my visit to this poor man may be blest?-The Saviour often makes use of feeble tools, that he alone may be glorified." In some respects, one would have thought the spiritual state of poor Mr Macbill was no better than that of Sir Philip Hum; but they differed materially; and we are inclined to think that John Macbill was not so steeled and hardened against Christianity as Sir Philip Hum. The Baronet was a clever man—a deep man; he had read, and was well acquainted with, the Bible; but he was a proud man—proud of his talents-proud of his birth-proud of his moral attainments, low as they were-and proud of his own wisdom. He had never prayed to understand the Scriptures, for he never doubted his own natural capacity—he never prayed heartily for forgiveness of sins, for he never felt his need—he never prayed for strength, for he was already strong-he never prayed to be delivered from the crafts and assaults of the devil, for he did not believe in the existence of any such being. Lady Amelia having taken tea, took a small copy of Thomas a Kempis out of her reticule, and passed the time not unprofitably, till she was joined by the party from the play. They looked all tired, and jaded, and overheated, and wearied, and languid. They had laughed a great deal, and been very much amused; but laughing never leaves any pleasurable sensation behind it. To Sir Philip Hum it had evidently been an exertion to appear amused; he was already almost satiated with the representations of Covent-Garden and Drury-Lane, and was a man of too much taste to enjoy hearing Shakespeare murdered; and he lost nothing in the opinion of Lady Amelia, by the cold manner in which he expressed his approbation of the evening's amusement. Lady Amelia, in her turn, related her adventure with the actress; but she thought it more prudent to be silent as to her having visited Mr Macbill, as she was uncertain whether it would have met with unmixed approbation, at least from the Marchioness. "I think you have had the best fun of us all," said Dr Spleen Harris; "although I cannot perceive the difference betwixt going to the theatre and hearing private theatricals—a tragi-comedy performed in the open air for one's own particular amusement." "I am sure," said the Marchioness, "I more than once wished myself in the open air, or that the roof had been taken off the theatre-the heat was really intolerable, and the tallow lights quite suffocating." "Amelia's plan was certainly the comfortable thing," said the Marquis; "only, she should have let us into her secret, and I for one would have attended her." Sir Philip Hum was seated by Lady Amelia, and he lost not this opportunity of paying his court to her, by displaying the generosity and charity of his disposition. "You really interest me much," said he, "by your account of that poor woman. I shall think myself happy if you will permit me to assist you in being of service to the unhappy pair." Lady Amelia warmly thanked him, and accepted his generous offer. "I assure you," said he, "I am not a perfect novice in these matters. Devolve the whole upon me; I shall talk with the man and his wife, and shall set them up in trade, if I find them likely to bring credit to our protectorship." "What an excellent, kind-hearted man Sir Philip Hum is !" said the Marchioness, in an audible whisper. "A very good, honest fellow, but easily humbugged," answered the Marquis, in a whispered whisper. "The Marchioness and I are just admiring your generosity," continued he aloud, and addressing himself to Sir Philip, who bowed assent, as customary on those occasions. "If you go on in this manner," said Dr Spleen Harris, "you will be expecting to be addressed by the title of Your benevolence,' which is the ordinary title of some brotherhood I have heard of." "How can you make a joke of my good actions in that manner?" said Sir Philip Hum. "I am sure I truly feel how good you are in this matter," said Lady Amelia. "I should be good indeed," thought Sir Philip Hum, "if I had not my own views in all this trouble I am about to take. What blind fools they must all be, not to perceive my drift! an ordinary woman would take this action, as it is meant, for marked attention."-They talked a little more on what was to be done-what inquiries to be made -and Lady Amelia, who "hoped all things," felt and expressed great gratitude to Sir Philip Hum for the warm interest he took in the matter."In serving you, I please myself," said he. But she imputed the whole to his natural benevolence of disposition, and much she hoped that some good seed had been sown in that heart which could meditate and plan the performance of such benevolent deeds. CHAPTER VII. Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law, WHILE the superior members of the illustrious house of Vainall were participating in the pastimes of Dintherout, the domestics who remained at Roe Park availed themselves of this opportunity to follow their own devices. We shall confine our notice of their proceedings to the occurrences which took place in the nursery during this jubilee sea son. Young Edward Truefeel, the heir-apparent to all these spacious domains, enjoyed more freedom of person and will than generally falls to the lot of children under six years of age; but he now made the joyful discovery, that all his privileges were considerably increased, as for some days the usual threats of informing his sire and grandsire, mamma or grandmamma, of any of his misdemeanors, could not be put into execution. These awful denunciations accordingly fell unheeded on his ear; for what has childhood to do with distant futurity? |