would not have had to return four leagues to the next town."

This was a disappointment on which Mary had not at all calculated. Night was coming on; the road they had to travel back was quite lonely, and destitute of even a village, and she began to suspect that the baron had not really engaged all the rooms, but that it was a fabrication of the landlord, in aid of the plan to rob and murder them, which the arrival of another traveller had in some degree disarranged. Her aunt was fatigued and worried with the obstacles they had met with; her aunt's maid and her own, who had followed her example in alighting, stood gazing in astonishment, not understanding a word of what was passing, and Mary herself, confused and alarmed, knew not what to do, but remained looking anxiously round, in expectation every moment of seeing the person who had caused her so much terror, while the innkeeper continued his position between her and

the

the house, mutely signifying, that it was impossible she could have reception there. Though lady Anne did not particularly like the appearance of the people of the place, it was Mary alone who had any precise cause of apprehension, and she was accordingly now as anxious to remain where they were, and where the retinue of the baron de S- would afford them protection, as before she had been desirous of proceeding; but the landlord continued to assure her that there was not a single room disengaged, and seemed somewhat out of patience at her pertinacity.

A gentleman had been standing at the window of the inn for some minutes, seemingly observing the servants removing the different articles of luggage from the carriages before mentioned; but just at this moment he withdrew from the window, and after a short pause, again made his appearance at the door, somewhat, apparently, to the discomposure of mine host, who once more assured Mary,

1

in a hurried manner, that they could have no accommodation at his house.

The gentleman, however, continued to approach the place where they stood, and Mary almost started, under the belief that she saw her cousin Charles; but as he came nearer, she perceived that he must be at least five or six years Mr. Melville's senior, with features on which the marks of care were more visible than those of time. He was dressed in simple travelling costume; but there was a nobility in his air not to be mistaken; and Mary immediately concluded, and rightly, that she beheld the baron de S.

As he approached, he raised his hat, apologizing for intruding, as he termed it. -"Standing at the window," continued he, "I am not sure if I understood right, that you wished for apartments here, but could not procure them, on account of my retinue."

The baron spoke in Italian, and Mary replied in the same language, that what

he

he supposed was the case; and that her aunt, lady Anne Milsome, and herself, had particular reasons for not wishing to return to the next town, as they must do if they could not gain some sort of lodging there.

"Madam," replied the baron, "your simple wish is quite sufficient for me. I hope you did not think that a German gentleman would see two ladies put to such inconvenience on his account;" and he spoke it with an air of serious politeness, that shewed it was not in his nature at least to have done so. "But if I do not mistake, your accent is English," he added, in Mary's own language, the sound of which was very welcome to her ears; nor did lady Anne seem less glad to hear it than she was, but descending from the carriage, at whose side this conversation had been carried on, she joined her niece in thanking the baron for his attention.

The matter was now very speedily arranged. The inn it seems possessed but

one

one room where they could dine, and two or three bed-rooms; but the baron requested particularly that the two ladies would put themselves to no inconvenience whatever, but would make such arrangements as would most contribute to their own comfort." For my own part," said he, “I can sleep any where, and my servants surely can follow their master's example. I have ordered," he continued, as they left him in the dining-room, for the purpose of seeing what could be done with regard to the other apartments, every thing that the place affords, I believe, for dinner: I do not suppose it will be of the very best, but I hope you will partake of it with me."

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When Mary was once with her aunt alone, she was not long in communicating to her the circumstance which had occasioned her so much alarm; and, as she had supposed she would be, lady Anne was much more terrified than she had been herself; nor did she seem at all re