plexion freckled and sunburnt; yet, notwithstanding the lack of personal beauty, no one ever looked in his honest, good-tempered face without pleasure. His mental qualities had something of the same lack as his bodily ones, and the same charm also. He was what is commonly called "slow ;" his manner and way of speaking was slow, his ideas slow; he was also remarkable for many little peculiarities-one above all of taking everything au pied de la lettre, which made it impossible not to laugh at him, even to his face; yet, at the same time, there was a genuine simplicity in his character, a straightforwardness and truth, an absence of all pretension, and a forgetfulness of self, which, united with good common sense, commanded for him a degree of respect and attachment many cleverer men fail to obtain. If he had a failing, it was one that leaned to virtue's side-a too kind

heart, whose dictates were occasionally permitted to warp the clearness of his judg

ment.

His companion was very different, in mind, manner, and appearance. He was only a little above the middle size, and was very slightly formed; but though thin and slight, there was a strong appearance of muscular strength about him, enough, indeed, to detract from the beauty of a well-proportioned frame, had not the expression it gave him more than counterbalanced the want. He was vigour, force, and resolution all over. At a distance he might have been called boyish, for he had fair hair, blue eyes, and a fair, clear skin; but on a nearer inspection he might have been supposed to be older even than he was, and he was seven-and-twenty, for there were lines of thought on his brow, and a careworn expression in his countenance which

had little of youth about it. His features were good; and though too thin and bony to be called handsome, his appearance was very pleasing; it would have been more so but for an occasional expression of bitterness and sarcasm about the mouth which contradicted his clear eyes and sweet smile. It was difficult to see him without interest— impossible to meet the flash of those light eyes without feeling there was character beneath; but the interest was of a mixed, and not always of a pleasing, kind.

"Where are you going, Edward ?" asked the elder of the two, as the insensible will of the younger guided their steps into Portland Place; "not into the Regent's Park!"

"And why not into the Regent's Park ?" "No reason on earth; but people, don't you know, at this time of day-"

"Don't talk to me about people, Ralph,"

he said impatiently, "people are nothing to me. I want to speak to you in peace and quiet without having to nod and smirk twenty times in a minute. I wish people would forget me. I thought two years abroad would have done that for me if it did no other good."

"London's very full indeed," observed his companion; "I like it better myself when it is empty."

They walked some way in silence. Ralph then said, "Can I do anything for you, Edward? I hope I need not say that it will make me happy if I can."

"That I know, Ralph, or I should not ask what I am going to ask. It is a mawkish thing to say to a man's face, but I do believe that you are the best and truest friend that ever was born into this world."

"My dear fellow," Ralph cried, colouring all over, "you are very kind."

"So are you, Ralph: and now, hang sentiment, and let us come to the point. What I want to ask you is, did you ever,"—here he paused and smiled, then drawing his lips into an expression of extreme gravity, continued -"did you ever read 'Pride and Prejudice.' An ejaculation of wild wonder was the only answer to this question.

999

"Because if you have read it," Edward proceeded in a tone of grave interest, "I want to know what is your opinion of Mr. Collins."

Receiving for answer another ejaculation only of like import, and reading in his friend's expressive countenance a very evident fear of his sanity, he went on with a smile. "For my part I have always looked upon him as a very sensible man. In such circumstances, having the misfortune to have an estate entailed upon him against his will, it was only natural that he should wish to make some reparation, and what could he