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Why what the devil, Rayland! What are you about?" exclaimed Trevallian; "you nearly upset the boat."

"I quite forgot where I was; I fancied myself moralizing under the broad branches of the oaks, with the melancholy Jaques, when, alas, I can only wish for shade, and sigh; how I sigh for the greenwood tree;

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'Oh, who will lie with me?'"

Why," returned Lionel, laughing, "I would certainly much rather be with you under the greenwood tree when you are in these jumping humours than in a four-oared cutter, where every poetic flight may send us to Davy Jones's locker."

"You are wrong there, Lionel," said Philip; "that said locker is in the sea; we need not fear it in the river, where Father Thames protects his votaries."

"I wish the old gentleman would send a breeze," said Walter. "Positively I will endure this no longer; and, as our wise elders do not

require my assistance to rule this realm of mighty fame, I will seek the woodland shade. Will you join me, boys? Listen, does not this tempt you?

'Under the greenwood tree

Who loves to lie with me?

There shall he find no enemy

But winter and rough weather.'

What do you say? Shall we enact the good Duke and his compeers? Trevallian shall be his Highness; Clifford, the melancholy Jaques; Lionel, Orlando; and Deverel,-we must make a new character for him; no, he shall be Rosalind-the chaste, the fair, the inexpressive she.' Shall it be so arranged; what say you, my merry men?"

“Say,” returned Trevallian, "why that we should quarrel and fight for mere amusement

before the end of a week."

"Will you try?" exclaimed Walter. "I will order your forest habits, and we will start directly."

Stop," said Philip, "remember you are not on firm land. Father Thames may play you a watery trick."

"But answer; will any of you accompany me? for I am determined on making the exchange, from this murky heat, to the pure ether of the forest."

"I would not object," said Sir Arthur Clifford," to join in a frolic if we could insure fine weather; but there are such things as rain and wind, frost and snow."

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They are not 'so unkind as man's ingratitude,'" replied Walter, in a mock heroic style.

"Very true," observed Lionel; " but we have no cause to complain of man's ingratitude; had it been woman's indeed, why then—'

'No cause of complaint!" interrupted Walter. "Why, did not that wretch Hoby delay sending home my new pumps, obliging me to visit the pretty Lady Jane with shoes out of shape? and did not Stultz refuse to make me a coat in an hour and a quarter? Don't you call that

ingratitude, when I have dealt with him, ay, and paid him too, for many a long year?"

Perhaps you made him wait many a long year before you did bless him with a sight of pounds, shillings, and pence," said Deverel.

"Indeed I did not; and when you come to be Chancellor, you will do well to enact a law forbidding all personal decorators to use the word impossible. Never seek to vindicate man from the charge of ingratitude; but tell me when you will be ready to join my summer camp, where

We may find sermons in stones, and good in everything.'"

I imagine we shall not expend much time in seeking those said sermons."

"Do be serious," said Walter, "and say, will you or will you not? According to the form of speech now much in vogue, as many as are of that opinion say ay, the contrary opinion say no; the ayes have it-carried nem. con.," continued Walter, rubbing his hands with glee.

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Bravo, boys; now when shall we start, and where?"

"Where? why home," said Lionel; "so be still if you please, Walter, and we will row you softly over Thames' tide.''

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"Indeed you will do no such thing, till we have arranged the how and the when. Shall we haste to Sherwood, and seek the bower of Robin Hood?' Do leave the oars alone, Phil, till this weighty point is decided."

"We may return to Richmond," observed Clifford," and rusticate among the groves of Sheen."

"To have all the cits of London gaping at us. No, no, we must seek some real solitude; there are plenty of wild spots in EnglandDelamere, Dean, Inglewood, Sherwood, and the New Forest, among many others."

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If you will be satisfied with the New Fo

rest," said Delaval," my father has a hunting box in one of the wildest parts, where you may

ruralize at pleasure."