WITHOUT observing that Pompey was behind them, and listening, Mrs Clatterpenny continued-"Talking of second marriages, Mr Shortridge is no a commodity for my money. No no, dear cousin Peabody, if ever I make a change, and it's no a small matter that would tempt me, my taste would choose something more to the purpose, for he's ower young." "I expect," said Peabody, "that he's older than you think, and you ben't yourself so old in my eyes as you look" at the same time he turned aside mumbling, though ugly enough to stop a sawmill or a nigger's burial."

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"What you say," replied Mrs Clatterpenny, "is a most just observe. I have aye been thought vastly younger than I look like; I was even more so when in my teens."

Mr Peabody looked askance at her, and said to himself, "That's a bouncer." Presently, however, he added, in a more conciliatory key, "But don't you think the squire a terrible smart man? I know he is."

"Oh, oh," said the old lady, "he's jealous of Mr Shortridge, 'cause we came in the same ship. No, no, sweet Mr Peabody, it will be long to the day or my fancy fix on him; if ever I make another choice, I'll choose a sober sensible man like you; and I think I would prefer an American, for they say that the 'mericans make the best of husbands."

"The devil!" cried Mr Peabody, starting off apart.

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"Oh missy, oh massa!" cried Pompey, looking at the astonished pair. I'll faint," cried she; "hold out your arms, sweet Mr Peabody, that I may faint in them."

Peabody, however, gave an upward look, and she fell into the arms of Pompey, upon which she uttered a shrill scream, and ran off, followed by the negro, while the Yankee, looking knowingly after them, said coolly,

"6

Well, this be pretty special too; and yet I expect she has the rights on't. A woman of her years to take up with the squire, would be an Ethiopian shame; but I reckon, had he been of as good an age as I, she I would have come to. But here is her 'torney at law; I'll speak to him. -Mister-I say, mister, if so be you ha'n't cause for scudding, I would like to talk a word or so with you concerning our cousin Dame Clatterpenny's circumstance, because, you sce, she is my relation."

At this summons, Mr Threeper, who was on the landing-place, entered the room, and said, " At your service, Mr Peabody."

As if the old man was at a loss what to say, he eyed the advocate from top to toe, and then continued,

"I expect, mister, that cousin Clatterpenny has been glomrified some at my claim to them 'ere lands in Scotland State."

Mr Threeper drew himself up erectly, and said with a superciliousness worthy of his profession, taking a pinch of snuff, at the same time,-"Oh my dear sir, don't deceive yourself; your claim is worth nothing."

"That's plain, I guess," replied Mr Peabody. "If I was not somehow by instinct thinking so myself, or I am a cranberry; and bottle me

Mr Peabody continued

"Now, you think her as valuable as nothing; but I'd give my male cow and three heifers, to have another such in my house at Mount Pisgah, State of Vermont."

"Is this possible?" cried the advocate aloud. "Yes, Mrs Clatterpenny is indeed, a most surprising woman, -shrewd, discerning, nimble for her years; managing in her cares every shilling she spends, and she sees both sides of it before she parts with it. I know few like her."

Peabody replied "that she indeed took care of Number One.-And so you think," said he," that her claim to be inheritor is better than mine after all ?"

"C

Mr Threeper hesitated a little, and throwing back his head, with professional sapience replied,Upon that subject, the integrity of my gown denies me freedom of speech; but this I know, and may say to you as her kinsman, that according to the evidence given in, she has quite as good a chance of establishing her claim, as you have of proving yours. More it becomes not me to say; less perhaps had been more prudent."

The Vermont farmer looked a little grave at this, and after pondering well for a short time, he said

"Which, now, in your opinion, (I does not ask your opinion according to law,) but which would you commend for she and I to do-to half stakes, to go to law, or to 'spouse?" To this Threeper promptly replied "I could never advise her to go half with you. As for going to law, it is not graceful among relations."

under the conjugal yoke, why, I think"-and he stopped at these words, suddenly arrested in thought. Now, mister," said Peabody, waiting for his explanation, "and what may that think be?"

Co

The Edinburgh lawyer replied very adroitly," it would be a happy way of putting an end to family dif ferences."

"Well," said the American, "you a'n't the first man who didn't magnify his own trade."

"I calculate," said Peabody, "it might be the beginning of family differences; but, mister," "Sir ?"

"Could'nt you, in a far off way, round a corner, see how the wind hauls with the old ladye?"

Mr Threeper, at this, shook his head in the most sagacious manner, and replied,-"Impossible! I am her professional adviser, my duty is to protect her; couldn't think of recommending her to marry-no, Mr Peabody, not even you."

This was uttered with such solemnity, that it had a manifest effect upon the old gentleman, who immediately said," Well, that mayn't be quite propriety; but couldn't you, by the way of a squint, give her to understand'em 'ere three ways of scalding the hog ?-But, between you and I, I'd rather go halves."

Mr Threeper started at this, and, stepping aside, exclaimed,-" Can he know of Tompkins's advantage?" But, before he was upright, Peabody cried,-"I was saying, mister, I'd rather go halves than splice, for, you know, she can talk."

Just at this moment a knocking was heard on the door, and, on opening it, Mr Shortridge made his appearance, not in the best order. He had been with Miss Octavia, and had not been treated by her, as, in his own opinion, his merits deserved; without, also, knowing the whole facts of the case, he had begun to suspect, that his father, notwithstanding his long forecasting faculty, had cut before the point, in supposing that an American lady could be so easily won. In short, the young gentleman was much flurried, and his endeavour to preserve a shew of serenity was palpable to every beholder; but, having introduced him, in this agitated state, to Mr Peabody and Mr Threeper, it merits a place in the next Chapter, to relate what ensued.

MR ARCHIBALD Shortridge, jun., came forward, with that smirk, bow, and cringe, which betokens a gem of the first water in a certain metropolis of the west of Scotland, and which, on the present occasion, there is no need to name.

"Glad, gentlemen," said he, "I am to have found you together. Nothing like doing business off hand. Mr Peabody, I have considered your advice, and I do think that many a man has matched worse than with such a lady."

The American took, for some time, no part in the conversation, but he listened with ears apert, and now and then spoke to himself, or, as the players have it in their books, he let the audience know what he thought in a whisper, aside. But the Edinburgh lawyer, more professionally loquacious, said to the young merchant," So he seems to think."

On hearing this, the Vermont native said to himself,-" He has swallowed the hook!"

Mr Shortridge not overhearing him, addressed Mr Threeper, and said," As you have great influence with her, might I solicit your aid?"

The advocate, conceiving that he spoke of Mr Peabody's penchant for Mrs Clatterpenny, replied,-" I have just told Mr Peabody, that professional delicacy lays an interdict on all direct interference on my part."

Mr Shortridge, who thought only of himself, imagining that the observation applied to his own case, answered," I beg your pardon, but I have to thank Mr Peabody for the kind and warm interest he has taken in my behalf."

Mr Threeper, still in error, said, "It is grateful in you to be anxious to repay it, but, in this matter, for the reason I have stated, I cannot interfere; you may, however, with superior effect."

Mr Shortridge having no other interjection at hand, exclaimed,-" I am surprised!"

"Not more than I am," replied Mr Threeper; "the lady surprised me, Mr Peabody surprised me, and you have surprised me." And, in saying these words, he rapped upon the lid of his snuff-box, opened it, and took a pinch.

"Then you don't think," enquired Mr Shortridge, "that it is a very ridiculous affair?" Mr Threeper, filling the other nostril, said, "It is a most judicious affair." The young merchant, delighted to hear this, declared, in the ardour of his heart, that the thought had never entered his head, till Mr Peabody spoke to him.

At this the American came hurriedly towards them, crying," I swear, Mister and Squire, we be all on the wrong tack; but here comes cousin Clatterpenny herself, and we shall soon be all slick."

At this moment the lady entered the apartment. Brimful of news she appeared, or rather with expectations; but, however that may be, her face was as a book in which men might read strange matters.

"Eh,gentlemen," cried she, "whatna brewing's in the cauldron now, that you're laying your heads thegither, as if ye were three wise men from the East? Dear cousin, you being a 'merican, should recollect that ye come out of the West."

While she was saying this, Shortridge, in a low voice, requested him to speak a good word in favour of his suit; and Peabody, at the same moment, whispered to Mr Threeper, "Can't you tell her of my three offers?"

But, before he had time to answer, Mrs Clatterpenny enquired, in his ear, if he had made an incision.

All this caused a little delay, during which, the American, becoming somewhat impatient, spoke himself to Mrs Clatterpenny," Well, cousin," said he, "I have been making my calculations with this here 'torney, and he will tell you the terms."

"Oh," cried Mrs Clatterpenny, with a languishing and emphatic leer, "do not speak of that; ours will not be a bargaining; I'll surrender at discretion."

The Glasgow beau, no longer able to repress his ardent passion, caught her in his arms, exclaiming," My dear ma'am, I could not have anticipated, so early, such happiness!"

Mrs Clatterpenny, amazed at his freedom, cried, pushing him off,"Keep your distance, Mr Shortridge; another cat shall lap in my porrin

"Well then, 'Tavy," said the American father, "I'll be no longer a 'pediment; he may take you by the arm and walk in the streets when you likes."

"To Jericho!" cried Peabody; "but I say, mister, is that 'ere true what Charlie Tompkins has been atelling?"

"It is," replied Threeper, with professional dignity; "his evidence is indubitable, and no possible obstacle can be set up to his claim."

Mrs Clatterpenny was confounded, and scarcely knowing what she said, cried, "Am I an owl in the desert ?"

"No, madam," said Mr Threeper, in the best style of the coterie of the stove in the Parliament House, "the constancy of my attention to your concerns should convince you that some interest nearer and dearer than a professional engagement has knit me to your cause.'

"Ah, Mr Threeper!" replied the widow, "but, if I marry again, my jointure by the dear deceased doctor goes away, and ye are a man yourself of no substance."

As this was said, Mr Tompkins stepped forward and addressed Mrs Clatterpenny, somewhat formally.

"Let not that, however," said he, "my dear lady, be an obstacle to your union; for I have given him an undertaking to settle on you a thousand dollars a-year to mitigate your disappointment."

"Mr Threeper, is this true?" exclaimed the old lady. "Oh, ye son of deceitfulness, no to tell me but ye had interests nearer and dearer than professional engagements!"

She then turned round to Mr Tompkins, and thanked him for his generosity with one of her most gracious smiles; while Peabody muttered to himself, "A thousand dollars a-year! Well, it would be a good spec. to have her yet;" and going towards her, he said, My dear cousin".

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"My dear cousin!" said she, with a toss of her head, get you to Jericho!" And she flung as it were the old man away.

Mr Shortridge, on seeing this, said, "None of them, ma'am, have been actuated with such true regard

as me."

"Deed, Mr Shortridge," replied the old lady, "I see that ye have a thousand reasons for saying so; but I am no a nymph in her juvenility. No, no; I'm oure auld a hen to be caught by chaff."

And, in saying this, she wished the young couple all manner of health and joy for the remainder of their lives, in which we cordially join.