zum'ut good out of all that. I'm a' goin' to the party tonight; wont'ee come tew?'

Kit let the bag drop from her knees, and gazed at her husband, in blank, yet comic amazement.

6

Thee'd be a pretty figure, and I'd be a wusser!' she replied at length.

Bob laughed merrily. I'm a thinking o' being one of they Christmasers, they mummers,' he returned.

'Oh! ye'd best go as the rags of the old year, I'm a thinking !'

'Zo I wol;-why, Kit, thee's got a brain a'ter all. Come and dress me up.'

Kit surveyed him with great amusement.

'Thee ought to wear tew hats,' she began. "Three, if that one'll bear 'em up.'

'Which 'twon't noways; tew's a plenty.'

'Stay; I'll manage it.'

She seized his hat; and stitching it somewhat together, she succeeded in rendering it strong enough to bear an assemblage of gloves, and other small garments stuck about it, with a fairly symmetrical result, considering the heterogeneous mass of which it was composed.

His coat she adorned in a similar manner, introducing also a knotted stick into each pocket, on which she hung stockings, handkerchiefs, neckerchiefs, rags of all sorts, being garments; old shirts over a fringed pair of trousers, reaching to stockings with torn legs, to socks with frayed tops, to boots with hang-down ankles, over tattered shoes! Bob's attiring caused immense mirth to himself and Kitty; and, when complete, with a blackened face, he was quite fit for any society of mummers. Kitty now demanded the cause of this sudden freak, and she was surprised to see Bob turn really grave.

'Kitty quoth he, laying his finger on the side of his

nose; 'Kitty, I know you'm safe. Now, when you meets mother O'Neill a' tramping to Tenderden farm, late, in the snow, with no zensible rayzin for it that anybody can give; when you find her a bargaining for a mad pony, as she couldn't do nawt wid, and can't pay for ;-when you'd a heard her zay, as she might be at this here party, with them as she hates, and who don't luv' her ;-when you vind that young measter Hotspur, who's there, is shyways after that pony; and when you vind the poor old mother a field-boarder, 'cos a purse has a been lost; and that there young measter does know, and don't know, and gets wery red when he's axed any questions! I reckon you'd like to go and zee the toss-up of 't all—eh ?'

'And d'ye 'spect to see the toss-up to-night? I'd like to be going tew.'

'Wol, be the mother of rags, as I'm the father! Zure, now, any respect'ble fam❜ly would wear out more than this 'ere in one year. But I don't 'spect to zee the end o't, only the next act, zo tew zay.'

'Well, I'll goa,' said Kitty.

And erelong she was adorned as daintily as her husband. And this rare pair issued from their dwelling to join the motley group that were to assemble in due course at the village inn.

'Oh, I say! es must tak' the babby!' exclaimed Bob. 'The babby?' inquired his wife.

'Aye, Tear'em; he'll break his yeart vor morning.' 'Nonsense,' cried she, 'wot ever shall us do wid 'en ?' But it was of no use. Tear'em was carried off, with his queer master and mistress, to join in the revels at Walpole Hall.

A very different guest had just, about the same time, completed her delicate and pretty attire, and descended. to join the party in the drawing-room. But with what

different feelings did the two Dacres and Isabel M'Ivor anticipate the glories of the coming evening!

To them, pure merriment might be mingled with just enough curiosity to give it spice. With her anxiety on her sister's account must mix with keen mortification on her own. Few outsiders could imagine how little the father and mother of rag had cause to envy this well-born, graceful girl. But (for that night) Bob and Kitty would scarcely have exchanged their rags for her troubles, however much they might have appreciated the generous motives which led her to endure them so patiently.

She entered the drawing-room very unobtrusively, and joined the young people. She had comparatively regained her confidence, for it was no longer a first meeting; but she did not know that fresh and cruel suspicion had just been thrown upon her by Hotspur.

Tom had carried out his threat at the first opportunity that he could secure, that, namely after dinner, just before the mummers came, and in consequence of his story, Colonel Walpole had sent for Hotspur to inquire further.

The boy dared not deny, because he was not sure what Tom knew; he dared not prevaricate before that alarming Colonel, so he perpetrated the wicked lie, that Isabel had sent him, what for he would not, might not tell; and he fuddled his conscience somehow with the excuse, that what concerned the key concerned Grace, and what concerned Grace concerned Isabel, and would be accepted by her.

The Colonel had no time for more inquiries, because the mummers were known to have left the village. He discredited the tale; but still it recalled a transient and painful doubt, raised by a slight occurrence at dinner, which must now be detailed before the mummers come,—the supicion that Isabel's intercourse with mother O'Neill did not commence two days previously, and was not at an end yet.

CHAPTER XIX.

CHRISTMAS MUMMERS.

'It was about Yule, when the wind blew cool,

And the round tables began,

O! there is come to our king's court

Many a well-favour'd man.'

THE BALLAD OF THE LADY AMY.

Old Ballad.

IGHTINGS still flashed amid the rain,
And glared the pools among ;
The distant thunder growled again;
The wind moaned loud and long.

When breathless in the brake she stayed
Her flight so swift and wild;

Paused dripping, shuddering, and dismayed,
The Baron's only child.

Say! why beneath the copse she cowers?
Why bends her ear in fear?

Why starts she forth, to quit those bowers
When echoes strike her ear.