"I do," he muttered in confusion; "and if Captain Blake dare

"What?"

"Support his allegations"

"Ay, and prove them."

Mr. Harrison looked at us attentively." There's calmness in his manner," he half exclaimed, as he eyed me carefully. "And have you not played deep,-patronized bruisers, -lived with an opera-girl,-and shot at some fellow in the Guards ?"

"No, sir. All and every portion of these charges is unfounded."

The old man bent a wrathful brow, as he said to my discomfited rival," Did you not tell me all this was true ?"

"I did. The papers

"Pshaw! why blame the papers ?" said the old man testily; "did I not warn you of their inaccuracy, and send you specially to town to institute inquiries, and ascertain how far these statements could be supported. You returned,—told me all was too true, and that the profligacy of my grandson was proverbial." Sedley looked confounded, and made no reply. "And now, John," and he turned to me," what charges do you bring against this gentleman ?"

"He is a ruined gambler, the associate of blacklegs; and farther, I accuse him of robbing his benefactor-yourself, and concealing his embezzlements by trickery and fraud. Have, you ever employed him in any stock transactions ?"

The old man started, and Sedley grew paler still, when he asked him, "if he had made the transfers ?"

"It was too late, sir;-an accident delayed the coach, and the offices were closed before I reached town."

"And yet you left me at Daventry before nine!" Sedley muttered something of a break-down; but guilt was apparent, and his look was that of a convicted criminal. old man continued :

The

"Go, sir. Return to town; we sleep not under the same roof until your innocence is established." And he desired me to ring the bell and order a post-chaise. "At four to-morrow meet me in London at my solicitor's, and see that you bring the stock receipts, and ample testimony to refute these damning allegations against your character." Then turning to me, he said, "Youth will be occasionally wayward and irregular, and time and experience may redeem the errors of the head, if the heart

be sound; but where there is falsehood and hypocrisy, that case is hopeless."

The carriage-wheels were heard ;-Sedley bowed to Miss Clifden,-advanced to take the old man's hand, which he scornfully refused,-passed me with a scowl of deadly hatred, and whispered in a voice too low for any but myself to hear, "Look to yourself, Blake!"

A smile of bitter contempt was the only answer his threat elicited; and in a few minutes we heard the carriage start for London.

"You must be tired, sir? This scene was much too trying for an invalid."

"I am a little nervous; but happy that this éclaircissement has taken place. Sedley, I fear, is a lost man. His guilt is clear, and, from some circumstances, I am convinced that in the stock which I entrusted him to transfer, there will be found a serious defalcation. It is but six thousand pounds in all: the money is a poor consideration to the detected worthlessness of the son of him I loved so warmly.-Heigh-ho! And you assure me that all these wild and graceless pranks have been perpetrated by that madcap cousin of Satanic name?"

"Indeed, sir, I am guiltless of deceit or concealment, save in one act of disobedience. And before another day passes, you will freely pardon it, and thank me for being so undutiful, as to become a principal in Love's diplomacy, instead of the chargé d'affaires you intended I should be."

Well, I believe it is likely to turn out so.. But you, trai tress!"—and he turned to Emily, on whose sweet face tears and smiles were mingled," what shall I say to you? You to conspire with that roué to desert me! Was I in my last hours to lose my child-my comfort-my

"Oh, no, no! I will never, never leave you !" And she flung her arms around his neck, and wept upon the old mans bosom. Mr. Harrison was deeply affected. Kiss me, my own darling,—and now to bed. It is late, and I wish to speak a few words to John." And he blessed her fervently.

"Good night, Blake!" she said, as with cast-down looks she presented her white hand to me.

"I am a little near-sighted, love," said the old man archly. The hint was not lost upon me, and poor Emily left the room covered with blushes.

I did so, made a hurried meal,-assisted my grandfather up stairs,-talked politics while Robert undressed him,—bade him good night, and sought my pillow to sleep and dream of Emily..

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE RED LION.-LOVERS' QUARRELS, AND THE USUAL RESULT..

My light of life! ah, tell me why,
That pouting lip and alter'd eye ?

BYRON.

Julia.-I have been content to bear from you, what pride and delicacy would have forbad me from another. I will not upbraid you, by repeating how you have trifled with my sincerity. Falkland.-I confess it all! yet hear

The Rivals.

EARLY next morning I visited the old gentleman in his chamber, and found that notwithstanding the agitation he suf fered the preceding night, he had rested well. I told him I was obliged to leave for town directly after breakfast--promised to dine with him in Clarges-street, and took charge of a packet for his solicitor, which I undertook to deliver before twelve o'clock. I left; and on descending to the parlour, found my sweet Emily already there.

Never was happiness more visible upon a human countenance than that which brightened hers; joy laughed in her sparkling eyes, and dimpled her rosy cheek. Phoebe remarked the alteration that restored tranquillity and sanctioned love had wrought; and I too thought Emily more beautiful than

ever.

Plague on that crack-brained cousin with the demoniac by-name!" said the landlady of the Cross Keys; "what mischief his iniquities have caused us all! I lost my rest---Miss Emily her roses-the old gentleman his temper-Sedley a large behest --the only gainer is yourself, captain."

Certainly my friend Jack contrived to make a glorious brouillerie among us. But it is over,—we have escaped, and the only sufferer is that scoundrel Sedley."

"I am glad," said Phœbe," he is finally discarded. I hated him for his ugliness,—yet that was wrong; but there is a coldness about that fellow which makes a villain doubly dangerous. Take care of him," she said, turning to me;

"he will not lose a rich legacy by you without exacting deep revenge if he can obtain it."

I siniled. 66

Phoebe, he will never trouble me. Pshaw!he is below contempt."

"You are too secure," she replied. "Mean scoundrels are more formidable than bold and open enemies."

"Well, well, time flies. Emily, I am obliged to start for town immediately what can I do for you till we meet at dinner?"

:

"Start for town! Will you not accompany us? And can two or three hours be of such moment ?"

Why yes- when a lady is concerned a man cannot be too particular; and I have an appointment to keep."

"With whom ?"

"The prettiest girl in Portland-place.”

"And for what purpose?"

"Only to drive her to Streatham."

"Now, on my life!" said Phoebe angrily," this is intolerable. Who is the lady ?"

"Had you stopped in Berners-street fifteen minutes, as I wanted you to do, you would have seen her."

"Ha! was she the person you expected, and for whom I was at first mistaken ?"

"The same:"-Emily's cheeks flushed;" and a more punctual gentlewoman never indited a billet-doux on satin paper."

แ

"Is she handsome ?-is she agreeable?"

Pleasing in her manners--exceedingly pretty-and "And what?" said mistress and attendant in duetto. "I never met a woman more decidedly in love!" Phoebe blazed up, and Emily looked broken-hearted. "With whom ?"

"With Jack the Devil !" and I caught the sweet girl to my heart, and kissed away the tear that was stealing down her cheek. When I had told the story of my kinsman's conquest, Phoebe laughed at her young mistress.

"You are a provoking wretch !" she said,-" torturing Miss Emily so, and making me appear unamiable, by teasing me into something like bad temper. But I'll plague you for this !"

The horn sounded,-up came the Tally-Ho,-the waiter threw my carpet bag to the guard,-I snatched a kiss from Emily boxed Phoebe's ears-jumped up behind the coachman-turned the corner, and Emily and the Verulam Arms disappeared.

I reached London in good time-left the coach-drove to Berners-street-despatched my grandfather's packet to the solicitor, and sent for Jack's phaeton to drive Miss Moreland' to Streatham, to receive the fealty of my repentant kinsman: It wanted but a quarter of the appointed hour, and I waited for the carriage impatiently, when the waiter showed up Colonel O'Donnel.

We shook hands..

"Ah! glad to see you. How have you been since? Left our friend in tolerable spirits-very anxious for your return. Drove round by Dulwich,--Neville convalescent-wound heal ing fast-speaks handsomely of your cousin. Just from an interview with the baron,-delivered a message, which he declined -gave him two hours, of which fifty-seven minutes ten seconds are unexpired, to return securities, or fight your kinsman. If he demur, I shall proclaim his cowardice, and flog him in the Park-and, from certain and indubitable proofs in my possession, I shall then submit the matter to a court of honour, and show that Captain Blake was cheated by a blackleg. Ah! I see your phaeton-when will you be home?"

"At half-past three. Jack will be with me, for I have settled that matter with the Philistines."

"Egad! happy to find it has been accommodated."

"I want you here particularly, Colonel; I need a friend." "Don't name it--glad to hear it-quite ready, I'll do the thing with pleasure-or, if you prefer your cousin, I'll act en second, and counsel and assist.".

"I think, my dear colonel, I shall not exactly need a fighting friend; but it is a comfort to know where one can find him if required."

"Ah! that it is ;" and the little man-sighed heavily. "Letters to-day from Ireland,-very distressing indeed. Poor Bob Grady, good a fellow as ever touched a feather spring,—shot dead, and by a novice-a man that never burnt powder before!"

"Very dreadful!" I said, fully convinced notwithstanding, that the gentleman who pinked Bob" had done the state some service."

"Dreadful indeed!-He was murdered, sir! Stuck in the corner of a stack-yard-sun in his eyes-and the fool, his second, unable to load a pistol. Why, sir, though Bob execut ed beautifully, the ball, for want of powder, dropped within. three paces of his own foot. Poor fellow! in what splendid style he shot Counsellor O'Flinn! An election quarrel-mob unfriendly-sheriff in the next field-priest cursing in ana