A moment's pause succeeded, when he resumed, abruptly, holding out his hand, "Come, we may shake hands, Hannah, before we part. I am glad we have had this explanation, and hope you will be happy-by the bye, who is the favoured lover?" "Oh my Lord," sobbed his companion, do not ask me."

"Why not, my poor girl," answered Stracy, soothingly, placing his arm round her, "is this marriage against your will?"

Ere this sentence could be answered, and while our hero was essaying to pacify the young peasant, who wept upon his shoulder-a footstep was heard, and Horace Tulk, book in hand, stood before his friend-" Egerton!" he exclaimed, in the utmost astonishment.

"Horace!" returned his Lordship, mimicking him, while the hot blood mounted even to his temples; at the same time relinquishing his hold of Hannah. "What in the devil's name brought you here?"

"Let me ask you that question, Stracy," said the other, coldly.

"Your own discernment will answer that, I should think," returned Egerton, laughing to conceal his mortification: "you are a terrible dull fellow, if you do not understand the signs of the times."

"My dear Lord," returned Tulk, in an affectionate tone, as the terrified Hannah hastened to

find refuge among the trees which intervened between the place of appointment and her father's cottage, "my dear Lord, let me entreat you, for that girl's sake, as well as your own, to give up this acquaintance-Do you know she is going to marry Ralph Plowden?"

"I was just informed of the fact, when you so unceremoniously intruded upon us, sir," said Stracy, somewhat haughtily, as he turned away slowly.

"Then, my dear fellow," answered Horace, following him close, "I will not do you the injustice to believe that you will continue this idle and cruel game."

"Thank you, Horace," said Stracy, ironically, "you are right; I do not intend to rival the young farmer, but I should like to know what business you had to interrupt my pleasure, for I never interfere with yours."

"The collision was quite accidental, I assure you, Stracy, but, as it has taken place, you must not be displeased, if I caution you against exciting your father's anger-he is aware of your admiration for that girl. He told me, he should turn Prior off in consequence, unless the daughter consented to be married immediately."

"I dare say my father has been very kind in publishing my misdeeds, but I beg you will not trouble yourself to recapitulate the Earl's threats, as I have heard them all, and nothing is so tedious as a twice told tale."

A short pause ensued, the young men continued to walk side by side, without noticing each other, for Stracy was vexed-angry with Horace and himself, and Tulk felt unwilling to offend his friend by farther expostulation. At length Horace said, "Have you seen Algernon, since you left Brookside, Stracy?"

"Not I," returned his Lordship carelessly; "we do not hunt in couples. Power and he were with Susan Murray in the garden, when I came away. You, I suppose," he added in a bantering tone, "6 you were so busy doing T'aimable that you lost sight of your pupil. Cupid is blind you know, Horace.”

Stracy commenced this speech under the influence of his transient fit of ill humour; but at its conclusion his natural amiabilty had returned, and he put his arm through that of Horace, with his usual familiarity. "The little Deity may be so, for what I care, Egerton," answered the other; "but I should be happy if you will answer me one question, which I have sought an opportunity, in vain, for ascertaining some days."

"A question of me? not a scientific one, I hope, for that will be quite out of my way." "No, no, Stracy, it is one easily solved." "Out with it then, my fine fellow."

"I would not trouble you, Stracy, had not your behaviour greatly puzzled me, since your return from Devonshire. I thought," and here he hesitated, "that when you went away, you entertained a partiality for Miss Murray."

"Well, and what if I did?"

"I would enquire whether that partiality still

exist?"

"And pray, may I ask in return, why you are desirous to be assured of that fact?"

"Because," returned Tulk, "you are not very stable in your fancies, and as you have changed your manner entirely the last fortnight, I wish to know whether you have any design upon her affections."

"Are you going to stand forth as her champion, and take me to task for looking upon her with indifference? Or, what, in heaven's name, do you ask this for?"

"I would not for the world, Stracy, interfere with any attachment of yours, but in the event of your only admiring her casually --"

"You would shove in your oar, eh?”

"I must own her attractions have fascirated ne."

"You, Horace!"exclaimed Egerton, suddenly stopping, and turning his friend round, and holding him at arm's length, “you fascinated? ha-ha-ha! that is excellent-ha-ha-ha-ha! why, I thought your heart was arrow proof; you really must excuse me, my dear fellow; but for the soul of me, I cannot help laughing at such an avowal;" and again the wood rang with Stracy's merry voice.

"It is, doubtless, highly flattering to be the object of your Lordship's ridicule," said Horace, with an air of pique; "it is really too bad."

"Granted, Tulk; I believe I am a great fool, but I will be serious now. What was it you asked me? Oh! I know-whether it were you or I that were fascinated by Jessy Murray?" "Upon my word, Stracy-"

interrupted

"Upon my word, Horace," Egerton, "you ask a modest man an awkward question; yet friendship demands that I should tell you that I thought, before I left home, that I really was getting over head and ears in love. I have seen so many charming creatures since. then, that I am all abroad again."

Perhaps," said Horace, "Miss Carbuncle has induced you to alter your mind?"

"No, no, I may return to Jessy when my eyes have ceased to twinkle from the dazzling beauty of the Devonshire belles, but at present-"

"Enough, enough, Stracy; I am satisfied quite," interrupted Horace, quickly. "Perhaps it is fortunate for me that I am foiled, for I am too poor to think of matrimony."

"Pooh, man, you will get a living as soon as you have completed Algernon's education."

"And pray, where can I look for such a thing, Stracy?"

"From the Earl, to be sure."

"He has already befriended me so greatly that I cannot expect it."

"Well, at all events, you shall instruct the rising generation of Stracy, my good fellow, for the sake of employment."

The approach of Mr. Power and Algernon