d the
letter, put it in his pocket, and staggered out of the house without
saying a word.

O Nancy Corbett! Nancy Corbett! this was all your doing. You had
gained your point in winning over the poor man to commit treason--you
had waited till he was so entangled that he could not escape, or in
future refuse to obey the orders of the Jacobite party--you had seduced
him, Nancy Corbett--you had intoxicated him--in short, Nancy, you had
ruined him, and then you threw him over by this insidious and perfidious
letter.

Vanslyperken walked away, he hardly knew whither--his mind was a chaos.
It did so happen, that he took the direction of his mother's house, and,
as he gradually recovered himself, he hastened there to give vent to his
feelings. The old woman seldom or ever went out; if she did, it was in
the dusk, to purchase, in one half-hour, enough to support existence for
a fortnight.

She was at home with her door locked, as usual, when he demanded
admittance.

"Come in, child, come in," said the old beldame, as with palsied hands
she undid the fastenings. "I dreamt of you, last night, Cornelius, and
when I dream of others it bodes them no good."

Vanslyperken sat down on a chest, without giving any answer. He put his
hand up to his forehead, and groaned in the bitterness of his spirit.

"Ah! ah!" said his mother. "I have put my hand up in that way in my
time. Yes, yes--when my brain burned--when I had done the deed. What
have you done, my child? Pour out your feelings into your mother's
bosom. Tell me all--tell me why--and tell me, did you get any money?"

"I have lost everything," replied Vanslyperken, in a melancholy tone.

"Lost everything! then you must begin over again, and take from others
till you have recovered all. That's the way--I'll have more yet, before
I die. I shall not die yet--no, no."

Vanslyperken remained silent for some time. He then, as usual, imparted
to his mother all that had occurred.

"Well, well, my child; but there is the other one. Gold is gold, one
wife is as good--to neglect--as another. My child, never marry a woman
for love--she will make a fool of you. You have had a lucky escape--I
see you have, Cornelius. But where is the gold you said you took for
turning traitor--where is it?"

"I shall bring it on shore to-morrow, mother."

"Do, child, do. They may had you out--they may hang you--but they shall
never wrest the gold from me. It will be safe--quite saf