizzen old man, without whiskers, and without expression; cold, hard, calculating, and most likely heartless; there was a witch-like look about him that suited well to the occasion, and adapted him to his profitable witch-like calling ; to keep up the character of a dealer in the unnatural, he was decidedly an extortioner, and merciless in the extreme, regardless of consequences, and doubtless indifferent to all human passions or the feelings of those that were driven to extremities, and sought his ungodly services. Excepting his trousers and shirt he was completely undressed, but cold as it was he appeared unaffected by the weather; his white nightcap he retained, most likely from habit, as did he the candle also, which dripped about independent of consequences.

"It is just three o'clock," he said; "I suppose it is a pressing affair. You must wait until I get the books, but if there is any danger, the young woman can step upstairs to my wife. I always charge more for being disturbed. I'll get you another light."

Without further ceremony he left the room to our reflections, and us in the dark. The guard, who with Jemmy was standing in the doorway, immediately took the opportunity to come to my relief.

"I think, sir," he began, "You had better leave this business to me, and I will explain to the old man that you have no fear of being followed, and that, in fact, you are not going to give him anything he may ask. He has been known to keep parties waiting until even their pursuers have been heard approaching, and then he would not sign the certificate without a hundred pounds down. Perhaps if you let me handle him he will do the job at a reasonable figure,

"Well," said I, "pray do so, but don't let him delay it longer than can be helped, as it is absolutely necessary that the young lady's health should be attended to as soon as possible."

"It appears to me," exclaimed Wadham, "that we have come to the North Pole; at any rate this old Vulcan's forge seems frozen, and how much longer we are to stand here in the cold is a matter he evidently don't concern himself about."

We had shortly, however, the satisfaction of seeing him make his reentry, accompanied by his wife and son, the latter of whom carried in his arms some large ledger-like volumes, unmistakably the records of hasty unions. Each bore a light, although of a feeble flame, nevertheless their united efforts enabled us to distinguish the extent and particulars of the apartment we were in. It had a rude disreputable look and reminded me greatly of one of those dens of infamy which are to be met with in the neighbourhood of Drury Lane or Whitechapel. On the table were the remains of a meal, whether breakfast, dinner, or supper, it was impossible to say. There were cups and saucers, tumblers, plates, knives and forks, fish-bones, and the fag end of a ham. A jug that had contained beer or cider, and a tea-pot, that might have served for a fountain of gin, or any other liquid inspirer of merriment. The whole bore the unmistakable evidence of an overnight orgie, to which might also be added the sickening fumes of stale tobacco. It was certainly anything but an encouraging picture of an altar of love. The furniture was of the very commonest, a largs sofacouch, covered with a dirty cotton chintz, was drawn close by the side of the fire-place, the grate and hearth of which was in a horribly filthy state of dust, ashes, and spittle. Without further loss of time Mrs. Linton set to work to clear away this confusion of remnants, so as to make room for the business about to be concluded, and which we were all anxious now to terminate. Whilst she was thus occupied, the son, with some ceremony spread out all the important books, and prepared the certificates, which were to decide the our doubts, the pens and ink being placed ready for the recording stroke. During this necessary interval the illustrious Cyclops, the head of the firm, approached me with a sly and solemn look, peering at me from over a pair of brass, old-fashioned spectacles."

Young man," he commenced, "I suppose you have come prepared to meet the expenses of receiving a certificate of your lawful marriage to the young lady on your arm. No doubt you would not have come so far for it, could you have obtained it elsewhere, but having done so you must expect to pay my price, which under the circumstances, you will, probably, be glad and happy enough to do. As it does not appear to be a case in which pursuit makes every moment precious, and, therefore, speed of the more value, I shall only require my usual fee, upon being disturbed, namely, fifty pounds."

At this he either paused for a reply, or for the money, or for both. The guard once more came to my relief.

"Could I say a few words to you in private, Mr. Linton?" he politely addressed him; "I might, perhaps, better explain this young gentleman's position, which would induce you to be more reasonable in your demands."

Thereupon, with a cringing, crawling gait, they retired, candle in hand, into a back room, which I instantly perceived was a bed room. The effect of what passed between them was that a compromise was quickly entered into, and the original terms altered to the following: The old man was to have five-and-twenty pounds, his wife and son five pounds each, and the guard also five, he being chosen as an attesting witness. There was no refusing to put up with the extortion, we were helpless, and as it was hardly worth while contending the point, or prolonging a useless discussion as to the justice of the demand, I thought it better to do my part with a good grace, and immediately unbottoned my coat to take out my pocket book of notes-by heavens it was gone! What was to be done? My confusion was most distressing; I must have dropped it in the straw of the mail coach! Poor Agnes was sadly cut up at the loss of the money and the unfortunate dilemma we were suddenly placed in. Jemmy Wadham swore thunder and lightning, "But d-n it all!" he shouted, with spirit and energy, which never deserted him, "let us put our shoulders to the wheel and let us see how much wind we can raise," and suiting the action to the word, he drew forth his purse and threw it upon the table. Linton's countenance brightened at the chuckle of it. Following so generous an example, I discovered that my stock of cash, as I counted it out into my beloved-one's lap, amounted to nearly twenty guineas; Jemmy's was exactly ten, so that the difficulty was almost met and vanquished. Agnes alive to the mercenary disposition of all round us, excepting Jemmy, quietly and unobserved, unclasped her ruby bracelet, and placed it in my hand: it had cost fifty guineas, thus once more the current of true love rolled smoothly on. Handing the bijou to the smithy priest of lawless-border wedlock, I asked him if he was satisfied; but that I must insist on its being returned to me in the morning at Carlisle.

This being agreed to, the ceremony, if it could bear such sacred name, such as it was, commenced. Let me describe it, it is worthy of a whole chapter, but the shortness of it forbids so long a space to its dedication. It is really a pity that so everlasting and fatal an execution should be dismissed so cavalierly, but we cannot prolong the torture of a matrimonial service, which must have been derived from the very earliest ages of deception and false promises; the glory of it consisting, not in its pledges of love, but in its absence of all those vows which create a halo of illusion around the "belle alliance" of two existences, but which end in broken hearts and broken faith, or even more frequently broken heads.

All pecuniary misunderstanding being agreeably arranged, around the table, on which, exposed in all their dread significance, were the registers of this our last act in the moving drama of a runaway match. The tableau had more perhaps of the comical, indeed almost of the farcical in it, than I had imagined possible in so serious and responsible a proceeding. Our lights had been increased by the addition of three extra moulds, also by the assistance of a lantern, which the son held suspended by a ring, his intention being to go out to the postboys and horses, but which had been interrupted by the commencement of the ceremony, and the necessity of his presence as a witness.

He stood and lent over the table, facing his father, who, seated, was judge-like prepared to take notes and put questions. The guard, whose red coat and gold lace lent a gaiety and éclat to the meeting, was with Jemmy discussing the probability of the recovery of my pocket-book; they were in deep confabulation, whispering their different opinions and advice. Agnes and I stood hand-in-hand beside the Book of Fate, which I vainly endeavoured to decipher. In the back-ground might just be discerned the inquisitive countenance of one of the postboys, who had doubtless entered the room under the excuse of borrowing the lantern. Mrs. Linton's absence was accounted for by the information that she was engaged in the preparation of some creature comforts for us.

Amidst a moment of breathless silence, the old forger of the vinculi matrimonii dipped his pen in the ink, adjusted his glasses, and, looking for the proper vacancy in the Ledger of Love, addressing himself to me, said:

"What is your name in full ?”

'Guy May," I replied, firmly enough.
"Are you a single man ?" he continued.
"Certainly," I answered.

"Ah, but only for a few minutes longer," exclaimed Jemmy.
"Write your name just here," said Linton, pointing to a particular

line.

This being satisfactorily done, the same regulations were required of Agnes, whose illness was fast increasing, and whose voice had entirely left her; nevertheless she wrote her name with a firm, unshaken hand.

This being all that was necessary on our parts, we retired to the sofa, whilst the four witnesses-namely, the younger Linton, Jemmy, the guard, and the postboy-filled up the form attesting to our happy and legitimate union. After which the old man, in a rough sort of way, in a loud voice, said:

"I declare these two, Guy May and Agnes Jeffery, to be lawful man and wife."

"Hip! hip! hurrah!" screamed Wadham, rushing across to us and clasping our hands, and at the same time claiming a kiss of the bride.

"Hurrah!" shouted the guard, and, the diminutive jockey catching up the congratulatory cheer, it quickly communicated its spirit to those outside, and the little inn at Gretna Green was soon converted into a scene of merry-making and festivity, which, after all, was well in keeping with its thoughtless, unreflecting purposes.

"Come, Mr. Link-maker," cried Wadham, whose excitement at the last blow of the hammer of the match-confirmer had fairly got the better of him ; "come let us have something to drink. This is cold, dry work, and so pass the loving cup. And make haste, our throats are all frozen, and our hearts are iced!"

"All right, gentlemen," responded the now more obliging landlord, "you shall be served directly."

Nor was he long before he kept his promise, as shortly afterwards both he and his son returned, bearing trays, tumblers, and bottles of all

those usual spirituous liquors which constitute the chief support of a public and the downfall of a people. This was almost instantly followed by the appearance of Mrs. Linton, bearing a large tureen of hare soup, whose encouraging savoury steam prepared us all for a jollification we had little expected.

Agnes, my wife-yes, at length irrevocably my darling wife-had revived somewhat under the high feelings of all about us, for nothing communicates itself quicker to ourselves than the evident happiness of those around us; her attempts, however, to enjoy the good wishes of all were distressing enough to me, and I longed for the announcement that the chaise was ready and waiting to carry us back to Carlisle. Having persuaded her to partake of the soup, which was really excellent, the old lady (whose attentions to her had more the air of an eye to business than those of sympathising motherly, or even womanly feeling, which, sufferer as she was, one would really have expected) sat down between us, and, first assuring us that the delay was occasioned by two of the horses having thrown their shoes, in consequence of the hardness of the roads and the rapid pace we had travelled at, said there was plenty of time to retire and enjoy undisturbed those happy moments we must have so anxiously looked forward to as the reward of true love.

"Thank you, my good woman," said I, "but the Crown at Carlisle impatiently awaits us."

How horribly distressing is any interference with affection! how repulsive are the advances of vice in the presence of virtue and youth!

"Thank God!" I exclaimed, as the sound of the wheels of the chaise and the horses' hoofs warned us that the moment for our return had at length arrived. The happiness I felt as I carefully carried my wife to the door and placed her inside I cannot express.

Wishing the whole scene and the people connected with it good-by, I threw myself back in a reverie, calculating upon the consequences of what was to follow. Wadham and the guard joked away incessantly, Jemmy acknowledging that he was at least "three sheets in the wind.' About half-way on the road we were disturbed by a great shouting from the postillions" that another carriage was approaching at full speed." We could see nothing, for it was still dark; however on we went, our outsides being all on the qui-vive, and my head and shoulders being thrust far out of the window. Our vehicles quickly dashed past each other; but the noise was so overwhelming on both sides that I could make out nothing but oaths, foremost amongst which I distinctly heard "D-n it, that's them! turn round, boys, and catch them!" However we reached the Crown without further molestation, and long before our pursuers.