to cast Rebecca's horoscope, to study the state of the planets, whether or not their situation was favourable, and denoted prosperity during her future life.

He eagerly withdrew to his laboratory, situated in a remote turret, on the top of which was placed a large telescope for the contemplation of the heavenly bodies. A small orrery hung round the interior, and on a long table stood globes, mathematical, and astrological instruments, with various chymical preparations. There were besides a pile of large volumes, many half moth-eaten, containing hieroglyphical characters, with others written in the old black letter, on the most obscure and rabbinistical subjects.

The knight wore when engaged in his laboratory a large crimson velvet wrapping gown, embroidered with hieroglyphical figures, confined with a belt worked with the signs of the zodiac. A high fur cap covered his head; his large

bushy eye-brows, locks of jet, and full mustachoes, and dark sallow complexion, gave him, when thus attired, the air of magician; and he so completely scared his household, they as cautiously avoided the laboratory as if an evil spirit actually dwelt there.

More than once the little Rebecca, who was a stranger to fear, endeavoured softly to creep after him; but Mistress Watkins quickly caught her up in her arms and carried her to a distant part of the castle, to divert her from her purpose.

*

The knight having found the planet under which the child was born, cast her nativity. The mystical figures presented in the horoscope, denoted according to the planetary world, an event of so extraordinary and improbable a nature, he fell back in his chair, stag

* He perceived by the planets that this little girl was born to a wonderful fortune, and at last to be his wife. Old Tradition.

gered with amazement, and immediately questioning, for the first time in his life, his knowledge in a science of which he thought himself the master.

Again he cast and recast the mystical figures into other forms, but they still in aspect predicted the event which filled him with such astonishment. Disconcerted and dissatisfied at the singular aspect they wore, in which his own destiny appeared to be closely united with that of Rebecca's, Sir Ambrose was convinced there must be some error as to the date of the child's birth; for the event predicted, as far as concerned himself, he was resolved should never be fulfilled. To defeat that event, clearly as the stars predicted, he was determined, even though Rebecca were made the sacrifice.

Having for several hours deeply pondered on the mysterious subject, and certain the time Rebecca was born had been falsely stated, he ordered his horse,

and rode with impatient anxiety to Green Meadows Farm, that he might ascertain the year, day, and hour, in which her mother gave her birth.

Sir Ambrose's wild abstracted appearance, stern and hurried manner, when he entered the farmer's hall, terrified the placid dame, who approached with timid steps, and, humbly curtsying, demanded his pleasure.

"At the peril of your life," he said, vehemently, "6 answer with truth the question which I am going to ask."

The good woman turned pale with alárm, diffidently but firmly replied, "She had never told an untruth in her life, nor would she, whatever might be the question His Honour was pleased to put." He then demanded, fixing his eyes upon her, the exact date of her daughter Rebecca's birth.

Dame Russell immediately brought out of a press the large family bible, and spreading it open on the table before the

knight, turned to the leaf, and pointing her finger to the last name, written in good round hand by her father, according to the custom of having the births registered in the sacred volume, said, "There you may see our dear Rebecca's."

Sir Ambrose read it again and again; his senses became so bewildered, the letters seemed to swim before his eyes.

He started from his seat, and putting his hand to his forehead, exclaimed, "Then the stars have rightly predicted;" at the some moment rushing abruptly out of the house, and mounting his steed, flew along the road with the swiftness of a madman.

The recent scene appeared to the placid Dame Russell more like a delusion of the imagination than a reality. She could scarcely believe that Sir Ambrose Templeton had been at their farm. When she mentioned the circumstance to her husband, who, on his return home