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butler with much satisfaction; he made no reply, therefore, to O'Leary's intelligence, but silently followed him to the drawing-room. “Uncle Jem," was an elder brother of Mr. Butler, a country gentleman and thorough sportsman, and an attentive landlord, possessing activity of body and mind unproportioned to his years, and a buoyancy of spirits which rendered him, at the age of seventy, not an unacceptable companion to the youngest stripling. A disappointment in his youth had made him rather illiberal with regard to the qualifications of the female sex, and he never missed an opportunity of justifying his celibacy by exposing their mental weakness and instability. The veteran made nothing of riding from his seat near Doneraile to Cork, a distance of full five-and-twenty Irish miles; and, after still further extending his journey, by dining at Ballybutler, would, if necessity required it, return to Grange Park the same night.

He was also singularly indifferent as to the entertainment which he met with on these occasions; he would sleep soundly on the hardest bed, sofa, or other resting-place which the house afforded; he would deour, with equal cheerfulness, the toughest ram mutton and the highest doe venison; and, in default of more nutritious aliment, would eagerly roll into his plate the contents of the potato dish, and dispose of its simple sustenance with all the satisfaction of the most delighted epicure. Indeed the latter dish was rather a favourite; and although, for appearance sake, and to avoid discovery, he did not often indulge in that description of dinner at his own table, yet, if his walk through the farms happened to be delayed beyond the usual dinner hour, he was not unfrequently to be seen partaking of his tenant's hospitality over a bowl of smoking “murphys."

It was after one of these long rides that Pierce found “ Uncle Jem" at Ballybutler, and he shook the old gentleman's hand with sincere joy. After receiving

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the cordial "welcome" of his father, and the more warm salutation of his fair cousin-"Look how the boy has grown, James," said old Butler, gazing on his hopeful heir with delight. "This compayning will really make a man of him at last: but," taking up his glass, as Pierce shrunk from so close a scrutiny, and moved to the other side of the room, "you look pale, my boy!--has any thing been the matter?-you're not come home on sick leave, I hope !"

Pierce assured his father he was quite well, and explained the cause of his unexpected appearance.

"Well, we won't frighten your mother by showing her your ghastly face to-night," said the governor, "which, perhaps, is caused by fatigue, and, may be, to-morrow will bring some of your old colour back again; but have you heard of the doings at the Glebe since you left us?-By Jove, you are just come in time for the wedding."

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The Glebe, Sir-wedding!"

"Wedding! ay;-why, you look as if I had said funeral. Don't you know that Susan Lovett is going to be married immediately, and that your friends at the Glebe are as busy as bees making wedding clothes, and what not?

Pierce grew paler than ever; but, with a power over his feelings, which he possessed to an extent that his general equability of manner scarcely rendered perceptible, he suppressed an almost bursting expression of internal agony, and summoned presence of mind sufficient to inquire into particulars. Geraldine gladly undertook to be his informant, and from her the suffering cornet heard, with mortification and pain, that, a few months since, an English ensign of an infantry regiment then quartered in Cork, had brought letters of introduction to several families in the neighbourhood, and, among others, to Mr. Lovett; that Mr. Methold, for so the Englishman was named, being supposed of good family and connexions, and moreover an elder

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son, and heir to a considerable landed property in Northumberland, was particularly patronised by Mrs. Lovett, who wisely thought that such qualifications would render the ensign a desirable husband for either of her daughters. Methold, therefore, soon became the enfant de la maison at the Glebe, was a constant partaker of the rector's Sunday dinner, and of his lady's evening tea; devoting those hours which were not occupied by his regimental duties, in either accompanying the young ladies in their accustomed walk along the Lee, or an occasional and more extended excursion among the picturesque scenery of Blarney; that, in short, Methold, having a tall, handsome person, with mild, gentlemanly manners, soon won the heart of the placid Susan, and the affection proving reciprocal, they were to be married, provided—” “ Provided what ?" eagerly demanded Pierce.

Why, Pierce, you appear rather seriously interested about the Lovetts," significantly replied Geraldine, who had been watching the workings of his countenance during her recital, and had seen the evidence of that internal struggle which was now tearing his heart.

"Provided Methold's father congents, and" “ Makes a good settlement on his son,” added old Butler.

“And a fat jointure on the lady,” said Jem laughing, "Yes, yes, nephew cornet," continued the uncle, "old Lovett is no such fool either, although she is making the wedding clothes, and giving the ensign his tea: and, mark my words, brother, but your neighbour, the rector's wife, with all her cleverness, will be puzzled about those silks and satins yet, for, as I say to the tenants, when they want a lowering of rent, there are two words to that bargain.

Pierce heard the prophetic observations of his uncle, with that exquisite sensation of hope which comes so blissful when least expected ; and giving immediate

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confidence to the imaginary probability which had been suggested, of such difficulties occurring in the pecuniary arrangements as might prevent the marriage, he eagerly seized the momentary consolation which it afforded, and felt his mind restored to comparative tranquillity.

But the night was growing late : and “Uncle Jem," having insisted upon the cornet joining him in the destruction of some devilled gizzard and mutton bits, after which he could not well escape the natural follower of hot whiskey punch, all parties repaired to their respective chambers.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE MATCH-MAKER.

Ast ego, quæ divum incedo regina!

VIRGIL.

Falstaff. Go to, you are a woman, go! Hostess. Who, I? I defy thee; I was never called so in mine own house before.'

SHAKSPEARE.

* UNCLE JEM" wás ňot unwarranted in the observations which he made respecting Mrs. Lovett and the intended marriage of her daughter, for this lady had proceeded upon a speculation extremely hazardous; but before the reader can fully enter into the spirit of that system of “ maneuvering," for which the rector's wife was so deservedly notorious, it is necessary

that he be afforded some insight into her history and character.

Mrs. Lovett was the spoiled child of a silly mother,

whose idolatrous affection for this her only offspring was rewarded by a rebellious violation of every duty towards herself, and a confirmed predominance of self-will in the character of her child.

Passionate by nature, obstinate by indulgence, this young hyena soon acquired a complete sovereignty over her weak-minded mother, who, having lost her husband at an early period, found herself in due season under the complete dominion of " miss in her teens."

It could not be expected that this independent young lady would delay long in selecting for herself a husband ; and, accordingly, she played amiable before the simple-minded rector, then only a curate, and private chaplain to the Bishop of Limerick. Having a neat small figure, small blue eyes, and a naïveté of manner which to a stranger disguised her wilfulnesspossessing also a smattering of music, and such fragments of other accomplishments as she had thought proper to learn-young Lovett, though often warned by his more penetrating companions, thought he had at last found that goddess for his parsonage which he had so long wished for; and though Miss Garrett had but little fortune, and was of low extraction, he spurned his friends' advice, and offered her his hand.

They were married at Limerick, the lady's birthplace; but the society of this town did not long suit the now elevated taste of Mrs. Lovett, who insisted upon her husband removing to Cork. Through his patron's interest, Lovett's curacy was exchanged to the Cork diocess, and the living of Carigrohan soon after falling vacant, he received the preferment, and his present

glebe. Lovett, “ good easy man,” soon discovered that his friends were right, and that he had “ caught a Tartar." Madam would have every thing her own way; the servants were ordered here, the horses there, and the master everywhere; new acquaintances were made,

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