"I dare say he will be willing to change her name | anxious Lady Penelope; "let me persuade you to lis and register," said Mr. Chatterly.

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"He can be no less in common requital," said Winterblossom. "She has changed his name six times in the five minutes that I stood within hearing of them."

"What do you think of the matter, my dear, Lady Binks?" said Lady Penelope.

"Madam?" said Lady Binks, starting from a reverie, and answering as one who either had not heard, or did not understand the question.

"I mean, what think you of what is going on yonder?"

Lady Binks turned her glass in the direction of Lady Penelope's glance, fixed the widow and the Doctor with one bold fashionable stare, and then dropping her hand slowly, said with indifference, "I really see nothing there worth thinking about."

"I dare say it is a fine thing to be married," said Lady Penelope; "one's thoughts, I suppose, are so much engrossed with one's own perfect happiness, that they have neither time nor inclination to laugh like other folks. Miss Rachel Bonnyrigg would have laughed till her eyes ran over, had she seen what Lady Binks cares so little about-I dare say it must be an all-sufficient happiness to be married."

"He would be a happy man that could convince your ladyship of that in good earnest," said Mr. Winterblossom.

"Oh, who knows-the whim may strike me," replied the lady; "but no-no-no;—and that is three times.'

'Say it sixteen times more," said the gallant president, "and let nineteen nay-says be a grant."

"If I should say a thousand Noes, there exists not the alchymy in living man that could extract one Yes out of the whole mass," said her ladyship. "Blessed be the memory of Queen Bess!-She set us all an example to keep power when we have it-What noise is that?"

"Only the usual after-dinner quarrel," said the divine. 'I hear the Captain's voice, else most silent, commanding them to keep peace, in the devil's name and that of the ladies."

down."

"Indeed you are mistaken, Lady Penelope," said Miss Mowbray, who seemed to receive much as a matter of course her ladyship's profusion of affectionate politeness:-"I am heated, and my pony trotted hard, that is the whole mystery.-Let me have a cup of tea, Mrs. Jones, and the matter is ended."

"Fresh tea, Jones, directly," said Lady Penelope, and led her passive friend to her own corner, as she was pleased to call the recess, in which she held her little court-ladies and gentlemen curtseying and bowing as she passed; to which civilities the new guest made no more return, than the most ordinary politeness rendered unavoidable.

Lady Binks did not rise to receive her, but sat upright in her chair, and bent her head very stiffly; a courtesy which Miss Mowbray returned in the same stately manner, without farther greeting on either side.

"Now, wha can that be, Doctor?" said the Widow Blower-" mind ye have promised to tell me all about the grand folk-wha can that be that Leddy Penelope hauds such a racket wi'?-and what for does she come wi' a habit and a beaver-hat, when we are a' (a glance at her own gown) in our silks and satins?"

To tell you who she is, my dear Mrs. Blower, is very easy," said the officious Doctor. "She is Miss Clara Mowbray, sister to the Lord of the Manor-the gentleman who wears the green coat, with an arrow on the cape. To tell why she wears that habit, or does any thing else, would be rather beyond doctor's skill. Truth is, I have always thought she was a little-a very little-touched-call it nerves-hypochondria-or what you will."

"Lord help us, puir thing!" said the compassionate widow." And troth it looks like it. But it's a shame to let her go loose, Doctor-she might hurt hersell, or somebody. See, she has ta'en the knife! -O, it's only to cut a shave of the diet-loaf. She winna let the powder-monkey of a boy help her. There's judgment in that though, Doctor, for she can cut thick or thin as she likes.-Dear me! she has not taken mair than a crumb, that ane would pit between the wires of a canary-bird's cage, after all. I wish she would lift up that lang veil, or put off that ridingskirt, Doctor. She should really be showed the regu

"Upon my word, dearest Lady Binks, this is too bad of that lord and master of yours, and of Mowbray, who might have more sense, and of the rest of that claret-drinking set, to be quarrelling and alarm-lations, Doctor Kickelshin." ing our nerves every evening with presenting their "She cares about no rules we can make, Mrs. pistols perpetually at each other, like sportsmen con- Blower," said the Doctor; "and her brother's will fined to the house upon a rainy 12th of August. I am and pleasure, and Lady Penelope's whim of indulgtired of the Peace-maker-he but skins the businessing her, carry her through in every thing. They over in one case to have it break out elsewhere. should take advice on her case.' What think you, love, if we were to give out in orders, that the next quarrel which may arise, shall be bona fide fought to an end ?-We will all go out and see it, and wear the colours on each side; and if there should a funeral come of it, we will attend it in a body.Weeds are so becoming!-Are they not, my dear Lady Binks? Look at Widow Blower in her deep black-don't you envy her, my love?"

Lady Binks seemed about to make a sharp and hasty answer, but checked herself, perhaps under the recollection that she could not prudently come to an open breach with Lady Penelope.-At the same moment the door opened, and a lady dressed in a ridinghabit, and wearing a black veil over her hat, appeared at the entry of the apartment.

"Angels and ministers of grace!" exclaimed Lady Penelope, with her very best tragic start-" my dearest Clara, why so late? and why thus? Will you step to my dressing-room-Jones will get you one of my gowns we are just of a size, you know-do, praylet me be vain of something of my own for once, by seeing you wear it."

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Ay, truly, it's time to take advice, when young creatures like her caper in amang dressed leddies, just as if they were come from scampering on Leith sands.-Such a wark as my leddy makes wi' her, Doctor! Ye would think they were baith fools of a feather."

"They might have flown on one wing, for what I know," said Dr. Quackleben "but there was early and sound advice taken in Lady Penelope's case. My friend, the late Earl of Featherhead, was a man of judgment-did little in his family but by rule of medicine-so that, what with the waters, and what with my own care, Lady Penelope is only freakish-fanciful-that's all-and her quality bears it out-the peecant principle might have broken out under other treatment.

"Ay-she has been weel-friended," said the widow; "but this bairn Mowbray, puir thing! how came she to be sae left to hersell?""

"Her mother was dead-her father thought of nothing but his sports," said the Doctor. "Her brother was educated in England, and cared for nobody but This was spoken in the tone of the fondest fe- himself, if he had been here. What education she male friendship, and at the same time the fair hostess got was at her own hand-what reading she read was bestowed on Miss Mowbray one of those tender in a library full of old romances-what friends or comcaresses, which ladies-God bless them!-some-pany she had was what chance sent her then no times bestow on each other with unnecessary pro- family-physician, not even a good surgeon, within ten digality, to the great discontent and envy of the male miles! And so you cannot wonder if the poor thing spectators. became unsettled." "You are fluttered, my dearest Clara-you are "Puir thing!-no doctor-nor even a surgeon! feverish-I am sure you are," continued the sweetly-But, doctor," said the widow, "may be the pair

thing had the enjoyment of her health, ye ken, and | by, Lady Penelope, you have not your collection in

then'

Ah! ha! ha!-why then, madam, she needed a physician far more than if she had been delicate. A skilful physician, Mrs. Blower, knows how to bring down that robust health, which is a very alarming state of the frame when it is considered secundum artem. Most sudden deaths happen when people are in a robust state of health. Ah! that state of perfect health is what the doctor dreads most on behalf of his patient."

"Ay, ay, Doctor?-I am quite sensible, nae doubt," said the widow, "of the great advantage of having a skeelfu' person about ane.'

Here the Doctor's voice, in his earnestness to convince Mrs. Blower of the danger of supposing herself capable of living and breathing without a medical man's permission, sunk into a soft pleading tone, of which our reporter could not catch the sound. He was, as great orators will sometimes be, "inaudible in the gallery."

the same order and discipline as Pidcock and Polito. There was much growling and snarling in the lower den when I passed it."

"It was feeding-time, my love," said Lady Penelope; "and the lower animals of every class become pugnacious at that hour-you see all our safer and well-conditioned animals are loose, and in good order."

"Oh, yes-in the keeper's presence, you knowWell, I must venture to cross the hall again among all that growling and grumbling-I would I had the fairy prince's quarters of mutton to toss among them if they should break out-He, I mean, who fetched water from the Fountain of Lions. However, on second thoughts, I will take the back way, and avoid them.-What says honest Bottom?

For if they should as lions come in strife
Into such place, 'twere pity of their life."

"Shall I go with you, my dear?" said Lady Penelope. "No-I have too great a soul for that-I think some of them are lions only as far as the hide is concerned."

But why would you go so soon, Clara?" "Because my errand is finished-have I not invited you and yours? and would not Lord Chesterfield himself allow I have done the polite thing?"

"But you have spoke to none of the companyhow can you be so odd, my love?" said her ladyship. "Why, I spoke to them all when I spoke to you and Lady Binks-but I am a good girl, and will do as I am bid."

Mean while, Lady Penelope overwhelmed Clara Mowbray with her caresses. In what degree her ladyship, at her heart, loved this young person, might be difficult to ascertain,--probably in the degree in which a child loves a favourite toy. But Clara was a toy not always to be come by-as whimsical in her way as her ladyship in her own, only that poor Clara's singularities were real, and her ladyship's chiefly affected. Without adopting the harshness of the Doctor's conclusions concerning the former, she was certainly unequal in her spirits; and her occasional fits of levity were chequered by very long intervals of sadness. Her levity also appeared, in the world's eye, greater than it really was; for she had never been under the restraint of society which was really good, and entertained an undue contempt for that which she sometimes mingled with; having unhappily none "Mr. Winterblossom, I hope the gout is betterto teach her the important truth, that some forms Mr. Robert Rymar (I have escaped calling him and restraints are to be observed, less in respect to Thomas for once)-I hope the public give encourageothers than to ourselves. Her dress, her manners, ment to the muses-Mr. Keelavine, I trust your pencil and her ideas, were therefore very much her own; and is busy-Mr. Chatterly, I have no doubt your flock though they became her wonderfully, yet, like Ophe-improves-Dr. Quackleben, I am sure your patients lia's garlands, and wild snatches of melody, they were calculated to excite compassion and melancholy, even while they amused the observer.

"And why came you not to dinner?-We expected you your throne was prepared."

"I had scarce come to tea," said Miss Mowbray, "of my own free will. But my brother says your ladyship proposes to come to Shaws-Castle, and he insisted it was quite right and necessary, to confirm you in so flattering a purpose, that I should come and say, Pray do, Lady Penelope; and so now here am I to say, Pray, do come.'

"Is an invitation so flattering limited to me alone, my dear Clara ?-Lady Binks will be jealous."

So saying, she looked round the company, and addressed each of them with an affectation of interest and politeness, which thinly concealed scorn and contempt.

recover. These are all the especials of the worthy company I know-for the rest, health to the sick, and pleasure to the healthy!"

"You are not going in reality, my love?" said Lady Penelope; "these hasty rides agitate your nerves they do, indeed-you should be cautious-Shall I speak to Quackleben?"

"To neither Quack nor quackle, on my account, my dear lady. It is not as you would seem to say, by your winking at Lady Binks-it is not, indeed-I shall be no Lady Clementina, to be the wonder and pity of the spring of St. Ronan's-No Ophelia neither

though I will say with her, Good-night, ladiesGood night, sweet ladies!-and now-not my coach, my coach-but my horse, my horse!"

76 Bring Lady Binks, if she has the condescension to honour us[a bow was very stiffly exchanged So saying, she tripped out of the room by a side between the ladies]--"bring Mr. Springblossom-passage, leaving the ladies looking at each other sigWinterblossom-and all the lions and lionesses-we nificantly, and shaking their heads with an expression have room for the whole collection. My brother, I of much import. suppose, will bring his own particular regiment of bears, which, with the usual assortment of monkeys seen in all caravans, will complete the menagerie. How you are to be entertained at Shaws-Castle, is, I thank Heaven, not my business, but John's."

"We shall want no formal entertainment, my love," said Lady Penelope; "a déjeuner à la fourchette-we know, Clara, you would die of doing the honours of a formal dinner."

"Not a bit; I should live long enough to make my will, and bequeath all large parties to old Nick, who invented them."

'Miss Mowbray," said Lady Binks, who had been thwarted by this free-spoken young lady, both in her former character of a coquette and romp, and in that of a prude which she at present wore-"Miss Mowbray declares for

'Champagne and a chicken at last.'”

"The chicken without the champagne, if you please," said Miss Mowbray; "I have known ladies pay dear to have champagne on the board.-By the VOL. IV. 3 J

"Something has ruffled the poor unhappy girl," said Lady Penelope; "I never saw her so very odd before."

"Were I to speak my mind," said Lady Binks, "I think, as Mrs. Highmore says in the farce, her madness is but a poor excuse for her impertinence."

"Oh fie! my sweet Lady Binks," said Lady Penelope, spare my poor favourite! You, surely, of all others, should forgive the excesses of an amiable eccentricity of temper.-Forgive me, my love, but I must defend an absent friend-My Lady Binks, I am very sure, is too generous and candid to

'Hate for arts which caused herself to rise.""

"Not being conscious of any high elevation, my lady," answered Lady Binks, "I do not know any arts I have been under the necessity of practising to attain it. I suppose a Scotch lady of an ancient family may become the wife of an English baronet, and no very extraordinary great cause to wonder at it.'

"No, surely-but people in this world will, you know wonder at nothing," answered Lady Pe elope.

"If you envy me my poor quiz, Sir Bingo, I'll get you a better, Lady Pen.'

"I don't doubt your talents, my dear, but when I want one, I will get one for myself.-But here comes the whole party of quizzes.-Joliffe, offer the gentlemen tea-then get the floor ready for the dancers, and set the card-tables in the next room."

CHAPTER VIII.

AFTER DINNER.

They draw the cork, they broach the barrel,

And first they kiss, and then they quarrel.-PRIOR. Ir the reader has attended much to the manners of the canine race, he may have remarked the very different manner in which the individuals of the different sexes carry on their quarrels among each other. The females are testy, petulant, and very apt to indulge their impatient dislike of each other's presence, or the spirit of rivalry which it produces, in a sudden bark and snap, which last is generally made as much at advantage as possible. But these ebullitions of peevishness lead to no very serious or prosecuted conflict; the affair begins and ends in a moment. Not so the ire of the male dogs, which, once produced and excited by growls of mutual offence and defiance, leads generally to a fierce and obstinate contest; in which, if the parties be dogs of game, and wellmatched, they grapple, trottle, tear, roll each other in the kennel, and can only be separated by choking them with their own collars, till they lose wind and hold at the same time, or by surprising them out of their wrath by sousing them with cold water.

not," he added, "from any deficiency of intellects on the pointer's part, but he is generally so abused while in the management of brutal breakers and grooms, that he loses all excepting his professional accomplishments, of finding and standing steady to game.' And who the d-l desires he should have more ?" said Sir Bingo.

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'Many people, Sir Bingo," replied Tyrrel, “have been of opinion, that both dogs and men may follow sport indifferently well, though they do happen, at the same time, to be fit for mixing in friendly intercourse in society."

"That is for licking trenchers, and scratching cop per, I suppose," said the Baronet, sotto voce; and added, in a louder and more distinct tone,-"He never before heard that a setter was fit to follow any man's heels but a poacher's."

"You know it now then, Sir Bingo," answered Tyrrel; "and I hope you will not fall into so great a mistake again."

The Peace-maker here seemed to think his interference necessary, and, surmounting his taciturnity, made the following pithy speech :-"By Cot! and do you see, as you are looking for my opinion, I think there is no dispute in the matter-because by Cot! it occurs to me, d'ye see, that ye are both right, by Cot! It may do ferry well for my excellent friend Sir Bingo, who hath stables, and kennels, and what not, to maintain the six filthy prutes that are yelping and yowling all the tay, and all the neight too, under my window, by Cot! And if they are yelping and yowling there, may I never die but I wish they were yelping and yowling somewhere else. But then there is many a man who may be as cood a gentleman at the bottom as my worthy friend Sir Bingo, though it may be that he is poor; and if he is poor-and as if it might be my own case, or that of this honest gentleman, Mr. Tirl-is that a reason or a law, that he is not to keep a prute of a tog, to help him to take his sports and his We have mentioned the weighty reasons which in-pleasures? and if he has not a stable or a kennel to put duced Mr. Mowbray to look upon the stranger whom a general invitation had brought into their society, with unfavourable prepossessions; and these were far from being abated by the demeanour of Tyrrel, which, though perfectly well-bred, indicated a sense of equality, which the young Laird of St. Ronan's considered as extremely presumptuous.

The simile, though a currish one, will hold good in its application to the human race. While the ladies in the tea-room of the Fox Hotel were engaged in the light snappish velitation, or skirmish, which we have described, the gentlemen who remained in the parlour were more than once like to have quarrelled more seriously.

As for Sir Bingo, he already began to nourish the genuine hatred always entertained by a mean spirit against an antagonist, before whom it is conscious of having made a dishonourable retreat. He forgot not the manner, look, and tone, with which Tyrrel had checked his unauthorized intrusion; and though he had sunk beneath it at the moment, the recollection rankled in his heart as an affront to be avenged. As he drank his wine, courage, the want of which was, in his more sober moments, a check upon his bad temper, began to inflame his malignity, and he ventured upon several occasions to show his spleen, by contradicting Tyrrel more flatly than good manners permitted upon so short an acquaintance, and without any provocation. Tyrrel saw his ill humour and despised it, as that of an overgrown school-boy, whom it was not worth his while to answer according to his folly.

One of the apparent causes of the Baronet's rudeness was indeed childish enough. The company were talking of shooting, the most animating topic of conversation among Scottish country gentlemen of the younger class, and Tyrrel had mentioned something of a favourite setter, an uncommonly handsome dog, from which he had been for sometime separated, but which he expected would rejoin him in the course of next week.

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'a

A setter!" retorted Sir Bingo, with a sneer; pointer I suppose you mean?" "No, sir," said Tyrrel; "I am perfectly aware of the difference betwixt a setter and a pointer, and I know the old-fashioned setter is become unfashionable among modern sportsmen. But I love my dog as a companion, as well as for his merits in the field; and a setter is more sagacious, more attached, and fitter for his place on the hearth-rug, than a pointer

the crature into, must he not keep it in his pit of pedroom, or upon his parlour hearth, seeing that Luckie Dods would make the kitchen too hot for the paistand so, if Mr. Tirl finds a setter more fitter for his purpose than a pointer, by Cot, I know no law against it, else may I never die the black death."

If this oration appear rather long for the occasion, the reader must recollect that Captain MacTurk had in all probability the trouble of translating it from the periphrastic language of Ossian, in which it was originally conceived in his own mind.

The Man of Law replied to the Man of Peace, "Ye are mistaken for ance in your life, Captain, for there is a law against setters; and I will undertake to prove them to be the lying dogs' which are mentioned in the auld Scots statute, and which all and sundry are discharged to keep, under a penalty of".

Here the Captain broke in, with a very solemn mien and dignified manner-"By Cot! Master Meiklewham, and I shall be asking what you mean by talking to me of peing mistaken, and apout lying togs, sir-because I would have you to know, and to pelieve, and to very well consider, that I never was mistaken in my life, sir, unless it was when I took you for a gentleman."

"No offence, Captain," said Mr. Meiklewham; 'dinna break the wand of peace, man, you that should be the first to keep it.-He is as cankered," continued the Man of Law, apart to his patron, "as an auld Hieland terrier, that snaps at whatever comes near it-but I tell you ae thing, St. Ronan's, and that is on saul and conscience, that I believe this is the very lad Tirl, that I raised a summons against before the justices him and another hempie-in your father's time, for shooting on the Spring-well-head muirs."

"The devil you did, Mick!" replied the Lord of the Manor, also aside;-"Well I am obliged to you for giving me some reason for the ill thoughts I had of him-1 knew he was some trumpery scamp-I'll blow him, by"

"Whisht-stop-hush-haud your tongue, St. Ronan's-keep a calm sough-ye see, I intended the

process, by your worthy father's desire, before the served as an entrance-hall, and divided the diningQuarter Sessions-but I ken na-The auld sheriff-parlour from the tea-room, as it was called. Here, clerk stood the lad's friend-and some of the justices while the party were assuming their hats, for the purthought it was but a mistake of the marches, and sae pose of joining the ladies' society, (which old-fashioned we couldna get a judgment-and your father was folk used only to take up for that of going into the very ill of the gout, and I was feared to vex him, and open air,) Tyrrel asked a smart footman, who stood I was fain to let the process sleep, for fear they had near, to hand him the hat which lay on the table been assoilzied.-Sae ye had better gang cautiously beyond. to wark, St. Ronan's, for though they were summoned, they were not convict."

"Whew! it's been prescribed sex or seeven year syne. It is a great shame, St. Ronan's, that the game laws, whilk are the very best protection that is left to country gentlemen against the encroachment of their inferiors, rin sae short a course of prescription -a poacher may just jink ye back and forward like a flea in a blanket, (wi' pardon) hap ye out of ae county and into anither at their pleasure, like pyots-than and unless ye get your thumb-nail on them in the very nick o' time, ye may dine on a dish of prescription, and sup upon an absolvitor."

"It is a shame indeed," said Mowbray, turning from his confidant and agent, and addressing himself to the company in general, yet not without a peculiar look directed to Tyrrel.

"What is a shame, sir ?" said Tyrrel, conceiving that the observation was particularly addressed to him.

"That we should have so many poachers upon our muirs, sir," answered St. Ronan's. "I sometimes regret having countenanced the Well here, when I think how many guns it has brought on my property every season.'

This address seemed at once to arrest Tyrrel's anAnd that you may be so," said Meiklewham, "Iger, and his impatience to leave the company. He think you had best take no more wine." turned to Mowbray, collected his thoughts for an instant, and then answered him thus:-"Mr. Mowbray, I seek no quarrel with any one here-with you, in particular, I am most unwilling to have any disagreement. I came here by invitation, not certainly expecting much pleasure, but, at the same time, supposing myself secure from incivility. In the last point, I find myself mistaken, and therefore wish the company good-night. I must also make my adieus to the ladies."

seemed, rather irresolutely, towards the door of the card-room-and then, to the increased surprise of the company, stopped suddenly, and muttering something about the "unfitness of the time," turning on his heel, and bowing haughtily, as there was way made for him, walked in the opposite direction towards the door which led to the outer hall.

"D-me, Sir Bingo, will you let him off?" said Mowbray, who seemed to delight in pushing his friend into new scrapes-"To him, man-to him-he shows the white feather."

Sir Bingo, thus encouraged, planted himself with a look of defiance exactly between Tyrrel and the door; upon which the retreating guest, bestowing on him most emphatically the epithet Fool, seized him by the collar, and flung him out of his way with some violence.

now hastened to the spot, as one which peculiarly suited his present purpose. He sat down by one of the larger projecting trees, and, screened by its enormous branches from observation, was enabled to watch the road from the Hotel for a great part of its extent, while he was himself invisible to any who might travel upon it.

Mean while his sudden departure excited a considerable sensation among the party whom he had just left, and who were induced to form conclusions not very favourable to his character. Sir Bingo, in particular, blustered loudly and more loudly, in proportion to the increasing distance betwixt himself and his antago nist, declaring his resolution to be revenged on the scoundrel for his insolence-to drive him from the neighbourhood-and I know not what other menaces of formidable import. The devil in the old stories of "I am to be found at the Old Town of St. Ronan's diablerie, was always sure to start up at the elbow of by whomsoever has any concern with me."-With- any one who nursed diabolical purposes, and only out waiting the issue of this aggression farther than wanted a little backing from the foul fiend to carry to utter these words, Tyrrel left the hotel. He stopped his imaginations into action. The noble Captain in the court-yard, however, with the air of one un- MacTurk had so far this property of his infernal certain whither he intended to go, and who was majesty, that the least hint of an approaching quarrel desirous to ask some question, which seemed to die drew him always to the vicinity of the party concernupon his tongue. At length his eye fell upon a groomed. He was now at Sir Bingo's side, and was taking who stood not far from the door of the inn, holding, his own view of the matter, in his character of peacein his hand a handsome pony, with a side-saddle. maker. "Whose"- said Tyrrel-but the rest of the question he seemed unable to utter.

The man, however, replied, as if he had heard the whole interrogation.-"Miss Mowbray's, sir, of St. Ronan's-she leaves directly-and so I am walking the pony-a clever thing, sir, for a lady."

"She returns to Shaws-Castle by the Buck-stane road ?"

"I suppose so, sir," said the groom. "It is the nighest, and Miss Clara cares little for rough roads. Zounds! She can spank it over wet and dry." Tyrrel turned away from the man, and hastily left the hotel-not, however, by the road which led to the Aultoun, but by a footpath among the natural copsewood, which, following the course of the brook, intersected the usual horse-road to Shaws-Castle, the seat of Mr. Mowbray, at a romantic spot called the Buck-stane.

"By Cot! and it's very exceedingly true, my goot friend, Sir Binco and as you say, it concerns your honour, and the honour of the place, and credit and character of the whole company, by Cot! that this matter be properly looked after; for, as I think, he laid hands on your body, my excellent goot friend."

"Hands, Captain MacTurk !" exclaimed Sir Bingo, in some confusion; "no, blast him-not so bad as that neither-if he had, I should have handed him over the window-but, by the fellow had the impudence to offer to collar me I had just stepped back to square at him, when, curse me, the blackguard ran away."

"Right, vara right, Sir Bingo," said the Man of Law, a vara perfect blackguard, a poaching sorning sort of fallow, that I will have scoured out of the country before he be three days aulder. Fash you your beard nae farther about the matter, Sir Bingo."

'No, before George! it is not," answered Meiklewham; "c'en take it all to yoursell, Captain, and meikle ye are likely to make on't."

In a small peninsula, formed by a winding of the brook, was situated, on a rising hillock, a large rough- By Cot! but I can tell you, Mr. Meiklewham," hewn pillar of stone, said by tradition to commemo- said the Man of Peace, with great solemnity of visage, rate the fall of a stag of unusual speed, size, and "that you are scalding your lips in other folk's kale, strength, whose flight, after having lasted through a and that it is necessary for the credit, and honour, and whole summer's day, had there terminated in death, respect of this company, at the Well of St. Ronan's, to the honour and glory of some ancient baron of St. that Sir Bingo goes by more competent advice than Ronan's, and of his stanch hounds. During the period-yours upon the present occasion, Mr. Meiklewham; ical cuttings of the copse, which the necessities of the for though your counsel may do very well in a small family of St. Ronan's brought round more frequently debt court, here, do you see, Mr. Meiklewham, is a than Ponty would have recommended, some oaks had question of honour, which is not a thing in your line, been spared in the neighbourhood of this massive obe- as I take it." lisk, old enough perhaps to have heard the whoop and halloo which followed the fall of the stag, and to have witnessed the raising of the rude monument by which that great event was commemorated. These trees, with their broad spreading boughs, made a twilight even of noon-day; and, now that the sun was approaching its setting point, their shade already anticipated night. This was especially the case where three or four of them stretched their arms over a deep gully, through which winded the horse-path to Shaws- The Baronet complied with this invitation, as much, Castle, at a point about a pistol-shot distant from the perhaps, in consequence of the medium through which Buck-stane. As the principal access to Mr. Mow- the Captain intended to convey his warlike counsels, bray's mansion was by a carriageway, which passed as for the pleasure with which he anticipated the rein a different direction, the present path was left al-sult of these counsels themselves. He followed the most in a state of nature, full of large stones, and military step of his leader, whose stride was more broken by gullies, delightful, from the varied character stiff, and his form inore perpendicular, when exalted of its banks, to the picturesque traveller, and most in- by the consciousness of an approaching quarrel, to the convenient, nay dangerous, to him who had a stum- smoking-room, where, sighing as he lighted his cigar, bling horse. Sir Bingo prepared to listen to the words of wisdom and valour, as they should flow in mingled stream from the lips of Captain MacTurk.

The footpath to the Buck-stane, which here joined the bridle-road, had been constructed, at the expense of a subscription, under the direction of Mr. Winterblossom, who had taste enough to see the beauties of this secluded spot, which was exactly such as in earlier times might have harboured the ambush of some marauding chief. This recollection had not escaped Tyrrel, to whom the whole scenery was familiar, who

"Then," said the Captain, "Sir Binco, I will beg the favour of your company to the smoking room, where we may have a cigar and a glass of gin-twist; and we will consider how the honour of the company must be supported and upholden upon the present conjuncture."

Mean while the rest of the company joined the ladies. "Here has been Clara," said Lady Penelope to Mr. Mowbray; "here has been Miss Mowbray among us, like the ray of a sun which does but dazzle and die."

"Ah, poor Clara," said Mowbray; "I thought I saw