don't want it, Sir, said he, she don't want it, this is my last will." Mr. Walker paused, "You are sure this statement is quite correct?" "I tell it you just as I heard it, and I think they as told me, knew pretty well the truth of the case." Mr. W. Well, Sir, now I suppose I may deliver these keys to the lady above stairs?" "Oh yes, Sir."

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Well, Madam," said Mr. W. as he entered, "here are your keys, and if you have any money anywhere, it seems that your affairs are not in so very bad a state, but that you might get them settled comfortably. "Sir, that's what I say: I know I don't owe any body but the distiller, and some trifles beside."

"Now

really, Mrs. Potter, I wish to speak to you as one of my flock; if your affairs could be decently settled, and you could go into a small house and live as a prudent woman should, out of the way of spirituous liquors, you might lose these bad habits, and become a valuable member of this place." Mrs. Potter said, "she had no money to pay the distiller, and that she must go on in the way of life that she had been bred to," and her reverend friend withdrew, finding all attempts only fixed her more firmly in the design of staying.

But he could not help reflecting on what he had heard, and such was his love of justice, that he would gladly have spent something of his own private fortune to have reinstated Mrs. Potter. But the affair seemed hopeless, it was so long since the death of the uncle.

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When he sat down to converse with Mrs. Walker, she was of opinion that something might be done. My love," said she, "if we could get this foolish woman into a private house, much that is now wrong would probably be corrected: do let us try. I should think there are many professional men who would have pleasure in helping such a case.

Mr. W. Without money, Sophia?

Mrs. W. (laughing) Not without the hope of money.

Mr. W. Well, my dear, can you find any one who will with the hope of money undertake Mrs. Potter's cause?

Mrs. W. I think I can.

Mr. W. Well, you must hold high councils with Mrs. Potter. But I would do nothing till I had cured her of her propensities; if you do, you only furnish her with an opportunity of more effectually destroying her constitution: and, besides, let me tell you, I think conscience the best lawyer:

and as I'm going to London next week, if Mrs. P. could furnish me with this woman's address, I would pay her a visit, and take Protheroe with me, he might use a few fine law terms, and without spending any money we might bring her to do justice.

Mrs. W. This is an excellent plot. I should exceedingly enjoy such a scene.

We will pass the interview between Mrs Walker and Mrs. Potter, and touch only what is material to the history-the friendly offices of the good Rector of P.

Mrs. Tucker, the tobacconist's housekeeper, was quietly established at a neat little highway-side villa at Walworth, where the stage could take her up and put her down at her own door; and a few mornings after his arrival in London, the friend of the oppressed widow rang at the neat gate of a small house. A little girl came to it. "Is Mrs. Tucker at home?"-"Sir?" "Is Mrs. Tucker at home?" A grave old citizen, who was standing at his door, came out, in a well-mended bannian and a velvet cap, and bowing_very respectfully to Mr. Walker and Mr. Protheroe Walker, asked for whom they inquired. "For Mrs. Tucker, Sir."" You are at the wrong number; it is No. 1, not 21, you should have called at. But if you will just step in while I slip off my morning dress (look

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ing archly at his gown), I will lead you to the lady you seek."-"Thank you, Sir. Will you be so very obliging as to give me your name?" My name, Sir, is Brownrigg; and (looking up at Mr. Walker) perhaps- -and ere he continued Mr. W. said "Mine is Walker, and this is my nephew, Mr. Protheroe Walker of Lincoln's Inn.'

Mr. Brownrigg buttoned himself up tight as though he would have shunned all intercourse with a lawyer, and seemed about to settle into a reserve which was very un like his first cordiality; but his curiosity was too much for him; and while he looked for his cane and his well-mended gloves, and put the guard on his fire, and hung up his kettle-holder, and locked his bright bureau, he hemmed and coughed, and at last "You have business with Mrs. Tucker, Mr. Walker?"" Yes, Sir. You know 'Mrs. Tucker?"-"Yes, Sir, I have known her many years."-" She is a respectable woman, is she not?" said Mr. Walker. " Sir, a very decent, respectable woman."→ "She is rich, I believe?"-" Why, Sir, all riches are comparative, you know: I am called a rich man because I live upon my means, and can say I owe no man any thing; and yet, Sir, if you look at my opposite neighbour, he is richer still. There, Sir, you see his footman has banged to

Yes,

the carriage-door-and there go his prancing horses. Why, now, now, I remember when that man swept his own shop. He is an honest fellow he has got on by fair trading-he has brought up a large family very decently-no man envies him-he never refused a good turn in his life-he is an honest man, Sir; that man's an honest man- -But I keep you waiting, gentlemen, I am quite ready," and he was leading the way to the passage," but, gentlemen," said he, hesitating, "I should be very sorry to do a neighbour an ill turn; I hope there is no harm intended to Mrs. Tucker?"-" Sir," said Mr. Walker, "if Mrs. Tucker has done no wrong, she is safe; and if she has done wrong, I am sure you are too much a gentleman and a man of honour"--and here Mr. Brownrigg laughed "I say, Sir, you are too much a gentleman," repeated Mr. Walker, " to enlist on the wrong side."

Mr. Protheroe Walker looked at his uncle as though he would have said, softly, softly. Mr. Brownrigg had the door in his hand at this moment, but he closed it again. "Gentlemen, will you step back a minute-will you sit down?" Mr. Protheroe Walker said, "Certainly, Sir," and stept back with him immediately. "You seem to know our business?" The wary