"Why, carrying tails is a mark of dignity in some places," rejoined the Captain, who, besides being of a poetical turn, and seldom speaking without a simile, was at the same time considered no small wit by his wife and children in Yorkshire" You ought to have told her."

"But she would not have believed me. She sees, hears, thinks of nothing but him. He has persuaded her he is a great student-that his hours are all devoted to philosophy, rhetoric, belles-lettres. You would imagine he was some musty old fellow from Oxford; but the truth is, all this time he is a common gambler-has been kicked out of the rooms for cheating at cards, and is neither more nor less than a downright adventurer."

"Is it possible my friend Julia is going to throw herself away on such a man? Is he handsome?'

"Hem-yes-oh, yes-the fellow is handsome enough, and talks like like".

"A coffee-mill," interposed the Captain, who never allowed any one to advance a simile but himself,-a monopoly the more strange, that he was not at all particular, as you may have perceived, whether the similitude was very pat to the purpose or not. "And his name?"

"Augustus Frederick Fitz-Oswald." Mrs Linlayson sank into a reverie— something in the name seemed to have wakened a train of recollections The gentlemen carried on the conversation by themselves.

"If the fellow has been kicked," said Linlayson," of course you can't think of shooting him-why the deuce did you not marry the Widow before this rascal made his appearance ?"

"I am sure she must have seen I loved her."

"Did you never tell her so ?"

Jack shook his head and sighed. "Well, Jack, you are certainly an extraordinary individual. There you sit, as brave a fellow as ever smelt powder, not quite a fright in the way of looks,-six feet high, thirty-two years of age, and yet as sheepish a booby among the girls as a pup among tigers-Had you nothing else to do than clip poodles? She must have thought you a splendid specimen of the British Grenadiers."

"I've been a fool; I confess it Even last night I had such an opportunity of recommending myself!-but

as usual, I let it slip through my fingers-"

“How ?—"

"Why, we had a sort of thing here that all the world went to,—a rout and fancy ball they call it. We all went in masks or dominoes :-I knew what character she went in, so all the night I staid at her side quite unknownsuddenly there was a cry of fire ;hundreds crowded to the door; such a screaming, such a squeeze! I really thought that some of them would have been killed. Julia was in a dreadful state of alarm-got somehow into the thickest of the struggle, and fainted. In a moment I had pushed my way up to her, scized her in my arms, and carried her into the open air-I accompanied her home in the carriage, but she was still senseless from her fear or the heat of the room. I gave her into the charge of her maid, and hurried back again to the scene of action, where the fire had luckily been got under."

"And she never knew who it was that saved her?"

"How could she-when I had the domino on all the time and she was in a faint ?"

"You should always have a special license in your pocket to avail yourself of such chances-You have no fore, sight," said the Captain, gruffly.

"And to complete all, in the mêlée, some lightfingered gentleman reliev ed me of my watch; I made that my excuse to the maid for hurrying off so soon."

"A pretty excuse! the maid will tell the mistress, and the mistress will fancy her preserver has been some jeweller's boy-Go and tell her the whole story yet."

"Wait a moment," said Mrs Linlayson, springing up as if she had arranged her plans. "If it be in reality as I suspect, I will guarantee you against all danger from this magnifi cent-named individual. Julia is far too good for such a miserable fate, and so, my good cousin, only have patience for two days and all will yet be well. In the meantime I must hurry off to the Crescent; Julia must be put on her guard as soon as possible."

In a few minutes the little party broke up, while hope made the countenance of the hitherto dejected Jack Ricketts shine (as the illustrative Captain expressed it) like a dish of beetroot.

Augustus Frederick Fitz-Oswald was indeed a very formidable rival to the modest and unassuming Jack. Any boarding-school in England would unanimously have pronounced him an Adonis,-a face incapable of a blush, partly from the umbrageousness of the whiskers, but principally from the brazen qualities of the proprietorshoulders square and broad; with a swaggering gait that proved at once that Nature had intended him for a hero-all these advantages, set off with the utmost skill of the jeweller and tailor, formed a combination of graces, natural and acquired, such as rarely falls to the lot of mortals in these de

generate days. On the present occasion he was reclining in an attitude of easy negligence on a magnificent sofa in the drawingroom of Mrs Harley. His happiness was too great to be kept to himself, and his half-muttered ejaculations of contentment and anticipation might have been heard if there had been anybody there to hear them. The door opened, and a man dressed in the most dashing livery you can imagine, walked deliberately into the room,-threw himself in a corresponding attitude to his master's on the other sofa, and after a few preliminary curses, with which he seemed to clear his throat for more important matter, he said—

"I'll tell you what it is, Jim Crike, I von't stand none o' your gammon no longer."

"What's the matter, Spragg? "Matter!-vy, it's enough to drive any gentleman mad as cares for the honour of his profession. Vat good, I should like to know, has come of all this here gallivanting? and as to your cards and roulette, and all them ere, it's all in my eye. I tell ye-you could do more in the vay of business in von night with those long fingers of yours, than you'll do in a twelvemonth with all this love and billy-dooing but it all comes o' that hinfernal hedication."

"Three days longer, Spragg, and the game's our own. You shall then have the share of the booty I have promised you, and we part company as soon as you like."

"There'll be a blow up afore that time, as sure as my name is Bill Spragg.

Vy, all the folks is a-coming here with their bills and notes of hand and sich like, and how are you to keep the Viddy's eyes hocussed all that time?"

"Nothing so easy. The contract is to be signed to-day, if the fright of last night don't interrupt it. By the by, who was the domino that brought her home?"

"A real gentleman, I'll be sworn, by means of his ticker-solid gold every inch of it. I lifted it out of his fob ven he vas carrying the lady into the carriage. He never took no notice of what I was a-doing, but just to show his generosity, as he seed I was very busy, he tipt me half-a-crown, and thanked me for making way! He's a true gentleman, and I've spouted his ticker."

"Take care, Spragg, what you do. You'll be nabbed one of these days if you don't leave off your old tricks."

"Leave 'em off, did you say? Vy should I? To begin with the cards? No, no. I'm not quite so bad as that yet I have some little morals left me."

"I tell you, you'll be hanged if you're caught. Now, as for me, what have I to fear? Last night we had four lords at the table, and five or six members of Parliament. Every thing a man does depends on the company he does it in; but you to go filching watches on the streets! Spragg! Spragg! I'm ashamed of you!"

"I'm a cursed deal more ashamed of you. A poor sneak-plucking a pidgeon by tricks and shuffling. No, give me the grab at the fat pocketbook, or the heavy purse there's some ingenuity needed there, and a little more courage than sitting at a green table with them there lords and senators. You're a lost character, Jem Crike."

"Hush!-up, up, some one's coming recollect you're the valet here. Who is it?-quick, quick."

Almost before the obedient Spragg could assume the deferential attitude becoming his station, a man gently opened the door.

"'Scuse me, sir-'scuse me for troubling you-but bill to make upbig family and wife."

"Well, but my good fellow, how can I pay your cursed bill just now on

"Can't indeed, sir-large bill to make up big family and wife, sirI've furnished you all your dinners and suppers this last two months, and never seen the colour of your coin yet."

"Oh! there's nothing at all particular in the colour of it. You shall judge of that for yourself in the course of three days."

"I can't leave the house, sir, till I get my money-large bill, sir-big wife and family."

"Curse your big wife and all your family-what's to be done? I hear Mrs Harley at the door. William, a chair at the window for Mrs Harley."

The lady entered the room as he spoke, and the unfortunate creditor, feeling now assured that the gentleman would scarcely venture to refuse him payment, prosecuted his claim with more energy than ever.

"Eighteen turkeys, nine rabbits, and four hares."

"What is all this, Fitz-Oswald?" enquired the lady.

"O, nothing, my dear madam-a professor of natural history; you've heard of Buckland? Yes, yes, my good sir-as you were saying, the comparative anatomy of the turkey, the hare, and rabbit is extremely remarkable. Let me see the technical name for the turkey is-is-I always forget the scientific nomencla ture."

Will

you

"I am delighted to see so celebrated a savant in my house. introduce me to Dr Buckland?" "Presently, my dear madam. Just now the doctor is very much pressed for time. Don't let me keep you here a moment." But the creditor resisted the winks and pushes and other signs and actions with which the perturbed Fitz-Oswald tried to expedite his departure. He maintained his ground very firmly, and kept on an enumeration of the items of his bill.

"Three pheasants, six ducks". "Stop, stop.-Ah! now I recollect.

The pheasant originally from Bessarabia-the Latin name Phesanus Anthropomorphiticus Edinensis. Now I recollect it perfectly-the duck I am not quite so sure of.'

"The very best that could be had. Fed on the best grains, and done to a

nicety. I warrant you picked the bones?"

"That I did. Unless you strip the flesh off for a demonstration, the me chanism of the conformation escapes your optical discrimination." "Five salmon".

"Salmo purpureus-hyperboreanus -one of the mammiferi of the Linnæan theory."

All this time Mrs Harley's eyes had been fixed in admiration on the countenance of the gallant Augustus Frederick-but now her pride in the object of her choice knew no bounds.

66

Really, my dear Augustus, I had no idea you were such a philosopher, but your conversation is a little too abstruse for me. When you and your friend descend to lower matters I shall be happy to enjoy the conversation." Saying this she retired to the window, and left the colloquy to proceed between the learned gentlemen.

"Now, Mr Mills," said Fitz-Oswald, in a low voice, "I declare to Heaven that if you don't leave the room in one minute, I'll break every bone in your cursed carcass."

"Not a step. I'm a free-born Englishman, with a large bill, a big family and wife-and".

"Here, then, take my watch-I'll pay you in three days."

"Ah, that's something like reason,” said the worthy furnisher of viands, as he eyed the watch, and placed it quietly in his pocket ;-" you shall have it again when I touch the money; and in the mean time, your servant, sir; servant, my lady, if you have ever occasion for a".

“Hush, my dear sir," interrupted Fitz-Oswald, putting his hand on his mouth, and gently pushing him out of the room," your time is a great deal too valuable to be wasted in compliments to the ladies. Your class are waiting impatiently for you; I myself will try to get away for a few minutes to hear the conclusion of your admirable lecture on the structure of lexicographical strata among the megatherions of the old world. Adieu, adieu." And favouring the worthy Professor with a kick which considerably accelerated his progress down stairs, FitzOswald returned into the room, and offered his apologies for the odd manners of his friend.

"You must excuse my distinguished friend the Professor, my dear Julia; men of such profound research must

be pardoned if they appear a little ignorant of the ways of the world."

"Say no more, my dear Augustus. Any friend of yours shall always be heartily welcome here; but, I think, I have seen a person within this half hour who unites the elegance of a man of fashion with the science of a philo-sopher."

"You are partial, my dear Julia. I have, indeed, picked up a little information, for I never had a turn for the usual frivolous amusements of men of my age and fortune. Ah! if they only knew the delights of know. ledge, how poor, how contemptible, would seem all other pursuits!

"Oh! I'm so fond of mind," replied the lady, enthusiastically; "what can be compared to intellectual society? but I have many things to do this morning. What's o'clock ?"

"About eleven-or twelve, perhaps," answered Augustus, a little puzzled.

"Don't tell me about perhaps's; look at your watch-tell me to a moment."

"I-O-my watch?-why-I think I must have left it in my bedroom."

"No-kind, noble, generous man! I know the loss you sustained, and in saving me too!"

"Saving you? Oh! how happy should I be-if"

"But it was you-I know it could be no other. Who else would have risked his life to save mine? In the half conscious state I was in as we came home, I felt how tender and delicate were your attentions. I am grateful for them, indeed, I am; and you must allow me to show my gratitude by making up the loss you experienced in my service. There, my dear Augustus, is my watch; I know 'twill not be the less valuable to you that it is mine."

"Really; such generosity, such delicacy, might well repay a greater

risk.

How happy this ought to make the man who had the felicity to save you." So saying, and with a look of prodigious tenderness to Mrs Harley, he deposited the very elegant gift in his vacant fob. The wink with which he showed his triumph to his astonished servitor luckily escaped the lady's observation. Spragg gazed with increased reverence on his master, and muttering, "that there hedication aint

so bad a thing after all," left the happy couple alone.

"To-day, then," said the insinuating Augustus, "you will sign the paper that makes me blest for life."

"Oh yes, I have directed the lawyer to be here at four o'clock; after that I hope your uneasiness and all doubt of my intentions will be at an end."

"Angel! is it possible a student, a poor treader in the steps of Davy, Watts, Newton, Cicero, and Homer (for I had always a strong bias to mechanics) can have deserved such perfect happiness?" "And why not? Are not our tastes nearly the same? Are we not both domestic, humble, contented? Our fortunes".

"Perish the name in connexion with my Julia! my estates, to be sure, in the north are large and valuable, and as a coal mine has lately been discovered on one of them, there is no doubt that a few years will make me the richest commoner in England; if indeed by that time a commoner I be; for the minister-but hush, no more, I promised him not to say a syllable on the subject to any one, no, not even to you

"I always knew you were disinterested, and on that very account I am determined in the contract to give every thing I have into your absolute possession, but who comes here?"

The person who now entered the room was an old man of a very sinister expression, dressed in the oldfashioned style of last century, and along with the dress it seemed as if he tried to preserve the formal courtesy of former days. He was bowing his way from the door up to the window where the lovers were seated, but was arrested half way by Augustus Frederick, who rushed forward, and shook the old gentleman forcibly by the hand. "My dear Mrs Harley, excuse me a minute or two, this is one of the oldest friends I have in the world; a man of science, an antiquary—you've heard of Sir Hans Sloane?"

"I am happy, I am sure," replied the widow," to see Sir Hans, or any other literary friend of yours."

"You are very good, honoured sir," said the stranger, "to an old man like myself, but I take the liberty to inform your honour that the time for this bill has expired."