when I saw lamps coming down towards the
Holly-Tree. The road was so padded with
snow that no wheels were audible; but, all of
us who were standing at the Inn-door, saw
lamps coming on, and at a lively rate too,
between the walls of snow that had been heaped
up, on either side of the track. The chamber-
maid instantly divined how the case stood,
and called to the ostler: "Tom, this is a
Gretna job! " The ostler, knowing that
her sex instinctively scented a marriage or
anything in that direction, rushed up the
yard, bawling, "Next four out!" and in a
moment the whole establishment was thrown
into commotion.

I had a melancholy interest in seeing the
happy man who loved and was beloved; and,
therefore, instead of driving off at once, I
remained at the Inn-door when the fugitives
drove up. A bright-eyed fellow, muffled in a
mantle, jumped out so briskly that he almost
overthrew me. He turned to apologise, and,
by Heaven, it was Edwin!

"Charley!" said he, recoiling. "Gracious
powers, what do you do here?"

"Edwin, "said I, recoiling, "Gracious powers,
what do you do here! " I struck my forehead
as I said it, and an insupportable blaze of light
seemed to shoot before my eyes.

He hurried me into the little parlor (always
kept with a slow fire in it and no poker),
where posting company waited while their
horses were putting to; and, shutting the
door, said:

"Charley, forgive me!"

"Edwin! " I returned. " Was this well?
When I loved her so dearly! When I had
garnered up my heart so long! " I could say
no more.

He was shocked when he saw how moved
I was, and made the cruel observation,
that he had not thought I should have taken
it so much to heart.

I looked at him. I reproached him no
more. But I looked at him.

'' My dear, dear Charley," said he; " don't
think ill of me, I beseech you! I know
you have a right to my utmost confidence,
and, believe me, you have ever had it
until now. I abhor secresy. Its meanness is
intolerable to me. But, I and my dear girl
have observed it for your sake."

He and his dear girl! It steeled me.

"You have observed it for my sake, sir?"
said I, wondering how his frank face could
face it out so.

"Yes!—and Angela's," said he.

I found the room reeling round in an
uncertain way, like a laboring humming-top.
"Explain yourself,'' said I, holding on by one
hand to an arm-chair.

"Dear old darling Charley!" returned
Edwin, in his cordial manner, " consider! When
you were going on so happily with Angela,
why should I compromise you with the old
gentleman by making you a party to our
engagement, and (after he had declined my
proposals) to our secret intention? Surely it
was better that you should be able honorably
to say, ' He never took counsel with me,
never told me, never breathed a word of it.'
If Angela suspected it and showed me all
the favor and support she could—God
bless her for a precious creature and a priceless
less wife!—I couldn't help that. Neither I
nor Emmeline ever told her, any more than
we told you. And for the same good reason,
Charley; trust me, for the same good reason,
and no other upon earth!"

Emmeline was Angela's cousin. Lived
with her. Had been brought up with her.
Was her father's ward. Had property.

"Emmeline is in the chaise, my dear
Edwin?" said I, embracing him with the
greatest affection.

"My good fellow!" said he, " Do you
suppose I should be going to Gretna Green
without her!"

I ran out with Edwin, I opened the chaise
door, I took Emmeline in my arms, I folded
her to my heart. She was wrapped in soft
white fur, like the snowy landscape; but
was warm, and young, and lovely. I put their
leaders to with my own hands, I gave the
boys a five-pound note a-piece, I cheered
them as they drove away, I drove the other
way myself as hard as I could pelt.

I never went to Liverpool, I never went to
America, I went straight back to London,
and I married Angela. I have never until
this time, even to her, disclosed the secret of
my character, and the mistrust and the
mistaken journey into which it led me. When
she, and they, and our eight children and
their seven—I mean Edwin's and Emmeline's,
whose eldest girl is old enough now to wear
white fur herself, and to look very like
her mother in it—come to read these pages,
as of course they will, I shall hardly fail to
be found out at last. Never mind! I can
bear it. I began at the Holly-Tree, by idle
accident, to associate the Christmas time of
year with human interest, and with some
inquiry into, and some care for, the lives of
those by whom I find myself surrounded. I
hope that I am none the worse for it, and
that no one near me or afar off is the worse
for it. And I say, May the green Holly-Tree
flourish, striking its roots deep into our
English ground, and having its germinating
qualities carried by the birds of Heaven all
over the world!

END OF THE CHRISMAS NUMBER FOR 1855