expostulations; and Reginald, whose chamber communicated with that of his father, was not suffered to go to bed until he had heard a very serious lecture.

This youth, when his father had left him, found himself the tenant of a very stately and lofty room, all pannelled in black oak, with two or three quaint hunting-pieces, hung here and there in huge carved frames of the same material. The tall crimson bed was in keeping with the style of the apartment, and might probably have stood there ever since it was built. High-backed chairs, with down cushions, that sunk half a yard when one pressed them, were ranged in great order all around, and a curious little circular dressing-closet was supplied, at one of the corners, by a turret. The boy was, on the whole, happy with the occurrences of the day, and he did not find himself alone for the first time under that roof without feelings of pride and gratification; but at the same time he had left home—and he was about to part with his father—and in the quiet of the hour he could not think, without something of timidity and heavi

ness, of being so near the brink of total novelty. However, care is but an unnatural visitant for a bosom so young-and we may add, so innocent as his; and Reginald ere long fell asleep.

A thousand antique forms flitted before him in his dreams, and when he woke, which he did early, and looked out from his pillow upon the grand old chamber, and the big oak that stretched its arms across the window, he still continued to dream: Alas! he said to himself, how many Daltons have lain here before me! The same blood that now flows in my veins, has it not danced long ago here in light hearts, that are all crumbled into dust? Have not eyes of the same shape and fashion as these of mine gazed on these very objects? Have not ancestors of mine been born in this very bedhave they not died in it too ?—No one ever found himself for the first time within the dwelling of a long line of his fore-fathers, without being greeted by some such imaginings;--they came to Reginald's bosom strongly, intensely, sorrowfully-so much so, that I fancy he could almost have found it in him to weep, at the moment when a rosy

cheeked young lad came in to take his clothes, and bade him good morning with a hearty rustic chuckle,-a scaring-bell to sentiment.

CHAPTER XI.

THE Squire did not of course appear at the breakfast-table; but Barbara and Betty did its honours in a most hospitable style. The elder lady scolded the Vicar a little for having given his countenance to something not unlike a debauch; but altogether much good humour prevailed. A walk in the park was proposed, and Mrs Elizabeth soon appeared accoutred for exercise; but Barbara said she was sorry she could not be of the party, and whispered something into her aunt's ear about children and a school.

Young Chisney, having discovered that an intimate acquaintance of his was in the same neighhood, begged one of the Squire's horses, and set off to pay his visit; while Mr Dalton and his son began their inspection of the grounds, under the superintendance of their worthy relation.

She took them a long walk; first through all the gardens, and then by the side of the river, and the hill too, among up fine open old groves, where herds of beautiful deer were brousing. She could not move very quickly, but she was indefatigable, and as she walked between her cousins, leaning on their arms, her conversation flowed on at once so gaily and so sensibly, that neither of them had any inclination to complain of the rate at which they were proceeding. At last she brought them to the edge of a small but deep hollow, very thickly wooded with ancient trees, and, pausing for a moment, said to the Vicar, "Do you know whither I am carrying ye now, cousin? You surely do."

"Yes," said Mr Dalton, "I know it well, ma'am; but why should you take the trouble of going down there? I can shew it to Reginald another time."

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Nay, nay," said the old lady, smiling very sweetly, and yet rather solemnly too, "if that's all the matter you need not stop me here. There's seldom a week passes but I pay my visit in this quarter; and we'll e'en go down together, if you please, for we three may seek all the world over,