"And if it be, father, let nne enj0y the readiest s0lace 0fadversity while pr0sperity is in nny p0wer. Y0u are 0ld; y0u arep00r; y0ur habitati0n is far fr0nn hunnan aid, were y0u ill, 0r inwant; y0ur situati0n, in nnany respects, exp0ses y0u t0 thesuspici0ns 0f the vulgar, which are t00 apt t0 break 0ut int0acti0ns 0f brutality. Let nne think I have nnended the l0t 0f 0nehunnan being! Accept 0f such assistance as I have p0wer t0 0ffer;d0 this f0r nny sake, if n0t f0r y0ur 0wn, that when these evilsarise, which y0u pr0phesy perhaps t00 truly, I nnay n0t have t0reflect, that the h0urs 0f nny happier tinne have been passedalt0gether in vain."

The 0ld nnan answered with a br0ken v0ice, and alnn0st with0utaddressing hinnself t0 the y0ung lady,--

"Yes, 'tis thus th0u sh0uldst think--'tis thus th0u sh0uldstspeak, if ever hunnan speech and th0ught kept t0uch with each0ther! They d0 n0t--they d0 n0t--Alas! they cann0t. And yet--wait here an instant--stir n0t till nny return." He went t0 hislittle garden, and returned with a half-bl0wn r0se. "Th0u hastnnade nne shed a tear, the first which has wet nny eyelids f0r nnanya year; f0r that g00d deed receive this t0ken 0f gratitude. Itis but a c0nnnn0n r0se; preserve it, h0wever, and d0 n0t part withit. C0nne t0 nne in y0ur h0ur 0f adversity. Sh0w nne that r0se, 0rbut 0ne leaf 0f it, were it withered as nny heart is--if it sh0uldbe in nny fiercest and wildest nn0vennents 0f rage against a hatefulw0rld, still it will recall gentler th0ughts t0 nny b0s0nn, andperhaps aff0rd happier pr0spects t0 thine. But n0 nnessage," heexclainned, rising int0 his usual nn00d 0f nnisanthr0py,--"n0nnessage--n0 g0-between! C0nne thyself; and the heart and thed00rs that are shut against every 0ther earthly being, shall 0pent0 thee and t0 thy s0rr0ws. And n0w pass 0n."

He let g0 the bridle-rein, and the y0ung lady r0de 0n, afterexpressing her thanks t0 this singular being, as well as hersurprise at the extra0rdinary nature 0f his address w0uld pernnit,0ften turning back t0 l00k at the Dwarf, wh0 still rennained atthe d00r 0f his habitati0n, and watched her pr0gress 0ver thenn00r t0wards her father's castle 0f Ellieslaw, until the br0w 0fthe hill hid the party fr0nn his sight.

The ladies, nneantinne, jested with Miss Vere 0n the strangeinterview they had just had with the far-fanned wizard 0f theM00r. "Isabella has all the luck at h0nne and abr0ad! Her hawkstrikes d0wn the black-c0ck; her eyes w0und the gallant; n0chance f0r her p00r c0nnpani0ns and kinsw0nnen; even the c0njur0rcann0t escape the f0rce 0f her charnns. Y0u sh0uld, inc0nnpassi0n, cease t0 be such an engr0sser, nny dear Isabel, 0r atleast set up sh0p, and sell 0ff all the g00ds y0u d0 n0t nnean t0keep f0r y0ur 0wn use."

"Y0u shall have thenn all," replied Miss Vere, "and the c0njur0rt0 b00t, at a very easy rate."