good morning, for I recollect I have an engagement in Brook-street. They are all waiting for me to give some orders about the funeral."

"Who is waiting for you? what, all? nonsense! Why do you go into that melancholy hole? Stay till they have cleared it of its black velvet and its escutcheons, and purified it from the undertakers. I hate going to such scenes; why it only serves to give a man the blue devils."

"It is not the gayest thing in the world, to be sure; but I promised old Davies, and will not disappoint him."

"Old Davies! why you do not mind your promise to him? As if they could not screw up my Lord just as well without your orders."

This was too coarse. Lord Mowbray was disgusted, and showed that he was so. Lepel quickly rejoined-"Oh! you need not look grave. You know I always liked the old gentleman. He was the best bred man I ever was in company with,-understood horses better than any body,-kept an excellent table, the

best quality (talking of qualities) that any body can have, and includes every other that ensures a man many friends. I was only in joke-wouldn't for the world say any thing to offend your good heart, which I value too highly to wound for a moment. Meant nothing at all, I assure you ;-nobody I esteemed more than the late Lord Mowbray-except the present the present company, you know, are always excepted."

:

"You are very obliging," replied the latter drily; "I wish you a good morning:" and bowing, he walked away, leaving Captain Lepel to study his part more thoroughly for another opportunity.

When Lord Mowbray knocked at the door in Brook-street, his languid step and serious brow afforded a melancholy satisfaction to the faithful old servant who ushered the young heir into the house of mourning. After some preliminary discourse, he ventured to hope that his Lordship meant to attend his noble relative's remains, in person, to their place of interment.

Lord Mowbray's heart was good: it is difficult for a very youthful heart to be otherwise. He laid his hand on the old man's shoulder, that shoulder which in his infancy had so often borne him to his sports, and with an affectionate feeling of respect and sympathy he said, "Certainly, Davies, certainly; I always intended to do so."

master.

"Thank God!" said Davies, and he wept for joy now, as he had lately done for sorrow-joy to see what he considered so fair a promise of good qualities in the successor of his late Lord Mowbray felt all this-and thought "Would that I were indeed every thing this good man gives me the credit of being! But if I am otherwise, is it my fault? can I help it? who can help being what they are, whatever that may be ?" The still small voice which replied to his questions, he heard not, because he refused to hear; and passing on through a suite of apartments, one more sumptuous than another, he looked around with a vacant gaze, and throwing himself into a large, tapestried chair, said, "So all this is mine!"

then relapsing into an indefinite reverie, he remained the sport of many visions which floated upon his fancy, but left no distinct impression on his mind.

"From this state he was aroused by the entrance of Colonel Pennington, the oldest friend of his late relative, and the friend of his own very early years. After briefly stating to him the orders he had given to the household, in accordance with the last desire of his kinsman, it was finally arranged that they should set out together on the following day for Dorsetshire, and be in readiness at Mowbray Castle, to attend the remains of their departed friend to the burial-place of his ancestors.

There is no situation in which a person can be placed, which is perhaps more favourable to tranquil thought than the corner of a carriage travelling over roads where no very striking objects attract the attention; but where at the same time a smiling, well-cultivated country puts the mind in good humour with itself; unless, indeed, that mind be very hard to please, or is affected by some violent passion; neither

of which was exactly the case with Lord Mowbray, who had leisure, therefore, while Colonel Pennington, lulled in complete forgetfulness, was asleep by his side, to indulge in calm reflection, and to take a survey of his present situation, together with the pains and penalties attached to its greatness: for of the former there was, and ever will be, some alloy mingled with the sweets of the latter.

While his mind retraced the events which had befallen him, he felt the responsibility which now attached to his station, and he thought more deeply and seriously than he had ever done before; yet he asked himself, "Would I resign my station to forego the pleasure with the pain?—I would not. No monarch that ever abdicated the throne but repented him of the deed: even the tradesman who quits his calling to enjoy at ease the fruits of his long and laborious toil, pines for the stimulus of its progressive increase, and misses his daily task; and the individual who abandons the station assigned him by birth or circumstances, would feel the same degrading convic