then, having been shewn a few other lions, without wings as well as with, to get into his boat with all alacrity, and returning whence he came, say he has seen Venice.

Charles saw all these, and somewhat more, and having a few letters of introduction, as usual on such occasions, he endeavoured to see something of the society also. He found it had many charms: the beauty of the language, with which he was tolerably conversant, the liveliness of the people, notwithstanding their depressed state, and the general loveliness of the women, gave him many feelings of interest towards them, and he would often indulge in rapturous exclamations on the bright eyes and fair forms he saw; on which occasions Mr. Wilmot generally took care to put him in mind of the baroness, with some remark upon her beauty, or the general inconstancy of man.

This conduct appeared strange, and amused Charles not a little, for he had not

felt deeply enough to be irritable on the subject." Well, Wilmot," said he, laughing, on the day before they left Venice,

66

you have taken most especial pains to make me fancy that I was deeply in love with the baroness; may I ask what is your reason for doing so?"

66

Simply," replied Wilmot, with the same coolness with which he had before been speaking, "because if I could persuade you of that, you would most likely give me no more trouble of the same kind in future during our whole tour."

Charles could not help being amused.— "Well, I will promise you then,” said he, "to put you at your ease, not to fall in love again, any more than I am at present."

"Are you in love at present then?" exclaimed his companion; "for Heaven's sake then, Charles, order the boat to carry us out of this place! and for the future, we will never stay above three days in any town in Italy. I really did not think you could have managed it so soon."

"I did not say I was in love with any one here," answered Charles, laughing.

"Oh! then it is all very well," said Mr. Wilmot; "we may stay out the night; though, to tell you the truth, Charles, from what I see of you, I would rather travel with a tinder-box or a barrel of gunpowder."

They had now remained nine days at Venice, and taking boat the following morning, they proceeded up the Brenta, through a complete garden, filled with villas and palaces; but on inquiry, they found that most of them were empty and deserted, and many of them to be let for a mere trifle; and the impression left by the sight of so much beauty neglected, was more melancholy than pleasing.

It was almost night when they arrived át Padua, and though their accommodation at the inn was not of the best description, Charles was now pretty well accustomed to the difference between English comfort and foreign pleasure. Padua also

was classical ground to him, as a vehement admirer of Shakespeare, and he took the opportunity of the night of their arrival to conjure up Portia and her maid, and entertained himself with ideas that no other place could have so well brought forth." Well, Wilmot," said he, as they ran through it all, and all its accompanying thoughts, and let their fancy range through a thousand different divarications, for Wilmot too was a dreamer"well, let people say what they like, almost all the enjoyment of man's life is made up of fancies; the realities are generally cares. Those who will, may reason themselves into sorrow-let me promote the more pleasing dreams of imagination.” They are golden dreams indeed," answered Wilmot; "but remember, Charles, that we must sometimes wake, and find them false; and then how bitter is the disappointment!" He seemed to speak feelingly, and Charles did not follow the subject.

66

As

As soon as they had breakfasted the next morning, they sallied forth on foot, and wandered through churches, palaces, and colleges, till Charles was quite sick of St. Anthony, the patron saint of the city, who adorns every corner, and stares you in the face over every gate: Mr. Melville had seen quite enough of him, when at length they came to a picture of that venerable gentleman, engaged in the very profitable employment of preaching to the fishes." You see," said Mr. Wilmot, "that the fishes are here represented as half out of the water, in an attitude of great attention ?"

"Yes," answered Charles, "I perceive they are; but considering that we are taught to believe they have no souls to be saved, I cannot help thinking the saint's occupation all cry and little wool,' as the devil said when he share the swine."

6

This melted even Mr. Wilmot's gravity, and they returned to dinner laughing, and Charles shutting his eyes, vowing he