self,—“it is amazingly unlucky for us all that Dick Egerton is not a couple of years older. My poor mother always spoke so confidently on the subject, that we felt persuaded my father would hold out for several years to come; so that, as there seemed no probability of my seat falling vacant, I allowed Egerton to leave England for the grand tour only six weeks ago. In our time, you know, the grand tour meant Paris, Rome, Naples, and perhaps Vienna; now it appears to include Russia, Tartary, Persia, Asia Minor, Egypt, and the Lord knows what! Poor Egerton cannot have got further than St. Petersburg; and it would be a sad waste of time and money to recall him from such a distance, merely to be elected and take his seat till the close of the session, with a general election coming on."

"Certainly, it seems scarcely worth while," faltered William Egerton, in whose bosom the long-forgotten voice of his brother was waking up a thousand tender recollections, which somewhat disturbed his presence of mind.

"Whereas, if Dick were a couple of years

older," resumed the Earl, "I could put him in and trouble myself no further. It is not easy to find a person altogether suitable as a stopgap for so short a time. I swear I have half a mind to leave it in the hands of government. They have always some useful man lying by for such emergencies, and everything would be on the safe side, besides making a favourable impression where one is never sorry to stand on good terms."

"My poor father invariably supported the present government," mused William, whose thoughts were neither with his brother nor his nephews.

Ay, and in the most disinterested manner. I don't recollect that he ever asked the smallest favour in his life!-To be sure, there was no great. occasion. His family wanted nothing; and I shall therefore be able to apply to government with a better grace for the marquisate I have so much at heart, and which I trust to obtain at the next creation. Yes!-all things considered, I shall certainly leave the borough in the hands of ministers for the present; but still I

should have been better pleased to put in Dick Egerton, had he been of an age to come forward."

"How old is your second son?" inquired William, trying to feel interested in the affairs of one who to his was so totally indifferent.

"Scarcely nineteen,-about eighteen and a half.”

"True, I remember;-a few months younger than my eldest. John is

Before

"I must say for Dick," again interrupted Lord Tiverton, "that if any young fellow of his years could be qualified for a seat in parliament, it is himself. Dick Egerton is better known. about town than many a man of thirty. he left Eton, his face was familiar at Almack's and his name at Crockford's. He is an amazingly fine young man; a leettle wild perhaps, like almost every great genius; but the world will tame him down-the world will tame him down! Your boys, I suppose, are entered at the University?"

"At present," replied William, "I am sorry

to say, that though my youngest boy has been-"

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Egerton was on the books before he was sixteen!" interrupted Lord Tiverton, still harp

ing on his sons; "at twenty he took his degree, and one, I assure you, that did him honour; and now, I may venture to say that there is not a finer or more accomplished young man of his age in the three kingdoms. Do your sons bear any resemblance to the family, or are they more like the Sprys ?"

"John is considered extraordinarily like myself; and, if you remember, I was always considered the image of—”

"It must be some years, I fancy, since you saw Egerton and his brother?"—again remorselessly interrupted Lord Tiverton. "I think I may say, without partiality, that they will surprise you.-Dick is somewhat more than six feet already; and I have very little doubt that he has a year's growth in him yet!—I own I was always anxious that my sons should turn out tall; and if Dick persists in his plan of going

into the Blues, his figure will be a very serious advantage to him. I have promised that the first thing I do on my return to town shall be to get his name put down for a cornetcy."

The kindly nature of William Egerton inspired him with patience to listen to his brother's wordy vauntings, hoping that his turn would come to be heard in praise of his own promising

But no:-after Lord Tiverton had exhausted his eloquence in laudation of the merits of his sons and beauties of his daughters, till his auditor might have been qualified to paint strong likenesses of the Ladies Ismena and Henrietta Egerton, and to pen a certificate of the talents of their brothers, he proposed coffee, and after coffee, bed; his lordship assuring poor William that, after so long a journey and with the trying scene of the morrow in prospect, he must want repose.

He was accordingly compelled to retire without having been able to edge in a word of the charms of his pretty, unassuming, little Mary, or of his spirited boys; and as Lord Tiverton had announced his intention of quitting