window in time to see his guest and his son riding across the park at full speed, and clearing every impediment with the ease of eager sportsmen.

As the Earl of Marston is never in our opinion a very delightful companion, even when in good humour, now that he is in rather an awful mood, we will leave him to recover his dismay as he best can, and accompany the horsemen on their excursion.

66

"Why did you decline riding with me, Percy ?" asked Alford, as after a long gallop they allowed their horses breathing time. "I am not so blind but that I could see something more than common in your refusal. Confess!"

"I am not philosopher enough always to have my inclinations under my own control," said his friend, rather angrily and haughtily, hoping to end the conversation.

"Oh! I cry your mercy! if you mean to rage. I am too cowardly a seaman to seek to weather Cape Wrath; but I thinks what I thinks!' as old Jane Smith says," looking sly and mischievous as he spoke.

"You and old Jane Smith may think what you please; but, wild as you are, even you must feel there are times when one would rather be alone."

66

Humph! a polite hint delicately conveyed! But are you sure you wish to be alone? quite alone? Ah! a blush on Percy Dormer's cheek! Why such a thing is more rare and precious than the great diamond of the Queen of Portugal. No denial! no protestations! I know a blush when I see it; and when Mr. Percy Dormer looks red, other men should look white. But what is the matter," he continued, looking more earnestly at his friend's angry and confused countenance. “ I never knew you so annoyed at my wild badinage before. Has any thing really happened to distress you? tell me and I will cease instantly.'

Nothing particular," replied his friend in a hurried yet rather softer tone; "but my head aches, and I wish to be alone. Which way are you going?"

"Oh! only a headache! and you wish to be alone! two rather suspicious symptoms. Save that I am convinced no mortal could be found to satisfy Percy Dormer's fastidious taste, I might imagine Romeo had found his Juliet; and, now I think of it, I fancy it must be so; for Miss Juliana Waitman assured me yesterday, when I rode over to escort you to Marston, that she really believed you were in love; for you wandered about all by yourself, sighed most piteously, and

read all the tender pieces in her Album. Now these proofs are conclusive. Who is the sighed-for mortal or spirit? Egeria or Undine?"

"Nonsense!" said his friend angrily.

"What could Miss Juliana Waitman mean by talking about me? or what can you mean by repeating such folly ?"

"What, indeed! as I told her. You are a person to be admired and reverenced, but never talked of. Oh, no!' she said, sighing, she felt that;' and you reminded her of some of Byron's heroes: Lara, or Giaffar, or Conrad, or Don Juan, or Beppo, or some of those, I forget which."

"Alford," said his friend still more angrily, though scarcely able to forbear laughing at the enumeration of heroes to whom he bore resemblance, "which road do you take? for I choose to ride alone."

"Such a brilliant thought has just entered my head," replied his friend with provoking gravity. "You shall be king of Greece! the very person for it! That frown would

tame into submission Capo D'Istria, Mavrocordato, Botzaris, Canaris, and Robbelina herself: nay, I verily believe, one look would annihilate the Sultan Mahmoud, and demolish the Holy Alliance." Mr. Dormer's horse was reined back violently, and then urged to various curvetings, to conceal and dispel his rider's ill humour.

"Which way do you, take?" he repeated at length, in a stern and repressed voice. "There has been more than enough of this folly."

"So it seems; seeing you have allowed it to ruffle your temper. I take this road, as I have a note to deliver from my mother; and if you will accompany me, you shall have an introduction to one of the lions or lionesses of our neighbourhood: a lady under age, rich, lovely, and amiable!"

"I detest heiresses! They balance the merits of others in golden scales, and are themselves only fit to be sold to a goldsmith by weight. Though Gorgons, yet gilded by their riches, younger brothers and politic papas, hold them possessed of a hundred thousand charms; if really beautiful so much the worse; a woman's head, or rather heart, might by chance withstand the dangers of riches or beauty; but, united, there is not one could remain uncontaminated by the flatteries she would receive. As to Amiability, she is but a handmaid in the train of Riches and Beauty, or a hacknied word to be used when no other presents itself. I will have no introduction; there is your road, and we meet again somewhere on this; or each finds his way home as he can.

"Whew! what a tirade against heiresses! Now would I wager my wisdom you have been refused by a plump daughter of some wealthy cit. You shall have no introduction from me, I assure you; and beware! there is not a young man in all the shire would allow your remarks to remain unnoticed, if he knew they applied to Miss St. Maur. For my part I love Helen as a sister, and will never stand by patiently and hear her abused;" so saying, he put spurs to his horse, and left Dormer to recover his good-humour.

"My young lady has driven out with Mrs. Hargrave, my lord," was the answer at Hurlestone to Lord Alford's question, "Is Miss St. Maur at home?" "

"Then perhaps I shall meet her on my return; if not, give her this note, and say I am sorry not to have seen her."

"Yes! my lord ;" and away rode his lordship.

"How glad I am to see you, Helen," said Lord Alford, as he met her carriage on his return to Marston; "do walk up this hill with me, for I have a thousand things to say to you."

She complied instantly with good humoured readiness, and enquired kindly after his family.

My mother, I am sorry to say, is as great an invalid as ever; and Catherine has a sore throat, which, though it prevented her calling on you to-day, has not tamed her in the least. My father is in a rage; with or without reason, I shall not take upon myself to decide."

Helen shook her head, but could not forbear smiling at his ludicrous account of the morning's fracas.

"And now, Helen, you really must come to Marston, and put us all in good-humour. My mother and Catherine are too unwell to visit you, but send their very best love, with a request that you will come to us on Monday, and remain till we have wearied you.'

"Is this true?" asked she laughing; "for you recollect, you have ere now shown a talent for inventing pretty messages, and I am not inclined to play the part of the

ted.'"

Uninvi

"Will you never forget or forgive that prank of mine? But I am really and truly the bearer of such a message now, so do not deny me."

"Very well then; tell your dear mother I shall be with her on Monday, but must return on Saturday. It is so long since I have seen her I shall quite dream of my visit."

66

Victory! victory!" cried he, waving his hat.

"What do you mean? I favour no tricks."

"There is no trickery; only my sage mother and mad-cap sister had the impertinence to declare you would not come on my bidding, so insisted on loading me with a note, which I left at Hurlestone lest I should not meet you; but now I shall have the triumph of announcing you come on my invitation alone."

"And more; you may tell them I will come on your invitation any day, for I have not forgotten that you were always my protector and defender in my childish days.".

He pressed the hand that rested on his arm, as he said, "Thank you! Helen; believe me you shall never find your confidence misplaced. Wild and reckless as I may be to others, you shall find me a steady and perhaps not unwise friend, though it is Alford who says so. I know all the folly of endeavouring to win a warmer interest in your regard, and shall not attempt it; but you must in return ever look upon me as a brother, for Euston is at times too violent to be a safe counsellor.

"And thank you, my new brother but old friend ;" said she half playfully, though the tear glistened in her eye as she spoke.

There was a short silence till they reached the top of the hill, and then she said: "Now I think of it, suppose you play courteous and invite my aunt. I know she will decline, but the invitation will please her."

Willingly; but you will come still."

"Oh yes! we are no tie on each other; indeed she often prefers being left. I hope your house is not full, as usual, for I want to have your mother all to myself."

"We have no visitors but a friend of mine, Percy Dormer." "What! the person you used to rave about? till I dreamt a second time there was such a thing in the world as a perfect man."

"The same; but I rave about him no more, for he positively refused to be introduced to you, and dcclares he detests heiresses."

"Alas, poor me !”

There was no time for further explanation, as the carriage came up at the moment. The invitation to Mrs. Hargrave was g ven, and declined, with courtesy on one side, gratified pride on the other; Helen was handed into her carriage by Alford, and the next moment it drove on.

As he stopped and looked round for his friend, he saw a horseman on the summit of an opposite hill coming quickly in a direction to meet the carriage. "It must be Dormer,"

way

thought Alford, and he lingered to watch his approach. The horse dashed down that hill and up the next, proving the recklessness or speed of its rider, and met the carriage half up the ascent. Could he be mistaken? It certainly was Dormer; but he and Miss St. Maur were strangers to each other; yet, as he had nearly passed the carriage, a start and curvet told of some sudden emotion; and, to his utter astonishment, a low and profound bow from Dormer succeeded.

The carriage proceeded rapidly. Dormer stopped his horse, and looked after it, whilst Alford dashed down the hill to learn the meaning of this, to him, strange scene. He reached his friend just as he was in the act of following the carriage.

"No! no! Percy," laying his hand on his 66 arm, you have had enough of riding alone for one day. Why you look wilder than ever! What is the matter?"

"Nothing! but I must follow that carriage, and stop it." "What! Percy Dormer! the refined! the lofty! the elegant! turned highwayman. Leetle Paul, or Turpin, or Jonathan Wild! Well, this will make a pretty tale. Let me see, Percy Dormer, or the Gentle Bandit.' A romance in three volumes, by

"Let me pass!" said Mr. Dormer, interrupting him, and trying to free himself from the firm but friendly grasp.

"Not I, indeed! those ladies are under my protection, and I cannot think of allowing them to be robbed of their rings and watches."

"Folly!" cried his friend, fretfully and angrily; then recollecting himself he added: "but you can tell me, for I saw you speak to them. Who is the lady in that carriage?"

"The one you bowed to ?"

"Of course?"

"Mrs. Hargrave."

"Mrs. Hargrave !" repeated Dormer, laying great stress

on the first word, and turning away.

asked again in an earnest voice.

"Is she a widow ?" he

“Ah! sits the wind that way," thought Alford; "since he will not trust me, it shall go hard but I find or make some sport. "Yes, she is a widow," he replied carelessly; and then, marking the sudden pleasure expressed in his friend's manner, he added archly: "and if you feel inclined to woo and wed, I'll be your bridesman; though I never could have believed Percy Dormer would have chosen to be second to any man: mais chacun à son gout.”