circumstances, to conceal it," said the Domine, giving a secret look to Goslington, as he made the observation. "What became of the effects of Lady Stuart," said Goslington, recollecting the miniature pic ture. "They are a' safe, and time and place convenient, ye shall hae them a' delivered o'er to you, except the siller, and that never came into my custody," said Meg Dyot, "but a' that I hae been intrusted wi' is just as it was whan I got the charge o't." Meg Dyot informed the Domine and Goslington, as soon as they were left by themselves and granny Fa, that the little casket of jewels and the papers were deposited in safety in an old vault, under the ruins of Plotcock Castle, where granny Fa had put them, unknown to Charlie Stuart, in hopes that the miniature picture which she suspended around the infant's neck when she left him at Hazleton, might have led to a discovery. Goslington and the Domine having arranged affairs, took their leave of granny Fa and Meg Dyot, the Domine returning home to give an account of the intelligence they had obtained to Laird Shadow, and Goslington rode off to Ringsdale Castle to fulfil his promise to Lady Rosa. CHAPTER XIV. THE DISCOVERY. By some auld houlet-haunted biggin, Wi' de'ils, they say, L- BURNS. OUR youth's heart throbbed with joy as he drew near Ringsdale Castle, which he beheld with transport as the abode of his ancestors. But his animation gradually declined, and he became sensible of the extreme delicacy with which it became him to conduct himself under his present circumstances. Not having seen or conversed with his father, he felt himself exceedingly at a loss in what manner to make his communication to the Earl or to Lady Rosa. He was under a promise to her ladyship to inform ber of the result of his interview with Charlie Stuart, and his impassioned love for her would have induced him to have embraced the very first opportunity of fulfilling his promise. It seemed to him, however, to be more in unison with the fair and honourable conduct which he had invariably pursued, to make an open and candid disclosure of every thing which had come to his knowledge to the Earl himself. In the mean while, he perceived that he was within a short distance of the Castle, and as he had not fully determined what course to pursue, or wanted courage to practise what his judgment dictated, instead of riding directly towards the portico which opened into the great hall, he turned up to the right hand road towards the stables, and gave his horse to one of the grooms this was what he had never done before, for he kept himself at a much greater distance from the domestics than Lord Ringsdale himself. He had even fastidiously avoided entering into conversation with old Bauldy for a long time. He entered the garden that he might be retired, and have an opportunity to deliberate on the path he ought to pursue. As he sauntered about among the walks, he saw Lady Rosa and Bauldy engaged in conversation, going towards Clocksie, and he immediately followed them that he might have an opportunity of speaking to her ladyship by herself, respecting the intelligence he had to communicate. He discovered from Bauldy's gestures and earnestness, as well as from the great attention that Lady Rosa was paying to him, that the old gardener was making himself very busy, with affairs of a different nature than the management of his box and yew-trees, in the old and antiquated style of Dutch gardening. Neither Lady Rosa nor Bauldy had seen Goslington, nor knew that he was near them, much less that he heard what they said. That he might be able to overhear them, at least, what was the topic of Bauldy's harangue, he came up near the place where they stood, with their backs towards him, under cover of a bank, planted with evergreens, which had not yet fallen under Bauldy's hedge shears. Rumour had anticipated our youth, for the report had reached Bauldy's ears that Laird Shadow was descended of an elder branch of the noble family of Stuart, of Ringsdale Castle, and the over-officious horticulturist was telling the news to Lady Rosa, and adding such items out of his own invention, as he thought would be likely to inflame her ladyship's mind, and, perhaps, hasten the rupture between the Earl and Laird Shadow, which he looked upon as certain, and not far distant. The first thing that Goslington distinctly heard Bauldy say, was, "Laird Shadow, I hear, says that he'll no let neist Whussunday gang o'er his head till he turns his Lordship and you out o' the Castle, and that he'll mak my Lord repay him every plack and bawbee, baith stock and interest, for a' the rent that he's e'er gotten." "You are an infernal liar!" said Goslington to himself, grinding his teeth with rage, when Bauldy continued, "And that's nought but what might hae been expected o' an auld infidel like Laird Shadow; but could ye a' hae thought it, that Goslington, wha has been nought else but a to-lier about the Castle, should long ago hae had the impudence to say that it wad be his ain fault if he was na Lord Ringsdale himsel' yet; for," my leddy, 'am 'maist ashamed to tell you, "he says ye was aye pooking him by the sleeve, and giggling, and laughing, and he ken't weel eneugh what you wanted." "You lying scoundrel!" said Goslington, no longer able to contain himself, and darting on him as a falcon on a partridge, he aimed a blow at his head, which Bauldy perceiving, had just time to escape a knock-down blow, by stooping forward. Goslington's blow, however, took effect on the top of Bauldy's bonnet, knocking it off, and leaving his hoary head unprotected, Lady Rosa screamed, and ran towards the Castle, without ever looking behind her, having but little doubt that Goslington must have killed Bauldy from the violent manner that he had attacked him. Goslington, however, did not proceed to such extremities, for although he grasped the handkerchief which Bauldy wore round his neck, and clenching his fingers, twisted it till the old man was black in the face, yet he did not attempt to strike him, taking pity on his gray hairs. "I will tak out a law borrois against you," said Bauldy, "if I dinna prosecute you for assault and battery. You ought to think shame o' yoursel' for lifting your hand to strike an auld gray-headed man that might be your faither, nay, your grandfaither. "This moment," said Goslington, grasping him again by the handkerchief, "come along with me and confess to the Earl that you told Lady Rosa the grossest lies, or I will drag you after me as I would a dog by the neck." "Surely it is meet to be said that I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more," said Bauldy. "Hold your peace, you canting hypocrite," replied Goslington, "and profane not Scripture by quoting it." The Earl, having heard of the affray from Lady Rosa, who was terribly alarmed, came into the garden. As soon as Bauldy saw his lordship, he exclaimed, looking Goslington for the first time in the face since they had quarrelled, "The Lord rebuke thee, Satan!" and shouted "murder! murder! murder!" His lordship, by his presence, prevented Goslington from laying hands again on Bauldy, and having heard a succinct account from the former, |