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"Miss Malcolm I beg your pardong Miss Delassaux."

"Ha! ha ha! what is the matter with you. Mr Oakenwold?" said the lady, mistaking his confusion. "Well, 'tis no matter, Miss Mal colm. I hope we shall soon be better acquainted with each other; and, in the meanwhile, I beg to give you, as well as that gentleman,” bowing towards Lord Eaglesholme, (who, suffering under strong agitation, sat buried in an arın chair, as if wishing to escape observation,)" to give you my best welcome to this, my poor house. But, indeed, to any one introduced by our highly estimable friends of Oakenwold Manor, my welcome must ever be most cordial. Sir William Perci val! I beg your pardon for not sooner observing you. But why have we not some refreshment? Pray, do me the favour to ring the bell, Mr Oakenwold ?”, ...

Amherst rose to obey her, when she immedi ately placed herself in the chair he had occupied by the fair Eliza, and began surveying her with an, overwhelming steadiness of stare.

These

No servant answered the summons. poor people of both sexes were all huddled toge

A

ther in a knot in the hall, eagerly discussing their
hopes and fears, as to their chance of receiving
long arrears of wages,
which Mr Hawkins, more
attentive to his own interest than to theirs, had
permitted to run up, by feeding them with pro
mises he never meant to fulfil.

A noise was heard among them. Mr Haw kins himself had arrived, and they immediately opened on him like a hungry pack of hounds, when the huntsman enters the kennel about feeding-time. But the important little man brushed them from him. He had something more interesting to think of than any concerns of theirs. One of the bailiffs, whom he had left in chargé of matters while he went home for the night, had' just told him, that his execution was interrupted by the authority of Sir William Percival. Alarm ed by this intelligence, he hastened up stairs. I

After two or three preparatory hems, he enter ed the drawing-room, with that vulgarly presuming, yet somewhat subdued air, a low-bred man' cannot avoid wearing, when in the company of persons of superior rank and birth, even when he1⁄4 wishes to be important in their eyes. He made two or three awkward bows in succession, with his

turnip-head, and thin face, thrust forwards with a motion more resembling the butting of a ram, than any thing else.

"Your humble servant, Sir Cable Oakenwold! -Gentlemen all!-Sir William Percival, your very humble servant!-Ladies !-Miss Delassaux-Madam! your most obedient.-A pleasant morning, Gentlemen.-Any news with you, Sir Cable ?"

The old Admiral answered him with a humph, and continued his quarter-deck. The rest of the party stared at him, but seemed not to consider it necessary to rise from their seats, or, indeed, hardly to notice him. His mistress alone eyed him with a countenance suddenly inflamed, as if by no very gentle feeling, and addressing him in the haughtiest tone and manner she could possibly

assume:

"Mr Hawkins," cried she, "what important affair may I ask has procured me a visit from you at this time? You see I am engaged with guests. -I cannot go into any kind of business at present. I beg you will retire, therefore, and wait below in the steward's room, until my leisure enables me to order your attendance."

The little man's rage was painted in glowing colours on his countenance-even his nose seemed on fire.

"Madam-Miss Delassaux," said he, " I assure you, Ma'am, I didn't come here upon your affairs-not, by no manner of means. It was a regard for my own interest that led me hither!"

"Aye, aye, little Goosequill," muttered the Admiral between his teeth, making a momentary halt in the middle of his quarter-deck, and eyeing Hawkins askance over his left shoulder; aye, aye-right there,-you seldom go anywhere, without that loadstone to attract you. I'll answer for it, you will follow it down, you know where, some of these days."

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"Admiral," grinned the little man of parchment, with a forced laugh,-" Sir Cable Oakenwold, you are pleased to be merry.-One of your excellent jokes, Sir Cable.-Your jokes are always excellent.-Always cut two ways, like a double-bladed penknife.”

"Sir!" interrupted his mistress, in a louder tone; "I desire,-I insist, Mr Hawkins, that, whatever your business may be, you will postpone it until a more favourable opportunity.-I must,

and will be mistress of my own house. Leave the room, therefore, Sir, directly."

Madam!" answered the little man, with increased anger, which he had great difficulty in keeping within the bounds of decency, “I cannot leave the room: My business is with Sir William Percival;-my affairs are too important to be delayed-I cannot leave the room."

16 "I protest, Sir," said the lady, rising from her chair, and ringing the bell," I will order my servants to turn you out, if no gentleman here will rid me of so impudent an intruder."

This hint was too evidently directed to Amherst to be mistaken, nor could his gallantry permit him to see any lady so beset.

"Mr Hawkins," said he, advancing sternly to the scrivener," Miss Delassaux must be obeyed. --I insist upon your quitting the room directly, or, by Heaven, Sir"

Sir William Percival!" cried Hawkins, in bgreat alarm, " I demand your protection; I demand your authority, Sir, to prevent a breach of the peace against a man in his own house."

Your own house!" exclaimed one or two