celles, has given us his blessing in the temple, and he has condescended to promise me, my dear Esther, (and he looked kindly on her), that he will bless us in our family." There was a still murmur of approbation through the circle, and Brownrigg observed, "he is a very fine man, and a very gentlemanly man, and I dare say, will speak very much to the purpose." Neither Mary Humphries nor her sister ventured to look up.

It was about an hour after they had returned from the church, that a note from Mr. Lascelles was put into Michael's hand. "As the little circumstance in the morning seemed to put us off our guard, I forgot to inquire at what hour you would wish to see me; and, as I should grieve to derange any of your plans, send me word by the bearer, when I shall come." chael stepped out to see who the bearer was. It was Robinson, Mr, Lascelles's personal servant; who, when Michael saw him, put out his hand very cordially, saying, "how glad he was of the opportunity to wish him health and happiness."

Mi

Will you be so good, Sir, as to say to Mr. Lascelles, that as soon as it suits his convenience, we shall be most happy to see him, as we shall begin our little journey when we have dined." "I was to step

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back, to let my master know." So, looking kindly at the newly-married, Robinson departed; and, ere Michael reached the sitting-room again, Mr. Brownrigg came to him, and enquired when the consultation was to take place; "Now, if you please, Sir:" and he related the circumstances of Miss Jennings's attachment to Joe, and how the sight of those ladies had made him run so quickly from church, and his fears that Joe's smothered flame would burst out afresh; and the more so, as those kind young ladies seemed disposed to meet him more than half way. Why, my good Sir, what can you do? if the young man will marry, he must marry. I don't know what metal he's made of; but, as for me, if you were to watch me, and try to prevent me in any step I had a mind to take, you would only strengthen my resolution, and push me to the very point from which you wished to drive me. You see, Mr. Kemp, (and I suppose you know something of the same spirit), we men are obstinate fellows. Pat us, and stroke us, and all goes well; but, when once you drive us, we turn round, and are very apt to do the thing you would prevent.

Michael suffered Mr. Brownrigg to run on to the end. He then said, "No, Sir;

I am far from wishing to thwart my dear brother in any thing that could add to his happiness; but, if you knew those young women, the manner in which they have been brought up, so entirely unsuited to a working lad, like Joe, I am sure you would agree with me, that it would be ruin to him to be married to such a young lady: but you do not know them,

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Sir."

Whew, whew," said Mr. Brownrigg, whistling," not know them; why, I know them as well as if I had lived with them a twelvemonth; they are so anxious to be married, that they leaped the bounds of decency this morning, and came to the last place they should have entered. Why, Sir, a delicate young lady would have run a mile, rather than come into your church this morning. I don't know them! why, I know them perfectly. Why, Sir, they would have me, if I were to ask it. I should be afraid of their snares, and their pretty ways, but they don't catch old birds with chaff. Jonathan Brownrigg, and the pretty little Miss Tiny." Here Michael started in wonder, how Brownrigg should have hit upon the name, when he remembered that Betty was in converse with the old gentleman one morning. "Very foolish, very foolish," said Michael to himself; "almost the only foolish thing I ever knew

Betty do." "Well, Sir, suppose you leave Mr. Joseph to me; he seems very well disposed to scrape acquaintance with me." "But how will you manage, Sir? You must not mention that I have had any conversation with you. The truth is, my poor brother is very weak, and must be governed; yet, like most weak people, he thinks himself quite competent to judge of every thing. Poor fellow; far be it from me to thwart him unkindly." "Well, Sir, all this we understand," said Brownrigg; "and, while you take your little journey, Mr. Joseph and I can go visiting." "What," said Michael, "would you let him go?" Yes, certainly, I would; anu I should like to go with him." "I hope, Sir, you will not let him do any thing dishonourable. We have good reason to believe, that old Mr. Jennings's affairs are in an uncomfortable state. He is burthened with a family brought up in affluence, with minds ill-prepared to meet adversity. But I know that God can do all things, and I must leave this with him." Well, well, Sir, trust me;" and they returned to the parlour.

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Jemima Finch, and Mrs. Kemp, and the young Mrs. Kemp, were in one group. The elder Kemp and Mrs. Finch were conversing together; Mary and Margaret,

Stephen and Fanny, formed another; Mr. Brownrigg and Michael returned to the table. They all assembled to enquire when Mr. Lascelles was expected. Mrs. Finch, who then kindly acted as mistress of the Brow for that day, proposed a turn in the garden, that all might be cleared against Mr. Lascelles's arrival.

This good man did not keep them long after church. He had gone to the spinning-school, sent Robinson forward, and there waited the return of his messenger; and his dear daughters accompanied him. These young ladies, of whom little mention has been made, entered with delight into all the plans of their father, and of their mother; and, as worldly young women claim the period of adolescence for entering upon its pleasures, so these feeling, sprightly girls, to relieve mamma from cares, her delicate frame was hardly able to sustain, and to accompany papa in his visits of mercy to the cottagers. There was one danger; they were idolized in this village; and papa was often obliged to say, "Take care, my pretty ones;" and, "except a man be born again;" "Though I give all my goods to feed the poor;" and many such texts did he quote, to keep his dear, untried travellers, from resting short of that dependance which is alone safe.

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