handkerchief from his eyes, 'that was a bitter day with me indeed;
ay, and a day of grief hard to be borne; but He giveth strength
who layeth on the load.'

Colonel Mannering took this opportunity to request Mr. Pleydell to
inform him of the particulars attending the loss of the boy; and
the Counsellor, who was fond of talking upon subjects of criminal
jurisprudence, especially when connected with his own experience,
went through the circumstances at full length. 'And what is your
opinion upon the result of the whole?'

'O, that Kennedy was murdered: it's an old case which has occurred
on that coast before now, the case of Smuggler versus Exciseman.'

'What, then, is your conjecture concerning the fate of the child?'

'O, murdered too, doubtless,' answered Pleydell. 'He was old
enough to tell what he had seen, and these ruthless scoundrels
would not scruple committing a second Bethlehem massacre if they
thought their interest required it.'

The Dominie groaned deeply, and ejaculated, 'Enormous!'

'Yet there was mention of gipsies in the business too,
Counsellor,' said Mannering, 'and from what that vulgar-looking
fellow said after the funeral--'

'Mrs. Margaret Bertram's idea that the child was alive was founded
upon the report of a gipsy?' said Pleydell, catching at the half-
spoken hint. 'I envy you the concatenation, Colonel; it is a shame