The girl whom Jenkins had addressed as Alice, had seen some seventeen springs, the apple-blossoms of which were not more beautifully tinted than her fair cheeks; nor their skies a deeper blue than her love-lit eyes. Her form was perfect—her step light and springy as an antelope’s. Her name was Alice Hewlett, and she was known in the neighborhood as ‘the Squatter’s Daughter.’ She had heard of a lady’s being confined in Gordon’s house, and readily availed herself of the request of Jenkins to be the fair captive’s companion, until she could be restored to her friends. Alice immediately went to Inez. ‘My dear young lady, I come to stay with you.’ Inez gazed inquiringly upon her fair, ingenuous face. ‘You may safely trust me, Miss.’ ‘I do—I do—dear girl. Vice never wore so fair a front.’ ‘Lady, I will not leave you, but at your request.’ ‘Oh, thanks, thanks. You know not what a load you’ve taken from my sad heart.’ Jenkins went to the old crone, and gave her some directions, adding sternly, ‘Mind and do as I have told you!’ The old woman muttered an obedience to his orders, and he immediately quitted the room. He had not been gone many minutes, when she retired to her own little closet, where she always had a bottle or two of ‘the best,’ and was soon in a fair way to enjoy herself, and to become entirely unconscious of all that was taking place; and Blodget hailing the so long-looked for opportunity with pleasure, he ascended the stairs on tiptoe, and having reached the rooms appropriated to the use of Inez, he knocked. Alice, probably thinking it was the woman, quickly opened the door, but started back with no little amazement, when she beheld the villain Blodget.—He instantly stepped into the room, and Inez hearing the exclamation which Alice had given utterance to came from her room, but on seeing Blodget, she turned very pale, and trembled so violently that she could scarcely prevent herself from sinking on the floor. The forbidding features of Blodget relaxed into a smile, which he meant to be one of kindness, but he could not conceal his exultation, and the guilty passions that raged like a tempest within his bosom, and turning to Alice, he said, in an authoritative tone— ‘Leave the room.’ Alice hesitated, and looked at our heroine. ‘Do you hear?’ demanded Blodget, in a louder tone;—‘begone, I’ve something to say to this lady, which must not meet your ear.’ ‘You should have nothing to say to me, sir, which should be kept a secret from a second person. Alice, I desire you to remain where you are; Mr. Blodget can have no authority for obtruding his hateful presence upon one whom he has already so deeply, so irreparably injured. Do not depart, Alice!—I desire you!’ ‘These mandates are of no avail,’ cried Blodget; ‘I have long sought this interview, and I will not now be foiled. Begone, I say!’ ‘I’ll remain where I am, sir, while it is the wish of the lady,’ returned Alice, in a firm tone.