with the forbidding form of the old woman, calculated to create the very reverse to a favourable opinion. On a mantel-piece, carved with hideous heads (and which had doubtless once ornamented some old monastery,) stood a large green hour-glass, and beside it the polished skull of her son Reynold; it was a boon she had ob tained and carefully preserved after his execution; while on one side of the fire-place was reared a broom of heather, such as the witches of old were supposed to bestride when they rode on the storms of midnight. The table, which had no doubt been rescued from the plunder of some neighbouring convent, was solid oak, and stood on four ponderous carved legs, resembling cherubs: one leg, however, had been broken, and a rough piece of timber was nailed over the full cheeks and cross-wings, of this bodiless supporter, as if to prevent him from flying. A broken crucifix was also partially revealed in one corner, although an attempt had been made to conceal it by a pile of firewood, leaving, thereby, no doubt of the re

ligion professed by the aged inhabitant of the hut.

On the wall was pasted a rude wood-engraving of the twelve signs, which had been worked off from the black blocks of some of our earliest printers. From various parts of the ceiling were suspended bunches of herbs, and along the large centre-beam, the dried skins of a weasel, pole-cat, and otter, which Reynold the Ranger had himself shot, and preserved. They hung just as he had left them; and when the wind blew aloud, they swung to and fro, and cast their shadows over the hour-glass, and his own skull, which seemed to stand ever grinning upon them. A heap of straw, over which was thrown a ragged covering, stood in one corner of the hut, and formed the couch of old Duskena; a tattered curtain stretched along a string, to ward off the draughts from this miserable resting-place; but the lower portion of it was worn and torn away, and only in one or two places reached down to the floor. A similar heap of straw was thrown together in another corner;

this was the bed of her grandson Gilbert, but

he rarely found leisure to occupy

it.

The old woman had by this time prepared the supper, which consisted of a small piece of rusty yellow bacon, and a few greasy stems of colewort or cabbage, and having covered it up in a brown earthen vessel with a wooden trencher, she trimmed her lamp, and sat down to peruse a well-thumbed, and black-lettered missal, which contained the prayers of the Romish Church. Beside her sat the huge black cat, sometimes looking up at its mistress, then again buttoning its eyes, and basking in the warmth of the comfortable fire. She was, however, suddenly aroused by a low knocking at the door, a sound which seemed rather to solicit than demand admission, when concealing the book under her tattered garments, and grasping the bright horn hook of her staff, she arose, and dragged her bent body towards the door, grumbling all the way at every step she took.

CHAPTER II.

And who is this so full of wicked faith,

That comes to take his council from the stars:
As if those pure and ever-shining orbs,

Were only made to register his fate,

Roll on, and light him to his devilish deeds.

The Fatalist.

"HAST thou come to disturb me at this late hour?" said the old woman, pausing before the door, and speaking in a voice which sounded like the wind, whistling through the hollow trunk of a tree.

"It is I, good mother, Henry Wardour, who have great need of your your council; pray withdraw the latch;" was answered in a clear but tremulous voice, which sounded, as if the feelings of the speaker were deeply agitated.

Duskena undid the wooden bar, and gave admission to a tall handsome youth, whose years had not yet numbered a score of summers.

As he entered the hut, he took off the rich velvet cap, which had covered his beautiful brown hair, that was twisted in scores of natural curls, and prostrating one knee gracefully upon the floor, the old woman placed her hand upon his head, and said in a solemn voice, "The good saints bless thee, my son, and make thee an instrument to raise the Church of Christ, from the darkness and ruin with which it is now blackened and desolated!"

The youth arose, shook his head, sighed heavily, and covering his face with his hands, stood for several moments, in silence.

"I have heard all, my son," continued Duskena, again securing the door, and drawing forth a rude wooden stool, on which the youth seated himself, while the old woman resumed her chair; "I have heard all, and see as clearly as if the book of fate was opened before me, that it is the will of Heaven, that thou shouldst not take to wife the maiden on whom thy choice is fixed; the very difference of your faiths forbid it: the child of the true church must not enter