Mrs. Rattleton paused to wipe away the perspiration which was gathering in large drops upon her face. "Our business, indeed, is of an important character, immediately connected as it is with your domestic happiness: this, I hope, will prove a sufficient apology for the liberty we have taken."

66 Madam," said the baronet to Mrs. Rattleton, "I cannot sufficiently thank you for this kindness. You need offer no apology. I should be insensible indeed, not to feel the weight of obligation under which you have placed me. Some villain, I suppose, is preparing to burn my house, or—or—” "Not at all, Sir John !" interrupted the bustling Mrs. Rattleton; "you look at the dark side of the picture. Nevertheless, the evil with which you are threatened is of a serious nature."

"Mrs. Rattleton, you—you certainly alarm me !" faltered the baronet. "What calamity is this? Speak! Let me not remain in ignorance !"

"We will keep you no longer in suspense," replied Mrs. Rattleton. "I presume, Sir John, you s are aware of the existence, in this village, of an individual by the name of Bunting-I mean Borel Bunting."

"Borel Bunting! Yes: what of him?" "Is he not intimate in your family?"

"Yes; and highly esteemed."

"It is rumoured, Sir John, that he is the suitor of your eldest daughter."

"It may be," laughingly returned the baronet, to the no small chagrin and disappointment of Mrs. Rattleton. And here it may as well be remarked, in justice to our friend Borel, that Mrs. Rattleton had a daughter, whom he was in the habit of visiting occasionally, but, from some cause or other, had all at once ceased his attentions; and for this neglect, the mother, inasmuch as she had singled him out for her future son-inlaw, was resolved to effect his ruin and disgrace. (There is more than one Mrs. Rattleton in the world!) Accordingly, she addressed the baronet again, believing that she might ultimately excite his prejudices to Borel's disadvantage.

"You are aware, no doubt," said she, "of Mr. Bunting's extreme indigence?"

"But, madam, I never despise a man because he is poor."

"I admire your spirit, Sir John,” replied the amiable speaker: "in this particular you are an exception to the generality of mankind; and you deserve credit for your liberality. But I fear that you have mistaken the import of my words. I wish to be definitely understood in this matter. It was not my intention to say that Mr. Bunting

VOL. I.-H

was the less estimable because he was poor; I should despise myself for harbouring such a sentiment; but I think, notwithstanding, there is one thing; in relation to him, highly objectionable: I mean the obscurity of his birth. He has always scrupulously avoided conversation upon this subject. He loves to wrap himself up in mystery. He has never yet told us whence he came, or what was the nature of his pursuits previous to his arrival among us. And for what, let me ask, is all this reserve? Does it not induce a suspicion that all is not right? I do not mean to say that he has been guilty of theft, or anything of the kind; but, so long as he remains without any ostensible employment, he cannot hope to enjoy the confidence of the honest and well-disposed."

Mrs. Rattleton concluded this ingenious piece of eloquence with a significant toss of her head. She saw that little impression had been made on the mind of the baronet,-for he was too well acquainted with the intriguing nature of some women, not to perceive that she was actuated by a malignant motive,—and without further ceremony, she left the house, followed by her two companions.

A word or two more of Mrs. Rattleton, before we take our present leave of her. Imprimis: she

She

was a member of the church, and assumed, upon particular occasions, a very devout look. She was the directress of half a dozen beneficial societies, and had prayer-meetings regularly twice a week at her own house: but to this, be it understood, we make not the slightest objection. She was also a great friend of Bible-classes and temperance societies. She was never known to drink wine except as a medicine, and recommended others to follow her example. She had an utter contempt for all people without money. was a very tigress in her revenge, and would go all lengths to accomplish her purposes. She would at any time neglect her own business to attend to that of others, even though it did not concern her. If a stranger came into the village, she did not rest until she had discovered his business; and this intelligence she faithfully communicated to all who had the patience or inclination to listen to her. This must suffice: and now let us return to Borel Bunting.

This gentleman was deeply read in the classics, and had also perused every novel and volume of poetry from the earliest period of English literature down to the present. Such had been his indefatigable research, that there was not a remarkable passage in the whole range of the Waverley

fictions, or indeed any other fictions, to which he could not instantly turn. As to poetry, he was an oracle. He could repeat the whole of Shelly, Moore, and Wordsworth, verbatim. He was a very Sidrophel in his acquirements. He could tell

"How many scores a flea would jump ;"

he could prove, also, "that the man in the moon's a sea Mediterranean," and

"In lyric numbers write an ode on

His mistress eating a black pudding."

He composed acrostics extempore by the dozen; we say extempore, though it was once remarked that he was months in bringing them to maturity. He was inimitable, moreover, in his pictures of natural scenery. When a river, or a mountain, or a waterfall was to be sketched, Borel Bunting, of all others, was the man to guide the pencil. He had the rare faculty of bringing everything distinctly before the mind of the reader-a compliment to which a majority of his brother scribes are not entitled.

Borel Bunting possessed also a considerable degree of critical acumen. Southey was a mere doggerelist; Cooper and Irving were not men of genius: so said Borel. Pope, he declared, was the first of poets, because Lord Byron said so before