se
others and not myself."

"That's very true, Martin," said Alfred, laughing.

"Perhaps Martin may change his mind before he is an old man," replied
Mrs. Campbell. "Dear me! what noise was that?" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell,
as a melancholy howl was heard without.

"Only a rascally wolf, ma'am," said Martin; "we must expect the animals
to be about us now that the snow has fallen, and the winter has set in."

"A wolf! are they not dangerous, Martin?" inquired Mary Percival.

"That depends, miss, how hungry they may be; but they are not very fond
of attacking a human being; if we had any sheep outside, I fancy that
they would stand a bad chance."

The howl was repeated, when one or two of the dogs which had been
admitted into the house and were stretched before the fire, roused up
and growled.

"They hear him, ma'am, and if we were to let them out, would soon be at
him. No, no, John, sit still and put down your rifle; we can't afford to
hurt wolves; their skins won't fetch a half-dollar, and their flesh is
not fit for a clog, let alone a Christian. Let the vermin howl till he
is tired; he'll be off to the woods again before daylight."

"There is certainly something very melancholy and dreadful to me in that
howl," said Emma; "it frightens me."

"What, Emma, afraid?" said Alfred, going to her; "why yes, really she
trembles; why, my dear Emma, do you recollect how frightened you and
Mary were at the noise of the frogs when you first came here; you got
used to it very soon, and so you will to the howl of a wolf."

"There is some difference, Alfred," replied Emma, shuddering as the howl
was repeated. "I don't know how it is," said she, rallying her spirits,
"but I believe it was reading Little Red Riding Hood when I was a child,
which has given me such a horror of a wolf; I shall get over it very
soon, I have no doubt."

"I must say, that it does not create the most agreeable sensation in my
mind," observed Mrs. Campbell, "but I was aware of what we were to
encounter when we came here, and if it is only to be annoyed with the
cry of a wild beast, we may consider that we get off very cheaply."

"I should feel much more at ease, if all the rifles were loaded," said
Mary Percival, in her usual quiet way.

[Illustration: LADY-MILKMAIDS.]

"And I too," said Emma.

"Well, then, if that will at all relieve your minds, it is easily done,"
said Mr. Campbell; "let us all load our rifles, and put them back in
their rests