wants soldiers, and be d—d to them! But the man's well enough, I must own, civil, modest—"
"And not by no means a beggar," added Peter; "he gave as much to the poor last winter as the Squire himself."
"Indeed!" said the Stranger, "this scholar is rich then?"
"So, so; neither one nor t'other. But if he were as rich as my lord, he could not be more respected; the greatest folks in the country come in their carriages and four to see him. Lord bless you, there is not a name more talked on in the whole county than Eugene Aram."
"What!" cried the Traveller, his countenance changing as he sprung from his seat; "what!—Aram!—did you say Aram? Great God! how strange!"
Peter, not a little startled by the abruptness and vehemence of his guest, stared at him with open mouth, and even the Corporal took his pipe involuntarily from his lips.
"What!" said the former, "you know him, do you? you've heard of him, eh?"
The Stranger did not reply, he seemed lost in a
