"You have not done, sir; you shall not have done; I will not have my authority disputed in my own house; your mother, there, never disputes.'

"Never, my dear.'

"I'm sure, sir,' said Percy,' I never did."

"Because I couldn't suffer it, by Jove! nor will I suffer it now. Why don't you answer? are you dumb, or sulky, or -- ? Now, I dare swear, in your heart you are setting up your father as an oppressive, tyrannical, old

"Who, I, sir?'

"Yes, you, sir! deny it if you can ?' Percy has a conscience, and is silent.

"Deny it, deny it, sir, in so many words, if you can; I insist

Why, sir, indeed, I am sorry.' "No doubt, no doubt; for having such a cruel, overbearing, hard-hearted father; but, by Jove

"No, sir; but I cannot help thinking it hard that I should incur your anger for nothing but

"For nothing; and so, sir, to disobey your father's solemn injunctions, to leave the house merely because he enjoined you to stay in it; to exasperate a man, and that man your tender parent, whose life you know hangs by a thread, by a hair; with the gout flying about him and only waiting an opportunity to fix on some vital part, with lungs like a honeycomb ! By Jove, sir

"Indeed, sir, I knew no such thing.' "You did'nt; you haven't heard me declare it over and over again-the arthritica vaga-the

"Yes, sir,-but I remember your say. ing so from my cradle.'

"Oh! is it so, Mr Wise Acre ?You don't credit it ?-Your father's an old fool-a hypochondriac, as that blockhead Drizzlethwaite had the effrontery-and he alone to call me—a—.'

By Jove!-to be told by my own childmy own lawfully begotten son-that all my deadly symptoms are mere nervous affections!"

Percy ventures something about "nervous apprehensions." "Nerves! nerves!-out of my sight!

"Ring-ring again; do you wish me to go off in an apoplexy before your eyes— without aid-without- -Ring-twicetwice.' He was obeyed, and a stranger perhaps would have been surprised at seeing Mrs Rycott quietly resume her place, and her knotting-needle, as if nothing had occurred. But she was used to this sort of scene, and knew that the best remedy was near at hand!

•

"The devil's in you all, I believe,' exclaimed her husband, as he held both his hands to his head, in seeming apprehension of its bursting asunder. Why don't you run, sirrah, and bring the fellow here neck and crop? By Jove, you are all in a conspiracy against me.' Off ran Percy, happy in the opportunity of escaping. Will the scoundrel never come? Ring again, woman; ring till the spring break-I'll trounce the negligent puppy.— Ay, ay, its all over-I feel the effect of the bursting of that vessel.'

"It was snuff, I assure you, Mr Rycott."

At last Schwartz comes; and his German English is very happy. The dialogue of the French Governess (in several conversations) is equally so.

"Oh! Schwartz, my faithful fellow, I verily believe I am going off in earnest now.'

"Bah!'

"It's no bah, Schwartz, I feel it here.' "You feeln it everywhere-vat the deivel ish the fagary you get the Kimmer meid com to me, and say her mashter ish ringing for life or de dead, and here you look plomp and fraish like your own Anglish rindfleish.'

"Plethora, Plethora, be assured my good Schwartz.'

"I'll no be assured of no soch dingyour polse beat von, two, dree, like de clock; and tish nodding bot von great passion.'

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My head throbs, Schwartz, and there's no pulsation at the heart.' "Vat den, as the heart got into de head ?'

"I must lose blood.'

"Lose the deivel. Doctor Dweezempate, swear you bleed yourself into wasser ➡dat is drobzey.'

C

him, as if presenting a new barrier against escape, which seemed to engage his speculations to the exclusion of everything else. "After a long pause, Tell Mrs Knowles,' said Sir Hugh, looking benevolently towards the butler, whilst his eyes watered, and the colour in his cheeks was something heightened, that she has been rather too bountiful with her seasoning in the soup.'

.

"Certainly, Sir Hugh; but I had informed Mrs Knowles, Sir Hugh, that her ladyship, on Tuesday last, thought the vermicelli rather insipid.'

"Excellent Roland,' interrupted her ladyship, you recollect my most trifling wishes.'

"They are our law, my lady; and, at the signal, all the grey-headed liverymen bowed in token of their sympathy.

"Extremes,' observed Sir Hugh, with a smile, are generally pernicious. And so, my good Lady Rodolpha, I have been a martyr in your cause; your ladyship cannot do less than assuage my torments by a glass of Madeira.'

"God forbid,' returned the gracious lady, that I should ever be the occasion of torment to my ever-indulgent Sir Hugh. But I flatter myself, if your present sufferings can be so easily relieved, they have not been very excruciating. Am I not a saucy creature, Sir Hugh ?'"

Knowles that her soup is like all she does -she is indeed a most excellent person.'

"You are the most charitable-Sir Hugh,' said her ladyship, in a subdued tone of voice.

"It is my humble effort to be so-it is the duty of us all to be so. Tell her, good Roland, that her soup is admirable; but add, as from yourself, that perhaps it would suit the taste of Lady Rodolpha and myself better, were it, in future, less highly seasoned.'

"I shall, Sir Hugh- What a master!' was added, in a half whisper to Mrs Polson, who stood retired-and was seconded by a bend, as before, from every one of the grey-headed circle in worsted lace."

vious desire to avoid any farther explana tion.

"I should rather have said artificial, my good Mr Percy, as it is habit only which

"Habit is second nature you know, Sir Hugh; and therefore

cy

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"I must not be interrupted, Mr Per

999

And the bare thought of such a heresy so startles the servant who is changing Sir Hugh's plate, that he lets it fall, and disposes the contents over his master's laced waistcoat.

"The poor man apologized and trembled. Mr Butler pushed the man with some rudeness from the post of honour, and frowned on him whilst he applied his napkin to the part affected.

It's no matter,' observed Sir Hugh, collecting all his benevolence of manner (which appeared to be necessary on the occasion); Good Richard did not intend it.'

"God bless him!' whispered the liveried semi-chorus.

"The Dresden set, too!' exclaimed Mr Polson, the steward, in a louder and more emphatic tone of voice."

This last fact almost ruffles the pile of her ladyship's velvet; but she observes that

"Good Richard must not have his mind disturbed by that reflection.'

"Heavenly, considerate being!' cried Sir Hugh, who stood in the act of being rubbed down, like one of his own longtailed coach horses, by his zealous grooms. 'Thou

"Mistress of thyself, though china fall!" "

This quotation is out of its place. Sir Hugh is perfectly serious in all his commendations of Lady Rodolpha, and would be shocked at the very idea of a joke upon such a subject. Even the spilling of the soup, however, cannot break the thread of the worthy baronet's reflections; and he is getting back to the analysis of " the moral virtues," when the sound of a carriage, under the windows, makes a diversion in Percy's favour. This is Grandison de Lacy-returned from his travels. The servants are drawn up, in form, in the avenue; and the dinner party adjourns to receive him, at the entrance of the great hall.

There was ample time, as well as space, to afford the worthy host and hostess a full opportunity of making their observations upon the person and appearance of Mr Grandison de Lacy. The excellent youth still preserves

the dignified deportment of the family," observed the Baronet complacently to his lady.

"Ingenuous Grandison !-But what, my good Sir Hugh, has the beloved child of my heart tied round his neck?' "It's a Belcher,' interrupted Percy, thrusting his head forward. "Mr Percy Rycott!

customed to.

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-we are not ac

• Good heavens!' exclaimed Lady Rodolpha, he walks lame-I trust no accident

"Harbour no fears, my too sensitive Lady Rodolpha,' said Sir Hugh, soothingly. His eyes seem affected, papa,' whispered Miss Gertrude. • Grandison never used a glass before he left England.'

"None of the Grandisons were nearsighted,' said her ladyship, who had also observed that he was eyeing everything and every person through his glass. But there was no more time for observation, the hero approached."

He appears, accompanied by a friend, and looking a good deal like a puppy.

"Towards the end of the line," (of ser vants) a cherry-cheeked dairy-maid attracted his eye, whom he patted under the chin; and, turning to his companion, ob served, 66 a fine Cumberland pippin, upon

my soul, Birty!'

"Sir Hugh and Lady Rodolpha absolutely started, in defiance of the habitual rigidity of their muscles; but they felt

that it was not intended for their ears; and suddenly regaining their self-possession, graciously advanced a few steps, hand in hand, towards their son.

"My beloved Grandison!' cried her

ladyship, with a tearful eye.

"Welcome, most excellent son, to the hall of thy fathers!' said Sir Hugh.

"Hah!' looking at them through his glass- My father, and my lady mother here too!' shaking both with a listless cordiality by the hands, which had been extended for him to kiss upon his bended knees! Delighted to see you-am upon my honour-not a day older-who should think of seeing you in the hall among this omnium gatherem-taken by surprise, pon my soul.

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"Where should we be, Mr Grandison de Lacy, but in our proper station?' demanded Sir Hugh, with no slight accession to the austere formality of his manners. Beg pardon quite forgot-you

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