he twentieth time that night, without
seeing any necessity for the blush. Clifford continued, in a gayer
tone: "Well, it is surprising how rogues hang together. I should not be
greatly surprised if the person who despoiled your uncle were one of the
same gang as the rascal who so terrified your worthy friend the doctor.
But is this handsome old place your home?"

"This is my home," answered Lucy; "but it is an old-fashioned, strange
place; and few people, to whom it was not endeared by associations,
would think it handsome."

"Pardon me!" said Lucy's companion, stopping, and surveying with a look
of great interest the quaint pile, which now stood close before them;
its dark bricks, gable-ends, and ivied walls, tinged by the starry
light of the skies, and contrasted by the river, which rolled in silence
below. The shutters to the large oriel window of the room in which the
squire usually sat were still unclosed, and the steady and warm light of
the apartment shone forth, casting a glow even to the smooth waters of
the river; at the same moment, too, the friendly bark of the house-dog
was heard, as in welcome; and was followed by the note of the great
bell, announcing the hour for the last meal of the old-fashioned and
hospitable family.

"There is a pleasure in this," said the stranger, unconsciously, and
with a half-sigh; "I wish I had a home!"

"And have you not a home?" said Lucy, with naivety. "As much as a
bachelor can have, perhaps," answered Clifford, recovering without an
effort his gayety and self-possession. "But you know we wanderers are
not allowed the same boast as the more fortunate Benedicts; we send
our hearts in search of a home, and we lose the one without gaining the
other. But I keep you in the cold, and we are now at your door."

"You will come in, of course!" said Miss Brandon, "and partake of our
evening cheer."

The stranger hesitated for an instant, and then said in a quick tone,--

"No! many, many thanks; it is already late. Will Miss Brandon accept
my gratitude for her condescension in permitting the attendance of one
unknown to her?" As he thus spoke, Clifford bowed profoundly over the
hand of his beautiful charge; and Lucy, wishing him good-night, hastened
with a light step to her father's side.

Meanwhile Clifford, after lingering a minute, when the door was closed
on him, turned abruptly away; and muttering to himself, repaired with
rapid steps to whatever object he had then in vie