d region in which Adair resided.

Mary was frequently caught directing her regards towards Butler, whose
face was handsome enough to have rendered such a thing quite natural
from a young girl: but she seemed to be moved by more than ordinary
interest, as the closeness of her scrutiny almost implied a suspicion in
her mind of his disguise. In truth there was some incongruity between
his manners and the peasant dress he wore, which an eye like Mary's
might have detected, notwithstanding the plainness of demeanor which
Butler studied to assume.

"We have nothing but corn bread in the house," said Mary in a low tone
to her kinswoman, "perhaps the gentlemen (here she directed her eye, for
the fiftieth time, to Butler) expected to get wheat. Had I not better
pull some roasting-ears from the garden and prepare them? they will not
be amiss with our milk and butter."

"Bless you, my dear," said Butler, thrown completely off his guard, and
showing more gallantry than belonged to the station he affected. "Give
yourself no trouble on my account; we can eat anything. I delight in
corn cakes, and will do ample justice to this savory venison. Pray do
not concern yourself for us."

"It is easy as running to the garden," said Mary in a sweet and almost
laughing tone.

"That's further, my dear," replied Butler, "than I choose you should run
at this time of night. It is dark, my pretty girl."

"Gracious!" returned Mary with natural emotion, "do you think I am
afraid to go as far as the garden in the dark? We have no witches or
fairies in our hills to hurt us: and if we had, I know how to keep them
away."

"And how might that be?"

"By saying my prayers, sir. My father taught me, before my head was as
high as the back of this chair, a good many prayers: and he told me they
would protect me from all sorts of harm, if I only said them in right
earnest. And I hear many old people, who ought to know, say the same
thing."

"Your father taught you well and wisely," replied Butler; "prayer will
guard us against many ills, and chiefly against ourselves. But against
the harm that others may do us, we should not forget that prudence is
also a good safeguard. It is always well to avoid a dangerous path."

"But, for all that," said the maiden smiling, "I am not afraid to go as
far as the garden."

"If you mean to get the corn," interrupted Mistress Adair, in no very
kindly tone, "you had as well go without all this talk. I warrant if you