illegitimate child of Mr. Mark Colston,-probably as affording some title to the bounties of the family. Many years ago, I remember referring to the entry, at the time the donation was made by Sir Clement to the individual in question." "In that case, you can have no difficulty in referring to it again," coolly observed the claimant, whose countenance during the foregoing conversation had indicated a thousand contending emotions of indignation and scorn. "To such an authority I must perforce submit. I am content to be judged by the register." "You will have no objection, then, to step down with me to the church. Across the park, it is scarcely a mile distant," observed the rector. 66 "I thank you; possession is nine points of the law," replied Mark Colston, puckering his shrewd features into a knowing smile; " and it is not my intention to make myself acquainted, for the present, with the windy side of my own hall-door. I am installed here for good." The rector, who had noticed the baggage of the new comer lying in the hall, knew that this was spoken in earnest. But he did not swerve from his duty. "I never suffer the registers to quit their place in the vestry," said he. "If Mr. Aldridge and your legal advisers, sir, will accompany me to Hartington, while you remain here, I will satisfy their minds in an instant." And on the general concurrence of the parties, the old-fashioned chariot of Sir Clement was ordered out, for greater despatch; and on the soi-disant Sir Mark Colston's undertaking not to intrude upon the ladies, (whom he styled his "fair cousins ") during their absence, away they drove, as fast as the "fat and bean-fed" horses could carry them. The loungers on the green, who seemed to fancy that everything at the Hall must have expired with their little old landlord, actually shuddered when they saw the well-known vehicle approaching the village at a rate of speed so unusual. Nay, when it reached Church Lane, and stopped at the gate of the churchyard, they stood transfixed, and wondering, as if they thought it possible it might contain the corpse. CHAPTER VIII. Bright ran thy line, thou titled slave, To finish in a mire. BURNS. John Downing, as has been already stated, was engaged in supervising the labours of the upholsterers, who were fixing the sable hangings and escutcheons in the old church, when the rector and lawyer made their appearance. In a moment, he was at Mr. Wigswell's side; and having opened the door of the vestry at his command, and furnished him with the keys of the register chest, he again retired into the chancel, to abide further orders. Having closed the vestry door after him, in order to prevent the conversation of the strange gentlemen (whom he naturally concluded to have come there on business connected with Sir Clement Colston's funeral) from being overheard by the workmen, he had no means of guessing what was passing within; or with what curdling blood would he have beheld the old register withdrawn from its place, and examined page by page, and name by name, by the venerable rector; at first with an air of eagerness, soon with looks of vexation and misapprehension, and at length almost with despair!— "It is very strange; I fancied I could have placed my finger on it at once!" cried the old man. "The entry was a peculiar one. The entry was unique. In the early part of my ministry here, I noticed it hundreds of times. I thought I could point out the exact spot; and now, I find nothing of the kind." "Your eyesight is not exactly what it used to be, my dear sir," rejoined Aldridge; and as the rector had pushed up his tortoiseshell spectacles on bis forehead, during the conver |