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she at last replied, "this spot, now so peaceful, has been disturbed by screams of horror, echoed to the groans of departing life, and been marred by scenes of violence and death." Her sister looked towards her, as if inquiring the meaning of these words. She thus continued: "Amongst yonder clump of trees to the left, you may discern the low white chimneys of a cottage, in which dwelt a farmer of the name of Vernon, and his wife. For many years his farm flourished around him, and the earth seemed to yield him tenfold increase for his labours; in the midst of this prosperity he died, leaving a widow, still young, and two orphan children, to deplore his loss. Caroline and Henry grew up by the side of their mother, like two fair plants. If the sometimes ungoverned spirit of Henry shot a pang through her anxious breast, it never failed to find consolation in the milder virtues of her daughter; yet, on the whole, she was a happy mother. Years rolled on, and Caroline was beyond dispute the fairest of the village maidens, and Henry one of the bravest of its youths; it was impossible for two beings to be more attached to each other than were this brother and sister. About this time, a sea-captain, of the name of Hardy, who had formerly been an inhabitant of the place, returned to settle in his native village, bringing with him an only son, a youth of about twenty. The