However," continued he,

in another?"— However,'

"Miss

Benbow is, I must confess, rather above the mediocre class. She is, I understand, gone into Scotland, as governess and companion in the family of Doctor Berkshire's sister."

"Check to your king, Elfin," exultingly cried her Ladyship; adding, "I recollect something of Miss Benbow: her father was patronised by mine, and their regiments being stationed at Limerick during the same interval, while we were both very young, I sometimes associated with her."

"Miss Benbow still remembers with pleasure the interval passed at Limerick, and expresses the most affectionate respect for your Ladyship; at the same time, alive to the humility of her present situation, has forborne to recall the circumstance to your Ladyship's remembrance. She did, indeed, request me to find a favourable moment of assuring Lady Tinkler of her good wishes; and the day preceding her departure for the north, added to her request, that of presenting these lines, which, she said,

would remind

you

of her, who was once your lady

ship's favourite rhyming friend.

Before Mr. Elfin could finish speaking, Lady Tinkler began to express her sincere satisfaction to know Miss Benbow was provided with a situation, and was so exceedingly rejoiced to hear of her welfare, that it really astonished the simple faculties of my uninstructed mind. I had never before understood that total indifference produced exceeding rejoicing; or that a mode of behaviour little short of contempt to the mother, exhibited any thing like an interest for the welfare of the daughter; and though I was only her Ladyship's petit oiseau, I yet fancied there must be some inaccuracy in my titled mistress's diction.

The chess-table removed, Lady Tinkler ordered her harp from the music-room, ran a finger of graceful harmony over the strings, and breathed a strain of the most finished melody.

For a moment I wished Sir Paragon could have

heard these heavenly tones; but immediately recollected it was very probable Lady Longstall might be as highly accomplished. When Mr. Elfin had made his parting bow, her Ladyship did attempt the uncommon exertion of reading Miss Benbow's manuscript, while I became attentively mute.

CHAPTER XVI.

TO THE ZEPHYR.

THE Æolian music of the Zephyr's wing,
A thousand long-lost sweet ideas bring;
Each rapt'rous feeling vibrates on the soul,
As thus its notes so tremulously roll.
Joys, long entomb'd, its diapasons raise,
And memory wakes by such reviving lays;
The days of childhood and the hours of love,

Still meet remembrance in this leaf-clad

grove :

And though, green Erin, I have said "Farewell!"

Yet in my heart lives gentle Isabell.

To retrospection even hope resigns,

And mental vision to the dream inclines :

Imagination's ever-active power,

Lends all her charms to the enraptured hour!
With sounds celestial fills her votary's ear,

And bids each form in heavenly hues appear.

Inhaling life-balm from the vernal morn,
Extracting bliss from notes on ether borne,
Pleas'd Fancy, like the insect in the beam,
Or like the basking tenant of the stream,
Plays o'er the senses, captivates the soul,
While every feeling yields to her control.

Oh! that these dear illusions would but stay, Till Memory's annals marked one happy day! But list! rude winds the Zephyr's breath destroy, 'Twas ever thus, my true and fancied joy!

Return, sweet Zephyr! be not thus in haste;
Of Woe I've drank, the cup of joy would taste!
Thy sounds I'll wait at eve, at early morn
Thy breathing altar pensively adorn;

Weave Sharon's rose-buds in the simple wreath,
With every floweret from the perfumed heath.
Here peaceful streamlets glide beneath the hill,
Here all is beauty, unobserved and still-
No echo nearer than yon hermit-cot,

No step, save mine, in this sequester'd spot-
Here, whisp'ring Zephyr, let thine altar be,
From noise, from pomp, from idle glitter free :
Fancy, illumed in all her rays divine,

The only priestess at thy hallowed shrine!