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68 with Donald, whom he thought would be able to throw some light on this extraordinary flitting, but he had too many distressing thoughts of his own to be able to attend to his young master's. Mary Grant was now thrown into the company of the gay and insinuating Brown, without his presence to remind her of her vows of constancy; London's attractions, he thought, would obliterate from her lively mind the rustic and simple customs of her Highland home and acquaintances.

The only information Charlie could obtain from the disconsolate Munro was, that the old housekeeper who gave him the note had told him that, the day before, her master, on coming from the Castle, held a private interview with his daughter, and that Bella and Mary Grant were busy preparing for a journey, and, by their tears, were evidently loath to leave; and, further, that Mr. M'Kay had ordered that no person was to leave the premises until after his departure, which took place at daylight that morning, leaving the note for Mr. Stuart, and saying that he should be absent for some time.

Charlie, as a last resource, sent Donald to the Post-Office to see whether any information could be procured there; but, alas! the only letters there were a few from his fellow-collegians, who were returning to the University, and one from his friend John Lom, which brought a smile to his countenance; and which, with the reader's permission, we will insert. It ran thus:—