of some approved commentator, which to him appeared conclusive, and which Catharine on each occasion felt perfectly satisfactory, and worthy of the subject. She felt grieved when he closed the sacred volume. All now knelt down to prayer; but here Catharine was again less pleased. The deep humility of Dunallan's confessions, she could scarcely conceive to be sincere, and his exulting thanksgivings for the mercies of Christianity seemed unlike the simple trueness of his usual expressions. Yet, as he proceeded, he at times spoke a language which reached her inmost soul; and when he concluded, she certainly felt her respect for him unaccountably increased. The servants, with an appearance of respect for their young master approaching to veneration, gratefully replied to those kind and friendly inquiries with which he noticed some of them as they left the apartment.

Mrs. Oswald held out her hand to Catharine: "How do you like our strange ways, my dear young friend?" asked she.

Catharine warmly pressed her hand, " Part of them very much," replied she.

"And what part do you dislike, my dear?" "Dislike is a strong word. I will not say, my dear Mrs. Oswald, that I dislike any part; but -" she hesitated, and looked towards Dunal

lan.

He had again opened the Bible, and stood

with his hand resting upon it, while he seemed to listen for her reply to Mrs. Oswald's ques

tion.

66

May I ask you to read this passage, Catha

rine?" said he.

She immediately approached.

"I felt it too sacred," continued he, “when arguing, as you have heard me do with Mr. St. Clair. His levity on these subjects was so unconquerable."

Catharine read the passage to which he pointed. It was this: "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives."*

“You remember what precedes and follows this, Catharine?" added Dunallan.

"I do," said Catharine, instantly solemnised. "Then I am sure you will agree with me in thinking that our feelings cannot be in the state they ought to be, if we have any disposition to ridicule an act of devotion sanctioned by this example, or if the dread of such ridicule should make us shrink from performing it."

"Assuredly, Mr. Dunallan," replied Catharine, blushing even to tears at the recollection of what she now considered her own impiety. Dunallan immediately changed the subject; but Catharine, when again alone, revolved it deeply in her

* Matt. xxvi. 30.

thoughts, and felt humbled in her own opinion, while she thought how justly, yet how gently, Dunallan had conveyed reproof. These thoughts, however, were not pleasing, and she hoped that, on the morrow, she would find means to gain a higher place in Dunallan's esteem.

CHAPTER VI.

TO-MORROW morning came, and, with it, Martin rejoiced to have an opportunity of opening her heart to her young lady.

me.

"Oh, Ma'am," began she, "every one here is so kind! Mrs. Scott told me, that Mrs. Oswald said she would trust to her to find out the way to make me happy and comfortable; so Mrs. Scott just told me, and begged me to say frankly, what would make me so on all occasions, for that Mrs. Oswald would be sadly displeased if they did not find means to make my new abode pleasant to And, Ma'am, Mrs. Scott says you put her in mind of Mr. Dunallan's mother, whom she served long ago; but she did not stay in the house after her death, because the last housekeeper was not a person she liked to be under; so she went to Mrs. Oswald, who has been so kind to her, that she says she owes more than this world's happiness to her; but she says, too, Ma'am, that if you look as gently at her as you did at me when you spoke to me, she could serve you on her knees.” Martin's next theme Catharine listened to with more pleasure, for it was all in praise of Dunallan,

“who,” she said, "seemed to be quite idolized by his servants."

“There is not one of them," proceeded she, "who would leave him to serve any gentleman in the country, Mrs. Scott says; and yet he is very strict, and suffers no servant to stay a night in the house after he has broken through any rule he has established; and this he desires they may be positively warned of when they are hired. He has turned off four men within the last six months, although he afterwards was very kind to them till they found other means of subsistence, and took pains himself to convince them of the evil of their practices. Whenever a new servant enters the house, Mr. Dunallan converses with him in private, and gives him books to read; and he desires Mr. Gray, the steward, to take care that the men shall have time to read morning and evening, if they are so disposed; and, at any rate, they must be in the house; and they are, in general, anxious to read the books given them by Mr. Dunallan, as he often sends for them, and inquires whether they understand, and like what they have read, and takes much pains to instruct them. Mrs. Oswald takes the same care of the women; and Mrs. Scott asked me, Ma'am, whether I had been used with such care at Dunallan Castle. I said, that nobody could be kinder to their servants than you, Ma'am, and that you al