hope of relieving them from apprehensions which he could not bear to contemplate, he resolved to decamp without communicating his intentions to either of them. Certain prelimi nary arrangements, intended to conceal as much as possible the real motives of his absconding, had already been completed, and the following night had been fixed on for his departure, when, to the surprize of the whole household, his Lordship made his appearance at the gate, having anticipated the period he had announced for his arrival, in order to precede the commission which had been ordered into the West, for the trial of the Monmouth partisans.

Every look and gesture of Lord Trevanian seemed to be a perpetual struggle to raise himself above his natural littleness, both physical and moral; and every attempt was a total failure. His insignificant figure was rendered more conspicuously mean by its being above half absorbed in a voluminous wig; the disproportionate length of his gold-hilted sword drew attention to the shortness of its wearer; the breadth and fulness of his rich embroideries

made his person appear still more diminutive; his solemn and sonorous voice, by exciting expectation, gave to the pompous emptiness of his discourse a more emphatic inanity; and when in his slow and stately strut he raised himself as high as he could upon his toe, before he again threw out his foot, it seemed as if every pace were doomed to illustrate the truth of the dictum-that there is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous. Cold, haughty, and repulsive in his demeanour, he received the welcome of Lady Trevanian, which was perhaps more courteous than sincere, with a formal recognition, that could only amount, at best, to a negative politeness; while his daughters were honoured with a chilling notice, and a condescending expression of his being glad to see them, wherein the purport of the words was pointedly contradicted by the manner of their utterance. Between himself and her ladyship there were sufficient reasons why no great cordiality should subsist, but that he should be careless of the affections, and insensible to the merits of such a daughter as Helen, showed

him to be at least as blindly heartless and selfish, as he was pompous, shallow, and ob stinate.

As the family had dined when he thus unexpectedly arrived, some little time elapsed before a fresh repast could be provided for his Lordship, whose dignity as well as appetite were both wounded by the delay, and whose temper was proportionably soured when he was summoned to the dining-room. Reuben was in attendance, and, as it may be well supposed, in a state of the most anxious embarrassment as to the proper discharge of his duty before one, whom he had understood from his fellow-servants to be a fastidious, severe, and implacable master. His Lordship seldom spoke to his domestics, except to issue orders, which he always uttered in a loud, imperious tone, as if his high voice could compensate for his low stature in asserting his dignity and authority. Upon the present occasion his haughty moroseness was confined to the cook, who had displeased him in one of the dishes, notwithstanding which he made a most hearty meal, and appeared to

have, in some degree, appeased his ill-humour with his hunger. Eager to make his escape, Reuben was placing the wines and dessert upon the table, when his Lordship, measuring him with a most supercilious scrutiny, inquired his name, and how long he had been at Harpsden Hall. Reuben gave his assumed name, and with a low bow declared that he had only had the honour of wearing his Lordship's livery for a few weeks. Either the phrase itself, or the manner in which it had been spoken, found favour with the Peer, for he proceeded to inquire, in a somewhat less arrogant tone, in whose service he had last lived. Willing to spare a direct falsehood when his purpose could be answered by a little prevarication, Reuben replied that he had been the bearer of a letter from Mrs. Stacey Chilvers of Dorsetshire, who had been kind enough to recommend him."She is an honourable lady and of good blood, and her husband is a loyal and staunch Tory," said the Peer, apparently pleased that he had come from so well affected a family; but immediately recollecting that this observation

might be considered as addressed to his servant, a piece of condescension which he deemed derogatory to his rank, he gathered up all the dignity that he could muster into his mean features, lifted up his head, gave the wig in which he was smothered a solemn shake, waved his hand most magisterially, and said in an authoritative voice-" You may be gone, Sir;-quit the room!" a mandate which was instantly and cheerfully obeyed.

Notwithstanding this unceremonious dismis sal, Reuben's fellow-servant, who happened to be at the sideboard at the time, assured hin. that he would become a favourite, for he had never before known his master conduct himself so graciously towards a domestic, and especially a new one; a circumstance which he attributed to the mention of Mrs. Stacey Chilvers, who was, like his Lordship, a furious tantivi Tory.Reuben himself was disposed to acquiesce in the opinion of his comrade; and to balance, therefore, the propriety of his flying from Harpsden Hall, as he had so recently intended, a measure which would now infallibly rouse his