maintaining the footing he had gained in the worthy banker's family, even after it was abundantly evident that a retreat would have been agreeable to all parties, and particularly to the "heed o' the hoose." The "heed o' the hoose" was reduced to a very humble height in presence of the Indian soldier his Cheeta shooting at Dhurwar-his steeple chases at Belgaumhis leopard-hunts at Bellary, threw the after-dinner boastings of Mr Peter Pearie, who in his day was considered a dead shot at a moorcock, completely into the shade; and it was with feelings of satisfaction, worthy of Milton's Satan, that Charles saw the fires of rage and jealousy slowly wasting away all the good-nature in his partner's bosom. In fact, it could no longer be concealed that Mr Pearie hated Captain Slasher, and it was also equally incapable of concealment that Captain Slasher didn't care three straws whether Mr Pearie hated him or not. Twice or thrice a-week, without any invitation, the gallant soldier stalked into the banker's diningroom just as dinner was announced,told all the feats of the day-the leaps, and falls, and other incidents-sent in his plate five or six times to the joint of beef, emptied his bottle of port and three tumblers of toddy, and concluded the evening by snoring an accompaniment to Mary's nicest songs.

Now, whether it were from the perversity that is said to be a constituent part of the feminine disposition, or from some other cause with which we are unacquainted, Mary did not appear to share in her guardian's dislike to the society of her new acquaintance. She delighted in his tales of wild Indian adventures, and his accounts of the noble deaths of the wild monsters of the desert. On days when the hounds did not meet, he generally wiled away an hour or two listening to Mary's music, or escorting her in her walks; in these respects supplying the place of Charles Patieson, who had gradually withdrawn himself from his former, intimacy, and was endeavouring to wean himself from his foolish affection. One day when matters were in this state, -when the gallant Captain had escorted Mary to see the wax-work models of distinguished characters, which a provincial forerunner of Madame Tussand had brought into the town,

VOL. XLIV. NO. CCLXXVIII,

with the additional recommendation of modelling correct likenesses, in a few hours, of any one who chose to be immortalized in wax-while Slasher, we repeat, was escorting Mary to this sight, Mr Pearie, after many ominous and mysterious nods with his sagacious head to his junior partner, commenced a lamentation in the following terms— "Charles, hoo does it happen ye sae seldom stay to yer kail?" "You have other company, sir; I might perhaps be intrusive,"

"Deil a bit, deil a bit. Ah, Charles, if ither folk had a wee taste o' your way o' thinkin', it would be a' the better for my peace an' comfort. Charles, hospitality is a wearyin' o' the flesh. I wish I had never askit that lang neckit Indian savage to see the inside o' my hoose." "He is an agreeable man, sir, I believe-full of anecdote"

"Lees, every word o't; but, for a' that, the smooth-tongued leear is gainin' his point. I had ither thochts for Mary; but a wilfu' man will hae his way-and so will a wilfu' woman."

"Mary will soon be of age-she will have a right to choose "—

"But is't no shocking she should leave the Bank, and settle in some wearifu' place wi' a name like Meritchgaum or Sholapoor? The lassie's an ass, and there's an end. Dogs on't! if I werena' sae braid in the waim, and gied ower fair a mark, I wad challenge him to fecht; or if I were a wee younger,-hoo auld are ye, Charles ?" "Three-and-twenty, sir,". "Three-and-twenty! If I were three-and-twenty-ay, or twice threeand-twenty, I wad shoot him as I wad a pairtrick."

"My indignation is not quite so warm, sir," replied Charles.

"But it ocht to be, sir,-hot-boilin'. I tell ye this landlouper is going to break in on the customs of three generations. We've aye married thro' ither-an' Slasher wad be a grand name to pit into the firm ! I'll no stand it-I'll gang through wi' my plan, and marry her in spite o' her teeth-there's nae consent needed but yours an' mine; we are her guardians-you'll consent, I'm sure; and as for hers

"You, of course, have secured that," said Charles, with something of bitterness in his tone.

"I thocht I had; indeed, as heed o' the hoose, I thocht it my duty to use all my influence, if it had been for

3 G

naething but the sake o' the Bank; but deil hae this lang-backit ne'er-doweel, she seems to forget her auld freend and the kind o' promise she aince gave me

"She gave you a promise? sir," enquired Charles; "I think she might have consulted me before going quite so far. In a matter like that my consent, I should think, is of some importance.” "What the deil, sir!are ye dementit? Do ye think, young man, that it wad be seemly in me-the heed o' this hoose, sir-to hae nae discretion in the marryin', or not marryin', o' Mary Peat? It's yer ain faut, sirye'll drive me to do something ye'll be sorry for I'll speak to this Captaininto this hoose he'll come no moreye'll repent it, sir; ye'll repent it, and that'll be seen and heard tell o'."

While Charles Patieson looked on, awestruck at the unexampled agitation of Mr Pearie, that gentleman, as if suddenly seized with some great resolve, snatched up his hat and stick, enquired where Miss Peat and the Captain were gone to, and followed them to the exhibition room of the wax-works.

"Slighted love is sair to bide,"

The

as Robert Burns sings-and as Charles Patieson felt. How lonely he seemed that long, long evening; reflecting, in every possible way, over the words and innuendoes of Mr Pearie. Dene had never appeared to him so dull; even the bright moonlight trembling into his drawing-room, through the glass of his conservatory, failed to soothe him; and, in a fit of desperation, he rushed out into the open air. He wandered down the shelving banks of his beautiful villa to the river, which was brawling along beneath its overhanging rocks, sometimes hidden in darkness, sometimes, for a long expanse of its bright pure water, glimmering peacefully in the moonlight. Charles stood still beneath one of the great cliffs, for he thought, on the opposite side of the water, where the light was unobscured by trees, he heard the sound of distant voices; shortly afterwards he observed two figures emerge from the darkness, whom he easily recognised to be Mr Pearie, and Mr Dawson, the headclerk. They seemed to look round them very cautiously; and then they suddenly returned to the dark corner they had emerged from, and carried

between them an object, which at first the breathless spectator found it difficult to recognise. Lifeless and limber, without sign of voluntary motion or resistance, it was dragged along the ground by Mr Pearie and his assistant. With a thrill of unimaginable horror Charles recognised, in the long blue surtout,the top boots and breeches-and above all, in the long, pale face, with the prodigious whiskers and moustaches, the lifeless form of the unhappy Captain Slasher!-Horror kept him silent-in voiceless, motionless terror and surprise he watched the dreadful proceedings of the pair. They dragged the body to the river, and apparently fixing heavy stones to it to ensure its sinking, they dropt it slowly into the water-and rapidly retired.

Pale and agitated with a night of sleepless distress, Charles Patieson presented himself next morning at the house of Mr Pearie. He had come to the resolution to warn the unhappy man to flee for his life, for he could not bring himself to give his friend, and his father's friend, into the hands of the executioner. At the same time concealment of the awful secret was out of the question-and not a moment was to be lost.

Mary Peat received him. She was gayer and more friendly in her manner than she had been for a long time.

"Dear Charles, I am so glad to sce you. You're come to breakfast?"

"I've no appetite, Mary," replied Charles," In fact"

"Oh! you've breakfasted alreadyMr Pearie will be so glad to see you." "I doubt that" answered the young man, coldly.

But he will, though-he told me so himself he told me that he was busied to a late hour last night in your service."

Charles shuddered as the dreadful scene recurred to him. "My service ?” he said

"Yes-and do you know I think it must have had some connexion with Captain Slasher's departure."

"Departure!"echoed Charles, almost unconsciously.

"Oh! yes-he's away; quite suddenly-something or other carried him off."

"Mary," said Charles, solemnly taking her hand into his "something has indeed carried him off; but something very different from what you suppose."

"Mr Pearie called him aside for a very short time at the Wax-works, and this morning he told me, before he went out for his walk, that I should not see Captain Slasher again." "He told you so?'Tis, indeed, too true."

"I'm so sorry!-Captain Slasher had seen such strange things in India; -but I don't think Mr Pearie ever liked him ;-Do you think he did?" "My dear Mary," said Charles, "don't run on so thoughtlessly➡ it is of the greatest importance that this subject should not be mentioned. Never on any account allude to the dislike you perceived Mr Pearie entertained to Captain Slasher. Hush! he's coming! It may be the saving of a life. Beware!"-and Charles rushed out of the room to have his interview with the murderer alone.

Never were happiness and peace of mind more clearly depicted on a human countenance than on that of Mr Pearie. His hands stuck in both pockets, his hat cocked airily on one side of his head, for he had just returned from his morning's stroll,-and, his whole outward man swelling with comfort and satisfaction, he winked significantly to the horror-struck visitor, and said—

"We've done him, Charles; yon birky will gie us nae mair trouble."

A shudder passed over poor Charles at this dreadful commencement. "You allude-I presume-to-to Captain Slasher?" he stammered.

"Just so I gi'ed him a hint about some promotion that was going on in the Indian army, and he set aff that very hour for London."

"Promotion?" enquired Charles, with a searching look at the unconscious narrator.

"Yes-a sudden death had ta'en place in the regiment that he was aye puffin' and boastin' about.-Do ye mind hoo he used aye to be telling us hoo pleased he would be if we could see his corpse?"

Charles gathered the whole energy of his soul into one sentence. With compressed lips, and an eye rivetted on Mr Pearie, he said, "I have seen it, sir!"

"Weel, was't a braw ane? It maun hae been unco black, for ye mind he tauld us his men were a' niggers. But is't come hame? Whar saw ye his corpse ?".

"Old man!" said Charles, laying his hand solemnly on Mr Pearie's

shoulder, "do you think I believe your tale about a promotion in Captain Slasher's regiment?"

"What care I whether you believe it or no? He believed it, an' that's enough. He's awa' to Lon'on, his horses are a' to follow to-day-his rent is a' paid, and sae we're quit o' him. You dinna seem half pleased about it, Charles ?"

"Look within, into your own heart, Mr Pearie, and tell me if you think I ought to be pleased."

"'Deed ocht ye, for ye see we've the disposal o' Mary a' to ourselves, she'll still be in the firm; and between oursels, I ha'e every reason to believe she's as well pleased at the business as we are."

"Once for all," said Charles, firmly" I know all, Mr Pearie,mark me,-all. I was by the water's side, last night you understand me."

"Whisht! for God's sake whishtit wad ruin our credit in the town poor Dawson has his way to make— folk wad think it was carryin' the joke owre far. It was grand fun! but sef us, man, whisht about it."

During this recital, which was accompanied with many explosions of mirth, the listener was transfixed with a mingled feeling of pity and disgust. At last, however, a conviction of the insanity of the unfortunate banker took possession of his mind. But Dawson, the quiet, steady head-clerk

-

the confidant of his principal's plans about Mary-the depository of his schemes of vengeance against his rival! It was impossible to believe that both were insane. Time pressed

he resolved to leave Mr Pearie; to explain the whole business in a few words to Mary; and then to inform Dawson of the discovery of his misdeeds. At this moment a bell was rung in the street, and Mr Pearie, rushing to the window, listened for a moment to a proclamation of the bellman, then looking at Charles with a face in which alarm and vexation were very powerfully expressed, he exclaimed, "We're found out! we're found out!-what'll become o' us? I'll gie the bellman five shillings, and bribe every ane else to haud their tongues. Not a word, Charles, o' what ye saw last night."

But Charles was in no mood to make promises. Mr Pearie rushed forth to carry his plans of bribery into effect; and Charles hurried into the Bank. There, seated quietly at his desk, as if

nothing particular had happened, was Dawson busy making entries.

"Dawson," said Charles, "no time is to be lost. Follow me into the house." Mr Dawson folded up his books and papers, and did as he was told.

Mary was no little amazed to see Charles, thus accompanied, enter her breakfast parlour.

"What's the matter?" she exclaimed," has any thing happened?"

"Yes," said Charles," murder has happened! have you heard the bellman?"

"No-who? what is it? oh tell me." "Dawson can tell you best!-out with it, sir,-it is no secret to me!I saw you last night by moonlight."

"Me, sir?-de'il a bit o' me will tell ony thing without the order o' my principal."

"Then I will," continued Charles. "You will see your admirer, Captain Slasher, no more."

"I know it," replied Mary, "Mr Pearie has told me so.'

"It was Mr Pearie, aided by the diabolical ruffian at my side, who got quit of him."

"I know that too," said Mary; "I think they managed it very well."

Charles Patieson reeled as if thunderstruck, and fell into a chair.

But farther disclosures were interrupted by the entrance of Mr Pearie. "Ah! Dawson ?"—he exclaimed"this is a foolish business-they're draggin' the water--they'll find the body to a certainty."

"There! there!" cried Charles. "I told you so, Mary !"

"Unless we get some body to tak' the wyte o't, it'll ruin our reputation; -some young chap-it wadna harm the like o' a laddie o' twa or three an' twenty-Charlie, will you just save Dawson an' me frae disgrace, and tak' the blame o't on yersel ?"

"Who! I, sir?"

"Wha else? Was it na for your sake it was done? Wasna it to get ye the hand (ye've gotten the heart already I jalouse), o' Mary Peat there, that Dawson and me did it ?"

Charles looked at Mary, and Mary's silence and blushes confirmed Mr Pearie's statement.

"No, sir," he replied at last, "not even for that. Mary herself would recoil from a person accused of murder."

"Murder!" cried Mr Pearie, astonished; "it's no just sae bad as that either, though Tam Jaffrey, the bellman, says that the town-clerk tauld him it amounted to hamesucken and robbery-principally on account of the breeks; for ye see they were the Captain's ain breeks, and a pair o' his auld boots too."

"What is all this about?" enquired Mary, who had gazed from one person to the other, amazed at the conversation.

"Just a frolic, Mary, o' Dawson an' me," said Mr Pearie-"Ye see that lang-neckit Indian, afore going awa', had had the vanity to hae his statue done by the folk at the Wax-works, and had furnished it with his auld claes. Noo, I saw clear enough that his plan was to leave this statue wi' you, Mary, as a parting keepsake; an' as I didna wish to hae ony thing o' the kind, Dawson an' me just gaed doun last night, clamb into the upstairs window, and got haud o' the wax figure. We didna ken hoo to get quit o't, so we tied a wheen stanes round it, an' threw it bodily into the water opposite the Dene-walks-and Charles, ye see, refuses to tak' the blame o't, tho' I've tauld him ye're willing to reward him."

Charles Patieson, at this explanation, started up. "What! refuse? Who said I refused? My dear sir,—I will confess this moment."

"An' marry Mary Peat?"

Our chronicle gives no account of what Charles's answer was. But, we believe, a very short time saw every thing satisfactorily arranged - and the spotless reputation of the "heed o' the hoose" preserved from the scandal of so frolicsome an achievement, by the self-devotion of the younger partner. The church bells thundering forth their best, "one morning very early, one morning in the spring," gave notice to all whom it might concern, that the banking establishment lately carried on under the names of Pearie, Peat, and Patieson, was now conducted under the names of Pearie and Patieson only. In the course of a few years it was finally dissolved. Mr Pearie retired from business, and now resides at the Dene

his old premises bearing, in new gilt letters above the door" Branch Bank. Hours of business from 10 till 4."