s no one broke this ominous pause in the conversation; Henry
feeling a repugnance[111] to his guest that he was endeavoring to
conquer, and the stranger himself drawing forth occasional sighs and
groans that threatened a dissolution of the unequal connection between
his sublimated[112] soul and its ungainly tenement. During this
deathlike preparation, Mr. Wharton, with a feeling nearly allied to
that of his son, led Sarah from the apartment. His retreat was noticed
by the divine, in a kind of scornful disdain, who began to hum the air
of a popular psalm tune, giving it the full richness of the twang that
distinguished the Eastern psalmody.

[Footnote 111: aversion, dislike.]

[Footnote 112: refined--exalted.]

"My presence disturbs you," said Miss Peyton, rising; "I will leave
you with my nephew, and offer those prayers in private that I did wish
to mingle with his."

So saying, she withdrew, followed by the landlady.

The minister stood erect, with grave composure, following with his eye
the departure of the females. A third voice spoke.

"Who's that?" cried the prisoner, in amazement, gazing around the room
in quest of the speaker.

"It is I, Captain Wharton," said Harvey Birch, removing the
spectacles, and exhibiting his piercing eyes shining under a pair of
false eyebrows.

"Good Heaven--Harvey!"

"Silence," said the peddler, solemnly; "'tis a name not to be
mentioned, and least of all here, within the heart of the American
army." Birch paused and gazed around him for a moment, with an emotion
exceeding the base passion of fear, and then continued in a gloomy
tone: "There are a thousand halters in that very name, and little hope
would there be left me of another escape, should I be again taken.
This is a fearful venture that I am making; but I could not sleep in
quiet, and know that an innocent man was about to die the death of a
dog, when I might save him."

"No," said Henry, with a glow of generous feeling on his cheek; "if
the risk to yourself be so heavy, retire as you came, and leave me to
my fate. Dunwoodie is making, even now, powerful exertions in my
behalf; and if he meets with Mr. Harper in the course of the night, my
liberation is certain."

"Harper!" echoed the peddler, remaining with his hands raised, in the
act of replacing his spectacles; "what do you know of Harper, and why
do you think he will do you service?"

"I have his promise; you remember our recent meeting in my fath