CHAPTER XIX.

THE ADVENTURES OF MÉLANIE.

"Damsel of France, I think I have you fast: Unchain'd your spirits now with spelling charms, And try if they can gain your liberty."

SHAKSPEARE.

EXHAUSTED, probably, both in body and mind, by previous fatigue and those powerful emotions she had lately undergone; the slumbers of Madame de St. Rémy, would appear to have been both heavy and prolonged; for Sitayah, who at my request had undertaken to attend to the wants of our unexpected visitor; on the following morning, repeatedly entered the tent appropriated to her use, before she found Mélanie awake.

Sitayah's curiosity had naturally been aroused-what woman's would not have been so ?-nor did she at first conceal a slight degree of uneasiness, on learning my former

acquaintance with Mélanie; but this feeling soon gave way to sentiments of pity and compassion, when, in the morning, she had the opportunity of examining her still slumbering charge.

On beholding the poor, way-worn, sunburnt, and haggard-looking being, whose countenance, stained and darkened-as I had myself perceived the night before, by some artificial means,-suspicion and jealousy, were at once driven from the kind-hearted Brahminee's gentle and compassionate breast. Sitayah after this, expressed herself quite at ease, saying she could have nothing to apprehend from one, who more resembled a rude, weather-beaten Brinjarrie woman, than a fair-haired, blueeyed Peri of Frangistan: one of those beautiful

Gopis "or sylphs of the Far West, the nightly attendants of bright Souryah (the sun) when he sinks in slumber beneath "Kālee Pāunee: the dark waters of "Durreeiah;" the boundless sea.

Taking advantage of Mélanie's prolonged repose, we early consigned the body of her murdered companion to a hastily excavated grave; and a heap of stones, surmounted by a wooden cross with a rudely-traced inscription,

marks the spot where we deposited the remains of " Vincentio Albani, a native of Lombardy, late an Officer in the Service of his Highness Maharajah Runjeet Singh; murdered by some Thugs near this spot, on the 18-. He was interred with such few means of Christian burial as were then at our command.

26th of

When we had together performed these last sad and solemn rites, Bradford-being unwilling to witness any further outbursts of female grief-which, as he said, "were beyond the leech's art; " reluctantly tore himself away ; crept into his palkee, and followed by every good wish on the part of his old friends, and by the more vociferous blessings of the aged Fakeer, was soon "chulling" along the road to Nagpore; whence he proposed to travel rapidly on, by "dak" to the station of his new regiment in Bengal.

After we had fairly started the good Doctor, on his long and solitary journey, we next proceeded to my tent, in order to consult what, under present circumstances, was best to be done.

As to the captured Thugs I resolved to get rid of them, without delay, and despatched

them forthwith, under an escort, to the nearest station, where they would be handed over to the civil power.

While we were thus engaged, Sitayah came to say that the "Ferringhee Beebee Sahib, having awoke, desired to see Staunton Sahib without delay." My friend instantly obeyed the summons; a considerable time elapsed before his return, and he then appeared so grave and thoughtful, that his altered looks immediately elicited remark.

"Why, what's the matter, old fellow?" inquired I, with some curiosity to know the cause of such unusual gravity.

My dear fellow," replied Staunton, "I'm in a regular 'fix,' and don't know how to get out of it; that confounded Frenchwoman is now, just as mad and self-willed as ever she was when a girl. After nearly choking herself with hysterical sobs, on hearing that we had buried that poor handsome young fellow, for whom she professed so much regard, she suddenly dried up her tears, and appeared as calm and composed as she had been agitated a few seconds before; then, resting her head upon her hand, she seemed quite absorbed in thought.

Soon, however, as if determined on what course to pursue; she quietly and very coolly remarked, that what had happened could not be undone; that further lamentations were of no avail; but having fallen in with so old a friend as myself, and finding me, moreover, without any 'liens' like those which controlled the movements of ce mauvais sujet Henri — as she is pleased to call you-she had resolved to place herself under my protection,-be my guardian angel for life; et ne te quitter,' added she, 'qu'avec la vie!'

"And," continued poor Staunton, "she is just the sort of person to keep her word; I don't know what the deuce to do, or how to get out of this confounded mess!"

Although, on such an occasion, any expression of merriment was no doubt out of place; I, nevertheless, could not help laughing most heartily at the dolorous tone in which my friend uttered these words; and at the rather awkward, and at the same time, very unpleasant position in which he so unexpectedly found himself placed; whilst Sitayah-who insisted on being made acquainted with the purport of our conversation-joined in my hilarity, clapped her little hands with pleasure, and said the Fer