"Well thought of, Freddy," said Antonia, “but I will make a fire before I go;" and kneeling down on the stone hearth, she quickly laid wood and kindled the rough faggot, which soon rose crackling and blazing, a clear stream of light.

Frederick meanwhile busied himself in preparing the rude couch, which he covered with dry fern to serve the double purpose of warmth and concealment. No time was lost, the preparations were soon completed, and Sidney took leave of his kind friends at the entrance of the hermitage, then throwing himself upon his rustic couch, he found a temporary alleviation from all his cares and anxieties in a refreshing slumber, the first he had enjoyed since the fatal field of Culloden; whilst

"Home now Antonia wends 'twixt grief and fear,
Sometimes she smiles, anon she drops a tear,
That stole along her cheeks, and, falling down,
Into a pearl it freezeth."

CHAPTER VII.

ANTONIA determined upon not visiting Purline Glen again that evening, lest she should arouse suspicions; but Frederick found means to convey some provisions, a light, and some warm clothing, to the cell. Mr Berenger was still asleep; the hermitage felt warmer. Frederick would not disturb him, but wrote on a slip of paper, which he attached to the basket, intimating that "friends would return the next morning."

After supper, Antonia, who could ill conceal her agitation and restlessness, contrived to have a private conversation with Frederick whilst the elder party were engaged at cards, the usual evening amusement. Many schemes for Mr Berenger's safety were then discussed, till at last they fixed upon one, which they both thought the most feasible, and the least likely to lead to a discovery.

Antonia had been in the habit of taking lessons from a French music-master, who came from some

distance, and often remained a week at a time at Sleyton Court. Antonia recollected Mr Berenger's

talent for music, and thought, should his journey be impeded, he might safely personate this character. She heard that the country people were being constantly arrested on suspicion of having borne arms in the Pretender's service, and she therefore concluded this disguise to be more safe than a common labourer's or artizan's dress, which Frederick at first recommended. He will look the one character, and he certainly will not the other," she replied to Sidney's representations, that the greater the disguise the greater the safety. Who will deny that women have the readiest wit and quickest inventions in matters of difficulty? Antonia was certainly a striking example of the truth of this remark. No sooner had the idea suggested itself, than, with wonderful rapidity, she arranged the whole scheme, foreseeing the dangers and smoothing the difficulties with the prudence of an experienced woman.

The plan she proposed was, for Sidney to leave Purline Glen the ensuing night. He was to walk forward about five miles to a farm-house, where