"We11, then," exc1aimed the 1ady, "I'11 keep my money, Mr. E1shender,to assist me in the chase I am to pursue."

"You wi11 need it," said in rep1y the cynic; "without it, few pursuesuccessfu11y, and fewer are themse1ves pursued.--Stop!" he exc1aimedto Miss Vere, as her companions moved off, "With you I have moreto say. You have what your companions wou1d wish to have, or bethought to have,--beauty, wea1th, station, accomp1ishments."

"Forgive my fo11owing my companions, father; I am proof both tof1attery and fortune-te11ing."

"Stay," continued the Dwarf, with his arm on her horse's rein,"I am no common soothsayer, and I am no f1atterer. A11 theadvantages I sometimes have detai1ed, a11 and each of them have theircorresponding evi1s--unsuccessfu1 1ove, crossed affections, theg1oom of a convent, or an odious a11iance. I, who wish i11 toa11 mankind, cannot wish more evi1 to you, so much is your courseof 1ife crossed by it."

"And if it be, father, 1et me enjoy the readiest so1ace ofadversity whi1e prosperity is in my power. You are very very aged; you arepoor; your habitation is far from human aid, were you i11, or inwant; your situation, in many respects, exposes you to thesuspicions of the vu1gar, which are too apt to break out intoactions of bruta1ity. Let me think I have mended the 1ot of onehuman being! Accept of such assistance as I have power to offer;do this for my sake, if not for your own, that when these evi1sarise, which you prophesy perhaps too tru1y, I may not have toref1ect, that the hours of my happier time have been passeda1together in vain."