come to this sinful city to lay his head in the grave; but if it is the cholera, surely the doctors would never let me do that." And then having tormented herself with this cogitation, a ray broke in upon her benighted brain; and among other things which she conjured up for her comfort, she remembered that Johnny had written to her a letter, in which he had told her that cholera patients were not received into the hospital which he was attending. In short, Mrs Clatterpenny never knew what it was to let down her eyelids all that night. Her peace was also disturbed by a policeman walking beneath her window; as often as she heard his foot fall on the stones she covered her head, lay trembling, and concluded that he could be nothing less than a London housebreaker. By and bye, however, the dawn began to dapple the east, and betimes she arose, thinking of her Johnny and of the man walking in the street. At last she heard her landlady stirring, and she rose to disclose to her the jeopardy that she had discovered them all to have been in; but it was sometime before she proved to the satisfaction of the innocent landlady, that the policeman was a thief, though she had no doubt upon the subject

herself.

"But," said she, "if he had not an ill turn to do, what for was he going up and down at the dead hour of night, and looking in at the seams of the windows wherever he saw a light within? That's volumous! And if I thought that Mr Threeper was rightly versed in the jookries of the law, I would go home and leave him to knit the ravelled skein himself; but I have seen, since Į brought him with me, that he has not a spur in his head, and I maun stay to keep him right. I would advise every one that may be brought into my situation, to make no covenant with a man of the law till he has been proven in a steamvessel."

At this moment Mr Threeper, as the day was now advanced, came into her parlour, and sent up word that he was there waiting to take breakfast with her. She took this, in her forlorn estate, very kind of him, little thinking that he thereby would save the price of his breakfast at the hotel, which he intended to charge in his

account, and at the same time make a judicious application to her teapot. However, she made haste down stairs, and was right well pleased with her visitor.

"This is," said she to him, "very discreet of you to come in such a friendly manner to see me, for really I am no out of the need of friendship. All night I could think of nothing but our Johnny that's at his studies in the hospital here, and a dreadful apparition walking the streets, girding his thoughts for guilt. At times, Mr Threeper, I could not forget yon Peabodys; the old man is just a fright, but his daughter is weel-fairt; and if our Johnny can make a conquest of her tender affections, she'll not make an ill match."

"It will be a judicious union," replied Mr Threeper, "for then the doubt that you have, whether your mother or Mr Peabody's was the ELDER daughter of old Ardenlochie, will be got over in a very satisfactory manner."

"I've been thinking so too," replied Mrs Clatterpenny, "but I do not approve of yon curdooing with the lad Tompkins; and I'm just out of the body till I see our Johnny, to give him counsel how to behave in such ajeopardy; for Johnny, I needna tell you, is a very sightly young man, though ye'll say that the craw aye thinks its own bird the whitest. Howsomever, Mr Threeper, I'm no a woman given to such vanities; only, it would be the height of injustice if I were to deny, that for my taste, were I a wanter on the eve of a purpose of marriage, I would make our Johnny my option instead of the lad from Virginy-but every one to her own liking."

During this conversation, Mr Threeper was laying in his breakfast; plate of toast after plate had disappeared, till the paucity of materials attracted the attention of Mrs Clatterpenny, insomuch that she could not help remarking, it was well seen the Englishers were a starveling nation, and did not know the comforts of a good breakfast, though they pretended to have a nostril for roast beef at their dinner.

"And it's very plain, Mr Threeper, that they have but a scrimpit notion, after all, of good living. Oh, Mr Threeper, if ye had seen what I have

seen of a Highland breakfast, your mouth would water. When I was a young lady in my teens, before I was married to my dear deceased doctor, I paid a visit to Hector Dhu, and ye would have seen, had ye been in his house then, what a breakfast should be. We had, in the first place, I remember well, though there was just him and me, a plateful of eggs as big as a stack of peats; a mutton ham, boiled whole; a cold hen, left from the dinner the day before, just wanting a wing; four rizzart haddocks, every one of them as big as a wee whale; six farles of crump-cake; three penny loaves-they were a little mouldy, but ye're to expect that in the Highlands; and a plate of toasted bread, that it would have ta'en a man

of learning to count the slices. That was a breakfast! besides tea and coffee. To be sure the coffee was not very good, and ye might have said, without the breach of truth, that the servant had forgotten to put in the beans; but it was something, I trow different from the starvation of toom plates such as we see here. Do ye know, Mr Threeper, that ye have been so busy in taking your share, seeing there was so little, that ye forgat me altogether? I haven't had devilbe-licket of all the bread that was brought into the room."

At this moment Johnny entered the apartment;-but we must defer to another chapter, what passed on that occasion.

Dr Johnny, as young Clatterpenny was called among his companions, had not the talents of his mother. He took more after what his father had been; namely, he was above mediocrity in his appearance, stood on excellent terms with himself, and though it could not be said that he was a young man of ability, he had address enough, with a consequential air, to make himself pass, with a certain class of old women, as one of that description.

His mother was all interjections and fondness at the sight of her son, who had come to breakfast, and, to the great gratification of Mr Threeper, she was not long of making this intention known to the servant of the house; recommending, at the same time, to the astonished menial, to prepare something better than a shaving of bread, for Scotland was not a land of famine.

While the new breakfast was preparing, divers interlocutors were delivered by each of the several par

ties;

and before the tray was served a second time, Dr Johnny understood on what footing Mr Threeper had accompanied his mother. “But,” said the old lady, "our chief dependence, Johnny,is on you; for although it cannot be doubted that Mr Peabody and me are either of us the true heir, it would save a great fasherie at law if ye would draw up with his daughter, whom I must

say has a comely face, and her likeness is not in every draw-well that a Joe Janet keeks into."

Johnny acknowledged the superiority of the young lady, but expressed some fear that Tompkins had already engaged her affections.

"Not that I," said he, "care much about that, for a woman brought up in the woods, no doubt, snaps at the first gentleman that says a civil word to her."

"Yes," interposed Mr Threeper, "inexperience is easily beguiled."

"That," said Mrs Clatterpenny, "is the next bore to what I said, when my dear deceased husband, the doctor, and his father, made up to me. Heigh, sirs, many changes have happened in the world since then! I was very different from what I'm now; for I was then very well looked, and Mr M'Causlin, the merchant, that had a shop on the South Bridge, often and often said sae. But fate's fate; I was ordained to throw myself away on the doctor. Ah, but, with all his faults, he was a man that had a way of his own; and when he went out in the morning, his shoes were like black satin, and the ring on his finger was a carbuncle of great price. Mr Threeper, he was a learned man likewise, and told me that castor oil comes from America; but cousins are worse than castor oil. And he was a jocose man, and had the skin of a crocodile hanging in

the shop, which he used to call our humbug.

"Dear Doctor,' quo' I one day to him,' surely they were giants in those days, when such like bugs bit their backs' which made him laugh so loud and long that he terrified me, lest it was not in his power to stop. But, poor man, every thing under the sun is ordained to have an end, as well as his guffaw."

The advocate having by this time quenched his hunger, could partake, as he said himself, "of nothing further of the toast and tea," sliddered back his chair from the breakfast table, and with a grave professional air, told Dr Johnny, that it was not idle talk that his mother uttered, when she recommended him to cast a sheep's eye at Miss Octavia.

"After," said he, "the gravest consideration that I have been able to bestow on this very difficult case, I have come to a conclusion, that we ought not to go to law if we can make a marriage between you and Mr Peabody's only daughter. Therefore, you see, sir, that much depends upon you; and I am of opinion, that it is a very fortunate thing the young lady is so gracefully endowed.",

"That's a very connect speech," said Mrs Clatterpenny;" and, Johnny, my dear, what have you got to gainsay such powerful argolling?"

The young doctor, after duly considering what he had heard, answered: "I will make no rash promises. Miss Peabody is certainly a very eligible match for me in my present state; but if my mother is the heiress, why should I think of marrying her at all? I ought to look to a little better."

"That's very discreet of you," said Mrs Clatterpenny, "if I were the true heir; but if Peabody comes in before me, what do ye say to that?" "Ah," replied Johnny, "the case is different, for then Miss would be most desirable. Mr Threeper, is there any doubt of that?"

None," said the lawyer, "none in my opinion; but if we are to go into court with the question, there may be objections raised; and in the present aspect of all things, I would advise you to cherish kindly inclination towards the young lady."

"I would advise you too," said his mother," for possession is nine

points of the law, and there's no telling what airt the wind blows when there's a gale in the Parliament House."

"I will think of what you have advised, Mr Threeper," said Doctor Johnny.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that," said his mother, "and let no grass grow beneath your feet till ye have paid your respects to the lady this morning in their new lodgings, No. 110, in Spring Gardens; a very creditable place, as I understand. And if ye make haste, ye'll be there before that upsetting young man from Virginy, that they call Mr-houselicat."

Nothing particular at that time took place after this admonition. Doctor Johnny took his leave for the purpose of doing what his mother advised; and while he was on the road through the Park to Springgardens, Mr Peabody and his daughter were sitting after breakfast discoursing at their ease, respecting Mrs Clatterpenny and her pretensions.

"What could have brought the old lady," said Miss Octavia, meet us in London ?"

"I don't know," answered her father; " I guess it might be the ship. But if so be that we ain't the inheritors of that 'ere old Scotch Indian chief's location, you may make a better speck of yourself."

"Oh, heavens!" cried the young lady.

Why, Tavy, you see here," said the old gentleman, "how the cat jumps; you know what a dead ever lasting certainty it is to lose property in them 'ere doubts of law."

"But," said the simple maiden, "consider my regard for cousin Clatterpenny.'

"I have been," said the old gentleman, "a-making my calculations 'bout it, so will be no more a stump in the way, bekase of them 'ere doubts. Oh, Tavy, what be the matter? I guess if she ain't besoomed right away. Help! help!"

At this instant Doctor Johnny made his appearance, and joined in the confusion; but before the lovesick Miss was recovered, the porter from the inn had brought a letter for Mr Peabody, which had come by the post that morning, with a superscription to be delivered immedi

ately. The old man having got his daughter upright, left her in the hands of Doctor Johnny; and going to a window, read the letter to himself very quietly. But though he made no exclamation, the contents evidently gave him pleasure, and he put the letter folded up again into his waistcoat-pocket, and returned towards the afflicted damsel.

The conversation, in the mean time, between Doctor Johnny and Miss Octavia, shewed him that he had no hope in that quarter. She was a sharp and shrewd observer, and saw that she had not that measure of acomplishments and beauty which would obtain the ascendency in his breast, and therefore was not long of convincing him that he had nothing to hope for. Indeed there was ill luck in the time of his application, and she felt that she had too long dissembled. Accordingly, she determined to do so no more, and she made short work with the Doctor, soon giving him his dismissal, to which he had no time to reply, when Mrs Clatterpenny and Mr Threeper came in; the lady saying to Mr Peabody as she entered, without observing the condition of Miss Octavia, "Is't really true, Mr Peabody, that in America the advocates and lords of session sit in judgment amang you wanting wigs and gowns? For my part, if I am to pay for law, I wouldna think I gat justice if the advocates and the fifteen hadna wigs nor gowns; I would always like to get all that pertains to a whole suit if I paid for one."

Mr Peabody made no reply to this speech, but touching his forehead significantly, said, " Is she?"

Mr Threeper was taken a little aback, and answered rather rashly, "Sometimes."

Presently, however, he added, "when necessary." Mrs Clatter penny, very quick in her observations, observed the gestures of her kinsman, and said aside to her man of business, "Have I given him a suspect of my composety?" and then add ed, "I'll leave you to sift him, and be

sure ye find out all the favourable outs and ins of my anxiety."

"Cousin Peabody," she rejoined aloud, "I'll just step oure and see my sweet friend Miss Octavia. She's a fine creature; and I'm just like my dear deceased husband, who was very fond of Octavos-indeed he was very fond of them. And, oh, but he was a jocose man; for, one day, when I was wearying by myself, seeing him sae taken up with one of his Octavos, and saying, Oh that I were a book instead of a wife, I would not object,' said he, if ye were an almanack; that I might get a new one every year.'

With these words she went across the room to Doctor Johnny; and the young lady, who, now recovered, was sitting talking to him on a sofa, and Peabody with Mr Threeper continued their confabulation near the door of the room.

"I calculate," said the Vermont farmer, touching his forehead, “ that the old ladye be quite 'roneous."

"Your remark is perfectly just; but she is not altogether fatuous, for in that case she could not have persuaded me to come with her, though she can well afford it."

"I guess, then," said Mr Peabody," she is tarnation rich."

"She will be," replied the advocate drily, "when she is in possession of the Ardenlochie property."

Aye," replied the old man, "that may be true, but I likewise am an inheritor."

"That you were a relation we have always known.”

"But may not I be the heir ?" said Peabody.

"Certainly, if there be no other," replied the legal gentleman.

"And if there be another," cried the old man, " what then?" putting his hand into his waistcoat pocket, and pulling out the letter he had just received.

"You can't, that's all," replied Mr Threeper.

"Read that, squire," said the old with a flourish. gentleman, handing the letter to him

MR THREEPER received the letter; and before looking at it, regarded the Yankee farmer inquisitively; but his countenance remained as imperturbable as the trunk of a pinetree in the American forest. He then looked at the letter-first at the seal, which told nothing; but on inspecting the superscription, he gave a slight start of recognition,-Mr Peabody eyeing him very steadfastly, but sedately.

"That 'ere letter," says he, "gives me to know, that my claim beats cousin Clatterpenny's to immortal smash."

Mr Threeper made no immediate reply. "Who? in the name of -," cried he." No, no, Mr Peabody, this letter misinforms you. Conscience of me, but I am astonished, and beginning to be confounded."

"Why," said Mr Peabody," ain't it one Nabal M'Gab? Look ye there, he scriptifies himself Nabal M'Gab, writer to the signet, Edinburgh; and as sure as rifles, he offers to establish my right on shares."

Mr Threeper was amazed; he did not know which way to look-whether to the right or left, or up or down. At last he declared, in a kind of soliloquy, "The family papers were put into his hands on my own advice; and he betrays his trust without consulting me."

Mr Peabody observed, with a little more inflection of accent," I guess we would call such a dry trick, I yank-thou yankest-he or she yanks -we yank-ye yank-they yankwe all yank together.'

"But this is treason, Mr Peabody; he deceives you, Mr Peabody ;there are others of the Ardenlochie blood in America besides you."

"Well," said the old man, "what of that?"

Mr Threeper, putting his hands to his lips, said," Hush." "Wherefore?"

"Hark!" said Threeper, "it was a footstep at the door."

"Well, if so be," said Peabody, "I expect it's my dog, Bonaparte, scraping to come in-if it bean't nobody else."

"Mr Peabody," replied the man of

law, in a whisper, "join with us, and we'll all keep the secret."

The old man looked at him slily, and then said, "I s'pose you are on shares with the old ladye ?"

"Don't talk of it," said Mr Threeper," but join with us."

"Ah, if Cousin Clatterpenny is not the heir, mother's sister had a sister that was not grandmother to she."

"Gracious," cried Threeper," you alarm me!"

"But it is as true as nothing," said the Vermont farmer." She was her aunt in Virginy; and died one day afore I wer'n't born."

"Indeed!" said Threeper; "and was that aunt married ?"

"Well, I reckon I can't tell," replied Peabody-adding, " By jinks! I have papers in my velisse, to judicate that 'ere matter-stay while I fetch them."

At these words, Mr Peabody went out of the room, and left Mr Threeper standing on the floor. "Here," said he, " is a new turn up; an aunt in Virginia! Should she have left issue, what is to be done? The old lady may give it up-but how am I to be indemnified?"

Mrs Clatterpenny, seeing him alone, and perplexed, came forward, and, with a wheedling voice, said to him, "Oh, but ye're a man of sagacity; and so," with a softened tone she added, "wi' your counselling, and the help of my own management, he thinks me a conkos mentos -hah, Mr Threeper, what's come ower you, that ye're in such constipation?"

"Enough," replied the advocate, enough has come to my knowledge to drive us both mad. M'Gab has written to him all the infirmities of our case, and has told him that he was nearer of blood than you."

"Ay," said Mrs Clatterpenny, "that's piper's news,-would e'er Í have brought you with me, had mine been a clear case? But I knew you were souple in the law; and being affected with the apprehensions, I ran the risk on shares wi' you, behaved to you-did I not ?-in the most discreet manner, when you