of man is ever active-and that which is strange, leads to suspicions and conjectures, all perhaps, unfounded."

"And you say this man married in England ?"

"Yes. But except the fortuitous resemblance you spoke of, all this does not touch you so nearly as it does those who have been the intimates of the parties. Come, let us return to the company."

"I am sick-sick, sir. I must go home. I will explain to you another time. But, notwithstanding discrepant circumstances, I cannot discard a belief that I have seen the sister of mother."

my

"Discard all unpleasant thoughts; you owe an apology to our kind hostess; and see, here she appears, anxiously looking for you."

Mrs. Cadwallader having ascertained that Spiffard had recovered, now joined them, and exacted his promise to return to the drawing-room; and after answering a question of Mr. Littlejohn's, by telling him that Mrs. Williams had gone home, left the friends to follow at their leisure.

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CHAPTER XX.

Midnight, and an apparition,

"And didst thou not, when she was gone down stairs, desire me to be no more so familiarity with such poor people."

"I myself could make a chough of as deep chat."

"But this is worshipful society."

"It is said, labour in thy vocation; which is as much as to say, let the magistrates be labouring men; and therefore should we be magistrates.” "George.-Thou hast hit it; for there's no better sign of a brave mind, than a hard hand."-Shakspeare.

The madness of a lawless mob,

Is rife to do the devil's job;

More fierce, more pittiless, more fell,

Than any king that groans in hell.-Anon.

"Approve the best, and follow what I approve."

"Love

Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide."-Milton.

"A young negro took our horses, with that affectation of extreme politeness and good breeding, which is so highly amusing in many of his colour, and which inclines me to think that they appreciate the character of a fine gentleman, more than any part of the community."-Latrobe.

DOCTOR CADWALLADER, whose patient she was, having conducted Mrs. Williams home, returned to the company, and found the general bowing, smiling, conversing, or listening, apparently as much at ease as if nothing had happened in any way extraordinary. The doctor passed him without speaking, and assiduously shunned him for the remainder of the evening. Mrs. Cadwallader took her husband aside, and spoke to him with warmth in a low tone. His reply was, "Never again! But where," added he, "is the young gentleman who fainted so unaccountably at her appearance ?"

"Still with Mr. Littlejohn, in your study."

She joined a group of ladies, and, at the moment, Littlejohn and Spiffard entered, the latter intending to make his apologies,

and retire; but his intentions were prevented by the doctor, who immediately addressed him with inquiries, and cheerful

assurances.

"It is strange, Mr. Spiffard, that the entrance of Mrs. Williams should have such an effect upon you. Gentlemen of your profession see such a variety of character, that one might expect you to be proof against any exhibition. I am sorry that my house should have been the theatre where such a scene occurred."

66

My apology must be, sir, that I saw or fancied a resemblance to a person in whom I was formerly much interested. The sudden recurrence of images exceedingly painful-threw me off my guard and overpowered mind and body. I hope you will excuse and forget my behaviour. I wish to apologize to Mrs. Cadwallader and then steal away, unnoticed. I have caused a great confusion where only pleasure ought to reign." "No, no. You were not the cause. Why should you think more of the affair when you see how coolly the general takes He is a better actor than you are."

it.

"That may well be, sir.”

"At least" said Littlejohn, "on the great stage, where all are merely players.' Williams, like the old greek actors, plays in a mask. If I am not mistaken in Mr. Spiffard he is only an actor in the mimic world, and has no disguises for the great masquerade of real life. My young friend will excuse me, I hope, for saying, that, my attachment to him, recent as our acquaintance is, proceeds principally from a conviction that in private life he is no actor. He appears to me to be a creature without disguise himself, and without suspicion of disguise in others."

Spiffard looked serious, paused a moment, then replied, “As I feel the necessity of speaking of myself, permit me to say, that, at my first entrance into life as a man, I found the common opinion in respect to players was, that they were more artificial in their intercourse with the world than other men; and having from my earliest infancy a most devout love of truth, I determined that my love of the drama should not interfere with what I considered the very essence of moral worth. I have been and I trust I shall always remain, rather one that 'wears his heart upon his sleeve for daws to peck at,' than a hypocrite or an actor in my intercourse with society; perhaps these feelings may render my manners less acceptable, but I would rather be esteemed unpolished by others, than know myself, false."

The doctor shook the young man by the hand cordially, and after a little more conversation, persuaded him to remain, for at least a part of the evening. Cooke, who had been engaged in chat with Governor Tompkins and knew nothing of what had befallen Spiffard, advanced from the inner apartment with his companion. Littlejohn introduced the two last mentioned, and the conversation that the Governor and the tragedian had been engaged in, which was theatrical, was continued; until Williams, with his courtly smiles approached and joined them. Cadwallader walked away. Doctors Hosack, McLean, and Francis advanced, and the first accosted Tompkins with a question relative to the western part of the state. Spiffard shrunk from the courteous general's approach, and appeared to place Littlejohn between him and the man of bows, as a safeguard. No introduction took place. The frank and urbane manners of the governor led to ease and cheerful chat, as was customary wherever he came; and a colloquy ensued, of which we will endeavour to give the reader a part, at the risk of holding him too long from the stirring incidents of our story.

Doctor Hosack's inquiries led to the first subject of discus

sion.

"Before I was married," observed Littlejohn, "I indulged my propensity to travel, which has always been very great. "I thought, sir, you had never been in Europe," said Williams.

46

"Never, sir, nor in Asia or Africa. My first wish was to gain a knowledge of my native land; hoping afterwards to see others, when qualified to make comparisons. My most ardent desire at that time, governor, was to pry into the manners, and study the character of the aborigines."

"The opportunities for that study are much greater now," said Tompkins. "I have, probably, while travelling the circuit when I was a judge, passed over more Indian ground than you could penetrate through in your early days, by any effort that a white man might then be able to make."

"'True, sir, but not find so many Indians."

"They have been sadly abused and cheated," said Williams. The merchant continued. " My first journey was made under the wing of your predecessor, Governor George Clinton, when he made our treaty with the six nations, which opened the way for that immense display of the arts of civilization, now rendering the then wilderness, from the Mohawk to Lake Erie and from the St. Lawrence to the Alleghanies, a land flowing with milk and honey; teeming with beings united as

brethren and cultivating science while they cultivate the soil. I then saw enough of the red men to excite my curiosity intensely; and I prevailed upon one of the interpreters, (a white man who, when a child had been carried off and adopted by those who murdered his parents,) to be my guide into that country of the west, which although now smiling with orchards, gardens, meadows and corn-fields; studded with villages, towns and cities; was then an almost impenetrable thicket, forbidden to the white man unless he passed over it with fire and sword. With this guide, and after the treaty which opened my path, I commenced my journey; and I look back upon it as the most delightful portion of my life; probably because the most teeming with novelty, at an age when all is new.”

"But," said Williams, "I should think it very monotonous; and peculiarly unprofitable, unless it led to a speculation in furs."

"My speculations, although a merchant, have been aimed to penetrate beyond the skin, or any other covering, whether in the desert or the drawing-room. The speculations I then made, and the knowledge I obtained of facts, traditions, customs, manners, religion, superstition, impostures, (for there are impostors even among uncivilized men,) most unblushing and steady-faced impostors, wearing masks more impenetrable than any I have met with in refined society :-fellows who, though never trusted as leaders, have an influence in savage life, as great as their brethren exercise over the ignorant in polite society."

"The result of your inquiries would be very acceptable," said the governor.

"The result of my inquiries, at that time, and some little since, compared with what I can gather from books, has produced such opinions respecting the character of our Indians as differ from those of most men.' ""

"And they are—”

"First," said Hosack, "let me help you to a glass of this Madeira."

"And I will," said Tompkins, "with his permission, fill a glass for Mr. Cooke. Cadwallader keeps the best madeira in the state. What do you think of that colour, Mr. Cooke?"

"It is brighter than that of an Indian painted for a war-dance or scalp-hunt."

“As deceitful and as deadly."

"O, no! Mr. Spiffard, when not abused, it is as hospitable and as generous," was the apology for the bright liquor made by doctor McLean.