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earnest, and for a considerable period continued. The family wondered what business could demand so tedious a council, and it was not till the expiration of two hours ere the stranger rose to depart. "Sir," "said he to Godfrey, "the matter must inevitably come to a crisis-it cannot be longer deferred; to go on in this manner would be a reductio ad absurdum." Godfrey bade a formal good morning, and his visitor in a few moments. was effecting his retreat down the avenue. Soon afterwards Farmer Fallow espied the M.P. with whom he had had the honour of revelling the night previous, hastily pacing along with his carpet-bag towards the Crossroads Inn-and that individual was no other than Mr. Gabriel Gubbins.

The reader may probably remember that during Godfrey's last interview with his legal adviser, no one could be more polite and attentive; he was hospitable and witty, and veritally overflowing with friendliness. But certain circumstances since then had changed the complexion of Mr. Clincher's bearing towards his client. The solicitor had argued

within himself that with Captain De Bohun there was a great share of duplicity and pride. Whatever his professions were relative to the match between Letitia and his son, he did not believe there had been one single feeling of sincerity in the matter, and that, in truth, Godfrey had all the while been covertly opposed to any such thing. However, Moreton was no more, and the wished-for alliance impossible.

Mr. Clincher very considerately reflected that as he had client in his power—as he had despised his daughter, and as the young man was dead, he would now requite him for his deception and the contemptuous manner in which he had treated Letitia and himself, therefore, as the prelude to more decisive operations, he dispatched Gabriel down to Elleringay with an account of the claims which he held against the estate. Gabriel was also entrusted with a discretionary power in talking over the matter, and was desired to order his replies according to the tone and temper of the client; and, above all, by some means to gain certain information respecting

the estate. The latter, as we have above related, he admirably managed over smoking punch at the Plough. The vindictive Clincher had fully made up his mind either to have the thousands he had advanced, which he feared were more than the property was worth, or at once to become possessed of it. He now determined to show no quarter to one who had looked down upon him and his, and from whose further friendship there could not be any advantage.

In the retrospect an individual may probably be called to mind who had no greater liking towards Godfrey than Mr. Clincher himself; this individual had on one occasion, met the squire of Elleringay and his son, and, not to mince the expression, he cordially hated them. This person was Jingles. The departed soldier had, on the occasion referred to given considerable uneasiness to Mr. Jingles by his marked attention to Miss Clincher; but Jingles, on anxiously looking over the casualties after the battle of Waterloo, thanked his stars that one who might, if he wished, have been a very

formidable rival in Letitia's affections, was honourably mentioned amongst the slain! That announcement had given him much increased satisfaction; his hopes of winning the heiress were cordially strengthened-he now followed up his suit-proposed, and was ultimately accepted.

Letitia's lover had had the finesse to produce an impression on the solicitor's mind that he was a man of good property, and, indeed, that he could make money on 'Change with wonderful facility. He contrived to bring to Mr. Clincher's ears the fact of one or two lucky transactions; to prevail on a person, to speak in superlative terms of his business habits, and many other recommendatory qualifications; Mr. Clincher was won over, at last consented to give him his daughter to wife. The marriage speedily took place, Mr. Jingles congratulating himself on having made so good a speculation, Mr. Clincher that he had wedded his child to one of the most rising men on 'Change, and Letitia that she could marry a person superior to the penniless son of a poor country squire. Thus all parties

were so far satisfied; the man-mountain and like acquaintance partook of the bridal cheer, and every day was a day of sunshine and pleasure.

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