himself with a little alarm, and peered into the darkness over the bushes, doubting that some concealed movement of the old poacher must have been the occasion of the mare's start. However, there was nothing to be seen behind the hedge, and John Gilsland recommenced his monologue, to which the Colonel now gave his ear, with a flattering attention which won his landlord's heart. "As far as you can see--not that that's so far as might be wushed at this hour o' the nicht," said John, "was th' ould Mr. Musgrave's land, Cornel. Yon'er's the house, sir, amidst of a bit of wood--guid tim'er and ould, and a credit to the place. D'ye see the pair bit dribble o' smoke, Cornel?--th' ould chimneys puffed i' another fashion when the Squire was to the fore. There wasn't six days i' the twelve-month but there was coompany at the Grange, and a sight of fine folks wance or twicest in the year, like in September and the shooting saison. But ye cannot both eat your cake and have your cake, Cornel. There's this coom of it, that the siller's a' puffed away; and the young heir, poor lad, he's left destitute; and the more's the pity, for a more affable gentleman than Mr. Roger never carried a gun. That's him that coom to see yourself, sir, the last nicht--ye would be a friend o' his family, it's like?--for he's no of this parish born." "Was the young man related to the Squire?--his godfather, I know--but they seem to be of the same name," said the Colonel; "he is a fine young fellow--he will have many friends, I presume, in the families hereabout." "Ye see, Cornel," said John Gilsland, dropping the reins upon the mare's neck, and suffering her to fall into almost a walking pace, as he saw himself at last appreciated, "it makes an uncommon difference when a man gets shot of his siller. There was a time when Mr. Roger was foremost favourite mony's the place; but wan house ye see, there's a parcel o' young ladies, and what if wan o' them took a fancy to him? They're tender-hearted, them girls--they're just as like as no to fa' in love with a man, for the reason that's he's misfortinate. I've seen a young lad myself that lost a' he had, and was prosecooted by the women for ne'er anither reason that I could see. Then anither place you see there's a regiment o' sons, and my leddy wants a' the influence she can wun, fair means or foul, for her owen prodgedy; and another place, they've little enough themsels, and cannot afford to keep friends with wan that has not a penny--and that's how it stands, Cornel, on the whole. If he had th' ould Squire's estate, he'd ha' loads o' friends."