him down by lodging the charge in his hip."

Kit Macrone kept her eyes steadily fixed on those of the speaker, as if inquiring whether he had spoken the whole truth.

"I'm not deceiving ye," he continued, noticing the expression. "Ned's hit there, and only there; but he's hit hard."

"A curse on the hand that was raised against him!" hissed she; and then her lips moved quickly, but no sound escaped them, and she looked as if breathing a silent malediction to heaven with all the fire and fierceness of her nature.

For a few minutes there was a pause, and both her nurse and Mr Fulton were alarmed at the frightful expression upon her features. They knew not whether it was that of intense agony or the rigid convulsions of approaching death. At length she fell backwards with a deeply-drawn sigh, completely overcome by exhaustion.

"She'll come to again presently," said Nell, laving her brow.

"Poor Kit," added Mr Fulton, bending over her; poor Kit," repeated he, "the hour's not far off when your pinching sorrows will have ceased."

"Do you think that she'll die?" inquired Nell, with painful interest depicted upon her deeply-lined face.

"Think!" replied the ratcatcher, "she's dying now."

"Not yet, Robert," rejoined Kit Macrone faintly, overhearing his remark. "Not quite

yet, Robert."

"I'm sorry-I did not-"

"I pray your silence," interrupted she. "You said but what you thought, and there was no unkindness meant in the expression of it. I shall die, Robert," she continued, "and that, too, quickly; but for the short, very short time that's spared me, let me

employ it to the best advantage that advantage, at least, which appears best for my peace of mind and for my boy's safety. Where is he now ?"

"In-in the the prison," faltered Mr Fulton.

"And did you gain admission to him?" "I tried," replied he; "but it was denied. me."

"Then how do you know that he is not dangerously wounded ?" inquired Ned's mother.

"I stayed among the crowd thronging round the prison gates until I could obtain intelligence that might be relied upon," returned the ratcatcher, "and at last a turnkey, to whom I am known, informed me that the wound was a deep one in the right hip, but there was no danger to his life whatever from it, and such were the words of the surgeon in his presence."

"It gladdens me to hear you speak thus," replied Kit Macrone, "and yet I know not why it should. Perhaps his death should have been considered more welcome tidings." "Has Carew been here ?" asked Mr Fulton.

"Not since the morning early," responded she.

"I saw him close by the gaol," he continued; "perhaps in the confusion he managed to get in."

"And now, Nell," said Kit Macrone, turning to her nurse, "you've been a close watcher here for some days and nights, go and let the breeze refresh ye. I would speak with Robert for a few minutes alone."

"Don't send me away," replied Nell; "I cannot, must not leave you, Kate."

"For a short time only," rejoined she, her difficulty of speech increasing momen

tarily. "For a short time only; and kiss me, Nell, before you leave."

"Cannot I stay?" sobbed her old attendant, printing many kisses upon her cheek.

"Your absence shall be as brief as I can make it," returned Kit Macrone;

"but I

have to say a few words for my good neighbour's ear alone. Kiss me me again,

Nell."

Reluctantly her nurse desired, and quitted the

patient.

did as she was

bedside of her

She might have been away some ten minutes, when a sound resembling a smothered or checked scream was heard from the room that she had left. Hurrying back she found the ratcatcher clasping in his arms the now faintly struggling body of Kit Macrone.

"She's dying!" shrieked the old crone.