hand and supported. It was, however, when mingling in society that her
timidity and bashfulness were most observable; these, however, were
accompanied with so much natural grace, and unaffected innocence of
manner, that the general charm of her whole character was fascinating
and irresistible; nay, her very weaknesses created an atmosphere of love
and sympathy around her that nobody could breathe without feeling her
influence. Her fear of ghosts and fairies, her dread of wizards and
witches, of wise women and strolling conjurers, with the superstitious
accounts of whom the country then abounded, were, in the eyes of
her more strong-minded friends, only a source of that caressing and
indulgent affection which made its artless and innocent object more dear
to them. Every one knows with what natural affection and tenderness we
love the object which clings to us for support under the apprehension
of danger, even when we ourselves are satisfied that the apprehension
is groundless. So was it with Alice Goodwin, whose harmless foibles
and weaknesses, associated as they were with so much truth and purity,
rendered her the darling of all who knew her.

Woodward had not proceeded far on his way when he was overtaken by
an equestrian, who came up to him at a smart pace, which, however, he
checked on getting beside him.

"A fine morning, sir, after an awful night," observed the stranger.

"It is, sir," replied Woodward, "and a most awful night it assuredly
was. Have you heard whether there has been destruction to life or
property to any extent?"

"Not so much to life," replied his companion, "but seriously, I
understand, to property. If you had ridden far you must have observed