specimen of a low Irish Miss; dressy, forward, and vulgar. The brother was a most outrageous creature. Sir Patrick Molony, Beaumont's favourite baronet, was a fool to him. The Baronet was unsophisticated, he assumed nothing, but here was a grotesque and spurious kind of dandyism engrafted upon the native animal. At first I did not know what to make of him, but after some observation, I discovered his object-it was to be a beau. Jane's description of him was, I believe, the best—a dandy-savage.

Lord Truro was such a very gentleman-like person-he had so much of the Paulet in his manner, that any one who was ignorant of mankind would have been at a loss to understand how he could have connected himself with such a set; but, accustomed as I was every day to witness the most incongruous alliances, to me there was nothing very astonishing in this affair. Lord Truro had in his youth been much admired for his grace and beauty; it appeared that this was peculiarly his weak side, and I was not long in discovering that he had not otherwise much strength to guard against any attacks made thereupon. These people had, no doubt, a sufficiency of low cunning; he was alone, and advanced in life; they had of course laid siege to him with a storm of flattery, and he probably became an easy conquest.

Paulet, however, treated them with perfect courtesy; his beautiful and graceful wife, for his sake, bore with them; and Alice, always correct and considerate, was not deficient in attention. At first they were rather cowed by the consciousness of their being so entirely out of place, but, after a time, native impudence relieved them from this embarrassment, and they shone forth in their real colours.

I need, perhaps, scarcely say that there was no addition to the party at dinner, for Paulet had too much respect for his uncle and his own family, to invite any stranger to laugh at his new connexions.

These dreadful people could not eat their dinner even, without betraying the beast. They all fed with the knife, except when a sudden recollection, or a significant look from Lord Truro would remind either of them of instructions, which it was obvious, from such glances, that they had received beforehand, with respect to their behaviour, but habit in general asserted its predominance. The old woman, indeed, seemed quite incorrigible, for she used the weapon aforesaid with such rash security, that Lady Jane cast a half-fearful

glance at me as Mrs. Cleghorn drew the blade from her mouth, lest she should cut herself from ear to ear; but of this there was no apprehension, for the old lady had too much practice. I should be suspected of exaggeration were I to detail all the irregularities of the parent savage, but I shall never forget the astonished countenance of the servant, when she asked for "A cut of bread, young man.' As for Jane, she was obliged to put her handkerchief to her mouth, and even Alice could with difficulty suppress a smile; her son-in-law blushed, but Paulet was imperturbable. Fortunately I could always preserve a perfect command over my features.

99

Dinner ended, and the ladies withdrawn, the savage, who had been rather shy in the presence of Jane and Alice, began to evince a desire of taking a lead in the conversation. Politics being the theme of the day, Lord Truro made some indifferent remarks relative thereto; the savage uttered a contrary opinion with such fierceness of language, as must almost have been considered personal, had it proceeded from an individual acquainted with and amenable to the laws of good breeding. No notice being taken of what he said, he proceeded in the same style, until Lord Truro, provoked and ashamed at the outrageousness of the creature, found it expedient to take upon himself the office of keeper, and rebuked him in sharp terms, which caused the following rejoinder.

"Sure, I'm only expressing my opinion, my Lord, and there's no harrum in that. I'd like to know what gentleman would say the contrary?" he added with an air of defiance.

"I fear, Sir," observed I, "that this country is not quite so free as that fortunate island of which you are a native. I fancy many things might be both said and done there which would not be tolerated here."

"Mr. Cleghorn," said Paulet, "I'll trouble you to pass the white wine."

The savage did as he was requested, at the same time looking rather bewildered, as if he did not understand what I said, and therefore suspected that it contained material for a quarrel.

"Divil take me, if I know!" answered he resolutely, after a pause; "but I'll spake my opinion out manfully wherever I may be, that will I, 'faith, for I'm afraid of no man."

Lord Truro blushed with shame and anger, and without taking any further notice of his untamed connexion, proposed that we should join the ladies, and left the room. I followed his example, and as I went up stairs I heard the savage behind murmuring and menacing audibly at the disrespectful treatment he had met with.

What passed further that evening I know not, for having spoken a word to Alice, I went down to the House.

CHAPTER XLI.

THE reader will easily believe, that my desire to become acquainted with the anonymous writer who had made such a malignant attempt to mar the happiness of Alice and myself had, now that his base design was exposed and frustrated, dwindled into a mere matter of curiosity. I had set it down in my own mind as proceeding rather from petty female malice than deliberate villany, and in fact, had nearly forgotten the circumstance, when I was reminded of it by an occurrence, which I must relate.

I was walking one day through an obscure street in the neighbourhood of Marylebone, when I perceived on the opposite side of the way, a little in advance of myself, a person whose appearance attracted my particular attention. The profile of this man strongly resembled my uncle, although the lip was free from the moustaches, which the latter had worn when he left Sydenham; the dress was shabby, as if with a view to disguise, but the step and mein could hardly be mistaken. That I might observe without being observed, 1 slackened my pace, and crossed over to the same side with the stranger. I followed him quietly, until he turned down a street to the right, but in so doing, he cast behind a glance which was arrested by my person, for on seeing me, he suddenly hurried forward. This movement confirmed my suspicion; I pressed after him, but upon turning into the street where he disappeared, I found that I had lost him. He must have gone into one of the houses, and my first impulse was to call at each, and inquire if such a person lodged there. But upon consideration, I abandoned this purpose, which, if successful, could be productive of no probable effect, for how could I speak to my scoundrel relative, or what excuse could I make for concerning myself in his affairs? Nevertheless I felt exceeding desirous to know what he was doing in London, where he was evidently incog. That it boded no good, to myself especially, I could not but feel a strong presentiment, and the anonymous letter immediately recurred to me. While at Sydenham he frequently betrayed the strongest

repugnance to the idea of my marrying, and never omitted an opportunity of endeavouring to create in me a contempt and ahhorrence of the 'blessed condition of matrimony, to which, in the abstract, I certainly had no great inclination.

Instead, therefore, of calling at every house on a fool's errand to inquire if Mr. Sydenham lodged there, I contented myself with taking the name of the street and sending for one of the ferrets of the police, whom I had in my pay, having sometimes occasion to employ him for political purposes. To this ferret, whom I knew to be vigilant, faithful, and persevering, I communicated certain particulars relative to a certain person, desiring him to obtain all possible information respecting the present situation, proceedings, connections, and views of that person. My trusty ferret nodded and winked, asked no unnecessary question, and promised to use despatch and his best talents in this service.

In a few days, my emissary reported progress. The individual was living in a house of bad reputation. He occupied the first floor, and underneath was a low hell. He passed by the name of Bayley. His principal associates, according to the observations of my spy, were a foreigner, and a young man of the name of Burgess, who lived in Craven street, Strand. I was startled by the latter name, and desired a particular description of the owner's person. He was tall, raw-boned, and confident in his address; a cocked-up nose, greenish eyes, straight black hair, and sallow complexion; age twenty or thereabouts. This description exactly corresponded with my friend the vicar's son !

My determination was instantly taken. I had promised Burgess to take some notice of his son in London; this promise, my engagements had hitherto afforded me no opportunity of performing, which I fully intended, from respect and regard for the old man. I should, therefore, have a good excuse for calling at the young gentleman's lodgings.

I paid him a visit accordingly, but was told that he was not within. In the evening I sent to invite him to dinner the following day. He came, and nothing was more obvious, as there were but few topics in common between us, than that I should turn the conversation upon himself and his pursuits. To all my inquiries, his answers were of such a kind as to give me to understand that he was almost exclusively devoted to his studies. It required but little penetration to see that the lad was playing the hypocrite. His raw, low cunning could hardly deceive me. I had considerable difficulty,