obligations she had conferred upon him, for he recognised, by the hand-writing, the munificent friend who had some time before sent him a box of gold to extricate him from his difficulties, and an anonymous monitory letter for the regulation of his conduct. By far the most welcome part of her communication, and that which they both valued above all her gifts, lavish as they were, was the promise of her still allowing an interchange of their minds by means of correspondence. To Julia, especially, this was a consolation that much alleviated the bitterness of her grief. Constantia was not now so utterly dead to, and severed from, the world, as she had previously seemed to be. Their spirits could still meet and embrace one another; their hearts could sympathise together; their intellects could participate in the same ideas: it was a privilege too estimable not to be immediately exercised, and both Jocelyn and Julia availed themselves of it without delay, by writing an answer to her communication, couched in such terms as the most unbounded gratitude and affectionate devotedness could suggest.

On the day after his marriage, our hero despatched an epistle to his father, giving a full account of that happy event, and of the unexpected generosity by which he had become so suddenly enriched, expressing a hope that his fortune might assist in accelerating the decision of the Brambletye cause, and restoring the dilapidated mansion of his ancestors. To his friend Tracy also he communicated the happy change in his destiny, explained the nature of his connexion with Colonel Rathborn, and requested his advice as to the best mode of

proceeding for the establishment of his innocence, and the public clearance of his character from all imputation. From the latter he speedily received an answer, congratulating him on his good fortune, and informing him that although the whole of the conspirators, both at the time of trial and place of execution, had completely exonerated him from any participation in their desperate plans, it might be highly adviseable for him to return immediately, and offer himself, for form's sake, to justice, lest his escape and continued residence abroad should be assumed by his enemies as a confession of guilt. The proceedings against him, he added, had all been withdrawn, but still the legal proof of his innocence could only be established in the manner he suggested.

This advice our hero deemed it expedient to adopt without delay, and accordingly, after writing a letter to Constantia, detailing the motives of their return to England, and promising to acquaint her with the result of their expedition, the party commenced their jour ney to London, taking with them the faithful and phlegmatic Winky Boss, who, though he seldom removed the pipe from his mouth, except for the purpose of supplying its place by a draught of Schiedam, or some equivalent compound, was, from his methodical habits, quiet manner, and long experience of travelling, a most useful personage upon the road. Jocelyn too, from the remembrance of his services upon various occasions, particularly in rescuing him from the Towerwherry, had become warmly attached to him; and Winky Boss was not less kindly disposed towards his

master, although his heavy and sluggish features never betrayed any external symptom of emotion of any sort.

Upon their arrival in London, which city they reached without accident, Mrs Walton signified her intention of retiring to reside at Ely, where she still retained a few chosen friends, who revered the memory of her husband, and participated in her own peculiar notions, both as to religion and politics. Here she had spent the early part of her life; here she wished to deposit her bones among those of the saints who had preceded her; and with a good conscience for the past, her bible for the present, and hope for the future, she expressed a confident trust that the remainder of her pilgrimage upon earth would be accomplished in perfect tranquillity and peace.

In conformity with Tracy's advice, our hero tendered himself to answer every charge that might be brought against him; and finding that all proceedings had been quashed, he procured a public notification of that circumstance to be inserted in the Gazette, together with the confession of the conspirators, in full confirmation of his innocence. His fair fame being thus vindicated from all reproach, he only staid long enough in London to visit his friends, by all of whom he was received with undiminished kindness, and then set out for the Moated House, in order to introduce his bride to Sir John. On approaching that usually dull and sleepylooking residence, he was surprised at observing a flag waving from its roof; and this wonder was so keenly enhanced, when he noticed a column of smoke from almost every chimney, as if some great festivity were

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about to be celebrated within, that he urged the horses rapidly forward, in order to obtain some explanation of the phenomena.

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Before Sir John was apprised of their arrival, they had learnt the occasion of all these joyful and unusual demonstrations. The long-pending Brambletye cause had not only been decided in favour of the ancient and rightful owner, but the purchaser had been ordered to make restitution of all the rents he had received, and to pay over a considerable sum for the dismantling and the dilapidations of the mansion; and this righteous award was not likely to be further contested. The << crop-eared Roundhead," who had bought the estate, and whom Sir John continued to designate by that op probrious term, even when he came to make propositions for payment, had agreed, in consideration of certain deductions of no great amount, to perform the remainder of the decree in the course of the following week; and, in the mean time, had made a formal surrender of the mansion and estate. This most welcome occurrence, which Lady Compton entirely attributed to her visit to Whitehall, and her personal influence with the King; together with the expectation of the large sum in ready money to be paid next week, of which she never thought, without instinctively working all her fingers, as if she were counting it; had so overset her, that in the generosity of gratified avarice, she had suddenly given her consent to a measure which she had been ever since regretting. She had stipulated to surrender the key of the wine-cellar, and the disposal of the Moated House for one entire day; and the delighted

Sir John, who said he was determined that every chim ney should smoke for it, and every binn be rummaged upon the occurrence of so rare a jubilee, and one which could be now so well afforded, had made preparations for a grand festival, to which many of the neighbouring gentry were invited; while all those of the tenantry, who had paid their rents to him in spite of the « cropeared Roundhead» aforesaid, were to be plentifully regaled in front of the house, for which purpose tables were spread between the porch and the moat.

The occasion of these hilarious doings was not less gratifying to Jocelyn and Julia, than the sight of the happy throngs through which they had to pass as they approached the mansion. Jack Whittaker, who, notwithstanding his aversion to swipes, and his frequent threats of abandoning Skin-flint-hall, as he had nicknamed the abode, could never make up his mind to quit his old master, had not only communicated all these welcome tidings to Jocelyn before he alighted from his coach, but had kindly undertaken to induct Winky Boss into the buttery, advising him to lose no time in addressing himself to the double ale, as his stomach would very soon be put upon half-pay, and reduced to the ordinary ration of sour small beer.

«'Sblood! my dear boy !» cried Sir John, as he threw away his crutches, hopped into the parlour upon one leg, and snapped his fingers for joy, as Jocelyn approached—«< this is lucky indeed. Nothing but this was wanting to complete the happiness of the day. Welcome! a thousand times welcome! And is this bux m beauty your wife? Zooks! she's a likely-looking lass,