"Indeed?-A bill of lectures, my dear, at the Scientific Institution-I am sorry for it, but all will be right in a few days." "It must be made right now, please your honour; the interest increases every day." "The public does me too much honour. You hear, my dear, what Sir Hans tells me, that the interest in my approaching lecture on the transcendental trigonometry of spherical attractions increases every day?" "Oh, if you are engaged in such lofty conversation," replied the lady, "I must plead my woman's privilege and withdraw." "Honoured lady," said the old man, "I beg you will kindly condescend to wait for a few minutes. This gentle man, I understand, is soon to be legally master here."-The lady blushed. "Come, come Sir Hans, don't be too hard on us," interrupted Augustus; "come back again this day week, and I will explain my delay to your entire satisfaction." “No, no, with deference to your honourable worship, this paper speaks for itself 'twas due the ninth of this month; here is the thirteenth and not a shilling of it paid." Augustus took the paper from the old man's hand. 'Twas his own note for fifty pounds, payable on the ninth-for alas! the gentleman honoured with the title of Sir Hans Sloane was neither more nor less than a money-lender. He turned it over, twisted it in all shapes, till at last a bright thought seemed to strike him. "'Pon my life I had forgotten all about it." "Sir Hans seems to have some demand on you, Augustus?" said Mrs Harley, enquiringly. "Oh, a mere trifle. I don't happen at present to have money enough in my purse; indeed I gave purse and all to a poor family in great distress— nine children under six years of age, father lost, mother dead-but 'tis a pity too, that Shakspeare should suffer for my thoughtlessness." "Shakspeare?" enquired the lady. "Ay, the immortal bard!" replied the enthusiastic Augustus, "the man whose name stands pre-eminent among the Sons of the Morning. The apathy of the public has allowed his monument at Stratford-on-Avon to fall into decay; the very chancel in which his dust reposes is in a ruinous condition. A subscription has been opened for the repair of both the monument and the chancel my name is down for fifty guineas. Sir Hans now tells me the work of restoration is begun, and they are in immediate want of funds, and" "Say no more, I beseech you. The memory of Shakspeare ought to be dear to every one who has a respect for genius. Luckily, in my purse you will find a note for a hundred pounds and a few sovereigns. Let me also be a subscriber." "Kind, generous, noble Julia!" exclaimed Fitz-Oswald, taking the purse, and handing it over to Sir Hans, "here, let this be a quittance to my debt. And then," he added, in a whisper, "I will call and get the difference at five o'clock. Let me not detain you, my dear Sir Hans." "Your honour's most obedientyou may at all times command my services ;" and with many a bow and reiterated thanks, the old man took his departure. Fitz-Oswald, hearing the bell rung furiously at the street-door, made a hurried apology for abruptly taking leave, and left Mrs Harley sunk in pleasing reveries, and perfectly contented with the choice she had made of a man so learned, so generous, and such an admirer of the memory of Shakspeare. CHAPTER III. The bell that had frightened Augustus from his propriety, was rung by Mrs Linlayson. A very few minutes served to put the two friends in The fact is as stated above. It would be disgraceful to England if the restoration should be stopt for want of funds. Let the myriads of our readers send up any odd money they may happen to have about them. The subscription is limited to a sove reign from each person. the full career of gossip. Mutual enquiries, mutual revelations, and all preliminaries being satisfactorily adjusted, the ambassador from poor Jack Ricketts commenced operations in form, and came to the point at once. "They tell me, Julia, my dear, you are going to marry a Mr Fitz-Oswald, or a person, at least, who says that is his name." "Oh yes; I've intended for a long time to write you a full account of itbut why do you talk of him so slightingly "Because I think I know him," replied the other. "He never spoke to you of Harrowgate, did he ?” "No-that is--perhaps he may-for, by the by, now I remember, he has very large estates in the north." He? Ha! ha! ha! but really, my dear friend, I have come up on purpose to save you from the designs of this adventurer," repeated the other, in a tone of displeasure. "Adventurer! Who has dared to call him so? Who has been so busy in other people's affairs, as to take the trouble to write you any thing about it ?" "A true friend, Julia, one who would save you from a moment's uneasiness at the sacrifice of his life." "Indeed! I think I can guess the source of these calumnies-your cousin-a disappointed suitor." "Unluckily he is disappointed-but, though hopeless for himself, he wishes, through me, to make an effort to prevent your future life from being one scene of misery and degradation. And I am qualified for the task, for I have been honoured with Mr Augustus Frederick's attentions myself." "How? When? Where? In Hea ven's name tell me all," exclaimed the Widow, now fully aroused. "He had another name, then; and at Harrowgate, about five years ago, he played the same game, under the title of Valerian Sidney Howard, which he now plays at Bath. Among others, he honoured me with his Notice.' I was then unmarried-rich, and perhaps a little fond of flattery. He flattered me to the top of my bent -appeared learned, clever, and, above all, amiable and benevolent. His estates at that time lay in the southbut at last he was discovered, convicted of swindling, imprisoned two years, and, behold! here he is again.' "Nonsense! Your Valerian, or whatever he called himself, can never be my Augustus. Impossible!" "Hem! I don't know. Could I see him?" "Certainly, I am not the least ashamed of the object of my preference;" and the Widow tossed her head proudly. "But I don't wish to be recognised by him. I must see him without being seen a glance will do-if they are indeed different men, there never were two people bore such resemblances to each other in character and conduct. He is a public gambler; any one in Bath would tell you that." "And I wouldn't believe them if they told it me a hundred times. No! not till I see him with my own eyes at the gambling-table shall I ever". "Will you be persuaded if you see him at the table?" The Widow sighed. "Oh, yes, certainly, if I see him, there can then be no doubt on the subject." When the ladies had come to this point of their discussion, Mrs Harley's servant brought in a note. "A letter, madam, for Mr FitzOswald." "For Mr Fitz-Oswald! sent here!" exclaimed Mrs Linlayson; "that seems as if he were master here already. Come now, Julia, let us just take one pecp." She ran up to the table where the servant had laid it, and took the letter. "No-no-for Heaven's sake!" exclaimed the Widow-"a seal is sacred." "A seal! why, there isn't even a wafer. See! it has come open in my hand." "Oh! 'twill only be some scientific appointment, or thanks, perhaps, from some poor people he has relieved." "He will blush to find it fame," said Mrs Linlayson, beginning to read performance," replied the Widow, very much puzzled "What can it mean?" "The meaning seems plain enough," replied the other; "'tis an invitation from one of his gambling associates to go and play at hazard. Who is his friend?" "A. B.," said Mrs Harley, musing. "What friend of his are these the initials of? B. B. Oh! now I know, it must either be from his friend, who was here a short time ago, Dr Buckland-or his benevolent friend, Bowles the poet. He very often goes to Bremhill." "Who? Fitz-Oswald? If he goes there, I have not another word to say against him-but how can you suppose, my dear Julia, that a note like this could come from any one but a low gambler? Don't the words of it convince you?" But the Widow was not at all anxious to be convinced, yet the proof seemed very strong. She took up the note again, and placed it carefully in her reticule, and said, "Let us pass to some other subject, dear Mary; it is not yet too late, and I have it at any moment in my power to put an end to my acquaintance with Fitz-Oswald. I expect him back in a very short time. You shall see him as he comes into the room, if you will go with me to the parlour in the passage. I will ask him the meaning of this letter, and regulate my future conduct according to his reply." The two friends accordingly spent about half an hour, pretending to converse on indifferent subjects, but too much occupied with what they had lately been talking about, to be very entertaining to each other. At the end of the half hour, a step on the stair surprised them, for Augustus had provided himself with a pass-key, and did not trouble the domestics by ringing at the door; and Mrs Linlayson had only time to run into the parlour which the Widow had mentioned, when the hero of their conversation walked quickly into the drawingroom, and arrested Mrs Harley before she could join her friend. "Don't fly from me, my Julia," he said, taking her by the hand" I am now so hurried with business, that I grudge every moment you deprive me of your presence. But what is this? Have I offended you?" "This letter will tell you, sir, whe ther I ought to be offended or not," replied the Widow, showing him the dirty scrawl-" You know the hand?" At this attack, any other man's assurance would have given way. Augustus burst into a laugh—“ Ah, my queer friend, Abraham Bounce-I dare say the contents of that letter are as funny as himself. What does he say? He is an odd dog. You must know him one of these days." "The signature is certainly A. B. Who is this Mr Bounce?" said the Widow, more complacently. "Oh, a man of science he and I very often read together. He is a famous classic. You shall certainly be acquainted with my friend Bounce." "I will read you the note, sentence by sentence," said Mrs Harley, still in an unusually cold tone of voice; "his style is a strange one. He begins, Dear Pal-What does he mean by Pal?" "Oh! a classical allusion," replied Augustus," and a nicely turned compliment too. Palinurus, you know, was the pilot that steered old Homer's vessel when he went in search of the Golden Fleece. I have led poor Bounce through many passages in the old authors, and he always calls me his Pal ; or guide-his Palinurus." Mrs Harley proceeded with the letter-" We are all here, gathered round the board of green cloth." "Ah! that's the library table-'tis covered with a green baize"-said Augustus. "And we have resolved not to begin business till you come." 66 Reading. That's very kind." "We are all in the fidgets for want of you." "That's complimentary." "Our fat friend lies grumblingly on the sofa." "Ah! that's a great thick volume of German divinity." "What! a volume!" exclaimed Mrs Harley-" how can a volume grumble?" "A figurative expression. Bounce is a capital hand at figures-they call it prosopopoeia.". "The light weights are at the dif ferent windows.' "The magazines and reviews. We sometimes relax ourselves after severe study with a look into Blackwood or the Edinburgh". "Come along then, or may you never shake elbow again.-What does he mean by shaking elbows?" "Don't you know I took lessons of Paganini?-Ah! it would indeed be a dreadful imprecation if I never were to shake elbow again. What should I do without my Cremona?" and Augustus sighed at the thought. "And is all that you have told me really true?" said the Widow, delighted. "Oh! how I wish some of your detractors had been within hearing of your explanation." "Detractors? Is it possible even my quiet unostentatious mode of life has not protected me from detraction? But I know the reason. 'Tis envy of the preference you have vouchsafed to show me. To you, and you only, I owe any enmity I may have excited." "I believe it all; and to prove my belief, this very hour I will sign the contract, whatever may be said to the contrary." "Angel! 'tis only what I expected of your magnanimity, your justice.— The attorney is down stairs-the witnesses are all ready-may I offer you my arm?" Mrs Harley went into the parlour where she had directed her friend to remain; but the lady had disappeared. The Widow proceeded down stairs; and in presence of proper witnesses, and with all the ceremonies of the law, the marriage-contract was signed, sealed, and delivered. CHAPTER IV. "Hawks abroad! we must cut our sticks, or have another taste of the mill," said Spragg to his master, whom he met at Mrs Harley's door. "How? what?" exclaimed Augustus, somewhat alarmed-" Are the police awake?" "Vorse nor that. There's that there lady as you gallivanted with at Harrowgate-just afore we were nabbed-I've seen her with my own eyes -She has been for a whole hour this very day with your sweetheart-the devil take all hedication, say I." "But why? who is it?-poh! man never mind. Do you see this little packet tied with its beautiful red tape? This puts me in possession of the Widow's fortune, and as to herself". "Her fortune, did you say?" cried the other, with glistening eyes. "That's the main chance. As to hall other matters, I supposes there are hother widdys in plenty." "Oh yes but at the same time, Spragg, for two days more, we must be wide awake. Keep that lady, if you possibly can, from having a minute's conversation with Mrs Harley. As for me, I will keep as much as possible out of the way. I am just on my road to old Jones, the moneylender, to get a few guineas he owes me; and to-night I am in for a go at hazard with a few good fellows to pluck a pigeon a Captain Linlay son" "O curse all dice and cards! Before he had time to part from his confederate, the very individual of whom he was in search came up and joined them. "Your honourable worship's most subservient I was just going to present myself to your honour." "The devil you were-and fifty guineas to boot, I hope." "Your worship is too good. The contents of the purse were a hundred and nine pounds; whereof fifty for money advanced-ten for interest." "Well, fork out the odd fortynine." "Your honour will excuse me ; but when I saw how like a noble lady your noble lady behaved, I recollected some friends of mine who would be glad to be paid" "You were infernally kind to your friends. You went and told all my creditors to come and make their demands immediately?" "Far from it, your nobleness-I went to stop them from coming, for in truth I have bought up all their accounts I have got them all receipted." "What have you done, you d-d old extortioner ?" "Please your worship, will you pay me just now, or must I apply to the noble lady?" "How much do you want?" said Augustus, biting his lips. "Why, here is your tailor's bill 'twas a hundred and twenty, but as I got it a bargain I can let you have it for sixty-five-your confectioner, wine merchant, washerwoman, shoemaker, lodging, jeweller-the whole lot will not cost the noble lady above four hundred and fifty pounds-Is she at home just now ?" "Can't you wait for two days? I tell you I shall be married by that time, and every thing shall be paid?" "Oh! please your honour, she will never grudge such a paltry sum-I can't wait without security." "What the devil's to be done now? -Here, take my servant here, I'll pawn him till the money's paid-lock him up till the last farthing is settled." "You're cursed purlite," interposed the domestic, "we have both on us had enough of locking up-why don't you knock the old Jew into the gutter and run for it ?" 66 Away from the Widow's fortune? No, no, I've a trick worth two of that." "But think of the pleasure of flooring the hould willein." "Here, old skinflint," at last said Augustus, "you say you won't wait without security; here's the marriage contract, all properly attested, will that content you?" "Oh! certainly, your honourable worship, you shall have it again on payment of these bills." "Yes; but I want a little money in the mean time, give me the odd fifty, and the contract shall be good for five hundred." This was very civilly advanced by the usurer, and even Spragg, in spite of the apparition of Mrs Linlayson, began to think that every thing was secure. In the mean time, the confederates in the interest of my friend Jack had not been idle. Mrs Linlayson had satisfied herself of the identity of the fascinating Augustus with the adventurer of Harrowgate; and, besides the satisfaction of aiding her cousin, had now the additional motive of saving her friend from the certainty of disgrace. She had taken her measures well; but after the specimen she had seen of the Widow's wilful blindness, she was not without some apprehension that her efforts to open her eyes would be unavailing. Linlayson had introduced himself to the coterie of one of the gambling-houses, and had arranged to join the party that evening, being assured at the same time, that Augustus would not be absent. Jack, who really loved the Widow, was lamenting all day that the character of his rival prevented him from settling the business in a more summary manner, and consented to accompany his friend Linlayson to the table, though determined to take no active part in the game. When all their plans were properly arranged, the lady betook herself to the house of Mrs Har ley, and the gentlemen to the Crockford's of Bath. "I am glad you have come," said the Widow very coldly, "that I may tell you that your suspicions are unfounded, and that Augustus Frederick Fitz-Oswald is as pure and honourable a gentleman". "As Valerian Sidney Howard," replied the other. "I saw him, my dear friend, it is the same." "Impossible. You told me that the person you talk of paid you attention; that he flattered you, and then that he was found out. How do I know that your account of him may not be slightly coloured by your disappointment? What if his theft consisted of a heart, and the despairing maiden vents her spleen in calling him a swindler?" "But, my dear Julia," said Mrs Linlayson, a little nettled at the insinuations of her friend, "the jailer was never flattered, and he will tell you the same story-the finisher of the law who whipped him (for he was sentenced also to a public flogging) never listened to his compliments, and he will give you the same information." "Mrs Linlayson-madam !" exclaimed the Widow, "You wish me to believe that Mr Fitz-Oswald is a wretch who has been branded as a felon. To this felon I have signed this very day my contract of marriage." "I know it," replied the other; "but you will never marry him." "Then, do you fancy, madam, I believe your preposterous stories? Your version of the very amiable letter he received this morning from the |