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"He paused a little, and then said, 'You think too much of your map, and your Mr. Interpreter ; neither he nor it may be infallible.' Then, seeing me (as I suppose) look grave and rather offended, added, in an insinuating tone of voice, But there will be time enough to settle the road when you quit my house, which you need be in no hurry to do; for I have taken a fancy to you, my son, and would willingly keep you as my guest as long as you like to stay.'

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I thanked him for his hospitality, but told him 'that my mind was so much occupied about my cousin, that I could think little of any thing else, and was only anxious to rejoin him and pursue our journey together.'

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"So you shall,' said he, by-and-by: but you must needs wait till he comes, which I expect will be very soon, and then I will no longer seek to detain you, against your will.' These last words were said with an air of displeasure, and I half reproached myself for my impatience to quit a man who appeared to mean me kindly, and had treated me in a friendly manner. Whilst I was considering on some reply which should have more of courtesy, but not less of truth in it, a tall gaunt figure, enveloped in a dark

A MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER.

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cloak, marched slowly by the window, and as he passed, turned his head, and looked in. I involuntarily started back, for his aspect was at once terrific and repulsive!

"Who is that?' inquired I of my companion, who, I thought, appeared to tremble.

"He was beginning to say something in a hesitating manner, when the figure reappeared, and, with a frown on his brow, beckoned to him; and he obeyed the summons as a slave would that of a severe master, and they both walked out of sight.

"No sooner were they gone, than a very different person entered, and approached me; she was arrayed in white, had a noble and engaging countenance, and in her hand she carried a small mirror.

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“In a sweet and impressive voice she said, 'I come, Luke,' (for she knew my name), to help you to discern what is true from what is false, and to aid your escape from this house. Know you whose

it is?'

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I know not the name of its owner,' I replied,

but he met me in distress, and brought me here, and has sent one of his domestics to seek my friend and fellow-traveller, whose sudden absence occasioned that distress.'

“I know it all,' answered she: 'for I who speak to you am called Truth. Peter Romius (for that is his name) has sent in search of your cousin Paul, and if he find him, intends to detain you both in his house till he can prevail on you to continue your pilgrimage by the road he imagines to be the best; so, unless you wish to remain here, lose no time, but follow me.' Thus saying, she led me out at the doors by which I had entered, and which I was surprised to find locked, but they flew open at her touch. “And now, my kind friend," said Luke (addressing Philemon), “I must request you to take up narrative, for you know, that just as I was conducted outside of the house by Truth, you met us at the door, having been despatched thither by your good uncle, Sure-Trust."

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Philemon. True, and I am willing to continue the narration; but I think it will be requisite that we first continue our journey, or it will be dark before we can reach your next destination. I say we, for if you have no objection, I will accompany you to the Palace Beautiful.

"Objection!" cried Luke and Paul, simultaneously; we shall be delighted to have your company on the way!"

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THEY LEAVE THE ARBOUR.

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"And it is well that you reminded us of the hour,” continued Paul; "for I was so interested in what dear Luke was telling us, that I quite forgot the time."

"Oh!" said Grace, smiling, "I remember to have heard that this arbour was always the scene of forgetfulness: we are only losing time. But that is a much greater loss than most people seem to consider."

Luke. It is indeed, dear sister, for it is irrecoverable; therefore we will lose it no longer, but proceed up the rest of the hill.

So I saw in my dream that they all rose to quit the arbour and once more encounter the hill, Grace leaning on her brother's arm, and saying," Farewell, pleasant bower! where I beheld the approach my beloved Luke, and again enjoyed his society." They had not advanced many yards, though, when she missed the staff given her by the Hermit.

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"Did I not say," exclaimed she, "that something is sure to be lost or forgotten in this place? Nor should I have remembered it now, I suppose, had I not seen a similar one in Paul's hand."

"The enjoyment of ease and comfort," said her cousin, "is but too apt to produce a careless and negligent habit; but I will go back and look for it."

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You need not do so," said Philemon;

it on the ground and picked it up.”

"for I saw

He then gave it to her, and I perceived that with her brother's arm on one side, and the staff on the other, she clambered up bravely; and, indeed, the remainder of the hill was not quite so steep as the preceding part. Then Philemon was called on to continue the account of Luke's sojourn in the house of Peter Romius.

Philemon. You may remember, Paul, that I entered the hermitage shortly after your arrival there, and that I soon disappeared again, rather abruptly. My uncle, suspecting where your companion might be, told me privately where to seek him, fearing to add disappointment to your distress, should I not succeed in finding him. His conjecture, however, was right; for I met him just at the threshold, as Luke himself has told you, conducted thence by Truth, who, as we went along, disclosed to us much of the character of the man. "He is to be pitied as well as blamed," said she; "for while he endeavours to decoy pilgrims and turn them from their path by any stratagem or deceit (for he holds that the end sanctifies the means), he thinks he is doing God service; unconscious, that while he has been proudly taught

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