patrimonial property, and even yet, if you do not incline to visit him, we can pass on to the Baillie's. »

The Baron had occasion for all his magnanimity. However, he drew a long breath, took a long snuff, and observed, since they had brought him so far, he could not pass the Colonel's gate, and he would be happy to see the new master of his old tenants. He alighted accordingly, as did the other gentlemen and ladies; he gave his arm to his daughter, and as they descended the avenue, pointed out to her how speedily the « Diva Pecunia of the Southron-their tutelary deity, he might call her-had removed the marks of spoliation.>>

In truth, not only had the felled trees been removed, but their stumps being grubbed up, and the earth round them levelled and sown with grass, it was evident that the marks of devastation, unless to an eye intimately acquainted with the spot, were already totally obliterated. There was a similar reformation in the outward man of David Gellatley, who met them, every now and then stooping to admire the new suit which graced his person, in the same colours as formerly, but bedizened fine enough to have served Touchstone himself. He danced up with his usual ungainly frolics, first to the Baron, and then to Rose, passing his hands over his clothes, crying « Bra', bra' Davie,» and scarce able to sing

a bar to an end of his thousand-and-one songs, for the breathless extravagance of his joy. The dogs also acknowledged their old master with a thousand gambols. Upon my conscience, Rose, the gratitude o' thae dumb brutes, and of that puir innocent, brings the tears into my auld een, while that schellum Malcolm-but I'm obliged to Colonel Talbot for putting my hounds into such good condition, and likewise for puir Davie. But, Rose, my dear, we must not permit them to be a life-rent burden upon the estate.

As he spoke, Lady Emily, leaning upon the arm of her husband, met the party at the lower gate, with a thousand welcomes. After the ceremony of introduction had been gone through, much abridged by the ease and excellent breeding of Lady Emily, she apologised for having used a little art to wile them back to a place which might awaken some painful reflections—« But as it was to change masters, we were very desirous that the Ba

ron»

« Mr Bradwardine, Madam, if you please," said the old gentleman.

<< Mr Bradwardine, then, and Mr Waverley, should see what we have done towards restoring the mansion of your fathers to its former

state.»

In

The Baron answered with a low bow. deed, when he entered the court, excepting

that the heavy stables, which had been burned down, were replaced by buildings of a lighter and more picturesque appearance, all seemed as much as possible restored to the state in which he had left it, when he assumed arms some months before. The pigeon-house was replenished; the fountain played with its usual activity, and not only the Bear who predominated over its bason, but all the other Bears whatsoever were replaced upon their stations, and renewed or repaired with so much care, that they bore no tokens of the violence which had so lately descended upon them. While these minutiæ had been so heedfully attended to, it is scarce necessary to add, that the house itself had been thoroughly repaired, as well as the gardens, with the strictest attention to maintain the original character of both, and to remove, as far as possible, all appearance of the ravage they had sustained. The Baron gazed in silent wonder; at length he addressed Colonel Talbot.

<< While I acknowledge my obligation to you for the restoration of the badge of our family, I cannot but marvel that you have no where established your own crest, Colonel Talbot, whilk is, I believe, a mastiff, anciently called a talbot; as the poet has it,

« A talbot strong—a sturdy tyke.»

· «< At least such a dog is the crest of the martial

and renowned Earls of Shrewsbury, to whom your family are probably blood relations.»

I believe," said the Colonel, smiling, «our dogs are whelps of the same litter-for my part, if crests were to dispute precedence, I should be apt to let them, as the proverb says, 'fight dog, fight bear.'»

As he made this speech, at which the Baron took another long pinch of snuff, they had entered the house, that is, the Baron, Rose, and Lady Emily, with young Stanley and the Baillie, for Edward and the rest of the party remained on the terrace, to examine a new green-house stocked with the finest plants. The Baron resumed his favourite topic: « However it may please you to derogate from the honour of your burgonet, Colonel Talbot, which is doubtless your humour, as I have seen in other gentlemen of birth and honour in your country, I must again repeat it is a most ancient and distinguished bearing, as well as that of my young friend Francis Stanley, which is the eagle and child.»

«The bird and bantling they call it in Derbyshire, Sir," said Stanley.

«Ye're a daft callant, Sir," said the Baron, who had a great liking to this young man, perhaps because he sometimes teased him,— «Ye're a daft callant, and I must correct you some of these days,» shaking his great brown fist at him. << But what I meant to say, Colo

nel Talbot, is, that yours is an ancient prosapia, or descent, and since you have lawfully and justly acquired the estate for you and yours, which I have lost for me and mine, I wish it may remain in your name as many centuries as it has done in that of the late proprie

tor."

<< That is very handsome, Mr Bradwardine, indeed.>>

« And yet, Sir, I cannot but marvel that you, Colonel, whom I noted to have so much of the amor patriæ, when we met at Edinburgh, as even to vilipend other countries, should have chosen to establish your Lares or household gods, procul a patriæ finibus, and in a manner to expatriate yourself.»

"

Why really, Baron, I do not see why, to keep the secret of these foolish boys, Waverley and Stanley, and my wife, who is no wiser, one old soldier should continue to impose upon another. You must know then that I have so much of that same prejudice in favour of my native country, that the sum of money which I advanced to the seller of this extensive barony, has only purchased for me a box in――shire, called Brerewood Lodge, with about two hundred and fifty acres of land, the chief merit of which is, that it is within a very few miles of Waverley-Honour.»

<< And who then, in the name of Heaven, has bought this property?»