cy to disclose, that poor Munro knew not how to confess it. From being compelled to do so he was saved by the quick-sighted Peer, who, with one half glance of his hawking eye, perceived his embarrassment, and instantly conjecturing the cause...." Come, come, my dear Mr. Munro," said he, laying his hand, as he spoke, upon the arm of his again greatly agitated companion, and regarding him with the most smiling complacent countenance possible, "we must no longer consider ourselves as strangers to each other....I have already mentioned my being a blunt man; the truth therefore is, you at present require a little pecuniary assistance."

"I cannot contradict your Lordship, but a few days will, I trust, suffice for the purpose of enabling me to raise a sufficient sum on my farm, to........"

"Tut, tut!" interposed his Lordship impatiently, "I beg your pardon Mr. Munro for interrupting you, but, before you could mortgage an acre in such an-out of-theway place as this, why the Irish militia might not only, I am persuaded, be embodied, but disembodied and em. bodied again; no, no, dispatch is the soul of business; you must, therefore, permit me to be your banker on this occasion....will five hundred pounds answer your present exigencies? speak candidly I entreat."

"O more, more than answer, my Lord," cried Munro eagerly.

"Nay, excuse me for thinking differently; in the first place, you must provide for your son's prolonged stay at college; in the next, all that is requisite to prevent those you leave at home suffering any inconvenience during yout absence; for, doubtless," continued his Lordship, with encreasing earnestness," you have no idea of removing your family, till comfortably settled with the regiment; to do so before, indeed, would be highly improper: and, thirdly, though your journey to Ireland will not, or rather, I mean, need not, be a very expensive one, you will find a residence there just at this time rather so, as, to facilitate the accomplishment of the business you are going on, it will be necessary for you to entertain a good deal."

"But such a loan, without any security, without specifying any time for the repayment of it," said Munro anxiously.

Well, well, since so scrupulous, so over-delicate," replied Lord O'Sinister, still smiling, "you shall do both....yes, as Shylock says, you shall sign me a bond, in a merry mood, but not for a pound of flesh."

“But when, my Lord?" eagerly demanded Munro. Why now, or to-morrow, or when you return from Ireland, or....whenever you please; my steward here has always bonds and stamps of every description lying by him," answered the Peer, with seeming careless

ness.

'Now, now then, my Lord, if you please,' cried Munro, who felt that he should breathe more freely that the obligations his Lordship had conferred on him would sit lighter on his heart when he had given an acknowledgment for the sum in question; pray let him be instructed to prepare a bond for my signature.'

Well, since you are so very urgent....but really, Mr. Munro, this between friends,' pulling a bell, however, as he spoke, is quite unnecessary."

On his summons being obeyed, he ordered the steward to be sent in accordingly in a few minutes he made his appearance, and, having received the necessary instructions respecting the bond, returned with it by the time coffee was over, and, together with an inkstand, laid it before Munro for his signature.

Munro was stretching out his hand for a pen, when the steward suddenly exclaimed.... But, my Lord, you know two persons are required to witness the execution of a bond.'

'What a precise blockhead!' returned his Lordship, but without taking his eyes off a fine spaniel wich which he was playing; have I not told you that that bond is a mere matter of form?'

By no means, my Lord; I neither can myself, nor wish any other person to look upon it as such,' cried Munro. 'I therefore request another witness may be called,'

E

'Well, well, you shall be gratified,' said his Lordship, again applying his hand to the bell,

You write, John, I suppose?' to the servant who answered it.

No, my Lord, no,' replied John, with evident reluctance, and an air of confusion.

"But, I presume, some of the other servants do,' said his Lordship.

'I don't know, indeed, my Lord, but I'll ask as soon as they come in.'

In! why where are they?"

"Gone to a wedding in the neighbourhood, my Lord.' * A wedding! oh then, I must excuse them.'

Especially, my Lord,' observed the steward, as this business need not be delayed on their account, as there is young man now with me, who will answer for a witness, if your Lordship has no objection to admit him.'

Oh, none in the world, since Mr. Munro will have all the legal forms gone through.'

The steward accordingly withdrew for his visitor, with whom presently returning, the bond was legally executed, and delivered to Lord O'Sinister.

Upon my honour (with a laugh) this is a good thing," cried he, as he folded up the paper; here I have got your bond, for a sum you have not received ;' he rose as he spoke, and, going to an escritoire in a corner of the room, drew out a drawer. I don't think, Mr. Munro,' pausing here, his back rather turned towards him.... that you looked over this bond?" putting it up, however, at the same moment.

No, my Lord, I did not think it necessary to do so.' No, certainly not, Jenkins is excessively exact in all matters of this nature; I have glanced over it, and find he has strictly adhered to his instructions, rendering it payable in the course of five years, by instalments of a hundred a-year, of which said instalments (in a goodnatured tone) you and I will speak hereafter. In the mean while I must tell you, that I shall expect you'll keep a regular account of your disbursements at Temora, that I may settle with you concerning them, as whatever you

expend there I shall consider laid out on my account.' Then locking up the escritoire, and returning to the table, I believe,' laying some bank-notes before him, 'you'll find these right.'

'Perfectly, perfectly, my Lord,' in an agitated tone replied Munro, as he crushed them in his hand, and put them into his waistcoat pocket.

CHAP. III,

• How abandoned is that heart which bulges the tear of innocence, and is the cause the fatal cause, of overwhelming the spotless soul, and plunging the yet untainted mind into a sea of sorrow and repentance. Though born to protect the fair, does not man act the part of a demon.... first alluring by his temptations, and then triumphing in his victory: when villainy gets the ascendancy, it seldom leaves the wretch till it has thoroughly polluted him.'

STERNE'S LETTERS,

LORD O'Sinister resumed his seat and the conversation, which the entrance of the steward had interrupted: this principally treated of the neighbourhood and beauties of Temora, which his Lordship represented as a very fine seat, and contiguous to the sea; so that Munro, on landing at Donaghadee, would have but a short journey to it. After a short interval of silence, he suddenly enquired whether Munro had many children? On receiving his reply....' Aye, true, true," said he, I now recollect Farmer Stubbs told me you had but a son and daughter....Is the young lady younger than her brother?".

Munro bowed.

"And a fine girl, I make no doubt; well, I hope, Mr. Munro, you won't dislike the idea of having an Irishman for a son-in-law; for I think it very probable you will, as the Irish are, I assure you, quite as capable of forming disinterested, as fervant attachments.'

"I know they are, my Lord; and, as none can admire the warmth of soul and generosity that character

ises them more than I do, so, of course, I should be happy at a connexion with them : the worth of the man who may wish to blend his fate with my daughter's, and not his country, is what I shall look to.'

The Peer testified the warmest approbation of his sentiments, and then proceeded to express the regret he felt at the little probability there was of his being able, at this period owing to illness, and the affairs which had brought him into Scotland, to pay his compliments to Mrs. Munro and her fair daughter...." Should I not, however,' he continued, " 'tis some consolation to think, that next summer I may hope for the honour of an introduction to them, as I then purpose bringing Lady O'Sinister and Miss Athelstone, my daughter, here, and so on to Ireland; in the meanwhile you'll oblige me much by presenting my compliments to them, and informing them it is my earnest request that they would make the same use of the gardens here as if they were their own.'

Munro made a suitable reply to this obliging speech; and soon after, concluding his Lordship must, from the present state of his health, wish to retire early to repose, rose to take leave, but was compelled to resume his seat, nor suffered to depart till he had partaken of a collation with the Peer. He then quitted him, with a heart overflowing with gratitude....a gratitude too great for words, but which caused him, as they parted, silently to pray that the dews of heaven might fall thick in blessings on him.

He had scarcely passed the outer gate, when he felt his arm suddenly seized behind. He turned round with quickness, and though the light was but faint, discerned the honest countenance of Farmer Stubbs.

Captain, I beg pardon for stopping you,' he cried, • but....but....' and his heart seemed so full he could scarcely speak....' I find,' pointing with his thumb over his shoulder towards Firgrove, you have been at the great house with the great man.'

• With the good man,' said Munro emphatically, and laying his hand upon his shoulder. Farmer,' added he, his heart dilated with unexpected happiness, and warmed by the generous juice of the grape, give me thy hand.'