his credit be it recorded, he never read them with impatience or displeasure, profit by them as he might.

A daily newspaper was now as necessary to Mr. Weston as his breakfast, and certainly more eagerly looked for. It was his plan first to scan over the last evening's debate in search of Manvers' name, and next to "run down," as he called it, the column containing the law report. The first, one morning, had yielded nothing to his gratification; but his eye had no sooner glanced at the latter than he exclaimed, adjusting at the same time the pages, that he might read the more conveniently to himself,

"Oh! here it is: tried at last. The famous cause, Brookman v. Winter, came on yesterday. Look at the space Manvers' speech occupies!"

The concluding paragraph caught his attention as he spoke. "Now, do listen for a moment. Stop that noise!"

Mrs. Weston instantly ceased rinsing the cups, and looked towards her husband, while he read the following:

"Scarcely had the learned counsel concluded his speech before a murmur of approbation, soon amounting to a more unequivocal demonstration of applause, ran through the Court. Even the judge " (Sir John Helstone,

I see), "though he checked this ebullition of popular admiration, evidently partook of the general sentiment, and showed by his manner, if not by his words, his estimation of the extraordinary powers of this rising man."

"What do you think of that, Mrs. Weston ?"

“That our humility should equal our gratitude," replied she, her eyes glistening, and her voice unsteady; "may we never forget who it is that gives man a tongue, and the power to speak."

"You will not, I dare say," returned he; "but give me my cup. I must write a few lines to Manvers before I leave home, or I shall have no time to do it afterwards."

In a few minutes Mr. Weston had filled a large sheet of paper. "The verdict," said he, as he folded up his letter," which, depend upon it, is all owing to Manvers, will not give universal satisfaction. But that's nothing to do with the business. The less that could be said in reality for the cause, the more merit he has for having brought it to such an issue. Now for the address."

He filled his pen with ink, and, with a bold and strong hand, wrote his son's name, taking care to make the letters M.P. unusually large. He looked with complacency on what he had done, and then with a smile murmured, "I shall soon have to add K.C. to his other honours."

In this respect he was not mistaken. Another step in the ladder of promotion was gained; and in the case of Manvers, as in that of all others, the ascent gave but a wider prospect of brighter fields of glory, firing the imagination and quickening pursuit.

Whilst Manvers was thus in the midst of excitement, pursuing with avidity each opening avenue of ambition, Henry was living a life of seclusion, indeed, but of usefulness and virtue. "The friend, the shepherd of the village swain," the gentle servant of a still gentler lord. His means were small, too small for his benevolent heart, but his self-denial was habitual and consistent. It was painful to be obliged to lay a restraint upon his wish to assist the poor and afflicted of his flock, but he never gave beyond what he could really afford, esteeming it a sacrifice of principle to be generous at the expense of honesty. The smallness of the gift, however, was either enhanced in value or compensated by the manner of the giver; who, in his turn, was cheered by the gratitude with which it was received. He still continued to make his sisters an allowance, and thus indirectly to relieve his father of the charge of their education and support. They also alternately resided with him, to the equal improvement of their mind and

VOL. II.

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morals. So gentle and sweet was his conduct, and so essentially domestic was he in all his habits, that Mr. Welsh earnestly advised him to marry.

"I will do so, my dear father," was his reply, "when I can give my undivided affections to her whom I may wish to make my wife; till then I hold it but justice to remain as I am. I quite agree with you that celibacy has no tendency to promote virtue ; that, on the contrary, the disposition of the best in our species is improved by the cultivation of domestic ties and sympathies; that of the worst is often improved, if not wholly reclaimed, by the same means. At the same time, while I admit that it is more than folly to nourish impressions that it was necessary to erase in the commencement, I should sink in my own esteem if I could quickly transfer my affections to another."

Far removed from the great world as he was, he had heard and read much of the success that was following his former schoolfellow. It created no envy in his mind, nor awakened any surprise. Manvers but answered the expectations he had formed of him; and, in the true spirit of his holy profession, he rejoiced that the event had verified the prediction he had ventured to make. But when the bold and boastful assertion of Mr. Weston was repeated to him—" that it would be no matter of surprise if the fair hand of Miss Mansell was to become the prize of his son, so great was his influence with her father, and so flattering were his own prospects -a degree of anguish wrung his heart, that for the time seemed insupportable. He knew, from his former pupil James, who corresponded with him, that Manvers was frequently at Woodville, and that he was on very familiar footing in the family; but he also remembered, to his comfort, a remark contained in one of his letters, and which he had read more than once at the time he received it" Every one seems infinitely more pleased with Mr. Weston than I and Lucy. Playful as she is, she has a great idea of propriety, or perhaps of her own dignity; and there is something in his manner, I fancy, that does not suit her taste."

James was quite correct in his idea. Nature has given to woman, as her safeguard, a quick penetration into character; and Lucy neither admired nor esteemed Manvers, and consequently always kept him at a distance. It would have been greatly to Henry's relief could this fact have been known to him. He had believed that he had so far conquered all former feelings that he could hear of Lucy's union with Mr, Seabright, or any other man

of worth, and of her own rank, if not with satisfaction, at least with composure, and it was an aggravation of his distress at finding he had deceived himself, and that his task was yet unaccomplished— that Manvers should in any way have taught him the painful truth.

The virtuous mind, however, while it is exposed to all the infirmity of a less disciplined nature, and to its attendant misery, knows how to sustain the keenest conflict; and though the struggle may be severe, and victory can be purchased only at the cost of much suffering, defeat will ever be unknown to it.

Taught the necessity of increased vigilance, Henry devoted himself to his duties more assiduously, if possible, than he had done before. Still seeking relaxation in every laudable manner, and endeavouring to invest the trifles with which he was surrounded with an interest that they did not really possess, his wonted serenity was gained, and self-approving conscience again cheered him. Nor was such a result singular. No one who rightly seeks to overcome a weakness, and to banish regret, will ever miss his aim. It is idleness and inaction, under the influence of disappointment or sorrow, that destroy the elasticity of the mind, and place the only insurmountable obstacle to returning peace and happiness.

Political parties were running high. Manvers had been returned for Bolton on the Tory interest, and he had hitherto served the cause much to the admiration of his own party, and to the annoyance of all others. To detach him from his present friends was soon an object with the supporters of the Whig ministry then in power. Manvers was flattered by the consequence that he thus saw was attached to him, but he was in no other way influenced. It is questionable whether he had any strong political bias, but as circumstances had decided the line he should adopt, he had entered upon it with all the ardour and confidence of a mind fully sensible of its own powers, and with the determination to attain the object he himself contemplated-his own elevation. Honour and interest alike seemed to bind him to maintain his consistency, and with his growing fame increased dependence was placed upon him. Talent was triumphant, his society was courted by all; for with that adroitness which had ever distinguished him, he never raised a foe, nor lost a friend. In the House his eloquence was feared, in private it charmed. Lord Elsdale and Sir John Helstone were equally proud of him: the first, however, regarded him with the satisfaction of a patron, the latter with the deep interest of a friend; the former placed

implicit reliance upon his integrity, the latter, without doubting his firmness, would kindly warn him against temptation, and expose the dangers experience had taught him to avoid or to

overcome.

As there is a tide in the affairs of men which if taken judiciously leads to prosperity, so there is a time in each man's life to which he looks back with greater satisfaction than to any other. It is not that which follows the attainment of an aim, but those hours over which Hope spreads her encouraging beams, when success was a reasonable result in our own minds, and the confident prediction of warm and watchful friends. Such a period was this to Manvers; there was no cloud in his horizon, no drawback to his happiness, but such as his own want of economy threatened him with. In his own profession he continued to gain celebrity, and had he been as prudent as he was fortunate, he would quickly have realized considerable wealth. But Manvers was not content to mix with the great of the land, he must also imitate them in their habits and expenses. He was already much involved in debt, nor was he suffered, like many of a rank superior to his own, to remain undisturbed with demands of payment. His prospects indeed were allowed on all hands to be fair; but there were not wanting many among his creditors who did not deem this a sufficient security to themselves.

It was about this time that a cause of great importance to Sir George Willoughby was intrusted to him. Mr. Willoughby, the only brother of the late baronet, had died intestate, in consequence of which, Sir George, as heir-at-law, claimed the property, which was very considerable. He was opposed by a distant relative, who in virtue of an alleged informality in the deed by which the principal estate of the deceased had been conveyed to him, set up a plea to his own right of inheritance, the purchase having been made of his (the plaintiff's) father.

The cause was to be tried at H- d. The day previous to that on which it had been set down for hearing had been one of great fatigue and exertion to Manvers. At a late hour on the day before, a brief had been put into his hands, and it was with the utmost difficulty that he could make himself master of the case in time. It was, however, accomplished; and having passed nearly a sleepless night, he entered the court fully prepared for the contest. He was eminently successful, and as the circumstances were known under which he had accepted his retainer, the warmest applause was bestowed upon him.