and after the preceding feu de joie and one or two vain efforts at wakefulness, the voice lulled her into a dream, nor did she wake till dinner was announced, when Sir Rohan had sketched her sleeping face for that of a Semele.

As the night fell, they all gathered round the fire in the drawing-room, (which was now quite repaired,) and Miriam, sitting on a low cushion between the others, bent forward, her face illuminated by the blaze, and recited the savage tales. she had heard from the Pifferari at Rome, till the blood forsook her cheek.

"You have succeeded in thoroughly frightening one, at least, Miriam," said St. Denys.

"And another too, papa, I dare say, only you must be desperate and conceal it. I should n't like to have felt so, the first night we came, though."

"And what makes the difference?"

66 Why,

I feel almost as much at home here as at the Castle, now."

"That speaks well for your hospitality, Rohan." "Thank you, Miss Miriam."

"I should be better satisfied if you, sir, looked slightly perturbed or pallid. But I solace myself

by thinking no brigand of the Apennines would succeed where I fail, since you are so bold to live here alone. Marc Arundel tells a good story, though; he 'll im-pale you on its point!" and quickly making her adieux, her feet were heard scampering along the hall, as if expecting each flag to sink under them before gaining another.

But Sir Rohan might well afford to laugh at such machinery for terror, when, in the lack of any other excitement, he could always fall back on his Ghost.

X.

MR. ARUNDEL.

HUS the week of storm passed, stranding them Bags, the week of storm passed, stranding them again on sunny weather. And with the first clear day came Marc Arundel, a brace of birds, shot on the way, hanging across his saddle-bow.

"You are a summer friend, Mr. Arundel," said Miriam, in greeting. "Rain don't agree with you, -melts you. Are you sugar, or salt?"

"Both, as one bites. To the friend sugar, and you have not yet tasted the salt."

"Vastly polite. Now go and threaten papa with it, and let us begin sparring comfortably all round." "You began it yourself, Miriam."

"And you follow your flugelman admirably." "I've heard of thunder's souring cream. Crisp as a curd, this morning. Though how could one keep good-humored in such gloomy quarters, and with a man so possessed as Belvidere?"

"These are not gloomy quarters, and Sir Rohan is not possessed," said Miriam, judicially.

"Ah! Is it so? What a sweet air! You don't inquire for my health, but I never felt so well as on this fine day. I've been longing to see a relative, these twenty-four hours, to learn if the pulse of the whole race is as even as mine. Where is my cousin? Speaking of a meter, the other day, this of blood is about the best."

"Your cousin in the third remove is there," replied Miriam, slightly vexed, "coming with our friend."

"My friend in the thirtieth remove, counting each day since I knew him as a further distance," Arundel said, with a sneer.

"Sir Rohan has n't much patience, I suspect ; and you had best conduct yourself reasonably," she added.

"Or he'll pitch me, neck and heels, out doors?"

A look of contempt curled Miriam's lip. "Your phraseology is choice," she said.

"That's as I please."

"How can you hope even peace should remain between us, when you treat me with such disrespect!"

"I would treat you like a princess, if you allowed. A man should have the patience of Job, to see such a prize carried off under his nose. Let me tell you, my dear

"You are too familiar," she interposed, moving off with a flashing eye.

"Fiddle-de-dee! By the sun, moon, and seven stars, Miriam, if he show his airs to me

"Don Braggadocio!" she ejaculated over her shoulder.

"But honestly, Miriam-"

"I, certainly, am no relative of yours," she uttered, turning upon him; "and let me say, in language most intelligible to you, Mr. Arundel, that I always use a handle with your name."

"Ten thousand pardons! Miss

What?" he asked derisively.

Miss

Miriam had half the mind to strike him; but she had drawn it upon herself, and walked away without another word.

"Silenced you!" said Arundel, as he gazed after her. "And a woman's easily conciliated. It's your turn and your heyday,- mine will come!" with which he advanced to pay his compliments to St. Denys and his host.