ungracefully, of Marmion, the Pleasures of Hope, and the Mysteries of Udolpho. Coincidence or difference of opinion on these subjects, naturally led to the introduction of others equally interesting. In short, when an interruption to our colloquy did at length occur, it found me sailing with a fair breeze on smooth waters, and was received with none of that thankfulness with which, at an earlier moment, it would have been welcomed. In return for the apparent partiality which had led to an hour's tête-à-tête with their daughter, both Lord and Lady Pynsent regarded me with eyes of favour, and were profuse in their civilities. The secret of all this perhaps was, that though in a matrimonial point of view, I was infinitely beneath the acceptance of a person of the very high pretensions that attached to the Lady Melicent; yet, in the eyes of the world, I was by no means an ineligible match for Miss Pynsent, without fortune, and the eldest daughter of a tolerably numerous family. So probably thought Lord and Lady Pynsent, who were apparently resolved that no want of encouragement on their part should diminish the chance of their procuring an unexception

able establishment for their daughter. Of such views, however, if such did exist, I was entirely unconscious, and was disposed, in my ignorance of the world, to attribute the very favourable accueil which I experienced from both parents, either to disinterested benevolence on their part, or to uncommon powers of prepossession on mine.

Thus did the first evening of my sojourn at Staunton pass away; and when, on retiring to my chamber, I cast a retrospective glance on the day just closed, I found I could regard it altogether with a degree of tranquil complacency, far greater than the character of some of its occurrences might have led me to anticipate. The long excitement and consequent exhaustion of my spirits, soon brought their natural restorative, and when slumber that night descended on my eyelids (need I say it?) the Lady Melicent was in my dreams.

My sojourn in the world of dreams continued till the sound of the morning-bell recalled me to the perception and the consciousness of grosser and more material entities. Few moments were necessary to restore my senses to their wonted activity, and I sprung up to prepare for participation in the pleasures and business of that less visionary world of which I again found myself a denizen. My preparations, however, were made with less facility than usual. The duties of the toilet were protracted for a space considerably transcending the limits ordinarily found sufficient for their due discharge. I was

uncommonly fastidious about the adjustment of my hair, displayed through the interstice of my waistcoat an unwonted superfluity of frill, and, after many unsuccessful experiments, remember of being eventually by no means satisfied with the tie of my cravat. On descending, I found the party (with the exception of Lady Amersham, who seldom appeared till considerably later in the day,) assembled in the breakfast-room. Lord Amersham, in his morning habiliments, exhibited the same grotesque figure which had excited my astonishment the day before at our meeting in the park. After breakfast, which he dispatched as hurriedly as pos-. sible, his lordship addressed many apologies to Lady Pynsent for his speedy departure.

"Your ladyship will, I hope, excuse me, but we farmers, Lady Pynsent, cannot neglect our calling, or our calling will neglect us; the eye of the master must overlook, as the proverb goes, or the plough will speed badly. If your ladyship only knew the torrent of business I have to encounter.-In the first place, my wool; I have to receive offers for that, and sell to the best bidder-never show favour or affection in

a case of that sort-all fair and above boardsealed offers, and the highest carries the day. Then comes Tompkinson with contract for two steam engines, thirty-horse power, to set the coal-mines a-going. People may talk of the Golconda mines as much as they please, but none are so valuable, you may take my word for it, Lady Pynsent, as the black diamond mines. Then I have to superintend the preparation of my two-bout ridges, an original invention of my own; no succession of crops necessary-wheat-wheat for ever, and the soil never exhausted-fresh as after the first crop. Quite a new era in farming-expect to be awarded the gold medal at the next meeting of the Agricultural Society. Mr Coke is jealous as the devil of my success, and Sir John Sinclair pretends to undervalue it. Sir John is a Scotchman, so no wonder. But your ladyship must not seduce me to stand tittle-tattling a moment longer. I must endeavour to carry off Lord Pynsent, however.-Lord Pynsent, is your lordship inclined this morning for a walk to the farm? You know t'other day we were inter