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blossoms in their growth and bright ness, when they gleamed and glowed amid the green shelter. But not alone did she watch them, not alone did she study their emblematic language; for when Phelim gathered and gave the nosegay, she betrayed the quick interpretation on her blushing cheek, and by the soft darkening of her downcast eye, which seemed to shrink from the glowing depth of meaning in his, while, thrilling to her soul went the mellow music of his low-toned voice telling her of love and constancy.

Charlie and the other members of his household could scarcely quarrel with the presence of Letty's preserver; yet his visits were barely tolerated by them. Charlie said he hated the smuggling papist. "In spite of all his mighty pleasant ways, he's a slinking, scheming fellow eternally plotting to cheat and bamboozle the coast-guard; he'll may be learn to cheat his neighbours too. Pity but he had Letty! troth I'm feared the outwork she complains so sorely of would be but a trifle compared to what she'd have to put up with then. God forgive me if it be a sin, but I do not like one of his kind! for I'm credibly told that they think it neither sin nor shame to circumvent us Protestants. Letty's so weak, she thinks he was just sent into the world for her sake, and that God favors the foolish fondness she shows him, because he happened to save her that day, when in half a minute longer the boat would have saved her just as well.

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And in half a minute longer I'd have been at the bottom! No, Charlie, nothing ever can make me forget what I owe Phelim; and, Charlie dear, wait till you know him better, and you will think better of him: and he has never asked me yet; it is time enough to refuse. You don't like his people, Charlie, and would not do him justice because he prays as his father and mother taught him. You have been always kind to me; but it is not kind of you to judge so hardly of poor Phelim."

"Ogh, then, poor Phelim he is, and poor Phelim he'll continue, I'm think ing! The worst is your own, Letty, if you wont take warning; but I tell you

this, I wont be bamboozled by either of yez; I'll rid the country of the blackguard-mind if I don't! and leave your folly now, Letty, and take up in time; there's more than one decent, responsible boy in the parish that your stiffness keeps at a distance, and the poorest of them could outbuy him and all his kin."

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Oh, then, Charlie, I'll not guess who they are, for it does not concern me; I've little notions of marrying any way."

So time wore on, and spring and summer came. Phelim, with assiduous attention, had seized every opportunity of seeing her alone, and during summer such opportunities were daily. When the other members of the family were engaged in the fields, Phelim was constantly by her side. Did she spin: he read to her, and her varying colour and tearful eye hallowed in his heart the story of true love and misfortune." Was she in the garden: (as these minor labours were left to her,) Phelim was by her side, that she should not have to handle the heavy spade, and so in all the occupations where he might take a part. Ever ready to assist her, Phelim, in the turf-cutting time, when she took the jar of milk and basket of bread for the labourers, would carry it up the mountain paths, and wait under the shadow of the rocks for her return. Often was she congratulated on her capability of exertion; weakly and slender as she looked, it was little toil to her to climb the mountain with such a load; and many hints and sly jests showed that they knew she had not been alone; and so, accompanied by a blush, out came the stammering acknowledgment that "she had met a boy on the road who helped her a bit."

Day and night Phelim haunted Ballyyemen. He had some book, some flower-seeds, something to say! A pretext was seldom wanting, and seldom too strictly inquired into. Ever welcomed by Letty's bright smile, he saw not, cared not for Charlie's frowning churlishness. Many a long foresupper he'd outsit his welcome; but when the circle was formed round the clear turf fire, even the most unkindly were softened towards him by his ani

mated, good humoured manners, and by his well-told adventures—for Phelim had travelled-or by his unusual information-for Phelim read well. Thus hour after hour fled unnoticed by him, till at last the civil hint that it was bed-time would rouse his lingering "good night;" and then he'd stand under the bore-tree, or the hawthorn hedge, watching the light in Letty's room window; and when that was gone, gazing on the white walls and waving trees which sheltered his heart's treasure, till the chilly air and twinkling brightness of the stars, or perhaps some lingering dread of the fairies, warned him away. Phelim was not without superstition, for, though his belief in fairies was scarcely equal to the faith in them which some of his neighbours held, yet he had been early taught and skilled in fairy lore, and now, even in his manhood, it still clung to his imagination, which ran riot in all the traditionary legends so generally believed in the country.

It was a sweet evening in the month of March, balmy enough to be the herald of the coming April, and Letty and Phelim were wandering along the strand. The sun, gilding the mountain tops, tinting the velvet slope of Luirg with gold and purple, and sparkling on the ripple of every wave at their feet, seemed to surround the lovers with a peculiar halo. "Letty," said Phelim, "that evening that I saved you was just such an evening as this. -Letty, I'm more inclined to believe in the fairies than ever I was. What was it, do you think, brought me to the Salmon rock that evening to be the means of helping you? I'm going to tell you now; and, Letty, dear, believe me, if I hadn't seen it I would not tell it to you, nor ask you to believe it. Did you ever hear tell of the revealment of the fairy valley of Glenna-sheog, Letty? It is a sight that the little people sometimes give men for encouragement when they're before good. Now, Letty, listen to me. I had been all day in Cove-na-derg, with Alister and Cosfiddag, watching the tobacco. I will not say that we had no brandy, for we had been up all the night before. We ran ashore in the dark of that moon. It was Alister's watch, and Plover-foot was gone to sleep; but myself being nei VOL. VI.

ther tired nor sleepy, but just in a wandering, thinking, longing kind of way, I clambered up the path, and sat down to rest on Cruik-na-navig. It was just such an evening as this. I was then, Letty dear, in the humour I am often in; discontented with my present course of life, yet feeling myself unfitted for any other; arguing with myself upon the good and evil attending it, and praying to God for some kind of peaceful occupation to end my days in, and such a companion as you, Letty dear, to help me; when a long bright line of red light shot across the bay, from the Salmon Rock to the point of Garron; and believe me, Letty, I think I saw what I will tell you. I had often heard that a revealment of Glen-na-sheog was for encouragement before sudden danger, such as the performance of some good action at the risk of one's life; for the fairies that inhabit it are kindly and full of goodwill. Well, Letty, while I looked I saw, gleaming through the waves, and parting the waves, right across the bay, a lovely valley. There were smooth sloping green hills, with white blossoming hawthorn over them. There were cottages covered to the eaves with roses and jessamines; streams trickling and winding over rocks and pebbles, and lakes among smooth hills, with lambs upon the banks, and swans swimming among green islands in the midst of them. And, Letty, I saw the good people themselves there; some were spinning, some nursing, some at one thing, some at another; but above all, and before all, up the valley there was a sound of sweet small music, that I could have listened to for ever. stood gazing, afraid to move or breathe, till it grew paler and paler, and then seemed sinking, and all at once it vanished, and the gull and gannet were skimming again over the blue waves."

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Oh, Phelin, I'm thinking the brandy was too strong, or your eyes had been following fancies of their own for want of proper rest. You had surely slept unknown to yourself."

"No, Letty, I do not think I had slept; and so strong was my belief in what I tell you, that the next evening I went to try if I should see it again at the same hour; and I had my reward, and trust still to have it, in your

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love, my blessed darling! for blessed be the dream, if you will call it so, that took me where I stood when I saw the boats row out to the brig. I knew you were there, and I would have been with you, if that white headed farmer had not been by your side. But no matter: I was, thank God, in time to save and take my Fairy Gift; and, oh, that they may always prosper me as they did that evening! Letty, my faith in fairies is now so strong, that I almost wish to see the Good People bodily."

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Well, surely there is something in dreams," replied Letty, "and, above all, in them unlucky magpies! I never see one fly over my head nor across my path, but something happens to vex me before night. It's an unreasonable notion; yet as sure as I see one, there is trouble before me. But what can a poor bird know of what is to happen?"

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Why, you are as bad as myself Letty, and we are a pair of fools, to be sure; yet I've read of wise people taking omens by birds: they have decided greater matters and influenced greater actions than either yours or mine are like to be, love. But our birds of omen, Letty, shall be the woodquest and the Robin-redbreast: the one for love and gentleness, and the other for trusting confidence. Now, Letty, tell me when will you be my own? when will you trust me and make me happy? I have nothing, Letty, to offer you but true love; and I know, Letty, you think me selfish; Charlie thinks so, too; yet, if I can judge my own heart, my wishes for your happiness are first and greatest. Above my own life-above my own peace I love you! yet Charlie always keeps harping on my unfortunate religion."

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"Oh, Phelim, he is unreasonable; I know he is but he thinks himself right he does not know how just, how true you are he does not know how I love you, nor how you deserve it: he forgets that you saved the life, Phelim dear, that I am willing to spend with you. So, be patient with him. We cannot be happier than we are we have neither sin nor sorrow, and should have no care; and the little we are asunder, dear, only serves to make us the happier when we meet,

as we do now. Give Charlie time, and he will be more reasonable."

“God knows, Letty, how I have reasoned and argued with him; but all in vain. All I could hear from him was abuse of my religion and wild courses; and, sure enough, he has reason for finding fault there: but as for turning Protestant-you know, Letty, there is little belonging to this world I would not give up for you; and I cannot well imagine the blessing, either here or hereafter, I could put before you. But you know, dear, that is what I cannot and will not do! My people suffered in the old times, and I must not renounce what they held so dear for a bribe even though that bribe be yourself, Letty.Letty, trust me. Come with me. Let us take our chance of their anger. I would not urge you, Letty, to any thing deceitful, but that Charlie's obstinacy leaves us nothing else for it; for none of your clergy would marry us without the consent of parties, and that he will never give. Proud I would be before the world, Letty, to say you were mine; but that must rest with yourself. I do not care for Charlie. I want nothing from him. Come with me, then, without his leave. Have courage, and trust me, and you will never rue it."

"Oh, Phelim, I dare not. Charlie would never forgive me, and he has been like a father to me, and stood in place of one since I can remember. Time will bring him round. Time will make you reasonable with each other; and, sure, are we not happy? I am, I am sure. But, oh that I could make him do you justice, or make him think of you as I do!"

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Letty, 'tis vain to hope it. Yet, if I were rich enough, I could buy Charlie's consent, not only to your being married by a priest, but to your going to the mass with me. Poverty is worse than papistry in his eyes."

"You are wrong, and you are wronging, Charlie, Phelim. Charlie is honest and true to his faith: he values what his people,like your own,thought worth suffering persecution and death for. Oh, Phelim, I dread that this would be a grievance between us. I could not think as you would have me but I am willing to believe that the good, no matter what may be their creed, are welcome in

the sight of God; and surely that is enough between us."

"Enough, Letty! more than enough. Pray as you choose, till you are mine, and ever after! I am willing to believe that one Protestant may go to heaven, any way; for piety and truth and purity and duty are no bad passports, let the world say as it will. But why should we be bound by Charlie's prejudices? Say you will take your chance with me! We will be married in Glenarm; and though Friar M'Garry is not the priest I would be blessed by, yet it will make me sure of you Letty you will be mine then in spite of fate. But I must leave you soon, Letty; and in this uncertainty how could I do my duty? I feel that if I go without some security and hope, I am a ruined man. What would I care if the cargo of the Peggy were at the bottom of the sea, if it were not for the hope that you would share it with me? And if our luck is good, I'll have what will pacify Charlie. I'll take a farm, Letty, and settle myself, and we shall have decency and quietness: but there is a risk, Letty; but if I should lose it, I can work for you. Only set my heart at ease; and, since we cannot have a better priest, let old M'Garry

marry us.”

Phelim, I am afraid. There is nothing I dread like Charlie's anger. I will promise you, as solemnly as you like, I never will marry another: but, for God's sake, wait! Be true to me; and so long as I know you love me, every trouble will be light, and I can bear patiently with Charlie, and wait quietly in hopes of your success."

The winding beach had brought them close under the ruins of Layde church, and, climbing up the grassy slope, Phelim and Letty found themselves standing by the roofless walls that had once been the sanctuary of saints. There, on consecrated ground, under the grey ash tree which has rooted itself in the bare aisle, Heaven and their own hearts their only witnesses, they plighted troth to be true to each other, come weal, come woe. Letty, in the strength of her love and faith in his manly protection, felt the pledge as solemn as if all earth as well as Heaven had witnessed it, and only the holy benediction wanting to make

her in reality, what she now was in her heart-his wife. They parted with a promise to meet again at night; for Charlie had now quarrelled with Phelim and forbidden him the house.

Letty's days passed in dreamy languor, mechanically performing her duties, silently obeying directions, or answering questions with an evident effort to recall her wandering thoughts

happy only when alone, when she could close her eyes on external objects, and shut out every sight and sound but the vivid picture on her memory of his deep eyes and pale impassioned face, and listen in her heart to the echo of his soft low words of love; or, in the deep stilness of the night, when the sound sleep of overwearied labour lay heavy on her stepbrother, to steal out, and read in those eyes and hear from those lips all that her heart desired; and then to turn her eyes to heaven, and wonder what the happiness of the blessed might be, when the Almighty had given to such a creature as herself love which made her forget her brother's anger, her lover's poverty, his dangerous course of life, and all that might most naturally have troubled her. So entirely and with such a perfect love did she trust him, that danger to her peace from him never for a moment clouded her happy hopes.

Charlie had been amply recompensed the preceding summer by a speculation in Highland shelties; and as he had mountain grazing unoccupied, as soon as his crops were in the ground he seized the first suspension of his labours to make a trip to Scotland, in hope that the Lammas fair would bring him in a golden harvest for his ponies, as well as for the seed he had trusted to the keeping of the earth and the feeding of the April showers. Who can tell the feelings with which Phelim saw Charlie go on board, or the hearty blessing he gave the soft west breeze as it swelled the canvass of the little sloop, which he watched till it became a speck almost beyond his ken; then turned himself towards Bally-yarmen, with hopes brightening round his heart, like bees about the hives? Letty had just milked the cow in the farthest stall, when the long shadow from the doorway made her raise her head. Almost with a cry of joy, she recognised

him whom she was thinking of between hope and fear-hope in his love, and fear in the consequences of his precipitation. Now came the moment when she could no longer procrastinate. The following week he must leave her on a dangerous expedition. She was alone-no check, no guide, save her own discretion: all her love, all her confidence, all her gratitude, in the opposing scale; for, would he advise her to do wrong? would he deceive her? Thus did she reason, thus did she justify herself, as she made arrangements to accompany him to Glenarın that night. "I cannot be happy with any other than him. Charlie makes it impossible that we can be married by a regular minister; but surely God, who sees the truth of our hearts, will sanctify our vows, though the priest may not be what he ought. And surely Phelim has the best right to advise me and guide me." So, leaving a little girl in charge till her return, she went, she said, to see an aunt in Cairncastle, who had been taken ill. Hoping all things, fearing nothing, Phelim lifted her to the pillion. Never did fourteen miles seem so short. Few words were spoken; yet their own hearts made sweet society; and the gentle influence of the solitude, and the clear cold moonlight, and solemn sound of the ever-breaking waves, mellowed and sobered and confirmed their tender thoughtfulness. And it is a question if many who enter the holy bonds with more pomp and circumstance have at their hearts more faith and truth, or a holier feeling of the purity and abiding constancy necessary to make such a state happy. Next morning they received the benediction from hands all unworthy to sanctify the tie, but which, nevertheless, were hallowed to them.

Nearly three weeks passed before Charlie came home, and Phelim and Letty had parted. If he were fortunate, he was to claim her on his return; if otherwise, she was to brave Charlie's anger, and join him wherever he might be. Days and weeks and months wore on, and no news reached her. In the mean time troubles thickened around her. Time seemed only to add to Charlie's rancour, and the mention of Phelim's name was sufficient to throw him into ill temper for the day. A wealthy grazier, a friend

of his, had proposed for Letty; and here was a new source of persecution and grievance to her. Every hour made her dread discovery more and more, while it hastened the final necessity of the disclosure. But how to bear it! how to brave Charlie's slights and doubts!-how to endure all she must suffer, and he far away whose kindness would have supported her through every trial. This was more than she could think of with patience, and the thought of it nearly drove her distracted. The whispers and insinuations of busy meddling tongues now rendered Charlie more impatient to get her settled in the world; and Jemmy Steenson, her new suitor, had a good farm, a slated house to take her home to, and droves of sheep and scores of cattle. But what were all these to Letty? Even had she been free to marry, her heart was at the sea. So, Jemmy's suit was rejected: but he was not a man to break his heart for grief, nor for love neither; and, after cons soling himself by saying, "Odd, she'a glum ane, and I ken a lass in Clough parish is worth twa o' her!" he went on his way-it need not be said rejoicing, but seemingly in no danger of death by grief, for he whistled "I'll gang nae mair to yon town" as long as he was in hearing; and Letty was left to enjoy the peace of her own sad thoughts, happy to be relieved from the presence of one to whom she could not venture to show the gentle goodnature so natural to her, without misinterpretation. And now, as the hay harvest came on, and the grain began to ripen, in hopes of pleasing Charlie and laying up a store in his favour, she volunteered to take her proportion of the labour; and, in the sweet-scented baymeadow, surrounded by rose-garlanded and honey-suckled hedges, the exertion necessary occupied her thoughts, while the freshness and sweetness of everything around her unconsciously strengthened her heart and cheered her spirits. But when, later in the year, she came to work in the harvest-field, many a malicious observation was made; many were the smouldering fires of envy that found vent in speeches such as these:-" Musha! but did you see Miss Letty the-day? troth, it's before some thing she's come to join her rig at the harvest! I thought nothing of the hay

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