plexion being heightened by dancing, || Roderick sat down beside him; but accounted for the blushes that scorch- he insisted on being left alone, and ed her cheeks: the ladies crowded would not be persuaded to undress. around, praying her not to mind When Lady Balveny reappeared in punctilio with them, but to give all the gallery, she was assailed on all attention to her step-son. Her step- sides with interrogatories concerning son! in these two syllables were im- her son; and every one vied in fillplied incurable pangs of horror and ing her ears with encomiums on the misery: she stood irresolute and con- transcendent graces of his person, fused, when the good father Rode- his varied and high attainments, and ricky seeing her perplexity or alarm, the premature manliness of his dar laame to ask if she would go with him ing courage. She struggled," and -to d comfort & Lord Balveny, whose succeeded in the efforts to dissemble grief for his son's illness would be her emotion; but the torturing exer soothed by her presence. tion shook her frame almost to anni-Wilmina and father Roderick in hilation. She was obliged to retire.. silence trod along a gloomy passage Lord Balveny attributed her illness to a detached range of dormitories, to the fatigues of the day; his guests whither Lord Balveny directed the imputed it to the affronting behavimenials who bore away his son, to our of her step-sons; and a few ma-remove him from the noise which re-lignants insinuated, that if a sudden -verberated through the vaulted com- call of state affairs had not taken off partments, lofty halls, and far-stretch-the gude man of Ballengeith, the ing corridors of the castle. They met his lordship returning; he took his lady's arm, and happily no suspicion crossed his thoughts in regard to the conflicting excitements apparent in her varying complexion, while she inquired for Sylvester under the maternal character. He knit his brows, and glared wildly as he fixed This eyes upon her. She requested to know what he would take for food or nutriment. He fiercely answered, nod have already taken too much. want nothing but quiet. Go back all of you to your revel. I desire -only that my own people shall be -enjoined to attend their duty, in guarding the access here against in-perty for a final migration. Lord truders/nsbe Balveny took for granted that she Lord Balveny hurried his lady was with his lady: she indeed went haway from an invalid who had not to offer her several nostrums, which -the civility to thank her for the at- were declined; and she unintentiontentions she paid to him. Fatherally furnished Wilmina's'agitated AGVANÍ ŘMIÑOXX***

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young matron would have had no ailments. Lord Balveny endeavoured to act for her and for himself in performing the rites of hospitality: he placed his niece, Lady Calderwood, in the chair of state, as a temporary representative of Lady Balveny; but this arrangement implacably offended Mrs. Halyburton. She resolved, and adhered to the resolution, to bid a last farewell to the castle, in accepting an invitation from her twentieth cousin's spouse, the Lady Piteur, who had asked her to see a religious procession, soon to take place at St. Andrew's. She absented herself from the supper-table, to collect her pro

mind with the best sedative, by mentioning, that while the company were dancing, the Master of Balveny and his brother galloped away, followed by all their reluctant train. Lady Balveny never again beheld the sons of her lord; nor, unless in confession to the pious and sympathizing father Roderick, did she ever again articulate the name of Sylvester.

gave Elspa Hossack full credit for restoring their lady from the bed of disease by fairy influences. She had a boy seven years old, not taller than a child of forty moons, and fearfully misshapen: he was supposed to be the progeny of a "green chieftain of the hillocks;" and old women averred, they had heard at dead hours of night, a sough, or dull, low, unearthly tones, muttering wierd spells over the Lady of Balveny. The attach, ment Lady Balveny evinced for her mute sick-nurse and the goblin boy were attributed to preternatural ascendency: her first request to Lord Balveny was, to have Elspa and Ga

To prolong a wedding festival amidst the rising and setting of three, seven, or nine suns, was deemed a propitious omen. This aphorism, so convenient for the multitudes who enjoyed pleasure, or benefited by fragments of the sumptuous entertainments, was communicated to Ladybriel Hossack as inmates of the casBalveny from authorities of all de- tle; a boon cheerfully accorded, and grees on the day of her public intro- as the event shewed, it came in a duction. The waiting damsels, as they lucky hour. disencumbered her of her weighty The distemper left Wilmina's boornaments, repeated the most exag-dily constitution impaired; but the gerated tales of good fortune attend- oppression that weighed down her ing the nine-day rejoicings, and of dis- spirits was not to be overcome by aster pursuing an abbreviated term: medicine. The stories related by the effect would have corresponded her guests and waiting damsels haunti to their designs if Wilmina had ed her imagination. When she vent awoke with the power of recollection tured to quit her chamber in the next day. The guests separated ear- morning, she shuddered at the sound lier than was customary on such oc- of her own light steps, dreading the casions. Lord Balveny found his la- approach of some hideous foe; and dy so ill, that he called father Ro- when night hushed the voices of all derick. The priesthood were then but the warder of the castle and his the only practitioners of medicine; sentinels, she shrunk from the moonand happily for Wilmina, her physi- beams, that fell on the gilded corni→ cian made a compassionate and ge- ces of her sleepless, couch, lest they nerous use of the secret her ravings might rouse supernatural ageney to betrayed to him. He explained away accomplish the evil omens of her desto Lord Balveny the perplexing ex- tiny, Father Roderick bad roamed clamations she uttered, and employed the devious paths of dissipated gra a dumb woman in the neighbourhood tification, ere a disappointment in as her sick-nurse. Indeed no pre- the most tender susceptibility of his scription could so effectually promote heart devoted him to monastic vows; her recovery as the cares of a speech- he had studied, he had felt humanless attendant. The household took infirmity; and he adapted his expe+ a different view of the case; they rience to the advantage of his pati

her cheeks: her voyage and journey were favoured by the weather; the king and queen received her with the most gratifying distinction; and during six weeks all the symptoms of her malady disappeared. She had been married more than a year, and if she looked back, it seemed a lapse of ages; now time careered with rapid pace. Lord Balveny perceived, that in a few months she could not with safety go back to Balveny castle; but to his representations on the sub

other and another week to confirm her health, and he could deny her no request. He agreed to wait a grand court ball: Lady Balveny shone conspicuous amidst a constellation of beauties, "a lovely beam," soon to be extinct for ever.

ent. He deeply commiserated her sor- || brilliancy; a bloom, beautifully delirow, and respected her self-restric- catc, yet portentous, returned to tion. Domestic amusements could not interest her; yet, by engaging her in a favourite employment, the preparation of dresses, her melancholy might be relieved. He advised Lord Balveny to present her at court. The journey and change of scene were proposed; Lady Balveny assented with a languid smile: but when Lord Balveny by importunate entreaty drew her to the wardrobechamber, her countenance brightened. The massive oaken chests and closets were opened, and the gorge-ject, she replied by entreaties for anous robes of many generations unfolded by the waiting damsels. Lady Balveny ordered the bales of splendid silks and cloth, the gold and silver lace and jewels, to be displayed; several days passed in a review of their comparative beauties, and a rumour having gone forth that the Lady Wilmina was to grace the circle of royalty, many vassals waited on her with costly gifts appropriate for the exhibition. She must exert herself to receive and entertain the donors; and again the long table was added to the dais in Balveny great hall; the smoking feast was spread from end to end; wine-cups circulat-sures and clapping of hands, absurd' ed above the salt, and reaming ale or burnt plates of spiced brandy invoked mirth unrestrained to pass from eye to eye, and voice to voice, at the lower board. Lady Balveny's sadness abated; she smiled, and almost laughed at the jokes Lord Balveny and his friends bestowed on the dainsels, when his lordship came to help the lady, as he said, to keep them diligent: in fact, those visits set them idle but Lady Balveny was a little diverted, and her idolizing lord asked no more. Her eyes resumed their

The king led her to dance "the Dutch Skipper," a figure newly imported from foreign shores. Wilmina had daily received lessons in it,' with a select party of ladies, under' the direction of the king and queen." To modern ears and eyes, the slow tune and movements would appear fantastically insipid; the quicker mea

and vulgar; but in the court of the most accomplished monarch of the 16th century, it was admired as the perfection of elegance. Soon after the dancers were all engaged, the domestics trimmed the lamps. Lady Balveny screamed, and threw herself into the arms of the king: a general shriek of female voices ensued; each fair-one clung to her partner, and the loud laugh of lords and gentlemen echoed around. The king placed himself on the floor, taking Lady' Balveny on his lap. "Lord Balveny

knew her voice, and pressed throughness of countenance, but expressive

the crowd to inquire for her, and hardly could avoid stumbling as he made his way among the nobles, chiefs, and knights, who imitated the king in taking a lowly seat to support their fainting partners. All, but a few who were in the secret, when they looked at a neighbour, roared or groaned, and hid their faces with their hands; and none sat still, but gathered about the king, without knowing why. He resigned Lady Balveny to her lord, and gave orders for the lamps to be trimmed again. Many of the nearest bystanders observed, that the lamps were not only trimmed but changed; and when the king had for some time enjoyed the confusion, he went round the room, laughingly explaining, that the lamps had been displaced by vessels of a similar form, replenished with burning spirits mixed with salt, which gave every face a ghastly hue. This specimen of a courtly hoax in olden time will shew how rude and puerile were the ideas of merriment. The salted spirits became a standing jest; and the king said, that looking on all sides, on men and women in the fashions of different eras and countries, with ashen pallor in every face, he - could have fancied the tombstones of Holyrood chapel had sent forth their dead to exhibit a dance of Death.

of more sagacity and firmness of mind, gave father Roderick room to hope, that the maturity of her age would afford a continual solace to her parent. Father Roderick had exerted his ghostly influence to mollify the ris gour of female tuition: that error was not to be apprehended in training the Lady Wilmina; she was in more danger from the opposite extrême; and to guard against it, father Ro derick took her under his immediate charge. He was not ambitious that she should figure as a prodigy. He discerned in her the lustre of genius, and the wisdom of stedfast application to her studies: yet he took care not to blazon her attainments, lest the praises of indifferent persons, or of sycophants, might tarnish her moral excellencies with self-conceit, For her advantage, Lord Balveny repressed his fond exultation in her endowments of exterior and intellect; and her preceptor allowed him to vent his feelings in just applause for every emanation of benevolence, uprightness, humility, or, in few words, for all the evidences of practical piety. She was taught to avoid all display in her good deeds; but an attentive observer rehearsed them. This was the reputed " goblin boy," Gabriel Hossack. He always retained a lively gratitude for Lady Some months after her return to Balveny's kindness to him and his - Balveny Castle, Wilmina bore a fe- mother, and with her first percepmale child, and expired. Lord Bal- tions, Wilmina won his attachment to weny mourned in ever renewing an- herself. All other infants turned away guish over her premature tomb; but with terror from his hideous figure; his religious fortitude sustained him Wilmina laughed, crowed, and held in the parental duties wholly devolv-out her little arms, to shew how acSed upon him. The babe received ceptable were his endeavours to sher mother's name, and with her amuse her. growth increased in likeness to the lamented Wilmina. The same sweet- il

(To be continued.)

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A DEFENCE OF WIDOWS, be‚99lov toil wond * quoni os'bworɔ sdt two on ladies in that grief-worn state should be exposed to the mirth of artists or of talkers, Repository of Arts for June, page 354. -SI TAM fearful I shall prove but a weak defender of that interesting por tion of the fair sex who have unhappily become widows; but till a better shall arise, they must take the will for the deedula pnclerk, dë

91 Neither is this scandal, as a gene-ly, pays his debts, and finds herself ral šemark, at all true: many, very niany widows continue, after the loss of their partners, in a state of celi