CHAPTER II.

THAT the elder Axfords were desirous to bring about a connexion between their family and the Paulets, through the medium of Alice and their son, was very evident. Lady Susan, indeed, being a woman of the world, did not manifest her feelings very openly, but the old gentleman was quite fussy and nervous about the matter. He had lately become, what he had never been before, a continual visitor at the Paulets, cultivating their acquaintance with the utmost assiduity, making dinners for them, and paying them all the court imaginable. Then, Lady Susan had conceived such an affection for dear Alice, whom she must carry away by force to come and spend a few days with her; whereupon Alice, that she might not offend a person who professes such cordiality to her, is obliged to comply, however much against her inclination, as she hints to me upon my looking rather grave, when informed that she is going to spend a week with the Axfords.

One day in this week, (during which I passed a little less of my time at the Priory than ordinarily,) Mr. Axford paid me a visit, and though he had called on me several times before, I happened then to be at home, for the first time when he did me that honour.

"Pretty place you have here, Sir Matthew," said my visitor, with a condescending air.

"A mere hut, Mr. Axford," answered I; "I'm ashamed to receive you in it, accustomed as you are to your noble mansion and its spacious and splendid apartments."

"A comfortable house, Sir Matthew-a comfortable house -nothing more; I dare say you've as good a one at Sydenham ?"

"Now, my good Sir, you are quizzing me; my residence may be good enough for me, but shrinks into insignificance, indeed, compared with Axford Hall."

"Ay, indeed?-no, I dare say not, eh?" returned the old gentleman, who could scarcely suppress his gratification at

this information: "You're a man of fortune, Sir Matthew," he added, importantly.

"To some I might appear so," was my reply; "but scarcely to you: barely eight thousand a year, Mr. Axford, I assure you."

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Ay, but Sir Matthew, let me tell you, that eight thousand a year is a very pretty fortune, (do you understand?) and may enable a bachelor to keep up a very good-nay, a very handsome appearance, (do you observe?)-provided he is prudent; indeed, I know many married people who haven't more, (do you see?) yet manage, by proper economy, to do the thing in very respectable style, mark me."

"True, my dear Sir, true; it is enough, as you say, with prudence and economy; I've no right to complain: there are poor wretches who have wives and families to support out of scarcely as many hundreds.”

"Ah! certainly, poor creatures!-one half of the world does'nt know how the other half lives. But talking of this pretty spot which you occupy just now, I'm thinking of buying it; (you understand?)'

Indeed! I shall be happy to become your tenant," answered I.

"Precisely, Sir Matthew; I should, of course, be too happy to be landlord to such a tenant as you; (do you understand?) but as I can't always hope for such a piece of good fortune, it is my purpose to pull the house down upon the expiration of the period for which you have taken it, (you observe?)"

"Would not that be a pity? Such a pretty villa, and so well situated!"

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Why, the fact is, to tell you the truth, we find these little places a great nuisance in our neighbourhood, (do you understand?) being generally taken by people who are very good sort of people in their way—excellent people in their own class; but not exactly (do you observe?) the kind one likes altogether to associate with-you understand what I mean?" "Perfectly; I quite enter into your feelings.'

"Now, I was talking the other day upon this subject with our friend Mr. Paulet, and I could not make him understand it. He said that it was making wealth the criterion, which you know is not at all the way of viewing the matter; I should be the last man in the world to say that wealth is the criterion, for there are many persons of great merit who are poor; but as a general rule, (you understand?) I think one

CHAPTER III.

NOTHING could more strongly attest the character of the Paulet family, than the respect and affection in which it was held by the tenantry and poor of the neighbourhood. I had opportunities of becoming acquainted with this fact; for, according to my custom, I frequently conversed with the villagers, and sat down in their cottages. Admiring the Paulets as I did, and considering the relation in which I stood-or rather hoped to stand, with regard to them, it was delightful to observe the alacrity and earnestness with which the humbler classes, within their influence, sounded their praises. Mr. Paulet was described as the kindest of landlords, and the noblest of gentlemen; his wife, though comparatively a stranger to them, was much admired, and would have sooner and more easily made her way into their hearts, had they not been already occupied by her divine sister, with whose superior character they seemed to be strongly impressed. "Lady Jane," said a farmer's wife to me, " is a sweet, good-tempered young lady; but she haven't the same thought like Miss Paulet, who is an angel, if ever there was an angel upon earth. I've known her ever since she was not so high as the table, when my lady, her mamma, who was then alive, used to take her with her when she went to visit the poor people; and she was such a sensible child, too, as well as gen'rous! I remember, as if 'twas but yesterday, she once met a beggar on the road, and gave all her pocket-money to him, and afterwards it turned out he was an impostor; and little Miss Alice, when she heard it, said she would never give money again to a stranger, without inquiring whether he was really in want; For if I give,' says she, to them I know nothing about, I shall have nothing left for those who I know are really deserving.' But she had a good edication and example, Sir, in the dear lady, her mamma, who was just then what Miss Alice is now, except a little older, and more mallancholy."

This was a topic of which I could never tire; so I allowed the good woman to proceed, which she did with little en

couragement, and she dilated with rude, but honest enthusiasm, upon all the good qualities of her dearest Miss Alice, whom she loved like her own child, if she might make so bold as to say so.

"What will you do when you lose her, Mrs. Johnson ?" said I, as we became better acquainted; "for you must expect now that she will soon be choosing a home of her own." "God send her a happy home then, and a good husband, dear young lady! for there's none more deserving of it, be the other who she may: but 'tis said Miss Alice is to be married to young Squire Axford, which I hope may be true, for then we sha'n't lose her."

"Ay, indeed? to Captain Axford ?"

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Yes, Sir, so 'tis said, but it mayn't be true; perhaps you can tell, Sir?"

"I wish I could, Ma'am," answered I, with more depth of sincerity than my friend probably suspected; "but whoever her choice may be, I trust he will be worthy of her." "That, Sir, he cannot be, (saving your presence)," answered the woman; 66 no man can be worthy of such an angel. But this I'm sure, Miss Alice will never go to church with any of your common sort of gentlemen; she'll never marry a man because he's rich, or great; like Miss Axford t'other day, who married that old Lord for his grandeur, and nothing else; for he's a name for all sorts of wickedness, and keeps a lot of women-nasty old fellow! Many's the great lord and fine gentlemen as have courted Miss Alice, to my certain knowledge, but she wouldn't have nothing to say to any of them; for she's none of your ladies who are all for outside show, and don't care a brass farden what a man is in hisself, if so be ashe've got wealth or titles."

"What then, Mrs. Johnson," said 1, “you think Miss Paulet so disinterested?"

"Think, Sir?" reiterated she, "I knows her to be so; she wouldn't marry a prince without she liked him, and she'd never like him unless he was deserving of her esteem."

Such were Mrs. Johnson's testimonials to the character of Alice. Perhaps it may be considered bad taste, or at least unnecessary, to quote the opinions of a person so humble; in which case, I must beg the gracious reader to recollect, that on this subject I may not be altogether master of my usual discretion, on account of the deep interest which I feel in it; my wish being to possess him with as high an opinion of this young lady's virtues, as that which I myself entertained. I

must that is to say-in fact, you know what I mean-it is necessary to draw a line, for it is embarrassing to be brought into contact with people whom, however deserving and respectable, one doesn't meet with in society (you observe?)" "I know the sort of people you mean-demi-fortunes-an abominable class."

"You've just said it; situated as we are (you comprehend?) happening to have a large connexion, and being obliged to keep up an establishment, and to live in a little style, acquaintances of that kind we find exceedingly inconvenient, as you can easily believe."

"Undoubtedly; your connexions being all in high life." "Why, yes, so it happens.-What a good view you have of the Priory from here," proceeded he, rising and going to the window:-" by the by, what a charming family they are; have you known them long?"

"About two years.' 99

"He will be Marquis of Truro," said Mr. Axford, half soliloquizing, half addressing me.

"He has a very good chance, certainly," I replied.

"Chance!" rejoined Axford,'quickly, "more than a chance; I should think it might almost be called a certainty: he is, you know, next heir to his uncle, who will never marry again, I should suppose?"

"It is not very probable perhaps," answered I.

"I know not any man better fitted to grace a title than my friend Paulet; his manners are those of a prince.'

To this eulogium I assented, and Mr. Axford proceeded. "What a pity that that sweet girl, his sister, should not at the same time become Lady Alice! I look upon that as a very hard case."

"I dare say that she will be painfully sensible of it."

"But I should think he would be able to get her name put in the patent-such things have been done, you know; for instance" and he named some precedents.

"Doubtless it will be done," I observed.

"Their succession, too, will most likely not be very remote."

"I believe the Marquis is an old man."

"His health is, I fancy, indifferent, and he is in his sixtieth year."

"You know by the Peerage?" inquired I.

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Why, yes," answered Axford with some confusion; "I was looking there for something else the other day, and my