and indistinctly visible.  The spirit stood at some short distance from the side of the bed.  Certain that his own faculties were not deceiving him, but suspecting that he might be imposed upon by the ingenuity of some of the numerous guests who were then visiting in the same house, Lord Londonderry proceeded towards the figure.  It retreated before him.  As he slowly advanced, the form, with equal paces, slowly retired.  It entered the vast arch of the capacious chimney, and then sunk into the earth.  Lord L. returned to his bed; but not to rest.  His mind was harassed by the consideration of the extraordinary event which had occurred to him.  Was it real?—­was it the work of imagination?—­was it the result of imposture?—­It was all incomprehensible.  He resolved in the morning not to mention the appearance till he should have well observed the manners and the countenances of the family:  he was conscious that, if any deception had been practised, its authors would be too delighted with their success to conceal the vanity of their triumph.  When the guests assembled at the breakfast-table, the eye of Lord Londonderry searched in vain for those latent smiles—­those cunning looks—­that silent communication between the parties—­by which the authors and abettors of such domestic conspiracies are generally betrayed.  Every thing apparently proceeded in its ordinary course.  The conversation flowed rapidly along from the subjects afforded at the moment, without any of the constraint which marks a party intent upon some secret and more interesting argument, and endeavouring to afford an opportunity for its introduction.  At last the hero of the tale found himself compelled to mention the occurrences of the night.  It was most extraordinary—­he feared that he should not be credited:  and then, after all due preparation, the story was related.  Those among his auditors who, like himself, were strangers and visiters in the house, were certain that some delusion must have been practised.  The family alone seemed perfectly composed and calm.  At last, the gentleman whom Lord Londonderry was visiting, interrupted their various surmises on the subject by saying:—­“The circumstance which you have just recounted must naturally appear most extraordinary to those who have not long been inmates of my dwelling, and are not conversant with the legends connected with my family; to those who are, the event which has happened will only serve as the corroboration of an old tradition that long has been related of the apartment in which you slept.  You have seen the Radiant Boy; and it is an omen of prosperous fortunes;—­I would rather that this subject should no more be mentioned.”

The above adventure is one very commonly reported of the late Marquis of Londonderry; and is given on the authority of a gentleman, to whom that nobleman himself related it.—­The Album.

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THE CROSS ROADS.