ing that question puts your resolution beyond a doubt. Since your childhood you were ever daring, seeking danger rather than avoiding it delighting in whatever had the air of adventure and of courage; and it is not from fear that you will now blench from your purpose-O let it then be from pity!—from pity, Halbert, to your aged mother, whom your death or victory will alike deprive of the comfort and stay of her age."

"She has my brother Edward," said Halbert, turning suddenly from her.

"She has indeed," said Mary Avenel," the calm, the noble-minded, the considerate Edward, who has thy courage, Halbert, without thy fiery rashness, thy generous spirit, with more of reason to guide it. He would not have heard his mother, would not have heard his adopted sister, beseech him in vain not to ruin himself, and tear up their future hopes of happiness and protection."

Halbert's heart swelled as he replied to this reproach, "Well-what avails it speaking?—you have him that is better than me-wiser, more considerate-braver, for aught that I know-you are provided with a protector, and need care no more for me."

Again he turned to depart, but Mary Avenel laid her hand on his arm so gently that he scarce felt her hold, yet felt that it was impossible for him to strike it off. There he stood, one foot advanced

to leave the court-yard, but so little determined on departure, that he resembled a traveller arrested by the spell of a magician, and unable either to quit the attitude of motion, or to proceed on his course.

Mary Avenel availed herself of his state of suspense. "Hear me," she said, "hear me, Halbert -I am an orphan, and even Heaven hears the orphan-I have been the companion of your infancy, and if you will not hear me for an instant, from whom may Mary Avenel claim so poor a boon ?"

"I hear you," said Halbert Glendinning, "but be brief, dear Mary-you mistake the nature of business-it is but a morning of summer sport which we propose."

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Say not thus," said the maiden, interrupting him," say not thus to me-others thou mayst deceive, but me thou canst not-There has been that in me from the earliest youth, which fraud flies from, and which imposture cannot deceive. For what fate has given me such a power I know not; but, bred an ignorant maiden in this sequestered valley, mine eyes can too often see what man would most willingly hide-I can judge of the dark pose, though it is hid under the smiling brow, and a glance of the eye says more to me than oaths and protestations do to others."

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"Then," said Halbert, "if thou canst so read the human heart,—say, dear Mary-what doest thou see in mine ?-tell me that-say that what

thou seest-what thou readest in this bosom, does not offend thee-say but that, and thou shalt be the guide of my actions, and mould me now and henceforward to honour or to dishonour at thy own free will."

Mary Avenel became first red, and then deadly pale, as Halbert Glendinning spoke. But when, turning round at the close of his address, he took her hand, she gently withdrew it, and replied, “I cannot read the heart, Halbert, and I would not of my will know aught of yours, save what beseems us both-I only can judge of signs, words, and actions of little outward import, more truly than those around me, as my eyes, thou knowest, have seen objects not presented to those of others."

"Let them gaze then on one whom they shall never see more," said Halbert, once more turning from her, and rushing out of the court-yard without again looking back.

Mary Avenel gave a faint scream, and clasped both her hands firmly on her forehead and eyes. She had been a minute in this attitude, when she was thus greeted by a voice from behind: "Generously done, my most clement Discretion, to hide those brilliant eyes from the far inferior beams which even now begin to gild the eastern horizon -Certes, peril there were that Phoebus, outshone in splendour, might in very shamefacedness turn back his car, and rather leave the world in dark

ness, than incur the disgrace of such an encounter -Credit me, lovely Discretion"

But as Sir Piercie Shafton (the reader will readily set down these flowers of eloquence to the proper owner,) attempted to take Mary Avenel's hand, in order to proceed in his speech, she shook him abruptly off, and regarding him with an eye which evinced terror and agitation, rushed past him into the tower.

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The knight stood looking after her with a countenance in which contempt was strongly mingled with mortification. By my knighthood!" he ejaculated, "I have thrown away upon this rude rustic Phidelé a speech which the proudest beauty at the court of Felicia (so let me call the Elysium from which I am banished!) might have termed the very matins of Cupid. Hard and inexorable was the fate that sent thee hither, Piercie Shafton, to waste thy wit upon country-wenches, and thy valour upon hob-nailed clowns! But that insultthat affront had it been offered to me by the lowest plebeian, he must have died for it by my hand, in respect the enormity of the offence doth countervail the inequality of him by whom it was given. I trust I shall find this clownish roisterer not less willing to deal in blows than in taunts."

While he held this conversation with himself, Sir Piercie Shafton was hastening to the little tuft of birch trees which had been assigned as the place

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of meeting. He greeted his antagonist with a courtly salutation, followed by this commentary: "I pray you to observe, that I doff my hat to you, though so much my inferior in rank, without derogation on my part, inasmuch as my having so far honoured you in receiving and admitting your defiance, doth, in the judgment of the best martialists, in some sort and for the time, raise you to a level with me-an honour which you may and ought to account cheaply purchased, even with the loss of your life, if such should chance to be the issue of this duello."

"For which condescension," said Halbert, "I have to thank the token which I presented to you." The knight changed colour, and grinded his teeth with rage-" Draw your weapon!" said he to Glendinning.

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Not in this spot," answered the youth; would be liable to interruption-Follow me, and I will bring you to a place where we will encounter no such risk."

He proceeded to walk up the glen, resolving that their place of combat should be in the entrance of the Corri-nan-shian, both because the spot, lying under the reputation of being haunted, was very little frequented, and also because he regarded it as a place which to him might be termed fated, and which he therefore resolved should witness his death or victory.