I have consulted all the first physicians-Sir Thomas Millington, Sir Charles Scarborough, Sir Edmund King, and Sir Thomas Witherby; attendants upon Majesty, you know, but my case baffled them all. Unfortunately, though I feel that I am dying by inches, I excite no sympathy, because I have not the aspect of an invalid, my nearest relations, and those whom I have loaded with favours, contemplating all my sufferings with the most heartless indifference. I cannot hold out much longer—and, Heaven knows! I have no wish to remain in so selfish and callous a world."

Having complained and hospitalised for some time longer in this strain, with occasional most interesting episodes about the pills, leeches, blisters, and cataplasms, to which she had been subjected, the pseudo incurable came to the purpose of her visit, and opened the trenches after the following fashion.-"Heigho! the poor old Cavalier! if I can thus feel for him as a mere friend, what must be your regrets; and yet it is astonishing how obstinate some people are, even in the teeth of the most con

clusive evidence. All the world knows that the worthy Cavalier was descended from the old family of the Goldinghams ;—your going to church with his carriage, without any alteration of the arms, and the similarity of name, were indications not to be mistaken, and yet Mrs. Chatsworth persists in maintaining that you are not related to him, nor in any way descended from the old proprietors of the Place.”

"Mrs. Chatsworth is really very kind to trouble herself about me and my connections," said Isaac," and I beg leave to confirm her statements. If I am related to either of the parties mentioned, it is entirely without my knowledge, and lest I should be subjected to any injurious reports of having inherited my wealth from others without any merit or exertions of my own, I beg your ladyship will do me the justice to state every where, upon my authority, that it has been principally derived from my dealings in flax, hemp, and tallow. Hem!"

"Tallow!" screamed Lady Crockatt, who saw an admission of his guilt in the mere men

tion of the word, and made instant and eager application to her salts-" very much to your credit, Mr. Goldingham, no doubt. In a commercial country like this every body shouldand I am willing to believe that such persons are perfectly respectable-that is to say in their own way, but-Eugh!-this pain in my side! I believe after all it is a confirmed liver case. Here Cynthia! Cynthia! Cynthia!" At these words she snatched up her corpulent spaniel, which no real invalid would have been able to lift, and hurried down stairs, Goldingham politely accompanying her to her carriage, during the whole of which progress she never once moved her smelling-bottle from her nose.

"If this is the best society that the neighbourhood affords," exclaimed Goldingham, as he returned to the drawing-room, "I care not how much I am alone."

"Lord love ye! you may have better company if you like it," cried Timothy, who had unperceived followed him into his apartment; "there's no occasion to be moping all alone; I

am always in the house, and you have only to send for me: it's what the old Cavalier always ⚫ did when he was dull and stupid."

"He was a superannuated dotard, and you are another," cried Goldingham, pettishly. quit the room, sirrah!”

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"By my troggs!" replied Timothy, walking deliberately to the door, "you will be in worse company if I leave you to yourself. Ah! you're all alike, you don't know what's good for you, and you will have your own way; but it's all one to Timothy-all one to Timothy."

CHAPTER IV

Fools ne'er had less grace in a year,
For wise men are grown foppish;
And know not how their wits to wear,
Their manners are so apish.

SHAKSPEARE.

TAKING it for granted that Goldingham had confessed himself to be neither more nor less than a common shopkeeping tallow-chandler, Lady Crockatt, big with the tidings she had to communicate, drove immediately to the Rookery, the seat of Marmaduke Hartfield, Esq., commonly called Squire Hartfield, the last of a long line of Squires, who for several ages had hunted over the downs of Dorsetshire, until having duly broken their necks in the chase, or accelerated their deaths by hard drinking, they