and as to the bull, she said, as graciously as she could;"I have passed him so often that I think he knows me."

"Very possibly, Miss Meadows," replied Mr. Gadsden, who, petted as he was by the fair sex, was no hero; and, as they passed along a path which led across the field, he remarked, "that he never liked bulls."

"Oh, no fear!" returned Adeline; "but if so, you had better turn back, Mr. Gadsdenpray do, your life is valuable, you know, to the parish."

"How very kind!" thought Mr. Gadsden ; "perhaps I had best turn back, it may look awkward. But, good Heavens! Miss Meadows,

look! look!-run! run!-the bull

is coming near us! and at this moment the terrific animal bounded, bellowing, forward.

"The worst plan in the world,” shouted a loud voice from across the hedge which surrounded the field; "The animal is fierce,

but do not run."

"I have heard," cried Mr. Gadsden, in a voice choked with fear, "that it is a good thing to lie down-and seem dead-will you do soMiss Meadows?" He gasped out the last

words, and ere Adeline had time to reply, he fell flat upon the ground, with his face turned towards it. Adeline had a strong, resolute mind. Though sensitive, she was courageous. Pale as a spectre, she yet kept a quick, not running, pace, looking stedfastly at the mighty animal, who came heavily, but bellowing, towards her. Back upon the Curate she dared not look.

Keep on," cried the voice beyond the hedge" this way-this way-now-now you are safe."

The last words were uttered in a softer tone. Adeline had now gained the stile at the opposite end of the field. Calm and mute, though almost breathless, she climbed the lower rails; then, for the first time, looked back. The bull was busy with Mr. Gadsden; and Adeline, scarcely sensible of what she did, was received safely into the arms of some person who now came forward from the opposite side of the hedge.

A deep silence of several moments ensued. The bellowing of the bull had ceased, and the tender notes of the birds were the first sounds of which Adeline became conscious.

VOL. I.

с

She started, and released herself from the firm support of a gentleman who had sustained her. He, bowing with the air of a man who had done his duty (although he had not crossed the stile), took up his eye-glass and looked coolly at Mr. Gadsden, still prostrate The bull, who had carefully examined Mr. Gadsden with his nose, and who had struck him some far from pleasing blows with his fore-feet, was now retiring from the investigation as fruitless.

"Pon my word!" exclaimed the unknown gentleman; "vastly good! he takes it coolly!

But, my good fellow," said he, raising his voice," hadn't you better get up now? Our fat friend may take it into his head to return."

"Am I am I safe? Is he gone?" said Mr. Gadsden in a suffocated tone: and looking around him, he speedily took to his heels and joined the other two.

"Good gracious, Miss Meadows! Am I really alive? Are Are you alive? Here's my hat all smashed! And-good gracious! my coat torn behind! it's very, very wrong in people to leave such animals loose, and they ought

to be fined, imprisoned! Oh, me! excuse my mentioning them; but do look at my trowsers."

"Well, sir, you're safe," said the strange gentleman, condescendingly. "If you will escort young ladies across dangerous fields" “Me !—me, sir!" replied Mr. Gadsden, colouring-" but the question is, how are we to return ?"

"I," here Adeline interposed-"I am quite myself again; I have a message at the Grange -(her lips trembled as she said—at Woodcote) --and I will get one of the men at the house to see me home. You must go round by that field, Mr. Gadsden, across the copse, then there's a brook, and you will know your way-good afternoon."

"Not so," said the strange gentleman, courteously, though loftily; "if this gentleman, (to whose cloth I will have greater respect than the bull had,)" raising his hat a little, "must go home,-Mr. Gadsden, the curate of my parish, I believe ;-don't be distressed. Mr. Gadsden, your hat is only converted into a shovel;-if Mr. Gadsden chooses to leave you, madam, I cannot-you will find no one at the

hall my friend Floyer is away, but at all events I will escort you there if you wish to go."

The words, "my friend Floyer," had a charm for Adeline; and, for the first time, she looked attentively on the person of the speaker.

He seemed to be at least forty years of age, and the carefully curled locks of hair which peeped forth from under his hat, were tinged with grey. It was before the days of powder had for ever passed away, and a very slight dash was perceptible upon the locks of the stranger. His figure was middle-sized, firm, erect: not exactly elegant, not awkward. His features were regular and neat: a searching hazel eye sparkled beneath eyebrows arched and penciled. Something of sternness in his first address, and of arrogance in his air, vanished when the stranger spoke. His voice was clear and modulated by the habits of the refined-(and in what are those habits more easily detected than in the tone of voice?) -and there was considerable sweetness about his mouth his teeth were well placed, and the smile which displayed them was never forced, or sudden, but gradual and involuntary.