Part 3 (1/2)

The poor creature screa his knife At last sheand endeavoured to seize his ar her aian to stab her

Unable to contain myself, I shrieked with no less horror and vociferation than the poor , with the snorting of terror and clattering of hoofs, with her shoulder against the door, endeavouring to get out

This unexpected noise, aiding his guilt, inspired thewretch with instantaneous dread, and he i in her blood, groaning, and, as I supposed, expiring

Ier any feeling of cold, or sense of debility I ran to the door, shut it, and finding a fork that stood beside itas I was able I then resolutely set , in roans see; and I durst neither stir nor speak; for I feared to do any thing but listen

The energy ofbefore I eary enough of ue, and a dead silence without, at length however induced radually and with great caution, to open the door and look out Neither hearing nor seeing any thing, I waited awhile, and then ventured so far as to walk round the barn; though in the utmost trepidation, and possessed by the reat increase of darkness; theor hidden behind the clouds

Havingwas quiet, I once more entered the barn, where all was still as death The woh I listened with the most solicitous attention, hear her breathe Horror returned in all its force, and I stood i what to resolve on or what to attee and exclaimed, 'In the name of God, if you are alive, speak!'

The very sound offro the return of the assassin The answer that followed her groan was, 'If you are a Christian soul, get hted, and did not knohere to go for any She replied there was a town, not half a mile distant, at the back of the barn; and named the very place at which my aunt and uncle Elford lived

As soon as surprise and joy would permit, I asked if she knew Mr

Elford Her ansas, 'I am his servant; and this is his barn'

Various recollections immediately crouded upon me, and the scene and the voice of poor Mary, to which a er, becah,' said I 'Don't you know me?' A dismal 'Oh!' excited no doubt by the most painful associations, was her answer I desired her to be quiet and patient, while I ran for aid; assuring her I would soon be back, for that I nohere I was, and was perfectly acquainted with the road

Accordingly away I ran, with all the speed I had, to my uncle's house; where, when I arrived, I knocked at the door, pelted the , and called as vociferously as I could for the barked violently, and my uncle was soon at the ithwith surprise and dissatisfaction who I was, and what I wanted? I exclai your maid Mary! She will be dead if you do notforward; 'Child! Hugh Trevor!

Nephew! Is it you?' 'Yes, yes, aunt,' answered I: 'make haste and try to save the poor creature's life!'

The astonishe, and at such an hour, ined Master, mistress, and servants, were immediately in motion, and the doors opened Question succeeded question; exclamations were incessant; and my answers quickly coulating his proceedings according to eon; and, having prepared a hurdle by way of litter, ith me and two of his men to the barn

My aunt was very loath I should return; but ht, were er, weariness, or want of sleep; and Mr Elford recollected Ithe terrors of poor Mary at our approach; for which reason he suffered

When I came to the barn, the moment I set my foot over the threshold,expired all returned After a short pause, I called with a tre voice, 'Mary! Are you alive?'

and h dolefully, answer, 'yea'

Mr Elford and his attendants soon came up; and the re reerous were found not to be mortal; that she recovered in a feeeks, and by the influence of Mr Elford was retained in reat scandal of the place, where it was affirht to be whipped from parish to parish, and so, as I suppose, whipped out of the world; that in two months time she was delivered of a fine boy, whom, when my uncle left the country, she s; and that in the extreht herself at the point of death, she obstinately refused to declare as her intendedbeen known to be her _sweetheart_, and his flight from the country where he never more appeared, people were sufficiently convinced who the man was, yet her pertinacious theme was--_she would never be his accuser: if God could pardon him, she could_

CHAPTER VII

_Mistakes and family quarrels of Mr and Mrs Elford: His departure, and exile: with the letters he wrote_

And now the period approached when the pleasures of the days of childhood were to terminate, and when I was to experience an abundance of those rude disasters under which the poor, the friendless, and the fatherless, groan

The first stroke which the malice of fortune aih I have forborne to interrupt s that took place between Mr Elford and s were very frequent, very bitter, and at last very fatal Instead of the happiness which they and every body had thought so certain, they were completely wretched

My youth had not prevented , when at their house, the steady and severe silence which Mr Elford endeavoured to preserve, and the fixed dissatisfaction and gloo the efforts they made, especially Mr Elford, not to suffer their unhappiness to extend beyond themselves, it became frequently painful, even for me, to be in their company He indeed was often in part successful, in these efforts; but she seldom, or never

Their mutual discontent was the more easily increased to misery, because it happened between people who each had the character of prudent; and whose partiality individually acquitted theood te an estireeht happen between them, they had reciprocally been deceived