if they grinned, and were saying to me,
'Ha, ha! Goody Darkmans, the house that we leave is a falling house, for
the devil will have his own.'"

In some parts of the country, and especially in that where our scene is
laid, no omen is more superstitiously believed evil than the departure
of these loathsome animals from their accustomed habitation; the
instinct which is supposed to make them desert an unsafe tenement is
supposed also to make them predict, in desertion, ill fortune to
the possessor. But while the ears of the listening gossip were still
tingling with this narration, the dark figure of the student passed the
window, and the old women, starting up, appeared in all the bustle of
preparation, as Aram now entered the apartment.

"A happy day, your honor; a happy good morning," said both the crones in
a breath; but the blessing of the worse-natured was vented in so harsh
a croak that Arum turned round as if struck by the sound, and still more
disliking the well-remembered aspect of the person from whom it came,
waved his hand impatiently, and bade them begone.

"A-whish, a-whish!" muttered Dame Darkmans,--"to spake so to the poor;
but the rats never lie, the bonny things!"

Aram threw himself into his chair, and remained for some moments
absorbed in a revery, which did not bear the aspect of gloom. Then,
walking once or twice to and fro the apartment, he stopped opposite
the chimney-piece, over which were slung the firearms, which he never
omitted to keep charged and primed.

"Humph!" he said, half aloud, "ye have been but idle servants; and now
ye are but little likely ever to requite the care I have bestowed upon
you."

With that a faint smile crossed his features; and turning away, he
ascended the stairs that led to the lofty chamber in which he had been
so often wont to outwatch the stars,--

"The souls of systems, and the lords of life,
Through their wide empires."

Before we follow him to his high and lonely retreat we will bring the
reader to the manor-house, where all was already gladness and quiet but
deep joy.

It wanted about three hours to that fixed for the marriage; and Aram was
not expected at the manor-house till an hour before the celebration
of the event. Nevertheless, the bells were already ringing loudly and
blithely; and the near vicinity of the church to the house brought that
sound, so inexpressibly buoyant and cheering, to the ears of the
bride with a noisy merriment