only Webster the parson. I will not give up my old eyes for your young ones-I know the jog-trot of his dun pony too well.'

A few minutes proved the correctness of the Marquis's vision; for Mr Webster entered to inquire for the family, in his rounds through his parish. He was considered by them all as an inoffensive man; but as a divine and a moralist, the Marquis and Marchioness gave the preference to their old friend the Rev. Dr Pelham.

"I am happy to see you, Mr Webster," said the hospitable Marquis.

"Won't you sit down, Mr Webster?" said the Marchioness, waving her hand graciously.

"I hope your lordship has been quite well since you came to the country ?" said Mr Webster.

66 Why, I cannot say I have much reason to complain," said the Marquis; "I hold out pretty well, considering that I am not so young as when first I knew you, Mr Webster. At my time of life, people require to take great care of themselves; indeed I think it is one's primary duty-founded, as one might say, on the great law of nature-self-preservation."

66

Why, my lord," said Mr Webster, "I believe, in most instances, we may leave the great laws of nature to operate by themselves. To get a new nature is the Christian's great endeavour; and—”

But this colloquy was interrupted by Miss Pert's again announcing the arrival of the post, who now came up the approach with spattered boots, strapped waist, and bag trundling behind.

The Marquis hastened to meet him, and soon returned, bearing the bag with his own noble hands. "There is the Courier for you, Mr Webster," said he; "and the Morning Post for you, Miss Jane; and here is a packet for you, my lady; and a love-letter, or some such sort of thing, for you, Amelia; and all the other dispatches belong to myself." He took out several magazines and reviews." I must forbid the bookseller to send so many; they multiply every week; there are certainly as many reviews as books; I shall be ruined by literature, if I do not put an embargo upon them."

66

After a little more desultory grumbling, the Marquis put on his glasses, and the whole party settled themselves into reading attitudes, in their respective seats. Silence was pleased” and uninterrupted, except by a few involuntary exclamations when any unexpected intelligence met their eyes.

"La!" exclaimed Miss Pert," and so Miss Fenton has really made out her marriage !—What a fall!—Ay, so we are to have a Musical Festival! —that is delightful.”

Miss Pert's exclamations called forth no echoes, for all the others were too much engrossed with their own letters, to pay any attention to hers. Lady Amelia gave a faint sigh as she turned the page of her letter. " "Tis indeed a vain world,”

said she.

"It is most provoking," said the Marchioness in her soliloquy. "I would require the patience of Job. My gown's not yet sent off!-Do they suppose I am still wearing the dresses I was married in ?"

The Marquis groaned and fidgetted about on his seat; some sentences he muttered into himself; and sometimes he seemed actually spelling. The letter was from his son, Lord Emery. He adjusted his glasses, as if he did not see clearly; he opened his snuff-box, and took a hasty pinch, exclaiming," Affectionate son, indeed !-Debts, debts, debts !-Will he never have done with that odious word?" And ended by throwing into the fire the whole contents of the packet, which soon expended itself in a few crackling sparks; while the sparks of the Marquis's rage going out at the same time, he took another snuff, and shook himself into his usual composure. He cleared his voice-"What news, Mr Webster ?"

66

Why, my lord, I cannot say there is any news, -debates in Parliament about the state of the West

Indies-education in Ireland, and so on; the rest of the paper, I would say, was filled with trials, and accounts of blasphemies, murder, theft, rapine, tumults, and crimes of almost every description. The newspapers of the day are indeed a strong confirmation of the great Scriptural doctrine, that this is a world that lieth in wickedness."

"I declare, Mr Webster, you would make one's blood run cold," said the Marchioness; "the half of these are fabrications ; don't you know, the editors of newspapers, when at a loss to fill a column, just get up a set of murders and thefts from some old paper, which passes very well on the ignorant?"

“It shews, then, my lady, what the taste of the world is supposed to be," said Mr Webster ; "though I sincerely hope that your information is correct."

"But are you not all surprised at Miss Fenton's marriage?" said Miss Pert-" married to a man with little or nothing, and whom nobody knows!" "Then there is no evil known of him, which is one great point," said Mr Webster.

"I never knew better come of your good ladies," said the Marquis, darting a significant look at Lady Amelia ;" and I make a point never to allow myself to be disturbed or surprised at anything they may think proper to do."

"She refused Charles Splash, with his fine for

tune, all for some whim about religion," said Miss Pert.

"That I cannot believe," said the Marchioness, "else I must suppose she had taken leave of her senses."

"But I assure you it is perfectly true," replied Miss Pert, who never allowed her information to be questioned" his sister told it me as a great secret."

"How lucky her parents are both dead!” said the Marchioness-" it would have broken their hearts."

"The gentleman she has married is a Christian," said Mr Webster; "and, in other respects, she had a right to choose for herself."

"If being a Christian is his principal qualification, that will go no great way; for you know we are all Christians-everybody in this country is a Christian, you know."

“In name I know we are," said Mr Webster— "Would I could think so in deed and in truth!"

"Speak for yourself, Mr Webster," said Miss Jane; "I, for one, have been a Christian all my life, and a good one too. Why do you talk as if Christians were evil instead of good? I never did any evil in my life, that I know of; and hope to go to heaven as well as my neighbours."

"Well said, Miss Jane !" cried the Marquis; "I