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heard a sound-sounds-sounds. Oh, it was the church-bells; a merry peal, too, that. Ah! a pair of happy simpletons had committed matrimony; and yet he had never heard really, who could it be?

And merrily rang the village bells, and brightly shone the sun, and strainingly did Brown tax his mind as to who it could be who that morning had set those old bells once more in merry mood over happy hearts, when suddenly a rap-rap-rap, &c., was heard at John's door, and then an excited voice, which said, or seemed to say:

“Oh, John, John! do get up. Abel is married-he is married to Ellen Withington. John, John-really John, do you hear?"

Hear? John heard plainly enough-too plainly by far, though he said never a word in reply. That morning the labour of dressing occupied only a few seconds; for dressing up to his standard of primness was absolutely out of the question. Dressing up to his standard of primness! John Brown was furious; nor did he descend from his bedroom, and enter the kitchen with any restraint imposed upon his passion. He stormed at his fellow-servants in a way that struck them with terror. The fact is, John was awfully sublime, carried away by a whirlwind of wrath with whose violence the kitchen itself seemed to tremble. He dealt largely in brimstone and fire, which he hoped would seize, consume, annihilate to all eternity, the rectory, church, all the village, rector, Abel, Ellen, Higgins, and poor Pepin. He had been betrayed-fury! thunder! fire of heaven!-cheated by a vile gang of unlettered stocks!

This explosition finished, Brown rushed from the kitchen, intending to go he did not exactly know whither. He ran down the garden, leaped over the hedge, hurried up the field, and then down the field en fou. After a little of this exercise he got into the lane with the intention of going down to the Lion, and here he met Peter Easybirch, the national schoolmaster, Pepin's opponent in the discussion of last evening.

John and Peter stopped face to face, and John forthwith put a very catalogue of questions to the almost affrighted teacher. When John had finished, Easybirch, seeing how the case stood with him, did everything in his power to calm his terrible excitement; for though Easybirch well knew that John richly merited his misfortune, still he felt rather moved to see the poor outwitted man take it so hard. Upon Abel he poured epithets which he knew were in justice due to John; but he did it of course to give John a little ease.

"It's all very well, Easybirch," cried John, gnashing his teeth; "but how-tell me how Abel got out of the cart-that's the question of questions. I have been betrayed. He could never have got out of himself." "What! not Abel ?"

“No—I'm certain of it-didn't you notice he was quite gone lifted him in."

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Certainly I did; but, John, it was all a sham, he was sober all the time. Ellen gave him nothing but weak lemonade all the evening-it's his great drink, and he can take quarts of it-and then, you know, there's nobody can touch Ellen's knack in making it superlatively nice. All this never struck me till this morning. But the fact is we were all done, completely done; and, for my part, I candidly confess he was a match for us all. While we were attempting to play a grand trick upon him,

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he was actually playing one upon us, John. Abel has studied Gil Blas' better than all of us."

Brown hung down his head, his cheek covered with shame and mortification, while the bells, which were still rolling their merry peal upon the air, seemed to second everything which Easybirch had said. John heaved a sigh, one of those real heavy ones which come up from a heavy heart, and he really did look deplorable-pitiful-done up.

"Easybirch," said he.

"Well, John," was the reply of the teacher.

"This is a bad affair, isn't it ?"

"Why, in sober truth, it really is, John."

"But, Easybirch," said John, with a look of blandishment, "do you really suppose Abel was not intoxicated last night?"

"Intoxicated! Abel intoxicated?-John, your never understood Abel, and I always said so. His sobriety last night was unimpeachable. Why, man, you had only just left Pepin last night, when myself, Abel, and the curate, entered his room, having heard from Job that Pepin was killed.” "That infernal fool!" said John, in a most emphatic manner. Why, that Job is a finished ass. I had a presentiment he would be the ruin of my scheme; but Pepin was so stupid that I had to give in to employ Job instead of another party."

"That was my opinion," said Easybirch, soothingly, "and I told Hodge that Higgins wasn't the right man at all. But to return to Pepin, for you ought to know, John, what passed in his chamber. Well, we--that is myself, Abel, and Smith (the curate), stayed with him till one o'clock this morning, and Pepin would make a full confession of the conspiracy against Abel, laying, however, all the blame on you, John. He told how you had planned it more than a year ago, that at first he had strongly opposed it, but that at last you had overcome his reluctance to participate in its execution."

Here Brown shook with suppressed indignation. Easybirch conti

nued:

166

Well, Smith vowed he would communicate everything to Dr. Goodfellow first thing this morning. Abel, I must say, laughed heartilyfairly indulged in audible glee, John, and treated the conspiracy as an innocent village joke, and begged Smith to regard it in the same light. He said he had seen through it upon entering The Den,' and knew well that Ellen would take care that his glass should contain nothing of the objectionable."

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John bit his lip, and turned paler; a mist cleared up in his mind, while he felt himself shrink into his proper dimensions.

"Well, Easybirch," said he, quietly, "it is an unlucky affair, and I suppose I am done for at Kirkwood. In my case what step would you take, Easybirch ?"

"I hardly know,” replied the schoolmaster, "but I rather think that I myself should pack up my traps and decamp. Abel's triumph and popularity are complete. What think you he did upon coming out of church? Why, man, he tossed up two or three handsful of silver; and there was a goodly crowd at the door, for the news went round the village like lightning. That's not all; he's giving to-night a tea-party in

my

schoolroom, for which preparations are now being made. But the romance isn't yet all told I hear Mr. Henry Woodbrain has given our sly Abel a cheque for 1007., and has promised him new patronage and promotion. Without affectation, John, I feel for you; it's a hard case; however, you are a young man, and the world has plenty of openings for prudent merit and downright honesty. Of these qualities, after all, you may boast, John. Well, then, just pay off your small debts (John owed Easybirch ten shillings), and make an honourable retreat. When I think of Bumbus," continued the teacher, "I feel convinced that a decent retreat is your only course; for Luke has vowed death and judgment against you. Last night, when going home, he had a narrow escape of it; he fell into the river, and was nearly drowned. At present he is ill in bed, partly through getting wet, and partly-so he stoutly maintains through drinking the ginger-beer."

"I wish those bells were smashed to atoms!" exclaimed the butler, wishing to interrupt Easybirch's story about Bumbus; for it stands upon record at Kirkwood that Bumbus never uttered a threat which he did not execute. Besides, John owed Bumbus a matter of ten or fifteen shillings, and John was afraid that if Easybirch rambled on further about Luke, the pecuniary item might be alluded to. John, therefore, interrupted Easybirch by an impassioned allusion to the bells, which, of course, were still diffusing their merriment over the village and its neighbourhood.

"Well, Easybirch," continued the butler, "I think I see my course. Three or four days will terminate my connexion with Kirkwood. I shall satisfy all demands, and then make myself scarce. I shall come down to the Lion to-night about eight o'clock, and put myself right with old friends-you'll be there, of course.

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Thus saying, John Brown parted from Peter Easybirch, and rushed the lane back towards the rectory. When arrived there, it is supposed he gathered together his various articles of property, and somehow or other smuggled himself and them out of the village, forgetting in the hurry of the moment to discharge his small debts to whomsoever owing.

The conclusion of his days at Kirkwood brings our narrative to a conclusion. Once departed, Brown, so far, has never reappeared; and the village, ever since his departure, has enjoyed comfort and tranquillity. Abel has prospered in everything. Ellen has been a happy wife and a fruitful mother. The old Squire is dead, also his old brandy-drinking steward; and Abel Drytongue and Squire Henry (as good folks will call him) are steward and lord of Kirkwood. Ralph Bonechest, of course, is now parish clerk, rejoicing and prospering in following the steps of the great Abel Drytongue.

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A NIGHT IN A SALOON.

THE ITALIAN OUTLAW.

WE had been several days at sea; the gale had passed, and passengers were gradually filling up the hitherto vacant situations; our dinner-table was on the qui vive; the disagreeable part of the community had rolled off by themselves like bad shot, and left a select few, who were enjoying a lively conversation after their late dinner. Finishing their subject, they proposed a walk on the deck; but it was in the West Indies, where the sun no sooner sets than darkness covers the land, and in about the space of an hour the saloon was again in request. What a merry place a saloon is when the passengers are agreeable! it seems so snug; ceremony is completely driven out; how to amuse oneself is the general question, and when one is desirous of so doing, means are not difficult of accomplishing it.

The brilliant lamps were reflected on the highly-polished paneling; the red cloth looked homely, and it wore an air of enjoyment seldom experienced on shore. There were foreigners of all nations, and Germans who spoke fluently the four languages, to whom the literature of all nations was open, and who might be called citizens of the world.

The Spaniards had seated themselves at the lowest end of the table, and were already counting their pesos for play; next a party of French were enjoying their eau sucrée, and also an interesting conversation; three ladies in the further corner were flirting with half a dozen étrangers; and a group of sundries at the upper end completed the party.

After various jokes had passed, and the grog had circulated, the ice soon was broken.

With

"Come, tell us an adventure," said a merry little Englishman, addressing a German, who composed one of the interesting group. out any further hesitation he commenced the following:

The evening had surprised us on the mountains as we journeyed towards Naples; our guides were already beginning to have dim fancies of being attacked, and they endeavoured to hurry us onward; but the evening was delightful; each star looked like a jewel in the diadem of heaven, whilst at some little distance Vesuvius appeared as if the earth had ruptured some mighty artery, as it threw into the night air its blood-coloured liquid, which tinged the neighbouring objects.

We looked down on the city-how silent was it! scarce a sound arose ; the noisy hum of business was entombed until the morrow, from whence it would arise like some evil spirit disturbing the minds of men: the maccaroni-sellers had long since closed their eyes in slumber; the lazzaroni had ceased to importune; the dogs of the city were respectful even of the silence; it was as a sepulchre of the living; no one seemed inclined to allow their voice to break the harmony of the scene; the gondolatier no longer dipped his oar in the water, and the music of his soul was the silent music which agreed so well with the occasion.

We stood thus watching, each speculating on the thoughts dearest to him, and which the scene might conjure up, when a shrill whistle broke

the almost terrible silence, and went whistling down the sides of the mountain, expending itself on the water, as if calling to the spirits of the deep. This sound alarmed our guides, who took to their heels, or, as the Irishman said, they were not frightened, "their cowardly legs ran away with them," warning us only by the cry of "Contrabandista !" "Ladri !"

Scarce had we time to look around before five men surrounded us and demanded a toll; and now I must state that these men were not bandits, but individuals who, from political quarrels, had been compelled to leave Naples, and had consequently retired to the mountains to secret themselves, and also to be near their city, and they had been in the habit of exacting a toll from travellers who wandered that way; this, it is true, was no less than a robbery, simply because the toll was an unjust one. But they had not been known to resort to any violent proceedings, or commit any serious depredations.

We had previously been warned, that if overtaken by them, it would be necessary to pay this toll, and therefore were not much alarmed or surprised at thus being surrounded, and speaking the Italian language, we made them soon comprehend that we had not any money on our persons, but if they would accommodate us with a night's lodging, and also allow us a guide in the morning, they should be recompensed.

After some minutes' deliberation they agreed to this proposition, and bade us follow them.

A few minutes' walk brought us to a small aperture in a rock, sufficiently large to admit only one at a time; after being there for a few minutes, and getting accustomed to the peculiar light afforded by a small lamp, which rendered the objects scarce visible, what a sight was there! different indeed from those glowing descriptions we sometimes read of ---of chieftains drinking their wine from golden goblets, and the commonest amongst them living like princes-of pearls losing their value-of bracelets encircling their arms, and such similar ideas. But no such fact presented itself; five miserable outlaws were endeavouring to live, too honest to commit those depredations which might have made them somewhat wealthy; too hungry to restrain from committing those petty crimes by which they might be enabled to keep body and soul together.

The furniture consisted of one old table and two benches, chipped with sundry devices. We observed two individuals who had not accompanied the remainder; the one was endeavouring to solace his companion, the strange wild glare of whose eyes denoted him as either a maniac, or under the influence of some strong delusion.

Having brought out some spirit-the only good article they possessed -a glass of which was drunk amidst an uninterrupted silence and gloom, my companion endeavoured to enter into conversation; but all attempts were useless, and finally he asked what made them so melancholy.

"It is no time to be merry," said a sunburnt individual sorrowfully, trying to console his companion, who was muttering apparently unmeaning sounds.

"Shall I tell them?" asked a tall, fine fellow, whose well-chiselled features and good carriage marked him as having occupied, at some prior period, a far different position.

"Oh, yes," was the reply; "but first I will see Gambitista."

He went into an inner apartment, and presently returned, saying it

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