an infernal swindler, and a vulgar dog-that he said Evelina's complexion was made up of rouge and pearl-powder, and informed Madelina that she was no better than she should be-that is ingenuousness, is it, Sir ?—and that is your mode of justifying your uncle's conduct?”

"Sir," said I," Mr. Nubley is not my uncle. I have before told you so."

"Well, Sir," said Thompson, "at all events, you are his friend, and evidently justify his otherwise unjustifiable conduct.-I am quite aware, Sir, that Mr. Gurney, and what are called the leaders of Blissfold society, have thought proper to behave in a most extraordinary manner to my nieces and my cousin, and I only wanted an opportunity of ascertaining the reason why gentlewomen of family and rank-yes, Sir," added Thompson, with a flourish of the whip that made it whistle in the wind,-" of rankhave been so shamefully used.-I have now discovered it, Sir,-the sweet ingenuousness of this old gentleman has settled that affair, and since you have been so good as to palliate his coarse

ness, I shall take the liberty of transferring the necessity of an explanation to yourself. Having," added the Captain, "established this fact, I would not for the world intrude another moment upon you at this juncture, and I have again to apologise for taking the liberty I have taken at this season. But, as I before stated, I wished to ascertain whether I were to attribute the grossnesses which fell from your uncle's lips'

"Sir," said I, "he is not my uncle."

"Well, Sir," continued the irritated Thomp

son,

"it is all the same to me whether he is or

is not. I say, I wished to know whether I were to attribute the grossnesses which fell this morning from that old man's lips-for gentleman I will not call him-to insanity, or premeditation? You have satisfied me on that point. Not only do you state that he is sane when speaking these offensive words-but that they are the fruits of his ingenuousness.-I have done, Sir--"

So much the better, thought I

"for the present. After the funeral and a

decent period has elapsed, I shall take the liberty to send a friend to you, in order to settle our little difference!"

"Difference, Sir!" said I, "I really am not

aware

My friend will enlighten you, Sir," said Thompson."You have shifted-very honourably, I admit-the responsibility from the shoulders of the old man on to your own. You must see that your explanation of the nature of his infirmity is a mere confirmation of the premeditated insult inflicted by him upon myself and my nearest female relations. It is, I repeat, extremely fair and handsome of you, and I shall, of course, avail myself of the earliest opportunity of setting myself right. Mr. Nubley is now safe from any personal hostility on my part, and I beg leave to bid you a very good morning."

As he proceeded towards the door, I rang the bell, and as he crossed the hall, he observed, with a degree of careless indifference, and as if his visit had been one of the most agreeable

"very fine weather for the time of year, Mr. Gurney-pray don't come any farther-good morning".—And so-exit Thompson.

I retired to my room perfectly bewildered with the brief scene which had just been enacted. The departure of this "best of cut-throats" gave me an opportunity of inquiring of poor dear Nubley what had really occurred; of which, however, Thompson's description gave, no doubt, a tolerably correct idea. As far as I was concerned, it was clear that a personal quarrel was fastened upon me, and that Thompson, like all the disreputable persons who are subjected to the operation of the laws and customs of good society, had long been anxious to hit some blot which might enable him to make a stir, the result of which should be to establish himself on a locus standi, either to be admitted with all his tribe into the circle with which they desired to mix, or to prove, by some act of violence, his readiness to make those persons pay the penalty of their fastidiousness, who had thought fit to exclude them from it.

This, although a new evil amongst the many which combined to oppress me, did not promise to be immediate in its effect-on the contrary, two or three days would at least elapse, before, according to the man's own notion of etiquette and decency, he could "send his friend to me" -a period which I honestly confess, I flattered myself might be successfully employed in averting a hostile meeting arising out of no earthly offence of mine-unless, indeed, an inadvertent expression touching the innocent murmurings of my pseudo uncle could be so considered. not think I am more nervous than my neighbours, but I was now married and had a son, and the cares of the world were upon me, and I admit that as the Captain and his horsewhip left the house, I felt a twinge in that part of my leg in which I had shot myself in my affair with Daly.

I do

Well-never mind-the proverb says that Providence gives meat for the mouths that are made; and, upon a similar principle, I believe Providence affords us proportionate strength and courage to meet a growing accumulation of ill.