should be allowed such trifling pensions as might be required to make them comfortable in their de

clining years.

Perfectly satisfied that my affairs were committed to the hands of a faithful steward, well qualified by experience for the charge confided in him, and whose attachment to my interests was sincere, I, on the following morning, set out on my return to Feltham.

Hewson had returned in my absence, and received me on my arrival. I had never seen him before. He was a man whose manners in general society would be considered pleasing. They were - manners which, expressing nothing, might be called conventionally good, such as a person, habituated to promiscuous intercourse in a mixed and extensive circle, might be expected to acquire. He received me with an empressement evidently without meaning, and poured forth a torrent of commonplace civilities, with something of the air of a man whose cue it is to play the agreeable, for some unknown purpose of his own.

There was something, too, in the expression of Hewson's countenance, to me extremely unpleasant. There was a coldness of eye, which was oc

casionally commuted for a certain cunning twinkle, and there was a curvature of the lip, and something generally about the region of the mouth, which indicated a licentious man, and one given to sensual indulgence. In his expression, there was nothing in the slightest degree intellectual, though it conveyed the impression, of considerable shrewdness, and worldly sagacity.

The joy of my sisters, on learning that I had now become the possessor of Thornhill, was sincere and warmly expressed; nor was Hewson deficient in his congratulations, which were only cut short by the entrance of a party of gentlemen he had brought with him from Newmarket. These, it was easy to gather from their conversation, were what is called sporting characters, second or thirdrate betters on the turf, and first-rate betters on a cockfight, or a boxing match. Among them was a clergyman, who was generally addressed by his companions by the name of Jack, and certainly altogether a bad specimen of his cloth.

After dinner, betting and horse-racing formed the principal topics, both of interest and conversation. Pocket-books were in every hand, and whoever ventured to express an unguarded anticipation

of any contingent event, was generally pulled up by an inquiry, whether he had courage to back his opinion. As I certainly wanted inclination, if not courage, to back mine, of course I was a mere cipher in such a party.

- The bottle circulated freely, and the pleasures of the table being concluded, the party sat down to cards. I was not a gambler, in the strict sense of the word, because I had never yet been thrown into a situation where I was assailed by the temptation of high play. But I always experienced a degree of pleasing excitement from games of chance, even with the very moderate stakes which my circumstances had allowed me to venture. Little fellowship as I felt with any of the company, I was weak enough to suffer myself to be prevailed on to engage in play. The stakes were high, my opponents were experienced players; and the consequence was, that when we rose from table, I was a loser to a very considerable amount. It was late when the party broke up, ing to the drawing-room, I found my sisters had retired. In no very pleasant humour I followed their example, moralizing, on my pillow, till sleep closed my eyelids, and brought oblivion of my folly.

and on go

It gave me sincere pleasure on the following morning to witness the departure of the guests. They had left on me no very favourable impression of Hewson's character and habits; and what I afterwards witnessed of his conduct to Jane, did not tend to raise him in my opinion. The manner in which he addressed her, betrayed nothing of the affectionate intercourse which marks a happy mar riage. Towards her, his demeanour was cold, plausible, and unfeeling; and there was even in his perfunctory observance of the decencies of politeness, something which forced the conviction, that in different circumstances, he would not hesitate to violate them all.

I had intended to court this man's friendship, but I could not. I shrank from him, as from something loathsome; and it was with difficulty that even my regard for Jane, made me consent to remain his guest for a few days. These at length expired, and after a mournful farewell, Lucy and myself returned to Staunton, filled with pity for our sister, and indulging melancholy forebodings of the future evils which awaited her.

CHAPTER III.

I've seen the day

That I have worn a visor, and could tell

A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,

Such as would please. 'Tis gone 'tis gone-'tis gone!

Romeo and Juliet.

On our return to Staunton Court, we found that some change had taken place in the party since we had quitted it. Lord Lyndhurst and his sister Lady Eleanour had arrived. The former was in the library when I entered. He lay extended on an ottoman, engaged in the perusal of the Morning Post; and his faculties were so deeply absorbed in the task, that he did not perceive my entrance till I stood opposite the fire. Then casting towards me a languid glance, he exclaimed—

"Ah, Thornton, is that you! Monstrous glad to see you, 'pon my honour," slightly raising himself at the same time, and extending two fingers of