"It is a young man," said Seraphina, hastening to interrupt her sister's remonstrance, "a relation, I believe, of our worthy Father Fairford; left at the gate by the captain of that blessed vessel the Sainte Genevieve-almost dead-and charged with despatches to"

She lowered her voice as she mumbled over the last words.

"Nay, then, there is no help," said Angelica; "but it is unlucky."

During this dialogue between the vestals of Fairladies, Dick Gardener deposited his burden in a chair, where the young lady, after a moment of hesitation, expressing a becoming reluctance to touch the hand of a stranger, put her finger and thumb upon Fairford's wrist, and counted his pulse.

"There is

fever here, sister," she said; "Richard must call Ambrose, and we must send some of the febrifuge."

Ambrose arrived presently, a plausible and respectablelooking old servant, bred in the family, and who had risen. from rank to rank in the Arthuret service, till he was become half-physician, half-almoner, half-butler, and entire governor; that is, when the Father Confessor, who frequently eased him of the toils of government, chanced to be abroad. Under the direction, and with the assistance, of this venerable personage, the unlucky Alan Fairford was conveyed to a decent apartment at the end of a long gallery, and, to his inexpressible relief, consigned to a comfortable bed. He did not attempt to resist the prescription of Mr. Ambrose, who not only presented him with the proposed draught, but proceeded so far as to take a considerable quantity of blood from him, by which last operation he probably did his patient much service.

CHAPTER IX.

NARRATIVE OF ALAN FAIRFORD CONTINUED.

On the next morning, when Fairford awoke, after no very refreshing slumbers, in which were mingled many wild dreams of his father, and of Darsie Latimer,-of the damsel in the green mantle, and the vestals of Fairladies,of drinking small beer with Nanty Ewart, and being immersed in the Solway with the Jumping Jenny, -he found himself in no condition to dispute the order of Ambrose, that he should keep his bed, from which, indeed, he could not have raised himself without assistance. He became sensible that his anxiety, and his constant efforts for some days past, had been too much for his health, and that, whatever might be his impatience, he could not proceed in his undertaking until his strength was re-established.

In the meanwhile, no better quarters could have been found for an invalid. The attendants spoke under their breath, and moved only on tiptoe-nothing was done unless par ordonnance du medecin-Esculapius reigned paramount in the premises at Fairladies, Once-a-day, the ladies came in great state to wait upon him, and inquire after his health; and it was then that Alan's natural civility, and the thankfulness which he expressed for their timely and charitable assistance, raised him considerably in their esteem. He was on the third day removed to a better apartment than that in which he had been at first accommodated. When he was permitted to drink a glass of wine, it was of the first quality; one of those curious oldfashioned cob-webbed bottles being produced on the occasion, which are only to be found in the crypts of old country-seats, where they may have lurked undisturbed for more than half a century.

But however delightful a residence for an invalid, Fairladies, as its present inmate became soon aware, was not

so agreeable to a convalescent. When he dragged himself to the window so soon as he could crawl from bed, behold it was closely grated, and commanded no view except of a little paved court. This was nothing remarkable, most old Border-houses having their windows so secured; but then Fairford observed, that whoever entered or left the room, always locked the door with great care and circumspection; and some proposals which he made to take a walk in the gallery, or even in the garden, were so coldly received, both by the ladies and their prime minister, Mr. Ambrose, that he saw plainly such an extension of his privileges as a guest would not be permitted.

Anxious to ascertain whether this excessive hospitality would permit him his proper privilege of free-agency, he announced to this important functionary, with grateful thanks for the care with which he had been attended, his purpose to leave Fairladies next morning, requesting only, as a continuance of the favours with which he had been loaded, the loan of a horse to the next town; and, assuring Mr. Ambrose that his gratitude would not be limited by such a trifle, he slipped three guineas into his hand, by way of seconding his proposal. The fingers of that worthy domestic closed as naturally upon the honorarium, as if a degree in the learned faculty had given him a right to clutch it; but his answer concerning Alan's proposed departure was at first evasive, and when he was pushed, it amounted to a peremptory assurance that he could not be permitted to depart to-morrow; it was as much as his life was worth, and his ladies would not authorize it.

"I know best what my own life is worth," said Alan; " and I do not value it in comparison to the business which requires my instant attention."

Receiving still no satisfactory answer from Mr. Ambrose, Fairford thought it best to state his resolution to the ladies themselves, in the most measured, respectful, and grateful terms; but still such as expressed a firm determination to depart on the morrow, or next day at farthest. After some attempts to induce him to stay, on the alleged score of health, which were so expressed that he was con

vinced they were only used to delay his departure, Fairford plainly told them that he was intrusted with despatches of consequence to the gentleman known by the names of Herries, Redgauntlet, and the Laird of the Lochs; and that it was matter of life and death to deliver them early.

"I dare say, sister Angelica," said the elder Miss Arthuret," that the gentleman is honest; and if he is really a relation of Father Fairford, we can run no risk." “Jesu Maria !" exclaimed the younger. "Oh fie, sister Seraphina! Fie, fie-Vade retro-get thee behind me !"

"Well, well`; but, sister-sister Angelica-let me speak with you in the gallery.”

So out the ladies rustled in their silks and tissues, and it was a good half hour ere they rustled in again, with importance and awe on their countenances.

“To tell you the truth, Mr. Fairford, the cause of our desire to delay you is-there is a religious gentleman in this house at present

"A most excellent person, indeed-" said the sister Angelica.

"An anointed of his Master!" echoed Seraphina; "and we should be glad that, for conscience sake, you would hold some discourse with him before your depart

ure."

Oho! thought Fairford, the murder is out-here is a design of conversion !—I must not affront the good old ladies, but I shall soon send off the priest, I think.-He then answered aloud, "that he should be happy to converse with any friend of theirs—that, in religious matters, he had the greatest respect for every modification of Christianity, though, he must say, his belief was made up to that in which he had been educated; nevertheless, if his seeing the religious person they recommended could in the least show his respect

"It is not quite that," said Sister Seraphina; " although I am sure the day is too short to hear him,-Father Buonaventure, I mean,-speak upon the concerns of our souls; but

"Come, come, sister Seraphina," said the younger, "it is needless to talk so much about it. His-his Eminence-I mean Father Buonaventure-will himself explain what he wants this gentleman to know."

"His Eminence !" said Fairford, surprised :-" Is this gentleman so high in the Catholic Church?-The title is given only to Cardinals, I think."

"He is not a Cardinal as yet," answered Seraphina; "but I assure you, Mr. Fairford, he is as high in rank as he is eminently endowed with good gifts, and—”

"Come away," said Sister Angelica. "Holy Virgin, how you do talk !-What has Mr. Fairford to do with Father Buonaventure's rank?-Only, sir, you will remember, that the Father has been always accustomed to be treated with the most profound deference; indeed__"

"Come away, sister," said Sister Seraphina in her turn; "who talks now, I pray you ?-Mr. Fairford will know how to comport himself."

"And we had best both leave the room," said the younger lady," for here his Eminence comes.

She lowered her voice to a whisper as she pronounced the last words; and as Fairford was about to reply, by assuring her that any friend of hers should be treated by him with all the ceremony he could expect, she imposed silence on him, by holding up her finger.

A solemn and stately step was now heard in the gallery; it might have proclaimed the approach not merely of a bishop or cardinal, but of the Sovereign Pontiff himself. Nor could the sound have been more respectfully listened to by the two ladies, had it announced that the Head of the Church was approaching in person. They drew themselves, like sentinels on duty, one on each side of the door by which the long gallery communicated with Fairford's apartment, and stood there immovable, and with countenances expressive of the deepest reverence.

The approach of Father Buonaventure was so slow, that Fairford had time to notice all this, and to marvel in his mind what wily and ambitious priest could have contrived to subject his worthy but simple-minded hostesses