myself in dead oblivion, losing half the moments of too short a life before nature requires it."

"To oblige you," replied Rose, “ I will remain an hour longer, though against my inclination: but let us dismiss the servants first, as they rise early, and require to retire earlier to repose than we do."

Accordingly she touched the bell, and informed Kamira, who answered it, that Robin, Dolly, and herself, might go directly to bed, if they had fastened up the house.

Kamira assured her that every place had been secured, except the hall-door, some hours, and that was now just bolted and barred.

Rose dismissed her, and listened to Jane's account of a love-letter she had received from the count de Fontenai, who was in despair at not having seen her for several days, as he was informed the young ladies were not to receive any

company,

company, except very particular friends, during the general's absence. The marquis de Monclair had never written, she remarked; therefore it proved, with all his professions, that he did not choose to commit them to writing, and had not so much affection for her as the count.

Rose replied, that she was exactly of the same opinion, and that she admired a man who had love enough to risk his sentiments in writing. How infinitely superior to the mean suspicious being who dares not acknowledge with his pen the affection he has frequently avowed!

Having indulged Jane with chatting as long as was agreeable to her, Rose took the candle, and ascending the stairs, her sister followed. They had just reached the middle of the staircase, near a window that looked over the river, when a strong light flashed so bright and suddenly across their eyes, that Rose started, and in the astonishment and terror of the moment let the candle fall, and

工

陣

I

extinguished

and cold:

shine near he window.

were resivered from ther

roached a discern wie waived a large body of of the river whee

mures It appeared as if were holding torches

e in

me who wishes to

claimed Rose,

e bugle, which

urposely to anstors; and 1

He would call

were my bro

rappiness

our fears.

Tue

While they formed this, and many ther conjectures, the lights began to love, and forming two distinct bodies, lided along by the side of the river, to very great distance, as far as the eye ould reach, and disappeared.

With the vanishing of the lights, they ost all hope of seeing Felix, and now groped in the dark till they found their way to their bedchamber. Not a star beamed in the sky-all was deeply obscure and gloomy'; and they were saying how very dismal and uncomfortable it was to undress without a candle, when the room became suddenly illuminated.

They ran to the window, and beheld the same lights moving rapidly, and fiercely blazing, like a bundle of wood on fire. Sometimes they were elevated five feet from the ground, hovered near the river, and at length melted into air, emitting sparks of flame.

"How do you explain this appear

ance,

ance, which we have never seen before?" said Jane, with a tremulous voice.

"Do not alarm yourself," replied Rose," as I hear, by the sound of your voice, that you are frightened. I believe the lights are only Will with a Wisp, or, as it is sometimes called, Jack with a Lantern. Two of these lights are not commonly seen, but I have heard my mother relate they have been discovered, but rarely, and more in foreign countries than in England. I cannot account for this luminous appearance in any other manner, as I have heard they shine more at a distance than near, and haunt marshy places. The bank of the river, where it emitted most fire, was on the side where it is damp and covered with reeds. I wish we had gone to bed directly we came home, and then we should not have been disturbed, and creeping about in the dark. Another time I will not indulge you with gossip