in the hollow tree. A second look convinced him that this boy was no other than the same whom he had so effectually assisted in the affair of the pack of hounds. "Master! master!" he said, "" run for life; they wants to crib you. I heard um talk on't, and, seeing you in the field, I hid me here to tell you, for Tom Bliss

your

The step of Wellings approaching, caused the little boy to shrink into his tree, whilst Henry, who had but half understood what he had communicated, stood irresolute, neither moving one way or another. But the next minute, being assured that if Wellings came nearer, he would discover the boy in the tree, and, knowing his savage disposition, he stepped forward to meet him; and in those few steps, came in a line with the hop-field.

At the same moment a posse of boys, men, and even great girls and young women, came out of the field, and, setting up loud shouts and laughter, like so many Bacchanals and Bacchanelles, began to race and pursue the young gentlemen in the lane, who ran and shouted, screamed and yelled, affecting fright, and adding, as much as in them lay, to the general confusion, though all but Henry knew perfectly well that not a finger would be laid upon any of them.

In the meantime, whilst sundry mock encounters were going on in different parts of the lane, Tom Bliss, who was the right-hand man of Samuel Hargrave, and who had had his cue, was pursuing his object in a masterly manner, and not only bringing down his forces, consisting of four colliers and a nailer, in front f Henry, but, being also provided with a party consisting of women, to intercept his flightwhich party appeared to Henry in two divisions, the one in the field which he had just quitted, and the other further on in the lane, at the moment he turned round to make his escape.

And now there seemed no hope for poor Milner; the enemy was closing upon him on all sides, and a virago of a woman was just about to lay her hands upon him, when the little boy sprang from the hollow tree, and, not having that respect for the fair sex which an elder boy might have had, he fastened upon her, with tooth and nail, till she fairly cried out for mercy; but no longer in the accents of riotous mirth, but in that of real pain.

The cry of pain, like the taste of blood, seemed now to inspire the enemy to more ferocious measures; and, being assured of support from their masters, Tom Bliss and his abettors were about to seize Henry, with the

view of rolling him well in the crib, when a strong man, springing over the hedge, followed by two or three sturdy boys, exclaimed, "Touch that young gentleman at your peril! I strike the first man to the ground that lays a hand on him! Be off with you, you blackguards! I am ashamed of you, and more ashamed of those that set you to work. Away with you, or you shall rue the job as long as you live!"

Tom Bliss was the first to slink away on hear ing this; and in less than three minutes, the field had received the whole mob again. Mr. Wellings and the two Hargraves had slunk away, and Henry was left with his champion in the lane.

is ?

Does my reader doubt who this champion If he has such doubts, I am sorry for him, as it must argue no small want of penetration. Henry, however, recognized him immediately; and, after thanking him most sincerely for his timely aid under such very disagreeable circumstances, he invited him to comé with his family to tea the next Sunday; an invitation which the good man did not forget, and which was ever kept in his memory by a large Bible with clasps, which Mr. Dalben permitted Henry to give him. As to the little boy, the hero of the hollow tree, Henry,

learning that he had left his place at the Red Lion, and was living with his father, a poor cottager in the neighbourhood, he promised to try to get him a service, and was able to succeed before the winter; and the place which he procured was one in which he was doing very well when last I heard of him.

When Henry had parted with the man, who accompanied him beyond the precincts of the hop-field, he hesitated a moment whether he should return to the Ferns, or go home, for he was weary of these practical jests so often repeated; but, upon reflection, he resolved to return to Mr. Hargrave's, and take no manner of notice of what had passed, and not even to seem to suspect that the affront had been planned.

Thus concluded this day of events; and Henry was by no means sorry to find himself once again at his peaceful home.

CHAP. XIX.

Mr. Nash.

DURING the next morning at breakfast, Henry stated to his uncle and Edgar Bonville his strong suspicions, that the attack made upon him by the hop-pickers had been concerted at dinner, at the period when the whispers were passing so rapidly from one person to another. Mr. Dalben and Edgar entirely accorded with Henry's surmises, and were both so justly displeased, that they agreed in saying, that the slighter their intercourse was with the Hargraves in future, the better they should be satisfied. This matter being dismissed, Edgar, who had been wholly disappointed in the noble young ladies, whose beauty and elegance had been so highly extolled by his mother, settled down again very quietly in his usual routine for several days; neither was there any break during all that