-I am to carry this money to old Tobias; and Mrs Haller said I must be sure not to blab, or say that she had sent it. Well, well, she may be easy for that matter; not a word shall drop from my lips. Mrs Haller is charming, but silly, if father is right; for father says, "He that spends his money is not wise," but he that gives it away, is stark mad."

Enter the STRANGER, from the Lodge, followed by FRANCIS. At sight of PETER, the STRANGER stops, and looks suspiciously at him. PETER stands opposite to him, with his mouth wide open. At length he takes off his hat, scrapes a bow, and goes into the Hut.

Stra. Who is that?

Fra. The steward's son.

Stra. Of the Castle?

Fra. Yes.

Stra. [After a pause.] You were--you were speak

ing last night

Fra. Of the old countryman.

Stra. Ay.

Fra. You would not hear me out.

Stra. Proceed.

Fra. He is poor.

Stra. Who told you so?

Fra. Himself.

Stra. [With acrimony.]

tell his story, no doubt.

Ay, ay; he knows how to

Fra. And to impose, you think?

Stra. Right.

Fra. This man does not.

Stra. Fool!

Fra. A feeling fool is better than a cold sceptic. Stra. False!

Fra. Charity begets gratitude.

Stra. False!

Fra. And blesses the giver more than the receiver.

Stra. True.

Fra. Well, sir. This countryman-
Stra. Has he complained to you?

Fra. Yes.

Stra. He, who is really unhappy, never complains. [Pauses.] Francis, you have had means of education beyond your lot in life, and hence you are encouraged to attempt imposing on me :-but

go on. Fra. His only son has been taken from him.

Stra. Taken from him?

Fra. By the exigency of the times, for a soldier.
Stra. Ay!

Fra. The old man is poor.

Stra. 'Tis likely.

Fra. Sick and forsaken.

Stra. I cannot help him.

Fra. Yes.

Stra. How?

Fra. By money. He may buy his son's release.
Stra. I'll see him myself.

Fra. Do so.

Stra. But if he is an impostor!

Fra. He is not.

Stra. In that hut?

Fra. In that hut. [STRANGER goes into the Hut.] A good master, though one almost loses the use of speech by living with him. A man kind and clearthough I cannot understand him. He rails against the whole world, and yet no beggar leaves his door unsatisfied. I have now lived three years with him, and yet I know not who he is. A hater of society, no doubt; but not by Providence intended to be so. Misanthropy in his head, not in his heart.

Enter the STRANGER and Peter, from the Hut.
Pet. Pray walk on.

Stra. [To FRANCIS.] Fool!

Fra. So soon returned!

Stra. What should I do there?

Fra. Did you not find it as I said?

Stra. This lad I found.

Fra. What has he to do with your charity? Stra. The old man and he understand each other' perfectly well.

Fra. How?

Stra. What were this boy and the countryman doing?

Fra. [Smiling and shaking his Head.] Well, you shall hear. [To PETER.] Young man, what were you doing in that hut?

Pet. Doing!-Nothing.

Fra. Well, but you couldn't go there for nothing.

Pet. And why not, pray?-But I did go there for nothing, though.-Do you think one must be paid for every thing?-if Mrs Haller were to give me but a smiling look, I'd jump up to my neck in the great pond for nothing.

Fra. It seems then Mrs Haller sent you?
Pet. Why, yes-but I'm not to talk about it.
Fra. Why so?

Pet. How should I know? "Look you," says Mrs Haller," Master Peter, be so good as not to mention it to any body." [With much consequence.] "Master Peter, be so good"-Hi! hi! hi!—" Master Peter, be so"-Hi! hi! hi!

Fra. Oh! that is quite a different thing. Of course you must be silent then.

Pet. I know that; and so I am too. For I told old Tobias-says I, "Now, you're not to think as how Mrs Haller sent the money; for I shall not say a word about that as long as I live," says I.

Fra. There you were very right. Did you carry him much money?

Pet. I don't know; I didn't count it. It was in

*

a bit of a green purse. Mayhap it may be some little matter that she has scraped together in the last fortnight.

Fra. And why just in the last fortnight?

Pet. Because about a fortnight since I carried him some money before.

Fra. From Mrs Haller ?

Pet. Ay, sure; who else, think you? Father's not such a fool. He says it is our bounden duty, as Christians, to take care of our money, and not give any thing away, especially in summer; for then, says he, there's herbs and roots enough in conscience to satisfy all the reasonable hungry poor. But I say father's wrong, and Mrs Haller's right.

Fra. Yes, yes.-But this Mrs Haller seems a strange woman, Peter.

Pet. Ay, at times she's plaguy odd. Why, she'll
sit and cry you a whole day through, without any
one's knowing why.-Ay, and yet, somehow or other,
whenever she cries, I always cry too-without know-
ing why.

Fra. [To the STRANGER.] Are you satisfied?
Stra. Rid me of that babbler.

Fra. Good day, Master Peter.

Pet. You're not going yet, are you?

Fra. Mrs Haller will be waiting for an answer. Pet. So she will. And I have another place or twe to call at. [Takes off his Hat to the STRANGER.] Servant, sir!

Stra. Pshaw !

Pet. Pshaw! What-he's angry. [PETER turns to FRANCIS, in a half whisper.] He's angry, I suppose, because he can get nothing out of me.

Fra. It almost seems so.

Pet. Ay, I'd have him to know I'm no blab.

Fra. Now, sir?

[Exit.

Stra. What do you want?

Fra. Were you not wrong, sir?
Stra. Hem wrong!

Fra. Can you still doubt?

Stra. I'll hear no more! Who is this Mrs Haller? Why do I always follow her path? Go where I will, whenever I try to do good, she has always been before me.

Fra. You should rejoice at that.

Stra. Rejoice?

Fra. Surely! That there are other good and charitable people in the world beside yourself.

Stra. Oh, yes!

Fra. Why not seek to be acquainted with her? I saw her yesterday in the garden up at the castle. Mr Solomon, the steward, says she has been unwell, and confined to her room almost ever since we have been here. But one would not think it, to look at her; for a more beautiful creature I never saw.

Stra. So much the worse. Beauty is a mask. Fra. In her it seems a mirror of the soul. charities

Her

Stra. Talk not to me of her charities. All women wish to be conspicuous :-in town by their wit; in the country by their heart.

Fra. 'Tis immaterial in what way good is done. Stra. No; 'tis not immaterial.

Fra. To this poor old man at least.

Stra. He needs no assistance of mine.

Fra. His most urgent wants, indeed, Mrs Haller has relieved; but whether she has or could have given as much as would purchase the liberty of the son, the prop of his age

Stra. Silence! I will not give him a doit! [In a peevish tone.] You interest yourself very warmly in his behalf. Perhaps you are to be a sharer in the gift.