488 Lucy Austin. 



seating reason when the footman entered, and to him the object of 

 my dread transferred its unwelcome mirthfulness while I rose from 

 the ground. He had been an old domestic in the family of Leader's 

 father, and knowing that I could rely upon his discretion I communi- 

 cated to him the story of the calamity that had befallen his young 

 master, and also the reason of my apprehension of Miss Austin's 

 hound. 



The result of this conversation was that Louis and myself set out 

 with the dog in a basket for a small village about two miles distant. 

 We there instituted inquiries respecting Whip, who had been with 

 Leader in the morning, and ascertained that he was left in conse- 

 quence of being unable to accompany his master home owing to a 

 species of drowsiness that had seized him, and that after Leader's de- 

 parture, Whip being teased by some urchins, ran out into the street, 

 when the cry of" Mad dog" was raised, and the sequel has been al- 

 ready told. Louis's object in making these inquiries was to learn, if 

 there were any real grounds for believing in Whip's madness, and 

 from all we could collect there was but little reason for such suppo- 

 sition. However, I was by no means satisfied ; for, from the appear- 

 ance of Whip when making for the bridge, I felt persuaded that he 

 was mad. I told Louis that such was my conviction, and we then pro- 

 ceeded to a dog-fancier named Jackson, who lived about half a mile 

 the other side of the village, and to whom we gave the hound, with 

 instructions to watch for any symptoms that might confirm my fears, 

 and to bring me intelligence unknown to any person with the excep- 

 tion of Louis. 



Being anxious to ascertain whether Lucy was aware of Leader's 

 danger, and yet fearful of awakening her apprehensions if she were 

 ignorant, I sent Louis to Mrs. Austin to beg that she would grant me 

 an interview before she retired to rest. A few minutes convinced me 

 that myself and Louis were alone cognizant of the melancholy secret. 

 How to account for Lucy's not having seen the dog inflict the wound 

 on Leader I know not ; for she was nearer to him by several yards 

 than I was. Indeed, she appeared to have so very indistinct a recol- 

 lection of the whole transaction on the bridge that I could not con- 

 ceive how she was enabled to comprehend Leader's exclamation to 

 leap into the stream. Having acquainted Mrs. Austin that I had re- 

 moved the hound to Jackson's for a few days, but without giving her 

 the correct reason for so doing, I took my leave and proceeded to bed. 



(To be continued.} 



