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terror had not made more than a dozen grins when he was seized by his chain, which had made an alarming noise in his approach, by the butler-and I found that my guilty conscience had magnified a moderately sized monkey into a huge devil! Poor Mrs. Arden had fainted. At length, we recovered her; and she was conveyed to bed. The butler had purchased Jacko that day in town, and secured him, as he thought; but our devil had found a way of liberating himself, and, attracted by the light, had come to us a most unwelcome visitor.

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"When Mrs. Arden and I met next morning we looked very silly. Fly,' said she, from this house and dishonour; never see me more whilst I am the wife of your friend; there is no safety but in flight.' I obeyed her; feigning business of importance I came over to Dublin, where I had in reality something to do. That being settled, I am now for Scotland, where perhaps I may take up my quarters for some time."

"Well done," said I, "friend Hal.-I thank thee for thy interesting story.-But pray what became of Sir Harry L--? Did the doctor conquer death

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in tetanus, or were existing circumstances' too many for his depth and skill ?"

"Sir Harry," said my friend," recovered without a lock-jaw, but he will halt for life, which he well deserves."

[graphic]

No. V.

THE GIFT.

Wear this for me; one out of suits with fortune;
That could give more, but that her hand lacks means.
SHAKSPEARE.

"So, Charles," continued my friend Henry, after he had finished the foregoing story, "thy time is at present occupied in preparing sketches for the amusement of the public? I shall feel much pleasure in sending you a manuscript, which describes particulars in the lives of a few individuals; and I have no doubt, from such parts of it as I have perused, that you will find it worthy of a place in your Port-Folio. How it fell into my hands, I need not relate.

You are at liberty to make what use you please of the incidents, substituting feigned names for real ones.

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My dear Hal," answered I,

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you

will infinitely

oblige me by such a gift; for you cannot do an

VOL. III.

G

He wore a brown

manity. His Lordship was as remarkable for singularity in dress as in manner. plain wig with a long queue, a broad-brimmed white hat, a coat entirely different from the fashion of his ówn times, an embroidered waistcoat which sloped away down his thighs: in the fields his legs were cased in huge boots; but in the drawing-room he appeared with polished shoes, gold buckles, white silk stockings, and kerseymere smallclothes.

Of Lord Conamore's household establishment, I need only introduce the reader to his maiden sister, Lady Constantia, a prim sprig of nobility, with sufficient family pride, and a strong passion for elevated society; to her niece, Lady Emily Temple, Lord Conamore's only child, a most charming girl; and to his Lordship's prime minister in and about Conamore, Mr. Peter Prentice, who was, to describe him in a word, as great an oddity as his master.

It was customary with Lord Conamore, on Midsummer eve, to give his tenants a treat and a dance on the lawn, while the genteel society in the vicinity and the neighbouring town were sumptuously entertained in the Lodge, after patronizing the light fantastic toe, among the lower orders on the green.

One of these annual festivals was at hand, when I, then on a visit with a relation at Conamore, received a polite invitation, and my acquaintance with the characters whom I introduce commenced.

The breath of summer never perfumed a more lovely evening than that in which my friend and I sallied forth to partake of the hospitality of Conamore Lodge. The cuckoo and corncrake were loud in expressing their pleasure, and ten thousand warblers made the ambient air delightfully vocal; while the bright sandy beach along which we walked was covered with innumerable species of life, all enjoying the serenity of nature and the glorious departure of the brilliant sun, sporting and racing from their sand-built habitations, and with insect wonder gazing perhaps at our stately march. All the blue bright expanse of ocean lay like an undulating plain of glass, unruffled save by the dip of marine birds that hovered over it kissing their own images. All was quiet in elemental existence. Echo multiplied the charms of hearing, and sight was gratified by seeing many an interesting object inverted; for as we rounded the point, Conamore Lodge, th scenery near it, and numerous persons approaching

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