hotel-and I'm blest if you aint a real lucky one to get out o' the hands of sich a varmint."

The scene at the hall door had a wonderful effect on the spirits of the domestics inside. They had been laughing and joking all the morning,

but whether it was from respect for the dignity of their new mistress, or some other cause, they laughed, and joked no longer. You would have thought they had all of a sudden been found guilty of murder, and were that moment on the eve of execution.

The Formans at No. 9. were the best people in the world-in their way; most praiseworthy individuals every one, though in all human probability their manners would have been considered rather peculiar than otherwise at Almack's. The father was a perfect basha in his office, snubbed his clerks, and strutted about as if the room was a great deal too tight to hold him; but he was a very little man at home, and would have fitted into a cupboard. All his immense dignity evaporated on the omnibus or the two horse coach, for in those days omnibuses were in the future tense; and by the time he tript up the little straight walk, he was a perfect specimen of the good Samaritan in grey knee-breeches and long gaiters. His wife was always at the front door to receive him, and generally his three daughters were waiting in the little passage or on the stairs. Then there was such a shaking of hands and kissing, and all manner of slapping on the back and bare shoulders, so that you would have said they had not seen each other for a month at least. Dolly took his hat; Sally unbuttoned his gaiters, and Pug brought him his slippers, and he at last attained the drawing-room, attended by a suite as if he had been a foreign ambassador, or a Roman general enjoying an ovation. A fastidious critic might have objected to the girls that they were too fat and stumpy to have stood for the three Graces, but in spite of their fatness and stumpiness, there was something far from disagreeable in their round shining cheeks and smiling_lips, and mischievous black eyes. For my part, I delight in ugly people when they look good natured; but that is a contradiction in terms, and I am ready to fight a duel with blunderbusses and broadswords, with any man who will say that any one of the Formans, Dolly, or Sally, or Pug, was in any respect deserving of the

epithet ugly. There was, by the greatest good luck in the world, a nice little bed-room to spare, with clean white dimity curtains, new carpet, dressingtable, and a great pier glass-and if I had been a fairy I should have liked nothing better than to have stept in some fine morning and looked into the bed; for there I should have seen the fine healthy face of Elizabeth Hibbert smiling in happy dreams, and with the very faintest dimple still perceptible, being not yet quite filled up after all last night's laughing. Elizabeth was happier than she had ever been before. At first she thought all the kindness of the Formans put on, as she had sometimes seen the amiable Susan very soft and even insinuating in the midst of her greatest rages, and expected every hour to see them burst out in their real characters. But day after day wore away; Mrs Forman treated her exactly like the three girls, which was the very kindest thing she could do; Mr Formangot gradually on, till at last he slapt her shoulders, or pulled her ear, or kissed her cheek, as if she had been Pug or Sally. It was so new a thing to Elizabeth to be kindly treated-or even spoilt a little, if the truth must be owned-that it awoke new feelings in her altogether. She loved the Formans, and felt a positive delight in loving them; for in that inexperienced heart there was a wonderful pleasure in feeling attached to any one. She thought them all beau. tiful-even Pug. Now Pug had received that name in a moment of inspiration from her father, she was so like one of the little black-faced, bright-eyed, quick-looking dogs known by that denomination; and it had stuck to her ever since. There was an old tradition in the family, countenanced in some degree by an entry in the family bible, that she had been christened Sophia Matilda; but this was gradually wearing away, and there was every probability that a

few more years would efface it entirely; for Pug seemed so infinitely more natural, that it would have looked very like affectation to have called her any thing else. And when I have said that Elizabeth thought even Pug beautiful, you may guess what a famous painter affection is, and how it softens away disagreeable features, and improves good ones, as if it were Chalon. And if she thought Pug beautiful, I wonder what she thought Sally, with her nice little dumpy figure and animated face; or Dolly, with her glossy ringlets hanging all over her snow-white neck? She thought them Duchesses of Sutherland, and if she had studied Lempriere, would have had a very low opinion of Venus, in comparison with either of them. And there were other people, too, besides Elizabeth, that thought the Formans worth fifty heathen goddesses all in a row.

There was a young stockbroker, a very good-looking man, that had his coats from Stulz, and kept a cab, and was in very good business, that, if he had not altogether proposed to Sally, was on the very point of doing so, and called very often, and never refused an invitation to dinner, and always sat next Sally, and even asked her to take a potato, with so sweet a voice and soft a look, that you might have fancied he was asking her to take him. And, in fact, there could be no doubt about it; and Mr Forman was delighted, and Mrs For man became so confoundedly conceited, that you might have thought all these flatteries had been addressed to her. And, in short, before Eliza beth had been domiciled a month, the proposal was actually made, and Sally was very soon to become Mrs William Smillom. Oh, it was delightful from that moment to see the whole family, Elizabeth included. There was more slapping and kissing than ever when Mr Forman returned from the city; and it was unanimously agreed that Elizabeth's arrival was the most fortunate thing in the world, for it would just keep up the family number after Sally went away; and she was formally presented with the reversion of Sally's office, which consisted in taking the old gentleman's hat. It made her about as happy as the reversion of the chancellorship would make me. Now Mr William Smillom was a most excellent man of business-but

didn't I tell you he had his coats from Stulz, and kept a cab? He was of a very ambitious soul, and despised trades-people, except in business hours. From ten till four he was as industrious as a man could be; and grudged neither toil nor trouble in the way of business: but exactly as the clock struck four, he was a new man—away flew the pen, on went the coat; a little pocket-comb did the honours of his top knot; he washed his hands; waved a towel slightly over his boots; and, in about twenty minutes, might be seen trotting down Regent Street, or crossing into the Park, in a very handsome cab, with a little tiger in the Smillom livery, holding on be hind. Any body who didn't know it was paid for, might have taken the whole turn-out for a lord's. And his friends were scarcely less fashionable than his coats and cab. He was an amazing judge of all things pertaining to mode and manner, dress and address, and selected his acquaintance with a strict regard to their gentlemanly appearance; if he did strain a point or two, 'twas in favour of a real bona fide title. He would have been delighted to have strutted up St James' street with the very ugliest of the baronets, or the most contemptible looking of the lords; but in any thing below a knight, he exacted, as the great condition of his friendship, that he should be gentlemanly in appearance. You are therefore not to wonder that the ladies at No. 9 looked forward with great expectation to the introduction of Mr Frederick Selby, who had expressed a great wish to make the acquaintance of the Formans, and whom Mr William Smillom had promised to drive down to dinner. On the day he was to come, Dolly put on a new gown, and dressed herself with such amazing care, that any body might have seen in a moment that she meditated a severe attack on the new comer; even Pug laid every ornament in her possession on her funny little person, on that portentous day. It was evident the proposal of Mr Smillom to Sally had set them all on the alert for a similar demonstration to them selves: and they would probably have answered, if they had been asked what was the chief end of man, to pop the question. Mr Smillom came, and brought M. Selby with him, and certainly he never did a stupider thing in

his life; for there was something in Mr Selby's manner and appearance, so different from any thing that had ever been seen in No. 9, even in Mr Smillom himself-who had hitherto been the standard as to all matters of politeness and good looksthat they unanimonsly concluded he was the Lord Chamberlain in disguise, or master of the ceremonies to the Lord Mayor himself. And Mr Smillom fell immediately in the estimation of all, except Sally, from being the first man in Rome to the second in Paradise Row. Frederick was the grandson of a baronet, the son of a general, the cousin of two or three lords, and, by his mother's side, traced up to the Scottish kings, so that Mr Smillom, when any thing was said disrespectful to the memory of Charles the First, apologised to his friend, as if it had been an attack on a near relation. He had no profession, but was in daily expectation of one; indeed, he had had that comfortable expectation almost the whole of his life-for at some remote period, a distant cousin had told him he was a smart fellow, and ought to go out in the diplomatic line; then he had been told by another, he had better get an appointment in the colonies; and so he read the newspapers in his club, and dined out wherever he was asked, till something of the kind should fall in his way. But as to taking any active steps in the matter himself, he never thought any thing of the sort at all needful; he had a small fortune-very small, had no expensive habits, and was so confirmed an optimist that it was impossible for any disappointment to ruffle his happiness for an hour. Dolly Forman thought him the handsomest man she had ever seen, and in this she was not mistaken, and couldn't help blessing her stars a thousand times over that Sally was disposed of, and therefore could not stand in her way. But a cloud, for the first time since Elizabeth's arrival, fell on the brow of Mrs Forman, when she saw the captivated looks that Frederick cast across the table where she sat, the whole time of dinner, and how he followed her slightest motion, and smiled when by chance she looked at him. The appalling truth burst on the good old lady's understanding, that there was not one of her daughters to be compared to Elizabeth Hibbert; no, nor all

three of them put together: for now she saw the futility of all the plans she had fallen upon to delude herself as to the beauty of her children. She used to think that Sally was not perhaps quite so beautiful at first sight, but had a most captivating mole which Elizabeth wanted; then Dolly had much longer teeth, and showed a great deal more of them when she laughed ; and even Pug had a smaller foot, although it was a good deal broader; but now she saw that other people judged differently, and cared very little, in comparison, for the mole of Sally, and the long white teeth of Dolly, and Pug's stumpy little foot. And yet they were both so open and so natural-the gentleman no less than the lady—that it was impossible to be angry; and when she saw them together at the piano, and heard their happy voices, she couldn't help thinking that they had been intended for each other by nature. And so thought Frederick Selby. What Elizabeth thought I have no intention to tell, but the first thought, whatever it was, became strengthened every day; for regularly every day Frederick found some excuse or other for coming to No. 9; and at last, in three or four months, he came down one morning, and told them he had got an appointment in some far-away place-I forget the name of it-in South America, and must sail from Portsmouth in a month. The Formans were all so happy, and shook hands with him again and again, in the warmth of their congratulations. Elizabeth only shook his hand once, and at that moment, by some chance or other, there came a great round tear into the corner of her eye. Frederick was more delighted with that one short silent shake of the hand, than with all the boisterous demonstrations of the rest; and after a couple of days' deep thinking, he rushed down to No. 9 in an agony of expectation, and asked Elizabeth if she would go with him to his new situation? Elizabeth had found it so new a thing to be heartily and truly loved, that she loved Frederick with all her heart in return-out of pure gratitude. And I feel certain, if the world had been four times the size, and he had asked her to go with him to the other end of it, she would not have hesitated a minute; so, of course, she did not hesitate a moment in only going with

him to South America. It was a tremendously busy month for all parties concerned; for Mr Smillom determined to take advantage of the opportunity, and be married at the same time. All the milliners in the neighbourhood were pressed into the service. Frederick wrote and announced his approaching departure to his consulship, and his marriage to Elizabeth, to his few remaining friends; for his father and mother had long been dead, and only his brother, a curate, came up from Devonshire to be introduced to his future sister-in-law. He had come up, determined to try to stop the scheme if he could, or, at all events, to see if there was any money to be expected with the bride; but when he saw her and spoke to her, and discovered what a clear-hearted simple creature she was, he never said a word, either about her fortune or any thing else, but her beauty and good qualities. Old Mr Forman knew nothing about Mr Hibbert's will; Elizabeth only knew that Susan had

told her she had to pay her a hundred a-year, and grudged it; and Frederick, on being informed of it, told her he would see Susan at the (a very

bad word should be inserted here)before he would accept a sixpence. Elizabeth consulted her friends, whether she shouldn't write and apprize Susan of what was going to happen, but Frederick again said, he would see her at the (the same bad

word is understood)-before he would allow a syllable to be said to such a detestable, unnatural old maid. So amid the kindnesses and blessings of strangers, Elizabeth, the pure and good, was led up to the altar, and gave her hand where she had already given her heart, to a man who would not have exchanged a glance of her eye for all the wealth of the Indies; and in ten days after the wedding she sat on the deck of a gallant ship that was ploughing its way down the Channel, and saw night fall on the white cliffs of Cornwall; and bade a last farewell to England.

"Yes, sir; he has just drove down to Tarseli's, to hear about his roan filly. She's backed against the Priam colt, and Mr Augustus is trying to hedge, never so.'

"Hem," mumbled the senior, and walked into the private room. "This bad health of Miss Hibbert, and the certainty of her succession, has turned the boy's brain. Business neglected, race-horses kept, and every extravagance indulged. What a lucky thing that girl died, and Susan has never married! though, edad!" he added, "she might have done worse than try her fortune with Joe Tyem. 'Twas a pretty day's work that of mine, putting Gusty's name in the will; and the rent charge I've secured on the succession; and eight hundred a-year will be a very nice thing to retire on, and shows the boy's gratitude, too, poor fellow; though, after all, he might just as well have made it the thousand, as I asked him." You would scarcely recognize the jaunty

in the plethoric individual who was indulging in these meditations. Twenty years have passed and gone since the close of the last chapter. Napoleon has died upon his rock, and dynasties have been overthrown, and kings crowned, and others banished: there have been wars and rumours of wars, and the whole world has undergone a wondrous change; for Steam, which we left in his cradle, is now a grown giant, shaking earth and heaven. No wonder, therefore, that a change has also taken place on the personages of our story, and on the bodily configuration of Mr Tyem.

"Ha, old un, how aint you ?" exclaimed Augustus, familiarly slapping his respectable ancestor on the shoulder -"caught you in a brown study-eh?”

"How can you be so thoughtless, Gusty ?" replied the ancient, in not the best of humours. "Haven't you heard Miss Hibbert is much worse?"

"Haven't I? that's all. Bought another horse on the strength of it this very morning. She can't hold out long.'

"No; and therefore, my boy, I think you ought to be on the spot, or at all events in the neighbourhood, to see that no damage is done to your property. Have you heard any thing about the savings? they must be immense."

"All in hard guineas, tied up in old stockings, or sewed into chair bottoms. Capital fun it will be finding out all her posies! I only wish we could get quit of that Miss Jones

"Pooh, never mind her. I know all about her. She's been so bullied, rely on it, by the old tabby, that she'll be easily bullied by any body. Out with her, Gusty, the very first thing-neck and crop out by the window, if she doesn't go quietly by the door; but search her boxes, boy-be sure you search her boxes."

"Well, do you think she's going to make a die of it immediately?" "Hem: I don't know; better go down on the chance."

"I go down? why, if it was her last breath, she would spend it all in ordering me out of the house."

"It's a custom she has with our family, boy; but never mind. You go down to the Aylward arms, and be on the look-out for squalls. Send for me the moment it happens, and I'll come down with the needful deeds. Don't lose a moment. Who knows

but we may come in for some of the hidden treasures you talk of, if we can get into possession at once? If we don't, that little minx - a Welshwoman, of course-that Miss Jones, and the parson, will lay their hands on all. Mem., my boy, the furniture is conveyed by the will; and, luckily, I've kept the inventory. So be off: don't say a word; but write to me by to-morrow's post how the land lies."

"Well, I suppose I had better," said Augustus, who did not seem quite as keen on the matter as his more prudent sire. He, nevertheless, lost no time in driving down in his beautiful yellow tilbury, with red wheels, to the Aylward Arms, which was the name of an inn about half a mile from the Willerdon Hall estate. It was four o'clock when he arrived, on a beautiful day in July; and, after duly attending to his horse, and giving the hostler a volunteer opinion, that all the posters in the stable were

infernal screws, he was shown into the small apartment on the groundfloor, which, by courtesy, was called the coffee-room, there being no private room at that moment unoccupied. "Ah, so much the better," said Mr Augustus; "I hate private rooms, especially when I am on the hunt for information. I'll just have a chop or so, by way of a brightener, and then proceed to work like a Trojan." He accordingly gave his order in a magisterial tone, for the purpose of impressing the waiter with an idea that he was a prince in disguise; and, whether in consequence of this dignified manner or not it is impossible to say, but, at the end of a very few minutes, Mr Augustus saw before him a very nice smoking dish of veal cutlets, with all proper accompaniments; a tankard of brown stout and a pint of sherry not being omitted.

"Waiter," he said, with his mouth nearly filled with meat and potatoesfor he was determined to lose no time in commencing his enquiries-" you know Willerdon Hall, of course?

"Yes sir; the outside on it." "Ah, very good. What, not very hospitable-eh? The old lady's close, is she?"

"Her doors is, sir."

"But they're open sometimes, surely. Does nobody go near her?"

"Oh yes; Parson Aylward is there very often, especially since Miss Jones went there."

"He's fond of Miss Jones, then, this parson-eh?"

"Oh yes; she lived with he afore she went to the Hall."

"The deuce she did!" mused Mr

Augustus. "Ah, now I see it alla reg'lar plot between Jennie Jones and the parson. And Miss Hibbert's very ill-isn't she?" he continued aloud.

"Yes, our doctor went up and bled her two days since."

"Not very easy to bleed-eh ?" said the facetious gentleman, winking to the waiter; "rather dry, Peter."

"My name's Joseph, sir."

"Well, never mind; did any blood come, Joe?-eh ?"

"Can't say, sir-coming, sir." This latter very unusual form of speech was addressed to a young man who at that moment came into the coffee-room, and called for a bill of fare.