"for

you

would lose as cer

with a forced smile; tainly in this case as you would had you betted in the other. It was impossible to live so long as I did under Lord Eaglesholme's roof, without feeling the beauty and merit—I mean,” continued he, hesitating, as if he thought he had said too much-" I-I-mean it was impossible to be so long at Eaglesholme Castle, without enjoying the honour of Miss Malcolm's acquaintance."

"There

"Miss Malcolm's acquaintance!"-repeated the Admiral, with an air of triumph. now, did not I tell you!-Well, how cursedly confident the puppy is after all-Miss Malcolm ! Come, come, give me your hand, ye ninny—give me your hand!" And then, with a greal deal of mock ceremony and grimace, he led Amherst to the window where the young lady was seated, and began with great pomposity. "This, Ma'am, is my son, Amherst Oakenwold, Esq., a damned, confident, hasty, good-for-nothing fellow, who ran away from his father, a quiet, easy-tempered, old sailor, because he wished to mary him to Miss Delassaux: -went off to Scotland with a rebellious old son of a gun of a shipmate of the old boy's, and without

66

even asking his consent, was nearly marrying some bonny Scotch lassie, whom nobody knew anything about. And now, Sir!" turning to Amherst, (why don't ye make a bow, and be damned t’ye.) And now, Sir, let me introduce you, not to Miss Malcolm, as you, in your ignorance and confidence, were disposed to call the lady, but to Miss Delassaux, only child and heiress of Sir Marmaduke Delassaux, of Delassaux and Brokenhurst, the rightful possessor of this noble mansion, these magnificent grounds, and these widely extended and fertile plains, lying so conveniently contiguous to Oakenwold Manor; and, besides all this, present heiress apparent of the domains of Eaglesholme, with the prospect (if Lord Eaglesholme does not prevent her, by having heirs of his own body) of being one day Countess of Eaglesholme in her own right!-Down upon your knees, you puppy, and see whether you can prevail upon the lady to bestow herself, and her estates, on such a jackanapes as yourself, unless, indeed, you mean to bolt off to Scotland again, as you did when I last made you the same proposal." The Admiral's artillery being expended, he stood aloof to enjoy the effect of the broadside he

had poured out. His son, stupified with mingled astonishment and ecstasy, obeyed him mechanically, dropped upon his knees, and seizing Miss Delassaux's hand, he imprinted a thousand kisses upon it, and, as might be expected, gave way to an incoherent effusion of broken murmurs of delight and passion, responded to with a smile expressive of perfect happiness, and with all that ingenuousness, chastened by modesty, so strikingly characterizing the lovely and interesting Eliza.

CHAPTER XIV.

Muchos hay en el mundo que han llegado,

A' la engañosa alteza desta vida,

Que fortuna los ha siempre ayudado,

Y dadolos la mano á la subida;
Para despues de haberlos leventado
Derribarlos con misera caida.

ERCILLA

WHILST Amherst and his Eliza were giving way to those ecstatic emotions, occasioned by their being again so happily restored to each other, a step was heard. It was the lady we have hitherto known as Miss Delassaux who approached. She came sliding and smiling in with all the air of a woman of the highest fashion, appearing for a moment surprised to see so many people, and dropping a sort of general curtsey, rather to the walls of the apartment, than to the personages within them.

"Sir Cable Oakenwold," said she, "this is an unexpected pleasure. I am overjoyed to see you once again at Brokenhurst Hall. Miss Oakenwold, I hope I see you perfectly well. I trust you have left all your darling little pets-yourcanaries your piping-bulfinches-and your goldfishes in perfect health. Mr Oakenwold !" continued she, throwing a languishing glance towards Amherst, and walking up to the window, where he rose to acknowledge her, "you have been a traveller since I had the happiness of seeing you; indeed," said she, with a half suppressed sigh, "it is quite an age since I have had that pleasure-so long, in truth, that I own I feel quite as much fluttered, as if it were a new introduction. But," continued she, without giving time for more than the common places of recognition from those she addressed, “ I see I have, indeed, some new acquaintances to make. This young lady-May I beg the honour of an introduction to her, Mr Oakenwold ?"

Amherst felt much embarrassed. Eliza grew pale and agitated. His presence of mind forsook him. He hesitated, and stammered out