Mystery is infectious. I felt myself curiously perplexed. I knew not what to make of Dungowan's behaviour, and when I reached the cottage door, absolutely paused before pulling the latch, so much had I been put out of sorts.

When I entered, the nurse had raised the invalid in the bed, and though evidently greatly better, there was a worn and cadaverous appearance in her countenance strikingly ghastly.

I took a seat immediately beside her, and she turned her head saying, though still with a trembling and feeble voice,

“I am better, and able once more to express my obligations to you, and it will give you pleasure to hear, that in the woman who assists me, I have found one who will look to the boys, if it be the will of Providence to remove me.”

The woman in the mean time was busy about some domestic concern at the fire-side, and it struck me that she was altered in her appearance. I apprehended at first that she was ill, but was not long left to conjecture with what malady. The cordials my wife had sent were doing their duty. In a word, without being grossly intoxicated, her senses were disconcerted, a circumstance which gave me inexpressible pain; I said, however, nothing, but Mrs. Paddock observing her, began to weep at the ruin which she feared would inevitably scatter and injure her flock. I consoled her, however, with the strongest assurances that they should not be neglected, and that another nurse would be obtained before I left the settlement, desiring, at the same time, the unfortunate person to retire. But no sooner had she passed the threshold, than seeing Captain Campbell, whom she had known in Scotland, she gave a shrill joyful yell, and ran towards him.