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armly as he spoke, and shook it affectionately. "I esteem it an honor to be your sponsor here. Can you find your way after me? This place is never lighted; but I trust you 'll know it better ere long." Muttering some words of acknowledgment, I followed my unseen acquaintance along the dark corridor. "There's a step, here," cried he; "and now mind the stairs." A long and winding flight conducted us to a landing, where a candle was burning in a tin sconce. Here my conductor turned round. "Your Christian name is Thomas, I believe," said he. At the same moment, as the light fell on me, he started suddenly back, with an air of mingled astonishment and chagrin. "Why, M'Keown, you told me--" The rest of the sentence was lost in a whisper. "It 's a disguise I made him wear," said Darby. "He 'd no chance of escaping the country without it." "I 'm not speaking of that," retorted the other, angrily. "It is his age, I mean; he's only a boy. How old are you, sir?" continued he, addressing me, but with far less courtesy than before. "Old enough to live for my country; or die for it either, if need be," said I, haughtily. "Bravo, my darling!" cried the piper, slapping me on the shoulder with enthusiasm. "That's not exactly my question," said the stranger, smiling good-naturedly; "I want to know your age." "I was fourteen in August," said I. "I had rather you could say twenty," responded he, thoughtfully. "This is a sad mistake of yours, Darby. What dependence can be placed on a child like this? He's only a child, after all." "He's a child I'll go bail for with my head," said Darby. "Your head has fully as much on it as it is fit to carry," said the other, in a tone of rebuke. "Have you told him anything of the object and intentions of this Society? But of course you have revealed everything. Well, I 'll not be a party to this business. Young gentleman," continued he, in a voice of earnest and impressive accent, "all I know of you is the few particulars this man has stated respecting your unfriended position, and the cruelty to which you fear to expose yourself in trusting to the guardianship of Mr. Basset. If these reasons have induced you, from recklessness and indifference, to risk your life, by association with men who are actuated by high and noble principles, then, I say, you shall not enter here. If, however, aware of the object and intentions of our Union, you are desirous to aid us, young though
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