the gate. Mrs. Prettyman going to town in her coach and four, and nobody to answer but Dolly Cook. Unfortunate that Mary was gone up to Ryegate. Should not have minded it, only Mrs. Prettyman is such a fine lady, and, to give consequence to her son, who has an eye to the county, will always travel in her coach and four. Fool enough to be ashamed, and sneaked in at the side door, but thought it needless to wash till Suds came.

"John returned without him, for he was out. Confound them both: but as I could not keep Mrs. Prettyman waiting (for I was afraid the lease would never be signed), I was forced to appear, after all, without being shaved.

"This was not the worst, for, unfortunately, she piques herself upon being a woman of business, and would not sign till she had heard every word of the lease read over, which-as I never can find the places in reading a lease, was no small. matter. I wonder why the devil law language should be so totally different from any other.

"Thank heaven, Mrs. Prettyman would not stay for the luncheon which John, in his officiousness, brought in upon a tray, and I was left my own master for the rest of the day; only when Mary came in, she flew into a passion because Mrs. Prettyman called when she was out, which she said she was sure was by design.

"N.B. The report is revived that I have views upon the rich widow. Heaven knows my innocence-but it annoys Mary, who says she supposes she will be dis

charged; and there is no peace in the house when she is angry."

This, though the record of only one morning, being a pretty accurate specimen of the manner in which my friend passed his time for a month (for he then went to London, to get rid of himself, and probably of Mrs. Mary), I do not think it necessary to record more, except that there were not a few traces of good-nature to persons in the neighbourhood, which, for his honour, ought to be told.

I observed, however, that my friend was always more free to give money than advice; the latter requiring much more attention. He had therefore hit upon an ingenious method to indulge his indolency and good-nature at the same time;-for in all cases of country business, he had bargained with a neighbouring attorney to answer questions for him, at the rate of half-a-crown a case, which in the end proved very pretty pickings to the said attorney. I observed, too, that in cases where pecuniary assistance was to be afforded, Mrs. Mary was chiefly commissioned to proportion and distribute the bounty; which, as she had a long list of dependants and poor relations of her own, was chiefly, or entirely, confined to them. In this, too, no wonder if the caprice attributed (though so unjustly) to the sex when they have power, was sometimes apparent : at least I occasionally found such entries as these:

"I begin to think I have given Mary too much power; indeed I fear she has too much influence over

me, and abuses it. The five pounds she gave to her first cousin, twice removed, the other day, was neither necessary nor deserved, for John tells me he could maintain his family very well, but is drunken and idle, and I hate idlers; while the poor housemaid, whom she turned away for being, as she said, disrespectful, and too handsome for a housemaid, she refused to assist, though she supports her sick father and little brothers. I must take the management of this into my own hands."

I was in hopes this would produce some kind of reform in the almonry, or at least some diminution of the housekeeper's influence. But no! the next entry was this:

"I am terribly infatuated by this woman. When I scolded her for not carrying the three guineas to the widow towards her rent, she had the insolence to say she wanted it herself for the silk gown I had promised her, to give her a better air in my household. That was no reason for her not carrying the money to the widow. However, I believe she is attached to me, and I did certainly promise her the silk gown; and besides, any thing for a quiet life. I must send John to the widow."

Such memorials as these, of the increasing weakness of a mind capable of good, but ruined by being totally surrendered to the besetting power of sloth, made me tremble for my friend's happiness; and, indeed, I began to fear that there were ties between him and his housekeeper, always degrading to a man

who has any regard to reputation, often therefore lamentable and even irksome, and yet which even the firmest in other respects cannot always break through. I feared that this woman, who preferred her own silk gown to the relief of a poor widow, might be a mistress, nor was my fear the less that she should be a wife. Either way, my friend's liberty, and therefore his happiness, was overthrown. I resolved to search out the secret, and if not too late, to endeavour to restore him to himself, though that might be only to a less disreputable state of vegetation.

An opportunity was not long wanting, for that very evening we took a walk, which Mrs. Mary allowed, after buttoning him up to the chin in a cloak, though the height of summer, the evening air, she said, always making him sneeze, and if a cough came on he never got rid of it; all which he submitted to with the resignation of a martyr.

At first we were both silent, and I observed that he frequently looked behind him as if he feared being followed, till we had got quite beyond his own pre ́cincts, into a little glen, which seemed retired enough for any confidence. Here he began by frankly asking what I thought of his journal.

"That it is honesty and candour itself,” said I.

"That is not what I mean. I want your advice, perhaps your assistance, in a matter which, if you have perused the journal with attention, may have struck you. Indeed, it was for this end, I own, that I commended it to your notice; for, without a word in my

own extenuation, you will have perceived that I am in a wearisome thraldom of the worst kind-thraldom to my own servants.”

"To one in particular," observed I, watching hs

countenance.

He looked down, but without dissent.

"It is a thraldom," continued I," which your position ought to be above; and, as you ask my opinion, you ought instantly, as you may easily, deliver yourself from it."

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Easily!" said he, and shook his head.

"Yes; what is to prevent you, even on your return home, to give both Mr. John and Mrs. Mary their dismissal ?"

"What, without a cause? The thing is impossible. You surely would not be so unjust. Besides, John is more necessary to me than you people of energy are able to understand; and Mary

Here he hesitated.

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"Come," said I, " let us be frank to one another, and allow me an important question; are the bonds you are under to this seemingly more than housekeeper————”

"Bonds!" cried he, colouring as red as scarlet, "the journal, surely, cannot have said any thing about the bonds ?"

Here he again faltered.

"It has made me suppose that you have not told me the whole of your case in regard to this woman, or lady, as I presume I must call her

"Lady!" interrupted he; "Ah! if she were!"