Let the many Sir William Thompsons there are, who give much of their abundance, but little of their kindliness, think of the distinction made by this humble cottager between her benefactors, and do better.

I was thankful to the shower for having procured me a lesson I never forgot, and I conn'd it over and over during the rest of my fragrant walk to the Grange-more fragrant for the shower.

I found Mr. Manners enjoying it himself, and snuffing up the breath of his flowers with a pleasure that would have made a king envy him, and (without interrupting it by returning my salutation, but as if carrying on a previous conversation) he said,

"I allow this is very sensual, and yet it has mind in it too, for the sensuality is so mixed with elegance, that there is a refinement in it, and the heart expands with grateful feeling, which always does good to the mind. Now that is not the case with a gross dinner, although we say grace for it; there is no sentiment in a ragout. But pray how did you escape the shower?

It may be supposed I told him, with all the circumstances of my conversation with the cottager, not withholding all that she said of himself.

"Ah! poor Nancy," said he, "she might, as she says, have sunk if we had not done something for her: but Sir William did far more than I. Indeed he has a larger fortune, of which, perhaps, it would

be better if he was not quite so proud. However, we must thank givers for the good they do, let them do it in what way they will."

"Sir William, however, appears to be charitable?"

"Why, yes! He also thinks himself humble; that is, he boasts of his humility; but it is not gospel humility, for he would never wash his disciples' feet; he is much too fastidious for such an office-one of what I call the ostentatious godly; in fact, a pharisee.”

"Is he not really then benevolent ? "

"Yes! but not after the pattern of the widow's mite; still less of Him he thinks he imitates. When he has well dined, and seen all the comforts of his house regulated, nothing wanting in any department-kitchen, cellar, stables, domestics, and all other appliances-his heart will really open, or appear to do so, and whatever he has to spare, he will give, for the Lord's sake; but he will not deny himself any one indulgence, to help a man in need."

"I comprehend,” said I.

"Then as to his humility," continued Mr. Manners, "though he certainly gave poor Nancy money enough, as a sort of composition for his soul (as people formerly used to pay for masses), he never personally took any interest in her, because she was not fine enough in herself or her house for him to

come in contact with them. Besides, it was beneath one of the Elect to descend to such an intercourse with a mere profane person. Hence, what he did, was always by deputy, in the person of Mr. Gamaliel, his butler, who gave the poor woman to understand, that from her too great anxiety in attending to her children, which interfered with her praying, she was, as Touchstone said to the Shepherd, in a parlous state, and would certainly be damned.' Indeed, his master says as much of me, because once, in an argument with him, I said I believed that Christ died for the whole world, if they obeyed his gospel, and not merely for half-adozen self-elect, who called themselves the godly.

"But let us leave such trumpery to themselves, and return to Whittington and his cat. I wrote to Fothergill last night to tell him you were here, and ask whether I was right in the opinion I had formed of you; for, to tell you the truth, I have been frequently taken in, both by men and women, from a sort of headlong disposition to rush at once into liking or disliking a person from the impulse of the moment. I hated Sir William the first time I saw him, though I could not tell why; but I was not wrong there."

This account of himself did not too much delight me. I was afraid he might have repented, or would do so; or that, with all his seeming sobriety and judgment, he might be capricious. In short, I

felt alarmed, and by way of feeling the ground, ventured to ask if I might know how he, who appeared so judicious, could be so taken in; and whether most by men or women? In short, I wished him to develop himself, that I might better understand him.

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"A very modest request," answered he, laughing; yet, as you are a kinsman, and about to launch into the world, I should have no objection to give you a few cautions, the result of a pretty long experience."

"I should desire nothing better," said I; "and it would crown the obligations I already feel to you."

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"It however requires time,” said he, “ for, from the nature of objects on which I have fixed my affections, I have passed my latter days with few disappointments; trees, and blossoms, and books deceive little, so that I have, in fact, had no enemy but winter and rough weather.' I have, therefore, been little out of humour in consequence, and have nearly forgotten the whips and scorns of earlier, and more active life.

"But let me see. Oh there was the Duke of Brakenbury: I was one of his party in politics, and, he was pleased to say, a serviceable one. I helped him also in his county; we were hand and glove; I dined with him every week in town, and staid sometimes a month with him in the country.

I attributed this at first to our political connection alone; but he swore that had I no seat in parliament, or thought differently from him on public questions, he would have singled me out as a private friend. Well, he changed his party, though there was no change of measures; I refused to follow him; and he never spoke to me afterwards.

"There was another great man-a very great man—whose county interests I espoused with effect when at Bolton-le-Moor; but I left the castle, and from that time to this we have been scarcely civil.

“What I think of, however, with most regret, is the separation from me by a man I really loved, from a low spirit of rivalry, and consequent ill usage, to which I thought him superior. We were college friends; had many tastes in common; and he was often my companion at the Warren-house, where we read together. Both were destined for public life, and embarked in it under the same leader-his Grace of Brakenbury; but, from being more highly connected, I was rather more among people of fashion. This was the first grievance; for Dalton's weakness was an ambition to have a high place in that class. He married early, and his wife, the daughter of a nabob, shared, or rather went beyond him in this ambition; and my mother, Lady Elizabeth, living then in town, our families became intimate. The jealousy I have mentioned soon shewed itself.

The coronets, too often at our