THE GIPSY-CAMP. 125 



attached to me from my constantly feeding them whenever they 

 passed our door. I would sooner marry with a gipsy than that 

 wretch who ever haunted me like a spirit until I found freedom by 

 flight." 



" You say, Lavina, that I alone am censurable for first making 

 your acquaintance with these gipsies. I was then but a mere boy, 

 ill-calculated to judge of any consequences ; I feel your situation 

 acutely. You know you always knew that, next to my dear Mary 

 who is now in heaven, you are nearest my heart." 



" And am I yet?" she murmured. 



" Yet !" I answered, " and ever shall be if such should be your 

 wish." She lifted her dear eyes towards heaven, and exclaiming, 

 " Thank God ! I am happy," fainted upon my bosom. Several 

 minutes elapsed before she recovered, and ere we had walked much 

 further, she spoke and looked like a different being. The clouds of 

 sadness had left her beautiful face, and were replaced by smiling hap- 

 piness. 



We had now reached that expansive heath, over which the full 

 moon poured her cloudless light with uninterrupted splendour. 

 Scarce a tree arose to form a shadow ; all appeared an illimitable 

 scene of softest light, save where the ends of the woods stretched 

 along on each hand. They alone where in shade. I now perceived 

 Black Boswell, walking rapidly to and fro within the space of ten or 

 fifteen yards. His long matted hair was uplifted by the night-wind, 

 and waved about his aged head like dead grass on a ruined tower. 

 At times his arms were uplifted, as if he addressed some invisible 

 being in passionate language then, again, they were folded upon his 

 bosom, and his face turned towards the ground. Still that lonely 

 blasted pine appeared the spot towards which all his feelings were 

 drawn. I bade Lavina follow me into the wood, but above all things not 

 to let the dog escape. I purposed making a short circuit that we might 

 come out opposite the withered tree. After some difficulty arising 

 from the close- woven underwood and armed briars, we reached the 

 hedge-side before which Boswell was striding in all the despair of a 

 demon. 



We heard him moan deeply, as if a thousand convulsing tortures 

 tore his bosom asunder. At intervals he muttered dark words, 

 which sounded on our ears like indistinct thunder; at length his 

 feelings were aroused to their highest pitch ; then he exclaimed 



"'Tis past ! 'tis past ! The deed is done ; it can never be recalled. 

 A wife a son both gone ! O ! my deeds are black ah ! did ye 

 call, Mary ! Nash ? no, no ! they will call no more. That frightful 

 tree those blasted arms bend over me like an accusing witness. ' O ! 

 what a hell of eternal torture boils within me. Would that this night 

 were the last I had to live ; I will confess my Berime. I will no ! 

 no ! to be hung amid the hissing scoffs of the unfeeling multitude, 

 I cannot, I cannot ! I would not hang my poor dog Lounger." At 

 the mention of his name the noble dog sprang through the hedge, and 

 in a moment was at his master's feet. This was a signal for us to 

 retire ; we made our way through the entangled boughs, and again 

 entering the heath, approached the miserable old man. We met him 



