tempted to knock him down. Nothing but old Fidel's earnest entreaties, that I would keep my anger 'below par,' and a conviction that I could only thwart the designs, I suspected he was meditating, by steady and calm watchfulness and caution, enabled me to subdue my exasperated feelings. I did do so-though it nearly choked me. With the permission of his medical attendant, I had an interview with my poor father on the morning after my arrival. I was astonished and shocked to see the alteration a few months had made in his appearance. It was not that his body was much attenuated, which struck me most, but that from a fine, cheerful, middle-aged man, he had suddenly become what the Grecian dramatist terms a yepov Tuμßos, an old man on the brink of the grave. His hair was changed from black to white-not gray; the lines of his face, which, when I last saw him, were scarcely traceable, were now converted into deeply-chiselled wrinkles; the form, too, of his face was altered-every feature being sharpened; the expression of his eyes was most painful, conveying the idea of a melancholy too deeply seated ever to be removed.

"He did not appear to know me; indeed, he merely raised his eyes, as I closed the door, and then dropped them again upon a book, which he seemed to be perusing attentively, but which I found was turned upside down.

"Father,' said I, as soon as my tears would allow me to articulate. Father, do you not know me? will you not welcome me home?' He gazed on me for a few seconds, sprung from his chair, and seizing both my hands, held me at a distance from him.

Father,' said I again in agony, do you not know me? me, your son? your only son?'

"He seemed to recognise my voice for a moment, and his eyes gleamed with pleasure, but only for a moment, for loosing my hands, he fell back in his chair, and said, in a voice so feeble, as to be scarcely audible, No, it's not Owen, not Owen, where can Owen be?'

"Owen, sir,' I replied, annoyed beyond measure, at finding that the man whom I detested occupied the place in his feeble mind that I ought to have filled, Owen, sir, is with my sister Alethea.'

"Alethæa? ay, ay, yes-I know-they'll be married-but not yet not yet.'

"I sir, am just returned from Oxford,' I remarked, wishing to lead him into a train of thought which might enable him to recognise me.

"Oxford ?-ay, Oxford-my poor boy is at Oxford-I've been ill -very ill-but he has never been to see me-but Owen has-where can Owen be?'

"That villain, said I to myself-but speaking aloud-seems to engross all his thoughts, and I to have no share in

"Share-share,' he cried, springing from his seat, his eyes assuming an appearance of intense interest; a share-in what concern? Who are the directors? How much per cent. will it pay? What's the depositmoney? I'm quite ready to embark in any safe speculation, sir; but I have a scheme of my own, sir, a scheme that must pay; but before, enter into particulars-what house do you represent, sir? I must not have men of straw, sir-but men of capital-you're a man of capital, I've no doubt I'll disclose my plan to you, sir, but in confidence-if it gets abroad, sir, we shall be forestalled.'

"He seized me by the collar, led me up to a window, and pulling out a pocket-book, held the pencil in his hand, as if preparing to write. He then looked round suspiciously, as if to see that no one was near to overhear him, and whispered,

"I mean to form a joint-stock company, sir, I call it the "Incorporated Society for the importation of Savoyard boys, hand-organs, white mice, monkeys, and marmots." It must pay, sir-a little boy told me he paid 5s. per diem for the hire of white mice-all the Jews deal in them, and make large fortunes. Here, sir, is the list of directors,' pointing to a list of the lords and commons, in his book, all men of capital, sir-capital men; 50,000 shares, at 5s. each. How many shall I say for you?'

"I was too much shocked to speak. Seeing me hesitate, he became very violent, and stamped so loudly on the floor with his feet, as he exclaimed, in tones getting gradually higher, It must pay, sir, it must pay,' that the attendant under whose surveillance he was placed, came in from the adjoining room, and requested me to withdraw immediately.

"It seemed that he was perfectly quiet and tractable, as long as no allusion to business was made; but the moment the least hint was given about money matters, or speculations of any kind, he became very violent. The fit, however, seldom lasted long, and was succeeded by increased melancholy and despondency.

66

By the physician's advice I visited him daily, but without attempting to converse with him, unless he addressed me. He recognised me after a few days, and to my great joy, the 'Owen-where is Owen-where can Owen be?' was exchanged for My poor boy-where is my dear boy?' He would sometimes lay his head on my shoulder, and sob like an infant, stroking my hair as he had used to do in my childhood.

"I remained at home for six months, during which period Owen was so attentive to the business of the bank, and showed so much talent and zeal, that Fidel ceased to regret that I had not listened to the suggestions of my father's agents and become a partner in the concern. He visited us daily, or rather my mother and sister, for I generally absented myself during his stay-we could not meet without showing our mutual feelings of hatred and abhorrence, and as I saw it pained my sister, I thought it best to meet him as seldom as possible.

At the end of six months, my family yielded to his earnest entreaties that his period of probation should be shortened, and my sister consented to become his wife at once. An arrangement was made by which he was appointed junior partner, with one-third of the profits, and had powers of attorney, I believe they call them, to act in my father's name. I did not choose to be present at the wedding, and act the hypocrite by feigning a joy I did not feel at my sister's union. I learned from the physician that my father was likely to remain in the same unhappy state for some time, and though I left with reluctance, I set out upon a tour through Scotland.

"At my mother's suggestion, my annual allowance was doubled, and I sent up to Oxford to resign my scholarship, as I was preventing some boy, who might really want it, from obtaining 50l. per annum, to assist him in going through the university.

66

"I have had cause to regret this step ever since; but at that time I felt fully justified in taking it.

"I will not detail to you my adventures in Scotland-they consisted chiefly in fishing, shooting, and loch-ing or lake-ing. The hospitality of the Highlands was proverbial in those days, before steam conveyed such myriads of people to prey like locusts on the land of cakes. I was entertained at one mansion until I was tired of it, and then transferred to another, with a direction like a coach parcel, 'to be taken care of.'

I received several letters from my sister, who expressed herself quite satisfied with the object of her choice, and intimated a hope that her husband's attention to the interests of the family-the respect he showed to my father and mother, and the love he entertained for herself, would induce me to look upon him with more friendly eyes than I had hitherto done.

"I had been in Scotland nearly six months, and intended visiting the Hebrides, but gave up all idea of it on receiving a letter from Fidel, that caused me great uneasiness. He told me, under the strictest charge of secrecy, that he was not satisfied with Mr. Kington's proceedings, as many deeds and papers had been taken from the safe which were deposited there as securities. He wished me to return, as he had no one to consult with on so important a matter. My father was more violent than ever upon the slightest allusion to business.

"I took my passage to London, in a Leith smack, and on the morning after my arrival in town, went into the city, intending to call at our agent's. The principal partner, for whom I inquired, and to whom alone I was personally known, was out, and would not be at home until two o'clock. To beguile the time I walked into one of the numerous chophouses that surround Lombard-street, and calling for a chop, and the morning paper, sat down in one of the boxes. These boxes, as they are called, because, I suppose, they are used for packing people in as closely as possible, are separated from each other by wooden partitions, on the top of which are dingy red or green stuff curtains, hung on dingier brass rods, to prevent any but your own party seeing you eat and drink.

"The waiter entered with a dirty napkin under one arm, and a dirty Times under the other; two round plates, with two very dirty round tin covers in his right hand, and a pewter cup, with porter in it, in his left.

"" Times, sir?'
"'Yes.'
""Chop, sir?"

"Yes.'

"One chop, sixpence; one vegetable, penny; one bread, penny; half-pint stout, three halfpence-nine and a half, sir.'

"I paid him, and gave him the change out of the shilling for himself, for which unusual bit of generosity, being three halfpence over his usual fee, I received a very humble salaam, with an assurance that I should have the Morning Chron. as soon as gentleman in green specs had done with it.'

"While I was endeavouring to masticate the bit of sole-leather that was miscalled a mutton-chop, and reading a paragraph or two between the heats, some persons entered the box immediately behind mine and, as I could find by the shaking of the partition, seated themselves on the bench next to me.

6

"The waiter approached them with his usual Chop, sir? Steak, sir? Prime cut just now.' A strange voice answered, 'No, not at present; bring some paper, and pen and ink.'—' Yessir.'

"An earnest conversation was commenced as soon as the writing materials were brought, of which nothing reached me but the whizzing and burrhing sounds that attend upon whispers. Not wishing to be an eavesdropper I gave several loud imitations of a cough, and knocked my elbow against the wooden partition, to let them know that somebody was in the next box.

"I went on with my paper, and thought no more of my neighbours until I heard the words 'It must be done, sir, and immediately. The stock must all be sold out, and the money for the mortgages advanced at once,'-in a voice I could not mistake.

"Listen, listen to the voice of love,' is an exhortation almost needless. I listened, and attentively, to the voice of hate-for the speaker was Owen Kington.

"The strange voice inquired, But will it not cause surprise, if not suspicion, that the estate of Longcrofts should be mortgaged? the selling out of so much stock too, at once, will excite public attention.'

"It must be done, sir, we have need of the money for a very advantageous investment,' replied Owen, and the stock is in different names. "If you cannot, or will not do it, I must apply elsewhere.'

"The waiter was paid, and Owen and his friend left the room: though I had no doubt whatever of his identity, from the peculiar tones of his voice, I watched him out of the box, in the little dingy lookingglass that was over the fireplace, and under the eight-day clock.

"At the appointed hour I returned to our agents' and found him within. I drew for a small sum, as an excuse for my visit, and upon inquiring if Mr. Kington was likely to be in town, was told that a letter had been received from him that morning, stating that he should not be in London for some weeks."

When the Bursar arrived at this point of his tale, in a voice somewhat husky and dry, though he had oiled it at intervals with old port, a most inharmonious and prolonged yaw-aw-awh! from the vice-principal, accompanied by the stretching out of his legs to their full length under the mahogany, and his arms above it, to the endangerment of the senior tutor's nose, caused him to close the MS. and say, "That's what I call a broad hint, Peter!" "Yaw-aw-awh. Yes, sir," cried I, gaping too.

"A glass of cold brandy-and-water-yaw-aw-aw-awh! and light my lamp."

"Bursar

"Another for me, Peter, yaw-aw-awh!" said the tutor. here's your very good health, and thanks for your-yaw-aw-awawh! You must finish it another night." Exeunt omnes.

(To be continued.)

A DAY'S SPORT IN THE MAREMMA.

LATE in the month of November, I found myself wandering over one of the most beautiful wildernesses in Europe. Love of fine scenery; the excitement of a new country, and the hope of a few days' good shooting, conspired to lend an additional charm to the brilliant evening that welcomed my approach to the small town of Grosseto, in the Tuscan Maremma.

I was already about twelve miles from my destination, when I caught a glimpse of the blue Mediterranean, which, as the lingering rays of a glorious sunset spread themselves over its tranquil bosom, lay slumbering in a line of splendid repose, unbroken, save by the glittering lateen sails of two or three feluccas, and the deep purple promontory of Orbitello, that bounded the extreme horizon. Glowing with a thirty miles' walk, and looking forward with a certain degree of respect, though without apprehension, to the remainder of my day's work, Í unbuckled my havresac, and taking advantage of a spring of crystal clearness, which welled from the moss-covered surface of a neighbouring rock. I called to my side my two sable companions, a brace of gigantic Spanish wolf-hounds from the Pyrenees, and taking out my last remnant of biscuit, divided it with these gallant and faithful followers.

Three hungrier fellow-creatures have seldom met; two more affectionate servants never existed, and if the reciprocities of love and kindliness deserve the sacred name of friendship, three warmer friends, than my dogs and I, never journeyed together. Poor fellows! they are no longer in the land of the living; yet, how often do I recall their unceasing fidelity to my recollection! how often do I fondly dwell on the suspicious vigilance with which, when I have appeared to sleep, I have known them start from their slumbers, approach their recumbent master, and having ascertained that he breathed and was in safety, retire again to their respectful distance, and once more curl themselves up in all the luxury of repose! How often have I traversed the dangerous campagna and still more dangerous streets of Rome, secure in their guardian presence, as they stalked in stately magnificence by my side, when a single word of encouragement would have led them to drag to the ground the first passing stranger that might approach too near to my sacred person! They were, with the exception of the almost extinct Irish greyhound, the largest and most bony specimens of the greyhound tribe, that I ever met; black as jet, with tan muzzles and throats, of perfect symmetry, smooth hair, and sterns as fine as the racing greyhound; they stood about thirty-five inches, and were fleet as the wind, ferocious as tigers if excited, but as docile to me as a Blenheim spaniel. One of them was poisoned by the police of Florence, who take the infernal method of dropping nux vomica about the streets of that capital in the summer, on pretence of preventing hydrophobia, by destroying, in the most cowardly manner, the poor unsuspicious creatures, the meanest mongrel of which race is as superior to a Florentine sbirro, as an angel to a man; the other was killed in Germany by a wild boar, who, however, did not live to boast of his victory,