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PEARLS FROM POPISH PLACES.

BY A SERIOUS PARTY.

LETTER IV.-To MRS. RUSTLER.

Aix, the 30th, 1846. We hope, my dear and ever valued Mrs. Rustler, that Mr. Pecker's project to entertain his far-away friends with conjectures of which I am the heroine, has produced its anticipated startlingness among the Tingleburian circles, and the kindred minds at Wailford. Played I not right well in simulating matrimonial probabilities : a foreigner the male party ? Confess you not, that extraneous travel has whetted your Diana's invention to an airier keenness than was somewhile boasted thereby ? No: beloved friends ! bridle surprise, and restrict comment: descend from the altitudes of imagination, and lay hold on the fair fields of fact. When your friend weds, it will be with no such deceptive ignis fortis as the party with whom in my last, I so skilfully struck the credulous chords of old friends at home: and who, we have reason to ascertain, has no more right to claim episcopal connexion at Liege, than had (souvenir vous ?) that Mrs. Rosamond Phillpotts to announce herself a scion of the admirable Exeterian prelate. Van Bommel proves to be a name as fictile as the rest of that person's base advances ; or as the pleasing account to which, as we are enjoined in *

I turned that root of evil, by titillating your scrupulous curiosity.

You are aware, my dear, that Aix-la-Chapelle has always been the head-quarters of those who tempt the Iris Fortune's echoing maze "—(see Mr. Turner's Pleasures of Hope, annually illustrated by his life-giving palate)—and who, without stable resources, live

upon the die. For here it was that Clovis King of the Goths, who invented cards, staked the fortunes of the Lower empire against the impetuous Barbarossa. While the latter, by throwing his ring into the lake (now, alas ! occupied by the Railway Station), gave the signal for that hatred betwixt the two races, the fire of which will not rapidly wither. From the moment when the supposititious Captain Van Bommel, after succeeding in

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the attachment of himself to Mr. and Mrs. Pecker, succeeded in inducing them to halt there for a few weeks--my suspiciousness began to enlighten itself. Mysteries, dearest Mrs. Rustler, will not long baffle the aquiline instincts of * * * WE are not to be deceived, blessed privilege! Sweet Mrs. Pecker's transparency, it is true, held out. Who, indeed, would undeceive the dove-like soul, that

“Quiet in its calm, evades the shocks

Which baffle sodden churls"?Nor her partner: nor I. The impostor's assiduities smoothed sunken rocks in her path. Familiarised with the names of the foreign nobility, he diverted home-sick thoughts at the public table, gallantly grappled with little difficulties, and “catered choicest morsels for her share." Nay, even procured her some culinary receipts, which, when produced on the Tinglebury board, will, we flatter ourselves, elicit more legitimate sensations than those attendant on Miss Podd's unwholesome importations—said to be from Paris. “She saw nothing in him”-dear charitable soul, but what Propriety's licence might approve ; and while we were abroad (you know she sets her face against all sight-seeing) knitted him a comforter. Meanwhile I was exploring the town beneath his guidance, only waiting for the moment when Indignation's lightnings might unmask with due completeness. For the importance of no ordinary meed of serpentine wisdom in a matter so delicate, will be confessed, when I unfold, that reasons appeared to arraign our travelling attendant with complicity in his intent, whatsoever that might prove. We had warmed the Italian aspic in our philanthropic bosoms; nor was its rattle dumb ! Once having detected him in earnest parlance with Sophie, his motives, unquestionably, evinced themselves as double. For to suppose—no, dearest, your fond girlhood's playmate, though humble as regards her exterior attractiveness, has not sunk to imagine the possibility of neglect, on personal motives, for one so pale in tournure, so mediocre in aspect, so devoid of elegant significance of demeanour, as our maid. Intrigue, then, was on its feet: it remained but for its poison to uncoil clearly.

Nor remained it long. One day, with all the tremor of uneasy duplicity, our myrmidon-the Peckers abroad--bespoke an audience. I seated myself, and fixed her: for at similar junctures, Tenderness should cast itself to the winds, while Justice vaults into the throne. I forbore ; waited ; until she spoke ; falteringly,

NO, XXIII.- VOL. IV.

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and with all the tortuous diversifications for which my deaf ear stood open, commenced by an appeal to Duty's threadbare plea, and the desire not to meddle-absolutely, audaciously declaring that intrude she would not, save under an awareness of my simplicity. “ So!” was my ironic response. On saying no more, she proceeded, that the person known by the appellation of Van Bommel had besieged her with overtures. A

pause : your

friend remaining still Monosyllabical: for Justice, my dear, should be satisfied with nothing short of the utmost want of lenity. It was not mine to make the crooked path of so deceptive a confidence facile. “ The person,” she blushingly renewed," had made her liberal offers. (“ So”—was all that bridled wrath permitted itself—and here her tones became almost imperceptible), " for her interest with the Heiress under Mr. Pecker's care. -Then, produced a note said to be written by the deceiver, to substantify, she said, caution only offered with bitter reluctance. Mute as marble I sate : while Sophie added, that “she had reason to believe the person had no occupation more authentic than participancy in gaming ; and had, alone, been attracted to attentiveness-(here, again, confusion resumed its sway) by reports of opulence." -Then ceased : reluctant to meet scrutiny. I replied not : but waved her departure : and remained stiffened. Though foreseen the shock afforded materials for crowding contemplation. Thought precipitated itself on thought --- absorption on absorption. I I whirled : and when the Peckers entered, I was found in a state of lethargic concentration, which originated the truest terror. Pressed to explain, I eluded ; wept, I apprehend ; and then the over-wrought nerves of Nature claiming part-feeling gushed free, and I fell prostrate into the arms of that Heart of Oak, my brother-in-law !

* * * * And so they credited at Wailford that I had partaken of the Theatre on Sunday, and Miss Podd, true to her gall

, triumphed over your Diana as a fallen star !--Reciprocate on the credulity of those whose malignancy waited but till we should trip on the Continent. To the Play I did not go on that Sunday. The relaches of the Journals (“our Advertisements," my dear!). will assure you that the Theatre was put off, consequently to Mademoiselle Rachael's illness, owing to too serious an indulgence in corneilles, which are here dressed

very rich with oil ; and, they say, she eats to an excess. Women of her class, my dear, are generically alike: Rapacious, vulgar, and abandoned to the dic

tates of Impropriety !--The Males the same. The familiar of Lady Tallboys and herself have arrived at Aix: but whatever be their eagerness to associate, it shall be discrowned with success. Fond and foolish may your Diana be: a Woman, dear !--as she was, ere Publicity had set its seal on her faltering efforts to ameliorate Tinglebury--but weakly compliant ; never. When to lead, she knows and will. Among other miscreants of the place, Mrs. Pecker certifies to having detected the voice of her Bridget loud in mirth, with a partner “ moustache'd like a Pard”-to her not cognizant-Lady Highborough's butler having never crossed her path. It is by them that the vulgar assault of the person called Van Bommel has been invented : if the Niblets are white of all participation in the affair. They were at Liege, we happen to know, at the Jubilee there : ready, doubtless, to do Babylon's bidding, and to dance before her Årk * * * * were the mummery ever so stupendous ! Mrs. N.-, as I have opened to you, was ever the more frolicsome, the more corrupt the cause. What so natural, then, as their participatory sympathy? With their notorious rancour against every one whose purity has not bowed the knee. Methinks I hear you ask, what explanation gave The Serpent--whether any-when thus unmasked! None, dearest. My care it has ever been to evade discussions of which my unworthy self has ever been the object : and every woman, it is observed in Hannah More's “ Anastasius can, whenever she pleases, by assuming a monumental frigidity, alienate the most vivid audacity. The iceberg was not more unyielding than I. Courtesy, the while, prevailing in tact. For had Mr. Pecker's valuable life been even suspended in peril, for my poor self! *** O no! I am no Boadicea

6. To lip my lovers to defiance fierce !"(as Mr. Isaac Taylor, the Gresham Professor, and brother of the admirable Jane, says, in “ Edward the Fair.”) The individual was gracious enough to accept an enigmatical demeanour, and vanished. Our attendant's part in the baleful transaction, and the hopes she may herself have reposed on the Impostor, were in some points explicited by the remark she dropped to Mr. Pecker, « That if he discovered Miss Rill was no heiress, Molestation would fall to the ground.”—Sophie was already to have been dismissed : this inevitably accelerates. We have been deceived as to her French, which Mr. Pecker's theory authenticates him

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in assuring us is impure. Her uselessness to our Sister's simple

. desires, constitutes a further cogency, and the difficulties she has cast in the way of our Brother's disposition of his Bells, which having answered their purpose, and proving expensive, he was desirous of disposing of, to any travelling party, are the crowning coup d'oeuvre.

We shall part with her too, however, with ostensible tranquillity. True Christians, my dearest friend * Whatever befall us, let us be faithful to our sweetness !

Enough, however, of these egotismal trifles! Pass they like bubbles; only confided to you for your elucidation, should the Nibletts' venom penetrate ears at home (the Podds and others how willing !) Released from myself, my pen shall prattle of foreign parts. I was enthusiastic to see the relics at Aix. For you know, dearest, my weakness ; have smiled at my appropriation of the ’kerchief with which the dying Napoleon wiped his lips, the faithful Madame Campan weeping near--when he cried “ Accursed England !”-a malediction how agreeably nugatory, we know. You have sympathised in the pocket of Mrs. Fry, which, confided to the turncocks of Newgate, on her initiatory visit, has found its way to my little horde.

And is it not to you I owe H.R.H. Prince Albert's pen, when answering our Sovereign's proposals, he announced his desires as modest, and pleaded for his father's ancient hound accompanying him, to share his state? So the relics were to be seen, coute que bien. Not, however, without difficulties. Mr. Pecker's connection with the "

fiery furnace" prohibited his allowing one iota of his money or mine finding such an outlet. We know, unhappily, how the Sovereign of these realms (I mean, you know, England) lost estimation with all true Christians, by her outrageous benefaction to the Scarlet Lady of Cologne. Unfinished may it ever remain ! I am, dear Mrs. Pecker, the same simple creature everywhere-and "seeing little,” she says, “in sight-seeing" could not be animated into a participation of my curiosity. “Nobody but Diana," she says, (don't

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hear her ?) “would leave a comfortable room to go and stand in a cold church, after rags and bones, and jewellery there's no buying." Thus discouraged, it seemed probable that I might

. leave Aix without eventual enjoyment of its main feature. But a woman's esires, dear Mrs. Rustler, have been past control, ever since “Juno drank the Indian Pearl”—WE, as you know, rarely give up. A letter to the clerical authorities, mentioning my scruples, was in progress : and distinguishing antiquitarian

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