the way we were going; but this is neither here nor there; I merely expressed an innocent surprise, that there should have been grounds for your acquaintance with Captain Fitzgerald which you never intimated to me."

"Lord, papa, it is so awkward to talk to you about such matters; I am sure I had no other objection to telling you that Fitzgerald knew all about us before he saw us."

“All about you, Miss Redwood; for I am quite a cipher in the eyes of such men as the Captain, having no other value than what results from being your adjunct. Fitzgerald was then apprised that you are a belle, and will be an heiress."

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Probably. And if I do possess the advantage of those distinctions, I am sure I ought to be much indebted to Captain Fenwick for making them known, that I may enjoy them abroad as well as at home." Mr. Redwood thought the distinctions which procured for his daughter a host of such admirers as Fitzgerald of very doubtful advantage, and would perhaps have said so, but the vessel at this moment touched the wharf, and the bustle of disembarking put an end to the conversation. The travellers having arranged themselves in the carriage, Mr. Redwood ordered the coachman to drive to the village tavern, where he said it was his intention to pass the night. A short drive carried them to the door of the village inn. The landlord was sitting on a bench before the door, alternately reading a newspaper, and hạ

ranguing half a dozen loiterers on the great political topics that then agitated the country: his own patriotic politics were sufficiently indicated by the bearings of his sign-board; on one side of which was rudely sketched the surrender of Burgoyne, and on the other, an American eagle with his talons triumphantly planted on a British lion. It cannot be pretended that the skill of the artist had been adequate to revealing his design to the observation of the passing traveller; or rather the design of "Major Jonathan Doolittle," whose name stood in bold relief on one side, under the shadow of the spread wing of the eagle; and on the other under the delineation of the victory, which, according to the major's own opinion, he had been a distinguished instrument in achieving. But any deficiency in the skill of the artist was abundantly supplied by the valuable comment of the major, whose memory or imagination filled up the imperfect outline with every particular of the glorious victory. The carriage drew up to the door of the valiant publican, and in answer to Mr. Redwood's inquiry for the landlord, the major replied without doffing his hat or changing his attitude, "I am he, sir, in the room of a better." Mr. Redwood then inquired, if he could obtain accommodation for the night. The major replied exchanging with his compatriots a knowing wink; "that he rather guessed not: he did not lay out to entertain people from the old countries; his women folks thought they took too much waiting on."

Caroline whispered an entreaty to her father, to order the coachman to drive on; but Mr. Redwood, without heeding her, said, "you mistake us, friend, we are your own country people, just returning from a visit to the British provinces, and as we have our own servants, and shall not need much waiting on, you will not perhaps object to receiving us." The major's reluctance was somewhat abated by this information, and would probably have been quite overcome, but for his desire of keeping up his consequence in the eyes of the by-standers, by showing off his inherent dislike of an unquestionable gentleman. He said, they were calculating to have a training the next day, and the women folks had just put the house to rights, and he rather guessed, they would not choose to have it disturbed, but it was according as they could agree;" and if," he added, for the first time rising and advancing towards Mr. Redwood, "if the gentleman could make it an object to them to take so much trouble, he would go in and inquire."

This last interested stipulation of the major filled up the measure of Mr. Redwood's disgust; and turning abruptly from him to a good-natured looking man, who, at that moment riding past them on horseback, had checked the career of his horse to gaze at the travellers, he inquired the distance to the next village. "That," replied the man, "is according to which road you take."

"Is there any choice between the roads?"

"It's rather my belief there is;

anyhow, there is many opinions held about them. Squire Upton said, it was shortest by his house, if you cut off the bend by deacon Garson's; and General Martin maintained, it was shortest round the long quarter, so they got out the surveyor and chained it." "And which road," interrupted Mr. Redwood, "proved the shortest ?"

"Oh there was no proof about it; the road is a bone of contention yet. The surveyor was called off to hold a Justice's court before he had finished the squire's road, and-"

"Which do you believe the shortest ?" exclaimed Mr. Redwood, impatiently cutting short the history of the important controversy.

"Oh I," replied the man, laughing, "and every body else but the squire, calculates it to be the shortest way round the long quarter, and the prospects are altogether preferable that way, and that is something of an object as you seem to be strangers in these parts."

"Oh Lord," exclaimed Caroline, "it will soon be too dark for any prospect but that of breaking all our necks!"

"Do you think," pursued Mr. Redwood, "that we shall be able to arrive before dark?”

"That's according as your horses are." "The horses are good and fleet."

"Well then, sir, it will depend something on the driver; but if you will take my advice, you will stop by the way. It is not far from night; there

is a pretty pokerish cloud rising; it is a stretchy road to Eaton, and it will be something risky for you to try to get there by daylight. But, sir, if you find yourself crowded for time, and will stop at my house, we will do our best to make you comfortable for the night. If you will put up with things being in a plain farmer-like way, you shall be kindly welcome."

Mr. Redwood thanked the good man heartily for the proffer of his hospitality, but declined it, saying, he doubted not they should be able to reach the next village before the storm. He then directed his coachman to drive on rapidly; and exchanging a farewell nod with his informant, who rode on briskly before him, he sunk back into his seat, and relapsed into silence and abstraction.

Meanwhile, Caroline sat listening in trepidation to the hoarse, though yet distant threatenings of the thunder, and watching with a restless eye the fearful clouds that rolled darkly, volume over volume, in their ascent to mid heaven. "For gracious sake put your head out of the coach, Lilly," said she to her servant, "and look if there is any sign of the village." Lilly could just discern the spire of a church that stood on a distant hill. "On a hill of course," replied Caroline; "one would think these yankees had contrived their churches for telegraphs. I am delighted at any rate, that there is a landmark in sight. heaven's sake, papa,” she added, impetuously turn

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