young men, and one or two which they have not: he had every advantage in life, except the advantage of something to want. But expe

rience was just beginning to be useful. The small exertions into which the chances of travelling had forced him had been good, because they interrupted his habits, and shewed him that such interruptions could be pleasant. The comparison of other countries with his own startled him into reflection; and reflection to a mind like his was never yet without its results. He began, for the first time in his life, to think of a future career, and to feel how selfish and unworthy a part was that of mere indolent indulgence.

In his present frame of temper, Lord Mandeville was an invaluable friend. The younger brother of a good family, he had commenced life with a pair of colours, while his own tastes were literary and secluded. But a strong mind shapes itself to its necessity; and the young Henry had earned for himself independence and distinction, when, by a succession of deaths, he became heir to the Mandeville estates and peerage. The theories of his youth had been mellowed by observation before he had an opportunity of putting them to the test of expe

riment. He knew what action was, because he had acted himself; he had read much, and seen more; and the feelings which in earlier days had warmed to enthusiasm, now become moderate and consolidated, were in subjection to the principles which stimulated by shewing the benefits of his exertions. He saw in Cecil Spenser a warm and generous temper congealed by indulgence into selfishness; and a mind of great natural powers, which had lain utterly waste, because nothing required from it a harvest. To awaken in his young countryman a desire of information, to direct his attention to many paths of honourable toil, for which his station and talents were eminently fitted, was a task whose utility was only equalled by its interest. How duly do we appreciate the merit we ourselves discover and direct!

CHAPTER XIX.

"The serfs are glad through Lara's wide domain :

*

There be bright faces in the busy hall,

Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall ;
Far checkering o'er the pictured windows plays
The wonted faggots' hospitable blaze;

And gay retainers gather round the hearth,

With tongues all loudness, and with eyes all mirth."

BYRON.

"I AM an Englishman, and I hate the French," is the common expression of our cosmopolite feelings the French being a generic term for all foreigners. Fashion may court the attachés to an embassy for the sake of their presence and perfumes at a party;-revolutions may occasion an interchange of deputations from the Rotunda to Mesdames les Poissardes those political nereids who preside over the fish-market, and assist any glorious cause" that may be in hand: but these moments of fashion and favour are few and far between,

and not very sincere at the best of times. The hatred which is so very cordial among near neighbours still subsists; - the voice of the first gun that peals in defiance over the deep waters at once awakens it; and we return to our old conviction, that one Englishman can beat three Frenchmen any day!*

Now, believe we can do a thing, and it is three parts done. For my own simple self, I confess to being very much behind my age. From Cressy to Waterloo, our island watchwords have been Enmity and Victory; and I see no reason why one century should be so much wiser than its predecessors. This national feeling is never more evinced than on the Continent: they herd together after their kind, and Englishman meets Englishman as if they encountered in the deserts round Timbuctoo.

Though Lady Mandeville's influence had been sufficient to induce her husband to go abroad, it was more than it could manage to make him enjoy it. Cecil Spenser's societywho soon shewed he could understand and enter into his views-became a source of great

*One Frenchman can beat two Portugee,

And one Englishman can beat all three."

gratification, and his young countryman was almost domesticated at the palazzo. Lord

Mandeville, however, was not long in discovering that his friendship was not the only attraction: he was content to share it with Emily Arundel. Aware that a strong and serious attachment is one of the great influences in man's destiny, he was glad that the lot was cast, as he thought, so fortunately.

Emily was a great favourite with him; and he had always viewed the attachment, at whose dénouement between her and Lorraine, Lady Mandeville meant to preside, as a somewhat foolish romance. He saw more clearly than his wife who would only see what she liked— the entire indifference of the gentleman; and felt glad, for Emily's own sake, that a present lover should put an absent one out of her head, which seemed to him a natural consequence.

Here he, too, was wrong: he judged of one by the many. Emily's generally quiet manner and extreme gentleness gave the idea of a soft and yielding temper. There was no outward sign of a feeling which had been heightened by imagination and nurtured by solitude, till it had become the reigning thought of the present, and the sole hope of the future. The