gan by telling me that he had a situation in view for me, and that by following his direction, I should find all would be right. He desired me to leave London immediately and go down to Barnet; and at such an inn inquire for a long-tailed bay horse, which was to be brought there from the North : that if the said horse was already there, I should remain and see that he was taken care of; and, at all events, that I should remain there myself till I should hear further from him. I promised to obey his orders and set off the same day.

The day following that on which I got to Barnet, what was my surprise to see Major Warburton, who had himself followed me! To crown my astonishment, he informed me that he had dismissed his old servant, and was resolved to have me in his place! I confess my sensations were not all pleasurable, for in fact I had a dislike to the military life, and I told the Major so; and intimated that, in case I engaged, I must have ten guineas additional wages. Even to this demand the Major willingly acceded, and away we went to Kilmarnock, in Scotland, where his regiment then lay.

The Major's time, however, being chiefly spent with his regiment, and, as I have said, this way of life not suiting me, although I remained with him about a year and a half, yet this period seems an almost total blank in my memory, and nothing that I know of would be interesting to narrate except my manner of leaving him.

Among my other duties which I had to perform, I had regularly to go to the post office three days

a week, for the newspaper. The Major had given me many specimens of a straightforward domineering temper, but in no other instance did he go so far as in that which I am going to relate. He told me one day to go to the post office for the newsI made answer paper. 66 that there was no news

66

66

paper, that it was not the day." Well, but go, said he, " as I order you." 'Sir," said I, "there is no newspaper to-day, and if I go the people will laugh at me." "I tell you, go," continued he. "Then," said I, "I will not go." But," said he in return, "when your year is expired, I will take care you shall go." "Very well," I answered, "I will go sooner if you like." "Get a place, then," he continued, " as soon as you can."

We were but seven miles from Edinburgh; I knew that Mr. Mackenzie was there, and I hired a pony the same afternoon, and rode over. Mr. Mackenzie informed me that he had been in company with a young gentleman at the play the previous evening who was in want of a servant, and he did not doubt but it would suit me very well. Accordingly, I was introduced to a young gentleman of the name of ML, and engaged to go with him, first to London, and afterwards to the North of Scotland. On my return to the Major, however, I did not find him so willing to liberate me as I expected, and ultimately he would not do it excepting after a month's notice. I gave him the required time, and arranged with Mr. M'Lto follow him to London.

Nothing further passed during the month be

twixt myself and the Major, concerning my leaving him, and on the day appointed, I had to remind him of the circumstance. It appeared that he had not expected that I should have persevered. I told him I always kept my important engagements. When he paid me my wages he was extremely affected, he even wept. I was so far wrought upon myself that I could scarcely refrain. I told him that if I had known the value he appeared to set upon me, I would never have left him while I lived; but as things then were, there was no alternative.

K

СНАР. Х.

FOLLOW Mr. M'L to London. -Difficulty in finding him there. The Fortune-telling Girl.-Proceed to the Western Isles.-Condition of the Islanders.Our errand.-Sailing to tune.-Our reception at Raasa.-Barley Bannocks.-My poor accommodations.-Discontent.-Kindness of Laird's Daughters. Serious reflections.-Primitive simplicity of the Inhabitants.Harvest time. -Daily fare of the Peasantry. Their contentment and robust health.Christmas ceremonies.-Marriage ceremonies.

"Ban Ban, Ca-Caliban

Has a new master-get a new man."

THE TEMPEST.

I REALLY do not know whether I was destined to meet more than my share of little extraordinary circumstances in life, or whether it has been merely that I have taken more notice of them than people generally do as they have occurred. I had been directed by Mr. M'L—, to call upon him, when I came to London, at No. 12, Leicester Street; when I came to Leicester Street, I found to my confusion that there was no higher number than 11. At No. 11, therefore, as the nearest point to 12, I made my inquiries. The maid servant, of whom I asked my question, could give me no in.

formation, and I was about to give up my case for a bad one, when the master of the house, who had overheard what passed, came forward, and told me that he knew a lady of the name of M'L, whose residence was in Gloster Street, "and," said he, "as the Scotch people all know each other, she might very possibly give you the directions you want." I thanked him, therefore, and proceeded to Gloster Street.

When I had found the lady's residence, I walked up to the door, and, judging that as there was a lady there was most likely a gentleman, I inquired if I could see Mr. M'L- The servant told me that her Mistress' name was M'L-, but that Mr. M'L. lived over the way. Over the

way I therefore went without ceremony, and, on asking to see Mr. M'L- -, I was desired to send in my name. This I did, but said, at the same time, that the gentleman I must see at all events. I had not, indeed, any expectation of finding him to be my intended master, but that by possibility I might learn something which would lead me to find him. I was told to walk up stairs. As I approached the apartment, what was my surprise to hear the effeminate voice of the very individual I was in search of, and I entered upon my duties immediately.

We remained in London for several weeks. The house did not belong to my master; he merely was entertained there as a relation to the master of the mansion, during his temporary sojourn in London. While here, of course, I spent a good deal of time