pleasantry, "Mr. Moreton, we shan't proceed seniores priores, will you therefore have the kindness to offer Miss Clincher your fin ?" Moreton did not at the moment comprehend this figurative mode of speech; however, he understood the pantomimic motions of her sire, and at once offered the heiress his arm. The others brought up the rear. The young soldier subsided into a chair on the right of Letitia; Gideon took the further end of the table; and the repast, with all expedition, commenced.

There was a profusion of substantials, the table was crowded, and, as a whole, the edibles reflected credit on the chef d'cuisine, whoever he or she might be. Miss Clincher evinced considerable concern

that all should

be helped to the particular slice of the particular dish desired; and her father deemed it meet to be continually heaping fresh supplies on every plate. The man-mountain smiled, and thought his old friend Clincher one of the most hospitable men in Christendom, when Gideon persisted in helping him for the third time from the smoking sirloin. The

De Bohuns talked on various questions of general import, and the exquisite almost forgot what he was eating in polite consideration for the lady of the house, whom he would help to everything within his reach. Gideon ever and anon told some witty anecdote, at which the soldier gave a faint smile, Godfrey a forced "Ha! ha!" Letitia a titter, the man-mountain's shoulders gave a convulsive heaving, and the exquisite "He! he! he'd-very good indeed!"

Moreton, deeming it proper to keep up conversation with Letitia, spoke of concerts, the starring cantatrice, and the last novel. He asked her if she liked Handel better than Mozart-had read "Evelina," or Madame De Stäel's "Treatise on the Passions," and whether she preferred the author of the Christabel or Thalaba? These topics were foreign to Letitia; she knew not whether Handel or Mozart composed the Creation-had never heard of Miss Burney, and she did confess that she detested poetry! Young De Bohun opined she might have a predilection for history, and he got so far back as the Bayeux

tapestry, the days when ladies wore the bodice and wimple, when their lords sharpened the appetites by hippocras, and drank canary. He was too remote. He then came down to the times of the Merry Monarch, and ended by an observance of the fashion amongst the ladies of Queen Anne's court, who, as an accomplishment, japanned! Letitia replied in monosyllables-it was indisputable that history was not her forte.

The man-mountain, or, more respectfully speaking, Mr. Abel Greenham, had during this time addressed himself intermittingly to the other young gentleman, whom we also properly appellate as Mr. James Jingles; and Gideon amused Godfrey with an incident of a former client, who had gone to smash, oh! Though the city professional essayed to amuse the country squire, yet the latter appeared ever and anon abstracted. His gaze became from time to time fixed upon the various articles of plate, which seemed manufactures of as various epochs. On some of those were engraved griffins, on others lions, on others wiverns! His silent reasonings referred their present

possession to similar sources as the Lafitte and the pictures-in fact, he felt convinced their ancient owners had gone to smash, oh!

When that huge lump of mortality had appeased his physical cravings, he became more loquacious, and bandied certain insinuating jests at Jemmy Jingles, who rather waived such familiarities and sought to be heard on the great commercial transactions in which he had taken part. Godfrey now went on to political concerns, and dragged in the question as to the expediency of Mr. Pitt granting such enormous subsidies. The others would not chime in-the Londoners could not possibly bestow attention on matters so remote to their own interests. What did the manmountain care for public affairs, so long as he got a quick return and good profit on multitudes of York hams and Wiltshire flitches! -or Jingles, only the tables turned right for him!-or Gideon Clincher, so long as there were litigious disputants, and the necessity for conveying broad acres and bricks and mortar! Verily, no more than they did for the fate of Sappho or the snows of Nova Zembla.

Notwithstanding Godfrey's smothered contempt for Gideon, and the peculiarities of his daughter, he was pleased that Moreton had paid the latter so much attention, and he still did nurture the reflection that so large a dowry was no every-day matter-of-fact. It was to be feared, however, that these attentions on the part of his son were in no wise preferred on account of any particular impressions made upon the soldier. The truth was, Moreton was polite because he knew the conventionalities of society, and was in manners and feelings a gentleman. Moreton had been brought up amongst sisters-sisters who were accomplished, ladylike girls; and any man who is reared within the influence of sororial affection is relatively a kinder and a better man. His falcon glance instanter

detected that Miss Clincher had never moved in good society. His generous disposition censured her not-he blamed her stars, and not herself.

When Moreton contemplated Gideon, and called to mind his power over his paternal lands, he felt something of his prejudice, in