Parlimentary duties had recalled Grosvenor and Lady Anne to London. Lord Montague sought them immediately on his arrival, and learnt from the former that Sir Thomas Clervaux was on the very eve of uniting himself to Lady Jane Lorn.

That Lord Montague could be the friend of the Baronet was impossible. He was, nevertheless, interested for the fate of the man who had introduced him to Miss Argyle; and he permitted Grosvenor to dissuade Sir Thomas, in his name, from so fatal a measure, and one that must be attended with so much infamy.

In consequence of Grosvenor's representations, Sir Thomas, who had begun to entertain some unpleasant reflections on the subject, and who only wanted the impetus which Grosve nor now afforded him, immediately waited on Lady Jane Lorn, to break off that matrimonial treaty already commenced between them.

"Fine weather, Lady Jane! we may look for an excellent sporting season!" was the Baronet's salutation to his mistress.

"I am excessively glad of it, upon my faith," replied Lady Jane.

"Are you really? Why, do you ever hunt?” "A pretty question from a sportsman! Who, in the name of Heaven, could live without it! Hunting! it is the paradise of those who know how to estimate it; I could fancy myself at this moment in the field; the hounds throw off-the chorus of horns-halloos-and the music of the dogs, resounds every where.

What delightful confusion! what agreeable noise! I prefer it to an Opera-house bravura, 浄 or one of Catalani's solos;-nothing stops me. "Not a hedge and ditch ?" said Sir Thomas, inquiringly.

66

No, nor yet a five-barred gate! I am thinking that I shall have a great deal of pleasure in hunting down in shire." "Your ladyship thinks of being there in the season?" said Sir Thomas, carelessly.

"Undoubtedly: of course, you will prefer the country, then."

"Oh, I am quite out of the question: for my own part, I intend to reside chiefly in the country.

"I have no objection: one may always kill time there with great facility."

"The late Lady Clervaux never liked it: I never could persuade her to mount a horse, which used to vex me confoundedly; for she was an exquisite girl, and would have looked admirably well on a fine animal."

"I prefer it, however," said Lady Jane; "when one is not completely in solitude, the country never appears dull."

"That will be my case, however; for in compliance with the advice of my best friends, I do not intend to marry

"Sir Thomas Clervaux! do I understand you clearly? Is this an off-declaration?" demanded the indignant Lady Jane.

"Why, in fact,-it rains hard;-the truth is, my Lord Montague has set before me a few of the disagreeables that must unavoidably res

sult from my union with your ladyship; and, therefore, it appears to me, that both parties would be happier and more respectable asunder."

"Lord Montague!" said Lady Jane, after a slight pause, which assisted her to smother the passion that agitated her; "the man who is directed by Lord Montague can never be otherwise than indifferent to Lady Jane Lorn. After what has just passed, I need not remind you, Sir Thomas Clervaux, that your visits here will not be received: at present, I have the honour to wish you a very good morning."

The Baronet arose; bowed with a vast deal of assurance; backed to the door, and whistled himself off with an air.

"Lord Montague!" said Lady Jane Lorn, as she watched the progress of Sir Thomas Clervaux down the street; "he may yet live to feel the vengeance of a disappointed woman!" As for Sir Thomas Clervaux, Lord Montague had so completely impressed upon his mind the maxim of Grotius:

Sic quo quis propior suæ puellæ est;
Hoc stultus propior suæ ruinæ est,

that he in fact felt nothing!

CHAP. XVIII.

Ah me! what perils do environ

The man that meddles with cold iron!

Now, while the angry trumpet sounds alarms,

And dying groans do fill the empty air,

HUDIBRAS.

Richmond, I say, Richmond, come forth and singly face me!
Richard is hoarse with daring thee to arms!

From each hand with speed retir'd

Where erst was thickest fight, th' angelic throng,
And left large field, unsafe within the wind

Of such commotion, such as to set forth

Great things by small, if, nature's concord broke,
Among the constellations war were sprung,
Two planets rushing from aspect malign

Of fiercest opposition in mid sky

Should combat.........

SHAKSPEARE.

MILTON.

Well, 'tis no matter; honour pricks me on. Yea! but how if honour should prick me off, when 1 come on! how then?

Can honour set-to a leg? no ;-or an arm? no;-or take away the grief of a wound? no. Honour hath no skill in surgery, then?SHAKSPEARE.

SIR Thomas Clervaux left the mansion of Lady Jane Lorn, and proceeded down the mall, immersed in thankful thought profound, and elevated to the most delicious pitch of selfgratulation.

He passed down the street with the firm elastic tread of a man upborne by cheerfulness. Erostratus scarcely felt more pleasure when he had fired the temple at Ephesus. Careless of what might happen, he loitered on, until he encountered Surrey.

That rencontre brought into his mind an affair in which he was to act an important part. Taking the arm of Surrey, they turned into a tavern-I think, THE TIGER'S HEAD.

had,'

The members for the Borough of as may, perhaps, be remembered, fought a duel. The affair, however, by some means, was compromised, or passed over, and it appeared that its slumber would be eternal; for the antagonists met continually on the most amicable terms, in the apartments of Surrey and Sir Thomas Clervaux. But one of those untoward accidents, on which it baffles the skill of man to calculate, had raked the scarcely-extinguished ashes, and cherished the spark it found amongst them into a flame.

Mr. Gaveston, the younger of these Bo-· rough representatives, was on the eve of marriage with a city heiress of immense fortune: moreover, the lady was, as her sex generally are, an enthusiastic admirer of courage. A suspicion of her lover's failure in that important requisite had been infused into her mind. by the ingenuity of a rival, and it was to satisfy her that the ancient subject of dispute was revived, and a place of meeting, with all its concomitant circumstances, arranged.

Sir James Lawrence, the colleague of Mr. Gaveston, was compelled to accord with these arrangements: his friend, Mr. Surrey, could invent no plausible excuse for declining the office of second; whilst, on the other hand, Sir Thomas Clervaux was to officiate in that capacity to Mr. Gaveston.

Surrey conducted Sir Thomas into a private apartment at the Tiger's Head, where they compared the notes they had just received from the principals.