signifies winning a hundred thousand pounds, if you win them to lose them a' again?"

"What signifies it?" replied Mowbray. "Why, it signifies as much to a man of spirit, as having won a battle signifies to a general-no matter that he is beaten afterwards in his turn, he knows there is luck for him as well as others, and so he has spirit to try it again. Here is the young Earl of Ethrington will be amongst us in a day or two-they say he is up to every thing if I had but five hundred to begin with, I should be soon up to him."

Mr. Mowbray," said Meiklewham, "I am sorry for ye. I have been your house's man-of-business-I may say, in some measure, your house's servant-and now I am to see an end of it all, and just by the lad that I thought maist likely to set it up again better than ever; for, to do ye justice, you have aye had an ee to your ain interest, sae far as your lights gaed. It brings tears into my auld een.' "Never weep for the matter, Mick," answered Mowbray; some of it will stick, my old boy, in your pockets, if not in mine your service will not be altogether gratuitous, my old friend-the labourer is worthy of his hire."

"This instant-this day-to-morrow at farthest!" exclaimed the proposed borrower. "Wh-ew!" whistled the lawyer, with a long pro- "Here is success to it, with all my heart," answered longation of the note; the thing is impossible." Meiklewham, heartily glad to see his patron's san"If must be, Mick, for all that," answered Mr.guine temper arrive at this desirable conclusion, and Mowbray, who knew by experience that impossible, when uttered by his accommodating friend in this tone, meant only, when interpreted, extremely difficult, and very expensive.

yet dice and cards are but bones and pasteboard, and I blotted music, needle-work of various kinds, and the best horse ever started may slip a shoulder before many other little female tasks; all undertaken with he get to the winning-post-and so I wish Clara's zeal, and so far prosecuted with art and elegance, venture had not been in such a bottom.-But, hang but all flung aside before any one of them was comit, care killed a cat-I can hedge as well as any one, if pleted. the odds turn up against me-so let us have the cash, Clara herself sat upon a little low couch by the Mick." window, reading, or at least turning over the leaves "Aha! but there go two words to that bargain-of a book, in which she seemed to read. But instantly the stock stands in my name, and Tam Turnpenny starting up when she saw her brother, she ran tothe banker's, as trustees for Miss Clara-Now, get wards him with the most cordial cheerfulness. you her letter to us, desiring us to sell out and to pay you the proceeds, and Tam Turnpenny will let you have five hundred pounds instanter, on the faith of the transaction; for I fancy you would desire a' the stock to be sold out, and it will produce more than six hundred, or seven hundred pounds either-and I reckon you will be selling out the whole-it's needless making twa bites of a cherry."

66

True," answered Mowbray; "since we must be rogues, or something like it, let us make it worth our while at least; so give me a form of the letter, and Clara shall copy it-that is, if she consents; for you know she can keep her own opinion as well as any other woman in the world."

"And that," said Meiklewham, "is as the wind will keep its way, preach to it as ye like. But if I might advise about Miss Clara-I wad say naething mair than that I was stressed for the penny money; for I mistake her muckle if she would like to see you ganging to pitch and toss wi' this lord and tither baronet for her aunt's three per cents-I ken she has some queer notions-she gives away the feck of the dividends on that very stock in downright charity." "And I am in hazard to rob the poor as well as my sister!" said Mowbray, filling once more his own glass and his friend's. Come, Mick, no skylightshere is Clara's health-she is an angel-and I am what I will not call myself, and suffer no other man to call me. But I shall win this time-I am sure I shall, since Clara's fortune depends upon it."

Now, I think, on the other hand," said Meiklewham, "that if any thing should chance wrang, (and Heaven kens that the best-laid schemes will gang ajee,) it will be a great comfort to think that the ultimate losers will only be the poor folk, that have the parish between them and absolute starvation-if your sister spent her ain siller, it would be a very different

story.'

Hush, Mick-for God's sake, hush, mine honest friend," said Mowbray; "it is quite true; thou art a rare counsellor in time of need, and hast as happy a manner of reconciling a man's conscience with his necessities, as might set up a score of casuists; but beware, my most zealous counsellor and confessor, how you drive the nail too far-I promise you some of the chaffing you are at just now rather abates my pluck.-Well-give me your scroll-I will to Clara with it-though I would rather meet the best shot in Britain, with ten paces of green sod betwixt us." So saying, he left the apartment.

CHAPTER XI.

FRATERNAL LOVE.

Nearest of blood should still be next in love;
And when I see these happy children playing,
While William gathers flowers for Ellen's ringlets,
And Ellen dresses flies for William's angle,
I scarce can think, that in advancing life,
Coldness, unkindness, interest, or suspicion,
Will e'er divide that unity so sacred,
Which nature bound at birth.-Anonymous.

VHEN Mowbray had left his dangerous adviser, in er to steer the course which his agent had indicated, without offering to recommend it, he went to the little parlour which his sister was wont to term her own, and in which she spent great part of her time, It was fitted up with a sort of fanciful neatness; and in its perfect arrangement and good order, formed a strong contrast to the other apartments of the old and neglected mansion-house. A number of little articles lay on the work-table, indicating the elegant, and, at the same time, the unsettled turn of the inhabitant's mind. There were unfinished drawings,

"Welcome, welcome, my dear John; this is very kind of you to come to visit your recluse sister. I have been trying to nail my eyes and my understand ing to a stupid book here, because they say too much thought is not quite good for me. But, either the man's dulness, or my want of the power of attending, makes my eyes pass over the page, just as one seems to read in a dream, without being able to comprehend one word of the matter. You shall talk to me, and that will do better. What can I give you to show that you are welcome? I am afraid tea is all I have to offer, and that you set too little store by."

"I shall be glad of a cup at present," said Mowbray, for I wish to speak with you."

"Then Jessy shall make it ready instantly," said Miss Mowbray, ringing, and giving orders to her waiting-maid-"but you must not be ungrateful, John, and plague me with any of the ceremonial for your fête-sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.' I will attend, and play my part as prettily as you can desire; but to think of it beforehand, would make both my head and my heart ache; and so I beg you will spare me on the subject."

Why, you wild kitten," said Mowbray, "you turn every day more shy of human communication-we shall have you take the woods one day, and become as savage as the Princess Caraboo. But I will plague you about nothing if I can help it. If matters go not smooth on the great day, they must e'en blame the dull thick head that had no fair lady to help him in his need. But, Clara, I had something more material to say to you-something indeed of the last importance.'

What is it?" said Clara, in a tone of voice approaching to a scream-"In the name of God, what is it? You know not how you terrify me!"

"Nay you start at a shadow, Clara," answered her brother. "It is no such uncommon matter neithergood faith, it is the most common distress in the world, so far as I know the world-I am sorely pinched for money."

"Is that all?" replied Clara, in a tone which seemed to her brother as much to underrate the difficulty, when it was explained, as her fears had exaggerated it before she heard its nature.

"Is that all? Indeed it is all, and comprehends a great deal of vexation. I shall be hard run unless I can get a certain sum of money-and I must e'en ask you if you can help me?"

Help you?" replied Clara; "Yes, with all my heart-but you know my purse is a light one-more than half of my last dividend is in it, however, and I am sure, John, I shall be happy if I can serve youespecially as that will at least show that your wants are but small ones.'

Alas, Clara, if you would help me," said her brother, half repentant of his purpose, "you must draw the neck of the goose which lays the golden eggsyou must lend me the whole stock."

"And why not, John," said the simple-hearted girl, "if it will do you a kindness? Are you not my natural guardian? Are you not a kind one? And is not my little fortune entirely at your disposal? You will, I am sure, do all for the best."

"I fear I may not," said Mowbray, starting from her, and more distressed by her sudden and unsuspicious compliance, than he would have been by difficulties, or remonstrance. In the latter case, he would have stifled the pangs of conscience amid the manceuvres which he must have resorted to for obtaining her acquiescence; as matters stood, there was all the difference that there is between slaughtering a tame and unresisting animal, and pursuing wild game, until the animation of the sportsman's exer

tions overcomes the internai sense of his own cruelty. | yours in reserve, and I swear to you I will adopt it. The same idea occurred to Mowbray himself.

"Nay, I am doing for the best," he replied; "at least, I am doing what must be done, for I see no other way through it-so all you have to do is to copy this paper, and bid adieu to bank dividends-for a little while at least. I trust soon to double this little Ere he could raise himself from his stooping posmatter for you, if Fortune will but stand my friend." ture, she threw her arm kindly over his neck, and "Do not trust to Fortune, John," said Clara, smil said with a tone of the deepest interest, "My dearest ing, though with an expression of deep melancholy. brother, your slightest wish has been, and ever shall "Alas! she has never been a friend to our family-be, a law to me-Oh! if you would but grant me one not at least for many a day." request in return!"

"Clara," said her brother, do you remember, when there was a report of a bogle in the upper orchard, when we were both children?-Do you remember how you were perpetually telling me to take care of Clara's eyes, which she fondly fixed on her brother's the bogle, and keep away from its haunts?-And do face, glowed through the tears which her enthusiasm you remember my going on purpose to detect the called into them, while she thus addressed him. Mow-bogle, finding the cow-boy, with a shirt about him, bray, on his part, kept his looks fixed on the ground, with a flush on his check, that expressed at once false pride and real shame.

ST. RONAN'S WELL.

cause you know some one who is not unlikely to quarrel with me. You are a flighty and fanciful girl, but you have sense enough not to trouble either yourself or me on a point of honour, save when there is some good reason for it."

Clara once more protested, and it was with the deepest anxiety to be believed, that what she had said arose only out of the general consequences which she apprehended from the line of conduct her brother had adopted, and which, in her apprehension, was so likely to engage him in the broils that divided the good company at the Spring. Mowbray listened to her explanation with an air of doubt, or rather incredulity, sipped a cup of tea which had for some time been placed before him, and at length replied, "Well, Clara, whether I am right or wrong in my guess, it would be cruel to torment you any more, remembering what you have just done for me. But do justice to your brother, and believe, that when you have any thing to ask of him, an explicit declaration of your wishes will answer your purpose much better than any ingenious oblique attempts to influence me. Give up all thoughts of such, my dear Clara-you are but a poor mancuvrer, but were you the very Machiavel of your sex, you should not turn the flank of John Mowbray."

He left the room as he spoke, and did not return, though his sister twice called upon him. It is true that she uttered the word brother so faintly, that perhaps the sound did not reach his ears.-"He is gone," she said, "and I have had no power to speak out! I am like the wretched creatures, who, it is said, lie under a potent charm, that prevents them alike from shedding tears and from confessing their crimesYes, there is a spell on this unhappy heart, and either that must be dissolved, or this must break."

A slight note I have about me, for the delivery of which you must excuse me. It is an office which friendship calls upon me to do, and no way offensive to you, as I desire nothing but right on both sides.-King and no King.

THE intelligent reader may recollect, that Tyrrel departed from the Fox Hotel on terms not altogether so friendly towards the company as those under which he entered it. Indeed, it occurred to him, that he might probably have heard something farther on the subject, though, amidst matters of deeper and more anxious consideration, the idea only passed hastily through his mind; and two days having gone over without any message from Sir Bingo Binks, the whole affair glided entirely out of his memory.

The truth was, that although never old woman took more trouble to collect and blow up with her bellows the embers of her decayed fire, than Captain MacTurk kindly underwent for the purpose of puffing into a flame the dying sparkles of the Baronet's courage; yet two days were spent in fruitless conferences before he could attain the desired point. He found Sir Bingo on these different occasions in all sorts of different moods of mind, and disposed to view the thing in all shades of light, except what the Captain thought was the true one.-He was in a drunken humour-in a sullen humour-in a thoughtless and vilipending humour-in every humour but a fighting one. And when Captain MacTurk talked of the reputation of the company at the Well, Sir Bingo pretended to take offence, said the company might go to the devil, and hinted that he "did them sufficient honour by gracing them with his countenance, but did not mean to constitute them any judges of his affairs. The fellow was a raff, and he would have nothing to do with him."

parations for his solemn festival on the following
Thursday had so much occupied him, that he had not
lately appeared at the Well.

In the mean while the gallant Captain seemed to experience as much distress of mind, as if some stain had lain on his own most unblemished of reputations. He went up and down upon the points of his toes, rising up on his instep with a jerk which at once expressed vexation and defiance-He carried his nose turned up in the air, like that of a pig when he snuff's the approaching storm-He spoke in monosyllables when he spoke at all; and-what perhaps illustrated in the strongest manner the depth of his feelings-he refused, in face of the whole company, to pledge Sir Bingo in a glass of the Baronet's peculiar cogniac. At length, the whole Well was alarmed by the report brought by a smart outrider, that the young Earl of Etherington, reported to be rising on the horizon of fashion as a star of the first magnitude, intended to pass an hour, or a day, or a week, as it might happen, (for his lordship could not be supposed to know his own mind,) at St. Ronan's Well.

This suddenly put all in motion. Almanacks were opened to ascertain his lordship's age, inquiries were made concerning the extent of his fortune, his habits were quoted, his tastes were guessed at; and all that the ingenuity of the Managing Committee could devise was resorted to, in order to recommend their Spa to this favourite of fortune. An express was despatched to Shaws-Castle with the agreeable intelligence, which fired the train of hope that led to Mowbray's appropriation of his sister's capital. He did not, however, think proper to obey the summons to the Spring; for, not being aware in what light the Earl might regard the worthies there assembled, he did not desire to be found by his lordship in any strict connexion with them.

Sir Bingo Binks was in a different situation. The bravery with which he had endured the censure of the place began to give way, when he considered that a person of such distinction as that which public opinion attached to Lord Etherington, should find him bodily indeed at St. Ronan's, but, so far as society was concerned, on the road towards the ancient city of Coventry; and his banishment thither, incurred by that most unpardonable offence in modern morality, a solecism in the code of honour. Though sluggish and inert when called to action, the Baronet was by no means an absolute coward; or, if so, he was of that class which fights when reduced to extremity. He manfully sent for Captain MacTurk, who waited upon him with a grave solemnity of aspect, which instantly was exchanged for a radiant joy, when Sir Bingo, in a few words, empowered him to carry a message to that d-d strolling artist, by whom he had been insulted three days since.

"By Cot," said the Captain, "my exceedingly goot and excellent friend, and I am happy to do such a favour for you! And it's well you have thought of it yourself; because, if it had not been for some of our very goot and excellent friends, that would be putting their spoon into other folk's dish, I should have been asking you a civil question myself, how you came to dine with us, with all that mud and mire which Mr. Tyrrel's grasp has left upon the collar of your coatyou understand me.-But it is much better as it is, and I will go to the man with all the speed of light; and though, to be sure, it should have been sooner thought of, yet let me alone to make an excuse for that, just in my own civil way-better late thrive than never do well, you know, Sir Bingo; and if you have made him wait a little while for his morning, you must give him the better measure, my darling."

So saying, he awaited no reply, lest peradventure the commission with which he was so hastily and Captain MacTurk would willingly have taken unexpectedly charged, should have been clogged with measures against the Baronet himself, as in a state of some condition of compromise. No such proposal, contumacy, but was opposed by Winterblossom and however, was made on the part of the doughty Sir other members of the committee, who considered Sir Bingo, who eyed his friend as he hastily snatched up Bingo as too important and illustrious a member of his rattan to depart, with a dogged look of obstinacy, their society to be rashly expelled from a place not expressive, to use his own phrase, of a determined honoured by the residence of many persons of rank; resolution to come up to the scratch; and when he and finally insisted that nothing should be done in the heard the Captain's parting footsteps, and saw the matter without the advice of Mowbray, whose pre-door shut behind him, he valiantly whistled a few

bars of Jenny Sutton, in token he cared not a farthing | terity in single-stick. The people began to gather; how the matter was to end.

The veteran instinctively threw himself under Saint "I recollect nothing of the kind, Captain,” replied George's guard, and drew two paces back, exclaim- Tyrrel. "I remember that the gentleman, so called, ing, "That the woman was either mad, or as drunk as took some uncivil liberties in laying foolish bets conwhisky could make her;" an alternative which afford-cerning me, and that I treated him, from respect to ed Meg so little satisfaction, that she fairly rushed on her retiring adversary, and began to use her weapon to fell purpose.

"And you must have very fine ideas of forbearance," replied the Captain, "when you took my good friend by the collar of the coat, and lifted him out of your way as if he had been a puppy dog! My good Mr. Tyrrel, I can assure you he does not think that The Captain, swearing, exclaiming, and parrying, you have forborne him at all, and he has no purpose caught the blows as they fell, showing much dexto forbear you; and I must either carry back a suffi