SIR ANDREW SAGITTARIUS. CHAPTER I. Make me a bowl, a mighty bowl! OLDHAM. LOUIS rose the next morning from his bed with a heart lightened of its sorrows. He reflected with thankful feeling that Providence had granted him all he wanted; the game he now played was in his power to win, provided he used the ordinary precaution. He therefore attended the Baronet's break fast table at the appointed hour, receiving a hearty welcome from Sir Andrew, and obtaining a kind smile from the ladies, who granted him the same reception they would have given to an old and esteemed friend. For this familiar footing. Louis stood indebted to his own. skill, as he had taken pains to ingratiate himself in their good opinion, which added to the services he had done the family, gave him at once this desirable. privilege. The conversation turned upon their intended journey to London, arising from the circumstance of Sir Andrew having that morning received a letter from the agent appointed by him to negociate for a suitable residence, which at last, was obtained in Gloucester Place. To use the agent's expression,-" In an airy, genteel part of the town, commanding a beautiful view of Hampstead and Highgate, and overlooking the Regents Park, together with other conveniences adapt ed to the comfort of a family of the first distinction." The Colonel expressed his pleasure that Sir Andrew was 'so well provided with a town mansion, wherein he could . pursue his studies without any molestation or interruption from the servants. Louis also returned his thanks to the Barónet and the ladies for the honor they did him by inviting him to see them in London, which he assured them should be his first object when he returned from the duty that now employed him. He smiled as he complimented them upon the prospect they had of enjoying a little dissipation in Town. The ladies, on their part, felt assured that Louis was intimate with the first families of rank and fortune that bore sway in the fashionable world; and when he asserted that his circle of acquaintance in the haut ton was excessively small and confined, they disbelieved him; nor could all his protestations make them alter the opinion they entertained of its being so. He was therefore favoured with a multitude of enquiries respecting the internal economy of the higher circles; and his accidental incapability to answer these questions was kindly imputed by them to diffidence and modest evasion. Mrs. Manners, whose health was generally bad, declared her inability to accompany the family to London, feeling herself unable to undertake any share of the fatigue and difficulties of such an artificial life. She was anxious to know the Colonel's opinion of the best steps to be taken when the family arrived in Town, Sir Andrew having for years past declined all connection with the gay world, the want of some protecting chaperon in the person of a leading member of high life would be severely felt, as no other patronage could assure the family any chance of immediately redeeming the footing lost by a continued seclusion in the country. Oh," said Julia, " you may rest assured, Mrs. Manners, that we shall overcome the obstacle you talk of, that is if we may put the least credit in the fashionable novels of the age, for we shall soon obtain the first of society by circulating a report that we can give sumptuous dinners and balls; that I have thirty thousand pounds for my fortune; that Maria is the perfection of her sex; and that our brother Charles' rent roll will be at least twenty thousand per annum on papa's demise." "Julia, Julia!" exclaimed Sir Andrew, rather angrily, "I beg you will not talk of these matters with such an air of unCharles' fortune, as well as concern. your own-" "Fie, fie! papa," interrupted Julia, "you know that both Charles and myself deserve as much, and we are sensible of the kind generosity of the stars which have so handsomely provided for us. Am I right, Colonel Archer, in the plan |