and you might have been the rich Mrs. Q.! I know it, for I saw it.” Honoria's only reply to these regrets was a laugh.

"I'll send over the way for a porter, and return this at once," said she, taking up the parcel and rising to ring the bell.

""Tisn't worth while to pay a porter," said Mrs. Fleecer; "Betty has nothing to do, so she can go with it."

"But 'tis pouring of rain," said Honoria.

"Well, dear, she can take the umbrella," replied the considerate lodging-letter. "Besides, it will be a nice little walk for her. Poor thing! she doesn't often get out, and one must be a little indulgent to poor servants."

"I declare she shall not be sent out on such a night as this," said Honoria, unfeelingly resolved to deprive the girl of a little recreation. "To-morrow morning will be time enough."

"That will be best," said the other, " for I must send a note of thanks at the same time" (and, putting her hand to her forehead, added), "but I can't collect my ideas for writing to-night."

The last speaker had two motives for approving of this delay: one was, that it would afford Miss St. Egremont opportunity for "thinking over" the matter, and probably altering her present determination; the other but this is not exactly the proper place for explaining it.

There was a pause in the conversation, when Miss St. Egremont, who had been in thought, abruptly said

"By the by," Fleecer, "I shall not encumber myself with many things. My pianoforte and the greater part of my books, for instance, I shall leave in your care."

66

I don't understand you, dear," said the other.

"Why," said Honoria, "I shall take with me no more than what I may have immediate occasion for. If, after giving the place and the person a fair trial, I should resolve to remain, why—”

"Oh," said Fleecer," then you really mean to go."

"Positively."

"Positively, my dear? Why, as yet you don't know whether that Mrs. What's-her-name-Mrs. Woefield-will consent to receive you," said Mrs. Fleecer.

"No doubt of that," said Honoria: "Mr. Scott's answer to her inquiries will be such as will make her but too happy to have me with her."

"Ah!-well-you will have your own way in all things, Norey; but I don't think it will do. Now mark my words!"

"Well, then," said Honoria, "I can come back again. I shall be bound but for three months at the utmost, and need not stay even for that time if I don't like it."

"And when do you think of going, dear?" inquired Fleecer with a sigh.

"The very day after I receive the lady's letter," said Miss St. Egremont, "which will most likely be the day after to-morrow. The preparations for my journey may soon be made."

66

Well, my dear child," said Fleecer, bursting into tears, "if you shouldn't like it-and I hope you won't-you'll know where to find a

home. My house, like my heart, except my drawing-rooms, as I said before, for I can't afford to let you have them for nothing-my house, like my heart, will always be open to you. Ah! Norey; if you only wouldn't send back that bombasin and let me manage matters-"

You are a good soul, Fleecer," said Honoria, kindly taking her hand, "but don't talk nonsense. But it is getting late, so let me make you one glass of nice warm negus, aud then to bed."

"Well, I don't care if you do," was the not unexpected reply.

The ladies each took one glass; and when they rose to separate for the night, the elder lady's chamber-candle took light without offering the slightest resistance, and she herself found the way to her bedroom without making the most distant approach to the kitchen-stairs.

The greater portion of this night was passed by Mrs. Fleecer awake. She could not sleep for thinking, "What a fool that girl is!" The affair with Harry Scott, although she did not like that, became one of small importance in comparison with the throwing away her chance in the great Quiddean lottery. Were it not for the girl's foolish delicacy she might be Lady-mayoress one of these days. Marrying for love was all very well, if love happened to come hand in hand with money; but Norey was two-and thirty, and ought to be above all that sort of nonsense. As for Mr. Quiddy, she clearly saw through him. There was no love on his side except for the ten thousand pounds which she herself had hinted and insinuated Honoria into the possession of: his motives were manifestly interested; and she should therefore feel not the slightest compunction in trapping him (such was the word that passed through her mind) into a marriage with her. This she doubted not she could accomplish without either much hurt to her fair friend's feelings or exposing her character to reproach. After all, he would have no great cause of complaint, for he would have a charming wife worth double the money.

But Mr. Quiddy's peace-offering in the shape of "9 yds. best blk. bomb" !" To return that to him would be a fatal act; for, had the man but the spirit of a mouse, he never could brook so marked an affront.

"What a fool that girl is!" for the twentieth time thought she.

And thereupon she made up her mind to the course which had previously occurred to her, as the most proper to be adopted in that

matter.

Now, however extensive may be the circle of your friends and acquaintances, you cannot go on thinking and thinking what a fool-or any thing worse, if you please-such a one is, but sleep will overtake you at last, even though you select from amongst them your very best as a specimen. So did it happen to Mrs. Fleecer.

Notwithstanding her perturbed night, she rose early the next morning. In pursuance of the resolution she had formed, it was requisite that she should write a note to the great "What-do-they-call-him?" This, considering its object, required to be constructed with great ingenuity, and consequently (though brief as it was) was the work of much time and consideration. At length, notwithstanding its difficulty, it was accomplished-as most things may be if you will earnestly set about them.

The ladies had finished breakfast which was served in Mrs. Fleecer's own little back-room.

"Once more," reiterated Mrs. Fleecer, "let me entreat you not to do it."

"You'll worry me to death," said Honoria. "I have made up my mind, and here is to put an end to all further question about it."

She rose and rang for the servant, whom she desired instantly to fetch a porter. Presently the arrival of that fatal messenger was announced.

"Desire him to deliver that parcel as addressed," said Honoria to Betty.

"And I have a note to send with it," cried Mrs. Fleecer; who, starting up, seized the parcel, and hastened out of the room.

"Go with this note," whispered she to the man ; " and be sure you

don't wait for an answer."

On her way back to her own room she went into the parlour, threw the parcel into a drawer of the sideboard, and locking it, put the key into her pocket. This was the work of a moment.

"Ah, Norey!" said she, with a sigh, "now the thing is done it is of no use talking about it. But I must say I'm sorry

for it." "No doubt," replied Honoria, laughing; "for there is an end to your hopes of seeing me Lady-mayoress.'

Now let us see Mrs. Fleecer's note to Mr. Quiddy.

"Mr. Quiddy's most polite and very beautiful attention to No. 72, Surrey-street, was safely received last night, and gave great pleasure, and is accepted with many, many thanks,

"Mr. Q. will always be a most welcome visiter at all times, and hope and will be most happy to see him in a few days."

Now this note was so artfully framed, that while to the receiver it could hardly fail to be satisfactory, as appearing to express the sentiments of both ladies, Mrs. Fleecer might, at any time, exonerate Honoria (if need should be) from any participation in it. Had not the former forgotten to return Miss St. Egremont's share of the "very beautiful attention to No. 72,"-and if ever questioned upon the subject, "How she came to forget it" would, of course, be "the most unaccountable thing!"-the house would then have represented its mistress only, and Quiddy could not have been deceived by the equivoque. As it was

But in what sense he did understand it is not to be related in the present chapter.

P.*

REMINISCENCES OF A MEDICAL STUDENT.

No. V.

THE ADVENTURE OF A NIGHT.

IMAGINE a young man, possibly with an outward appearance of even boyish youth-give him powers and habits both of intense study and extreme dissipation,-manners displaying at once the refinement that education must always produce, and the coarseness of what I fear I must call libertinism,-the look of conscious knowledge beyond others, as much of the recondite truths of science as of all the tricks and dodges of the town, an air of pride, likewise, and perhaps of poverty: -clothe him in a pea-jacket, a rusty black stock, with no shirt visible, and trousers strapped down over his shoes. A big stick will complete the tolerably correct notion you have in your mind of a medical student.

He studies, probably, at a school several hundred miles from his home. He is young, and his own master-at once, and for the first time thrown on his own resources, and far from the advice or control of his friends. Dissection, by making him habitually familiar with all of mortal nature that men have been wont to hold in awe, renders him, in time, an utterly reckless and regardless being; while the temptations to sin, and numerous and powerful indeed they are, by which he is surrounded on all sides, can hardly fail to demoralize, for a time, a mind already so strongly predisposed to their influence. But if rakish conduct be excusable in any one, surely it is in him, considering that in a short year or two he settles into the quiet and strictly moral and exemplary medical practitioner.

I have known a young man of this class who frequently passed fortyeight hours of time at a spell without closing his eyes in sleep, and it was a matter of perfect indifference to him as far as inclination went, whether he passed it in arduous study-possibly of a question in science that required the talent of a master to catch even a glimpse of-or spent it in the pursuit of furious fun, roistering, and devilment. Equally alert have I seen one at Chemistry and cricket, Physiology and football, Surgery and single-stick, milling and Materia Medica, doctoring and drinking; these various accomplishments being diversified by the occasional effusion of a sonnet to her at home, or insertion of an article in one of the magazines, with a view of raising a sovereign or two when cash was at ebb. Among this class the spirit of adventure and romance still lingers, ere she take her final flight from earth to heaven, before the advancing deluge of decency and matter of fact. Among them disguises and rope-ladders are not yet extinct, and assignations, encounters, and hairbreadth escapes, are of nightly occurBut listen to this young fellow.

rence.

"I studied for a year at the University of Glasgow, in the north. A

medical education is to be had there cheap enough, and of excellent quality. My friends, coming to be aware of these facts, packed me off thither, nor did I feel much inclination myself to revolt at the measure. It is a large town, very densely populated, and very wealthy withal, for manufacturing and trading, which have separately enriched separate cities, have here combined their resources, and in the factory districts of the city the female population is to the male as the proportion of five to one. When you take each and all of these points into due consideration, you will perceive that it is not at all a very repulsive place to a medical student. For my own part I dropped into the heart of a select circle of youths, a regular clique, equally prepared for whatever might turn up of an evening-hard study, oysters, larking, or lovemaking. We used to honour with our patronage a peculiar house of entertainment, where the senses were ravished with whiskey-punch, Scotch ale, and the notes of a horrible old spinnet, dignified with the name of a piano. It was in that identical street where dwelt whilome Baillie Nicol Jarvie, of high historic fame.

From this classic haunt I emerged, one night, in company with a few others of the clique alluded to, and in a state of mental elevation which, I believe, it would puzzle a Transcendentalist to analyze or classify. My companions left me, with the avowed intention of seeking their several homes-whether they did or not, I am unable to say. For myself, I expressed a purpose of a similar nature, and as soon as they were out of sight, diverged away through the dark streets of the sleeping city, without any precisely definable object in view, but determined to ramble along as chance should direct, and follow out the first thing in the way of adventure that might tumble up.

It was a fine mild night for the season, and as I staggered along, my thoughts got more and more dreamy and confused, and I speedily lost all idea of my whereabouts, at one time threading the windings of a lane, at another lost in the yawning depths of a close, or haply floundering among the foundations of a house, in the progress of being built; now exchanging greetings with some lorn wight, zigzagging his way homeward, anon saluted by a grim-visaged guardian of the night, and reminded that though music hath charms, they are not generally held to be of the soporific kind. At length I emerged into a wide open street, which I found myself utterly unable to recognise. It was dark and lonely, the houses of stone, very lofty, rising dim, gray, and cold-like, with here and there a taper glimmering from a window, and the gaslamps stretching away in two approximating lines, which became, to my bewildered optics, confounded together in the distance. A few passengers were moving in different parts of it, their footsteps sounding hollow and distinct through the deserted thoroughfare, while here and there a watchman, with his will-o'-wisp lantern, lounged at a corner, or disappeared up an alley.

I stood bolt upright, steadying myself in the middle of the causeway, mustering all my wits to my aid in order to come to a correct idea as to my precise position on the chart. Presently I heard a clock chime, then the half-hour called, and after a while a distant rumbling sound. It increased louder and louder, nearer and nearer, when at once, ere I was aware, a carriage rushed furiously round a corner, and