domestic life, instantly comes an inference—they must marry. If a young lady, without the excuse of fever or consumption, looks pale and loses her appetite, instantly comes an inference-she is in love. If a gentleman chooses to break up his establishment, and travel unattended for a few years, instantly another inference-he has lost his fortune. If a gentlewoman, weary of having spent some twenty years on the treadmill of fashion, chances to reflect on the subject, and then to retire, inference-she has lost her senses. But to return to the course of this most simple history:- Mrs Carhampton fulfilled her predictions, and took a very warm, grandmotherly kind of interest in the young collegian: had he been a child, she would have shown him her affection by a liberal impartation of sweetmeats; as a young man, she gave tea parties, (much less stupid, by the way, than tea parties in the country generally are), planned excursions, instigated pic nics, and other bons bons of a more mature order. Cecil, as duty and inclination prompted, was grateful to his friends for their notice, for he was ignorant of the coxcombry, which receives attention as a right, and pays it back as a favour; he was sincerely obliged, but he none the less inwardly disliked the rural dissipa

tion that ensued upon his arrival at home. To be the nucleus of a circle may gratify a vain, which must ever, in some degree, be a vulgar mind also; but it is martyrdom to one refined with the refinement of thought and feeling. Added to this, Cecil was marvellously deficient in that style of conversation which, if coined, would be current under the name of silver farthings. That he could not utter brilliant nonsense, his biographer must admit as a fault; that he would not talk stupid nonsense, when he found that many with whom he associated had no interest in sense, must likewise be admitted as a redeeming trait. With more of Will Honeycomb and less of the Spectator in him, he would have poured forth orations on Oxford, illustrating the florid Gothic in words; mingling descriptions of moonlight cloisters, rowing matches, examinations, grave fellows, and fellows never grave, till his auditors would have considered him a most charming clever creature. But Oxford and its appendages he seldom alluded to; and if he had any personal histories of "hair-breadth escapes," or "perils" in learning's "imminent deadly breach," no gentle Desdemona was ever tempted "to pity them." His hopes, fears, and prospects were for his father's ear, his

mother's bosom; his time and talents he wanted for study; in converse and recreation he sought communion of mind. By the time six weeks had elapsed, Cecil Percy's popularity was on the wane, except with the discriminating few, who could do justice to his studious ardour, and indifference to common-place pleasures. Mr Mortimer was one of these few, and so was Mrs Carhampton, but not for the same reason. She could appreciate his respectful manners to herself, his gentleness at home, his freedom from foppery every where.

"He will wear well," said the old lady, speaking of character as if it had been her last-bought lutestring gown, "not showy, but with some substance in it; will stand a tug, and bear examination; he will wear well, I say."

"He never gave me an hour's sorrow," said his gentle mother, her eyes, that pain of another kind had somewhat dimmed, shining with tearful light, "he never gave me an hour's sorrow, but he has imparted many of deep and tranquil joy.”

"He is young, and youth is untried," said his father, with a slight quivering of the nether lip; but in as far as it is lawful so to speak, I have confidence in him."

"He has given us many a piece of advice, and helped us out of many a scrape; but he never was cross with us in his life," said his three younger brothers.

Cecil Percy is not brought forward as a hero; therefore I cannot endow him with a more chivalrous estate of qualities. The lovers of sense, principle, and reality, will perhaps be kind enough to like him as he is. He could, however, play on the flute, and he had a head of luxuriant, clustering, black hair. I mention these trifles to save him from the utter detestation of those who admire the Corsair style of excellence.

CHAPTER V.

As far as human soul may be let loose
From impositions of necessity,—

Forgetting oft, in self-willed fancy's flight,

All human ties that would enchain her dreams
Down to a homelier bliss; and loving more
The dim aerial shadow of this life,

Even than the substance of the life itself.

PROFESSOR WILSON.

MR PERCY the elder, had from his first acquaintance, been aware that extraordinary powers, at once of intellect and passion, were germinating in the mind of Julia. He knew also, that unless supplied with fitting nutriment, they would, inevitably, either destroy themselves or form the lasting misery of their possessor. To the mental faculties, as to the affections, he knew it equally vain to say, "Be still," and that reason's first and simplest dictate is to find them appropriate and full оссираtion. He also thought that, if in their wild state the passions must be considered the pagans of the