way, talkative, full of small adventures of his own, and not disagreeably truthful. He was never long without some mighty hero, whom he worshipped for strength or ability or knowledge of the world, and who could have done better whatever was done well, and with less than a quarter of the trouble. Though indolent enough of mind, he was very restless bodily, and would keep the whole house upon the fidget, unless he got his daily exercise. And now, as he was missing his term at Cambridge, and no field-sports were toward, his mother considered it a special grace of Providence in favour of her Dicky, that Dartmoor was invaded by a mighty host of rats. For if there was anything that Dicky Touchwood thoroughly enjoyed, it was a good rat-hunt.

The sportive Dicky made few inquiries as to the reason of his sister's absence. When she was gone he could have his own way, without let or hindrance, until something disagreed with his mother. For he was her darling, her pet, and her idol, and he alone of mortais might ever contradict her. So now he resolved to make the most of this fine opportunity, and be master so far as he cared to be, which was chiefly in matters of sport and of feeding. Ordering the household right and left, that very afternoon he sent for three rat-catchers, and commanded them to sink their feuds till Sunday, and be ready for him at the Park-gate the next morning, with every dog and ferret they could hear of, together with their shovels, wire-cages, knobsticks, and all the other items of their interesting gear. With the prospect of a guinea and the certainty of beer, they were punctual as the sun at ten o'clock; and a motley host of bipeds, quadrupeds, and tripods-for some of the dogs had only three feet left-set forth gallantly to invade the rats of Dartmoor.

Meanwhile, on this same Friday morning, Mr. Arthur (generally known as Captain Larks") was busy with a lot of little vines in pots, which were crying out for more room and more nurture. He had brought them from his span-roof forcing-house to a littleglazed building of his own construction snugly ensconced beneath the cliff. And here, with half a hundred of his new patent pots, he was craftily preparing a delicious compost, of mealy sod, mellow manure, and spicy

Now the fact that every one, high or low, who possessed the pleasure of his acquaintance-and one need not be very high to do that-called him without hesitation, "Dicky Touchwood," is as clear a proof as can be given of his easy careless style. His mother and sister had bravely striven, at the dates of his breeching, and then of his horsing, and then of his having a tail thrown over, to redeem him from a Dicky into Richard, Dick, or Richie, or even the old-fared Dickon. At each of these epochs their struggle was vain, but they rallied for a final stand upon the breastwork of his matriculation. For many a mile and league around them, none but some half a score of parsons knew the meaning of that mighty word, and possibly it might have triumphed over nature, if the latter had not ignobly adopted the argumen-bone-dust, enough to make the little mouths tum ad hominem. For the Cantab, upon his return, as arranged by his mother, in full academical plight, as he leaped from the chariot of the Park, in the presence of the whole population, upset the entire effect, by shouting-"Three cheers for Dicky Touchwood!" His only sister Julia was of a very different order. Tall, and handsome, and resolute, and straight-forward, she kept her own place, and followed her own liking. She reigned over her father, when he was at home, and was None but a very gruff fellow, unworthy to fairly reducing her mother to subjection in love or be loved by nature, can minister thus spite of some violent outbreaks. The latest to his little dependants, without ministering of these had filled her with amazement even also to his own cares. Captain Larks was more than with indignation, until she per- down-hearted, and perplexed, and quavery. ceived, being very clear-sighted, that it was when he drew his hand to do this work; a last despairing effort to cast off the tighten- but courage came to him, and the love oi ing yoke. With skilful management on her life, and the golden touch of hope, as he part, it would prove the final clenching of the went on. The interest in other things belink. Dicky was a far more uncertain sub-yond himself grew bright and gladsome, as ject, for there was not substance enough in he worked for good; and without thinking of him to bind. it, he began to whistle the old English tune,

of dainty creatures water. At this he worked hard, without sparing his hands, pulling asunder the fibrous clods, but not reducing them to siftage, nipping in twain every wireworm and grub, carefully distributing the sweet-stuff from the linhay, and the benefit of happy bones that should never ache again, and lightly with his open fingers carding up the mixture, until the whole was sleek and fragrant with the vital gifts of earth.

"How can I have at all a good opinion of myself," she asked her father, with some twinkle of a tear, "when nobody considers me of any use at all?"

"What a bare-faced bit of fishing for a compliment! Can I ever do anything without you now? And when have I failed to praise you up to your deserts ?"

"We won't give up." Last night he had said to head touched with thought, and the delicate himself, "I must give up. Fate is too much oval of the face enhanced by the suppliant for me, and all things go against me. I must curve of neck) was not only charming to fly from this refuge of many quiet years, and look at, but also bewitching to think of of pet things, the fruit of my own work. I afterwards. must fly somewhere else, and begin once more, with the loss of all the little relics of my money, and rheumatism settling in my left shoulder-blade. And, worst of all, with darling Rose astray, and quite bewildered." But now he was hoping for the best, and well believing that fear had made too much of his imaginary trouble. The day was fine and the sunshine brisk, enlivening mankind, and especially those who live among the off-potting-or at least they are not at all spring of the sun. The soft spring air, afloat trumpery, I know-but what I mean is great with sunbeams, brought the blue distance of things, about people's lives, and reasons for the heavens to the earth, and the white | doing things, and not telling other people." blossoms shone upon it, as if they saw it. "My darling," said her father, without The gardener, as he plied his work, was displeasure, for he saw that she was trembling breathing sweet contentment, for his heart at her own audacity I will not pretend to drank in the beauty; and, better still, at misunderstand you, neither have I any right every breath, he felt that fruit was setting. to blame you. You want to know why I live a different life from other people whom you know; why I am so reserved and lonely, and keep you shut up in this dull place."

Father, how glad I am to see you look like your old self again!" cried Rose, coming in from the grass-walk. "Mr. Short is wonderfully good and kind; but I should simply hate him, if he were to begin to disturb your mind. You never ate as much as my thumb for supper, and you couldn't look worse if I ran away from you.”

"I scarcely know how much your thumb eats for supper," her father replied, as his pleasure increased with gazing at her bright and affectionate face; "but if it has not over-eaten itself, I would beg some help from it with the ball of this vine."

"Now if you don't know, papa, you ought to know," she said in a low voice, as they worked together; "and you ought to be punished for not knowing well, that I am come to years of full discretion."

"It is a fine thing to have a good opinion of oneself. There, you have proved your words by snapping this root-fibre!"

Although he spoke thus, he was thinking to himself—“this daughter of mine is discreet beyond her years. How she would enjoy her youth, if it were the same as other girls have! And how beautiful she is, the pretty darling!" As for that he was right beyond all doubt, though a father's pride goes astray sometimes, from cleaving over-fondly to the grooves of love. A very sweet face has its sweetness trebled, when tender doubt, and a light shade of anxiety, soften the bloom of the cheeks, and deepen the lustre of inquiring eyes. Rose Arthur (with the sungleam on her hair, and the pure white fore

"I don't mean such trumpery things as

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Father, I never had such an idea. The place is quite good enough for me, I should hope, if it is good enough for you. And as for being lonely, what more can I want than to have you, and help you, and try to be half as good to you as you are to me?"

Well, my little Rosy one, that is all very fine in theory. The practice, however, goes otherwise, or why are you asking questions now?"

"I never would have said a word, dear father, except that I cannot bear to see you vexed. It does not matter a bit about myself; but when it comes to you, it is dreadful."

"But suppose, my pet, that it is only for you that I care much about anything. Suppose that, for reasons which are not my own to tell, I am bound to keep my darling child from the roughness of the world; and can do it only by keeping outside of the world altogether. If that were so, you would have faith enough to believe that I acted for the best, and love enough not to increase my cares by questions which I cannot answer.”

about us. It is better to make up your "especially when they come from you, my mind to that, than to live in a doubtful dear. Nevertheless, after watching my vines suspicion of it. In the course of time you for many years, I have never had the luck to will know the whole. But I fear that it will receive such reciprocity. Please to show not be while I live." me the next time you see them looking at you.”

"You had better go and see, but tell her not to be uneasy. The doctor will be here at once, and the lad will soon come round. Clear out this very instant, dogs and men."

For by this time thirty dogs of every genealogy were poking about among the captain's pots.

CHAPTER VIII.-COLONEL WESTCOMBE.

eyes,” Mr. Arthur broke in, with his deepest tone, and the youth stared at him, and obeyed his voice, after putting up his lips, as if he longed to whistle. And while his mind went wandering into wonder, and distant dimness, a little dog, with all his wits about him, came in at the door, and, making obeisance with a tremulous tail, asked courteous leave to sniff at him. Mr. Arthur, being fond of dogs, said, "Yes ;" and before this dog could have satisfied his mind, two more came in to help him. But the first dog, being of a kingly order, signified to them that they were not wanted; and when they retired at his growl, he joined them, and the three held council. As sagely as any three M.D.'s they conducted their consultation, with their ears upon the curl, and their tails upon the wag, so far as men had spared them. But sud-ing for herself, would not wear the hideous denly all three stumps fell flat, and quivered with humility, for, lo! there stood their worshipful masters, puffing, and blowing, and inclined to swear, at having only two legs each, to bring them down the wall of crag.

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Cappen Larks, be 'un killed?" they cried, all scared to go into the greenhouse. "The young Squire Dicky, oh lor, oh lor, and all the vault to be laid on us! Back there with 'e, every one o' you chaps! Us'll lash the legs of any chaps as trieth it. These be Cappen's own privy grounds, and no blackguards admitted in.”

"Be off every one of you," the owner shouted, with a smile which went against his words; or in two minutes you will be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law." “Cappen Larks, don't ye be so haish for to deny us a zaight o' the poor Master Dicky. There never wor a better one to work a rat out, and if a' be killed us 'll niver hunt again." My good fellows, he is not killed, and he won't be, if you will get out of the way. But I won't answer for it, if you come plaguing here. Be off, if you care for his life, this moment."

Cappen, us 'll get out of the wai, quicksticks. It goo'th to our hearts to zee 'un blading so. But to vare up they stones again is beyond our breeches."

"Fare out this way, then; across the water. But tell me first how the young man fell, and what his name is, and where he lives."

"Twor all by rason of the bottled beer, sir. Do 'e see thiccy moot-stane 1ound the cornder? Us had a score of bottled beer up yonner, and young Squire Dicky's hat were too small to hold 'un. Muster Dicky Touch- | wood, from Touchwood Park. Whatever will my lady zay to us?"

WHILE the sportive Cantab thus broke into Mr. Arthur's humble greenhouse, his sister Julia was enjoying the keen air of the western moors, and passing through it swiftly and sweetly with the cheerful aid of a well-bred horse. Miss Touchwood always looked well in the saddle, and a lady's riding-habit was a graceful dress at that time, although the hat was hideous. But this young lady, think

hat, but designed in lieu thereof a sensible and becoming head-gear, and got it made at Devonport. With its curving rim turned up at one side, and a grey feather pluming round the front without any monstrous buckle, it sat lightly over her long dark eyebrows, clear eyes, and expressive face. "What a booty her be!" said a tramp, to whom she had thrown a shilling graciously. "So her maight be," his wife replied, "so long as her getteth her own way."

Riding with her across the moor was her host and godfather, Colonel Westcombe, a plain, stout man of average stature, thick-set, broad across the back, and looking as if no tailor's art could make his clothes sit well to him. But that consideration moved him not, so long as he had plenty of room inside them. He thought of appearances no more than Captain Larks" himself did, though he liked to see ladies nicely dressed, and young men looking tidy. Upon his face his character was as clearly outlined as his nose, a distinct and eloquent feature. Any one could see that he was simple-minded, slow at working out the twists of thought, accustomed to let his ideas flow into the mould of words before dealing with them, gently reluctant to think evil of mankind concerning any matter in which he had not as yet been robbed atrociously, compassionate, fearless, and as hopeful as a child, and properly indignant when he came across a rogue. But large as the field was for that right feeling, even in those more upright days, the Colonel was pleased to get out of it and say, that his knowledge of the world must not harden him so much.

After many years of scrimped penurious life, such as behoves the British officer (especially

Julia, is it possible that you can enter"My dear, I beg your pardon," he answered tain the mere shadow of a doubt about the with his simple courtesy and pleasantness; very least particular? If I could imagine "I am sure I would have talked, if I had that you did that, you should never again— anything to say. But surely with all this I mean that I should never take any further noble prospect-hills, and valleys, and water-pleasure in relating to you that, or any other courses, and the gorse coming out, and the fact again." sheep and the ponies, you would much rather look about than talk."