furran parts, and yet ye are ganging to Everton to gie yoursel up. There's no sense in it.'

'Perhaps not,' said Dingrose, 'but I am going to do it.'

The

When Dingrose and Anty reached Everton they parted at the gates, and asking to see the governor of the castle, Dingrose told him he wanted to give himself up to be tried with the rest, for that he was the leader of the smugglers who had just been, as he supposed, brought in from Hillsland. governor was exceedingly astonished at this novel request, but thought it best to detain him and keep him comfortably in a private room until he made inquiries and had consulted the visiting justices. Dingrose seemed pleased at being admitted.

'It does not matter now what becomes of me. The young master will come to his own, and I have not lifted my hand agin the ould family. There's an Weel let it be. I can sleep

end of smuggling too.
quietly, though I am in Everton Castle.

I sha'n't

We shall

see t'ould place agin for many a year. all be transported no doubt. I shall never see my old mother agin, but her heart will be singing noo, because the young heir will soon put all straight and give folks plenty of wark, and what matters what happens to Jock Dingrose if he has tried to do what's right since he seed the other line warr wrong.'

W

CHAPTER XXVII.

HEN the senior sergeant had returned with the rest of his companions to the Hill Farm, and all arrangements had been made for the safe guarding of the wounded

prisoners, Latimer called him into his room to learn if he knew anything more from old Bridget. he was able to say,—

And

'Your father, sir, was the son of a Lord Marshalsea, not the present lord, and your father was called Lord Darske. He was killed in some way, but I could not find out any more.'

When he was alone Latimer fell into a train of thoughts. How strange and remarkable it is that I should have made the discovery of my birth by coming here on this employment, happily brought to a close with less evils than might have been anticipated. So I was in the home of my ancestors in Medlicott Castle, and Mary Carfax must be my cousin. The present lord will therefore be my great uncle, unless through a belief in the death of the heir in direct descent it

has passed to a more distant relative.

Why was Father Philip so unwilling to give me this information? How could it possibly affect the question of putting down the smuggling. But if I am the heir-' he paused in his soliloquy. I see it now. It was

well meant and kind. He wanted me not to know my parentage before this late encounter with the smugglers, that I might be free from the imputation of knowingly making war upon the tenants and retainers of the estate. And so that worthy Dingrose is my father's foster-brother, and has, for the sake of his attachment to the family, put himself in a position to be accused as a coward and a traitor by his late companions. How noble and disinterested of such a man! The good priest, too, has shown himself to be a true friend, but I can see now why he was so anxious I should look favourably upon his form of religion. If the estate eventually devolves upon me, he was anxious I should hold the same opinions as I suppose my forefathers did; and hence his anxiety to retain me so long in the castle.' He was interrupted in further meditations on this subject, which made him feel so joyous and happy. It was not that he desired any great position, but he longed to have relatives to love and regard. While at the same time the kind of blight being now removed, which was put on his existence by the position in which he had stood, not knowing even his earthly benefactor, who so mysteriously kept himself out of sight, and having been in

ignorance of his parentage, and even his lawful name; he experienced a keen and deep sense of relief to his spirits, as can well be imagined and understood. The rest of the day was passed by Latimer with Brooke, who came up as we know, and they consulted together about Philip, and what hopes there were of saving him from serious and disgraceful punishment incurred by being allied to the smugglers, and taken in open arms against the Government.

The next day, being the same in which Brooke told Mr Maxwell himself the sad news, Latimer rose in the most joyous mood. The men thought he was rejoiced because the matter of the attack on the smugglers was brought to so successful an issue. They remarked to each other on the Captain's cheerfulness and happy looks. And the senior sergeant told them that their leader had learnt some happy news, and told what he knew. The news went quickly round the little company of soldiers, and some of them proposed that two or three should go as spokesmen for the rest to congratulate their Captain on what they supposed was the having come into a great fortune. This was accordingly done, and Latimer was much touched with these men's sympathy. He said, 'You may depend upon it I shall not leave my profession, whatever name I may bear or whatever fortune may come to me.' He then ordered them all some little extra indulgences and promoted some amusements among them. Some of the strict rules about guarding could now be relaxed

as there was no fear of attack from the smugglers, and the few wounded men could be easily kept under supervision. Several days passed by and neither Brooke appeared again, nor did Mr Temple carry out his intention of seeing Latimer, as he remained as much as possible at Holly Bank. At length Brooke returned, having heard from the men as he came in something of the discovery of Latimer's parentage.

'What is this, old fellow?' said he as he entered. 'The men say you are somebody else—a great man's grandson here or somewhere, and that you are a lord, or ought to be. What does it all mean?'

'I know little more than you have now told me,' said Latimer, laughing; ‘but I suppose I shall soon know all from Father Philip or from Dingrose.'

'What has Dingrose to do with it?'

'Why, he was the leader, you know, but he left the smugglers, because, as it appears, he is my father's foster-brother.'

'What a trump!' said Brooke. I wish I could find out I am somebody too-not that I wish to disown my dear old father; only, perhaps, while you are making out the case for yourself, you will bear in mind that you know a very deserving young man in want of a fortune, and who has no objections to a title if there is anything to support it; but I am cordially and heartily delighted.'

He then told Latimer of the unfortunate condition of poor Mr Maxwell, and said he was also come to