She was dozing over a comfortable fire; and her huge cat slept upon her lap. Even in the midst of her nap, the harridan mechanically stretched forth her bony hand from time to time, and stroked the animal down the back; and then it purred in acknowledgment of that caress which to a human being would have been hideous. Suddenly a knock at the door awoke the hag. "Business—business," murmured the old woman, as she rose, placed the cat upon the rug, and hastened to answer the door: "no idle visitor comes to me at this time." The moment she opened the door the rector rushed in. "Gently, gently," said the old hag: "there is nothing to alarm you in this neighbourhood. Ah!" she cried, as Reginald Tracy laid aside his hat and cloak; "is it you, sir? I am not surprised to see you again." "And why not?" demanded the rector, as he threw himself into a chair. "Because all those who wander in the mazes of love, sooner or later require my services," answered the hag; "be they men or women." "You have divined my object in seeking you," said the rector. "I love a charming creature, and know not how to obtain possession of her." "You could not have come to a better place for aid and assistance, sir," observed the harridan, with one of her most significant and, therefore, most wicked leers. "But can I trust you? will you be faithful? what guarantee have I that you will not betray me to Lady Harborough, whose jealousy is so soon excited?" cried Reginald. "If you pay me well I am not likely to lose a good patron by my misconduct," answered the old woman boldly. "In a word, my left hand knows not what my right hand does." "Well spoken," said the rector; and, taking gold from his purse, he flung it upon the table, adding, "Be this your retaining fee; but it is as nothing compared to what I will give you if you succeed in a matter on which I have set my heart." "You must be candid with me, and tell me every particular, sir," said the hag, as she gathered up the gold with avidity. "I have seen the young lady to whom I allude, but on three or four occasions," continued the rector; "and yet I have discovered much concerning her. She has been weak already, and has a child of some six or seven months old. That child was not born in wedlock; nor, indeed, has its mother ever borne the name of wife." "Then the conquest cannot be so difficult," murmured the hag. "I am not sure of that," said Reginald Tracy. "Without knowing any thing of her history, I am inclined to believe that some deep treachery—some foul wrong must have entrapped that young lady into error. She lives in the most respectable way; and neither by her manner nor her looks could her secret be divined. Accident alone revealed it to me." "It may serve our purpose—it may serve our purpose," cried the harridan, musing. "She dwells with her father, at the house of a friend—a very young man——" "Ah!" cried the hag, struck by this information. "What is her name?"