his brother had in

consequence offered his services. The forbidding countenance of this man caused her sorely to regret the exchange; yet, as she had never heard any thing to his disadvantage, and her Lady's situation urging dispatch, the agreement was made, that he should conduct her as far on her route as she thought necessary to her security. The distance Eloise had to go was about forty miles, the cabin of Claudine's sister being situate almost on the extremity of the province. With an aching heart she embraced the good woman, and taking a ring of much value from her finger, bid her receive it in compensation of her long and faithful services. She now took the infant in her arms, and had just reached the gate of her cottage, when she recollected her purse, containing all her money, had been left on the toilet

in her dressing-room; "Hasten, good Guiseppe," cried the unsuspecting Eloise, "and bid Claudine deliver to 'you my purse." The man obeyed, while the eagerness with which, on returning, he regarded its contents, passed unheeded by Eloise, who, wholly absorbed in the contemplation of her sleeping child, was unconscious of a circumstance that would have filled the mind of one more observing with alarm and suspicion; but the day proved uncommonly beautiful; and delighted at the prospect of deliverance, at the novelty of the opening landscape, and above all, with the idea of returning to a life of honour and virtue, it was not till they put up for the night, that she thought of examining the features of her guide, who, but on such subjects as were requisite to the prosecution of their journey, had preserved a

sullen

sullen silence, which, as it saved her from the annoyance of indifferent and vulgar conversation, had been rather a source of congratulation on her part. "I would I had Ludovico with me,' inwardly repeated Eloise, as the light reflected on the harsh countenance of Guiseppe, "I should have been more at ease;" still she endeavoured, with a liberality peculiar to her disposition, to restrain every thought injurious to him, as ungenerous and unfounded; and. after defraying their expenses, they proceeded early the following morning. slowly on their way.

"I DARE say we shall gain our journey's end by close of evening," at length said her companion, breaking the long silence; for, as I shall lead directly down the mountain, and straight through the wood at the foot of it,

we shall cut off nearly six miles by the high road."

"BUT surely that would be the safest," replied Eloise in a timid voice, while her eye stretched over the immense forest that lay before them.

"NEVER you mind that," rejoined Guiseppe in a surly tone, "I suppose, Signiora, I know how to protect you."

ELOISE forbore a reply, though a dreadful presentiment struck cold to her heart. They now began to descend the mountain, and had just entered the valley at its base, when Guiseppe requested permission to stop at the little inn before them, for refreshment for himself and the horses; Eloise drew her purse from her pocket, and putting money into his hand, desired he would

bring her a glass of wine and water, for she was faint and thirsty; this she hastily drank as she sat on the bank by the road side, nor was it till she had finished the whole contents, that she observed, with a sickening, undefinable sensation, some particles of a thick white powder settled at the bottom of the glass.

"WILL you not eat any thing?" said Guiseppe, with somewhat more of complacency in his manner; "you

must need support, and this is the last habitation we shall come to till we reach the place of your destination."

ELOISE, however, had no appetite; for terror had now taken possession of all her faculties; and as she stole a glance at his dark and scowling eye,