gan, with a strength and volume of sound almost superhuman, to give out,Fly not yet."

"Fly not yet!" involuntarily exclaimed both ladies at once.

"Did I say so? I had forgot.

I had forgot. No, no!

it was not Fly not yet'it was—

Angels, ever bright and fair,

Take-oh, take me to your care!"

which she went through in such a manner, that it actually reached the ears of two young officers who happened to be walking near the entrance of this perilous descent, and belonged to a military party quartered in the neighbourhood. Without hesitation, these gallant young men procured lights, descended into the vault, and, after some search, discovered a spectacle sufficient to melt the hardest heart. Extended on the cold earth, lay I, preserving, as well as I could, with the aid of my red roquelaure, from the mildewing damps that filtered, in trickling drops, from the

arched

arched and stony roof, the lifeless body of Bridget!"

"Of Bridget!" repeated Miss O'Reilly, in astonishment-" she whose voice sent forth, but a moment before, sounds so superhuman!"

This critique a little disconcerted our traveller, who, without further working up his pathetic picture, hurried on to the conclusion.

"One of the officers, carried Bridget, who began to exhibit signs of returning animation, up the flight of steps; while the other, who most politely and humanely offered me his assistance, I recognised, with equal pride and pleasure, to be a friend-an old pupil-a wonderful clever. creature, captain Denis Fazakerly."

Divested of the marvellous, all that the ladies could gather from this tale was, that Pendennis had been to visit the Grottoes of Cong, and meant to work it up into a story in his next publication; but it must be observed in his defence, that, if the narratives

VOL. II.

H

ratives of our traveller sometimes emulated a little the style of the renowned baron Munchausen, habit had become, in this respect, such a second nature to him, that he might really be said partly to have persuaded himself of the truth of the extravagancies he uttered.

66

Well, Mr. Pendennis," said Miss O'Reilly, "this is a story of hair-breadth 'scapes and dangers, highly creditable to your intrepidity and the vocal talents of Miss Bridget; I declare I have not heard of any thing so extraordinary since-no, not since the run of Marius."

At the mention of the run of Marius, the grotesque features of Pendennis split into a smile. He saw he was laughed at, but was ready to join in the laugh against himself; for vain people depend too much upon others readily to quarrel with them. Besides, Pendennis was, to do him justice, one of the best-humoured of human beings, and it was this talisman of invincible good-humour, which made him so many

many friends, in spite of ugliness, poverty, vanity, absurdity, and caprice. The only tax Miss O'Reilly paid for her imprudent remark was the having suggested to Pendennis a new topic of discourse, upon which he began-" Talking of Marius, I have a request to make to you, my beautiful pupil," addressing himself to Geraldine, "but it must not be now."

"How impossible it is to find any subject to which he has not something à-propos!" said Miss O'Reilly, in a half-whisper, to Geraldine; "he is quite equal to Swift, who, Stella said, could write fine things upon a broomstick."

"A broomstick!" exclaimed Pendennis, only catching up the last word; "talking of brooms, I have an excellent story to tell you about my niece Bridget, when we were together in the county of Galway."

What this excellent story might have been, can never now be known; for, at this moment, a stop was put to all further

communications by the entrance of sir

Charles Southwell.

Though surprised to see our tourist, the baronet welcomed him with his usual engaging suavity of manner; lamented, in courtly phrase, an engagement at the Castle, which would prevent his dining at home; but insisted on Mr. Pendennis's making the ladies amends, by giving them the pleasure of his company.

This was an intimation Pendennis by no means thought it prudent to neglect; and being, among other things, a great coxcomb, he took out his watch, and observing he had scarcely time to Adonize himself for dinner, took leave of his fair friends, with the consolatory promise of a very speedy return.

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