that of others, which you yourself are conscious of having promoted."

"Ah, my dear Miss Paulet," answered I, "would that all great and rich men considered themselves as the stewards of Providence! What blessed effects might not the friends of humanity hope to see realized, if one may judge from the happiness which reigns within the sphere of the few, who think, and have the power to act, like your brother!"

CHAPTER V.

ALTHOUGH I took the liberty of endeavouring to persuade him, that he could be guilty of no impropriety in interposing to prevent his uncle from becoming the dupe of a woman who, upon the face of the circumstances, evidently must have cajoled the old man, Mr. Paulet resolutely declined offering any obstacle to the consummation of the event which was to deprive him of such great advantages. Such was the purity of his intentions, and the sensitiveness of his honour, that he seemed to feel that his motives and character were, like Cæsar's wife, "not even to be suspected." Some, perhaps, will be disposed to pronounce this fastidiousness over-fine, or to censure it as denoting selfishness, or too much regard to the world's opinion. His sister indeed, I think, perceived that this objection might be made to his conduct, for when I. told her that I could make nothing of him, she said, "His delicacy is certainly too refined; but nevertheless, surely one can hardly help admiring, and feeling reluctant to attempt destroying it. If this silly marriage of my uncle's were a matter personally indifferent to St. Leger, or more especially, if it could have so happened that his interests would have benefited by it, he would have gone to the world's end to prevent it, and frustrate imposture. But, as it is, I fear we shall find him inflexible."

All that he purposed doing, was to make inquiries about the lady's character, which if he should ascertain upon good authority to be questionable, he would immediately represent to his uncle to save him and his family from the disgrace of a tainted alliance. Unfortunately, however, the evidence which he procured did not tend to any doubt that Mrs. Cleghorn's character (par excellence) was otherwise than unimpeachably "correct." It appeared that she lived under the protection of her mother, a lady in limited circumstances, and that she had contrived to get acquainted with Lord Truro at a watering-place, had diligently improved their intercourse, and had at length rendered her society and attentions necessary to the silly old man; in short, it was evidently a com

plete job. That it was so, Mr. Paulet did not deny, but, satisfied that she was a respectable person, he could not consider himself authorized to interfere any farther, observing, that his uncle was old enough to judge for himself.

"Old enough!" said Lady Jane, "too old it should seem.' However, be that as it may, things being suffered to take their course, in another fortnight the bride-cake and the favours arrived at the Priory, with the Marquis and Marchioness of Truro's love and kindest regards to the Lady Jane and Miss Paulet! Mr. Paulet having gone to attend the marriage. He followed hard upon the heels of the said bridecake and favours, having quitted the house immediately after he had seen the "happy couple set off in their travelling carriage-and-four to pass the honey-moon at his Lordship's splendid seat T- B-shire!"

His account of the bride was such as might have been expected. She was a pretty woman, with forward manners; and received him, as he observed with a smile, with all the courtesy and kindness which she thought due to her husband's near relative; hoped that he would be a frequent guest at T-, and that she should soon have the pleasure of being introduced to Lady Jane and his sister, of whom she had heard so much. As to Lord Truro, he was very much in love, and presented his bride-elect to his nephew with an air of pride and complacency which seemed to claim a compliment to his good taste and good fortune. The Marchioness's family were Irish, and from what Mr. Paulet mentioned of them, I inferred, although he did not say so explicitly, low Irish, who, from the specimens which I have occasionally seen of that class, would seem to be the most disgusting savages under the sun. The mother he described as being a very homely person. There was a brother also, and a sister of the bride's, whom he had not seen; they were in Ireland, but coming over, as he was informed. In fact, it was quite clear, that they were a low set, and I was surprised at the forbearance with which Paulet spoke of them. It was, of course, impossible that he could approve of the alliance which his uncle had formed, and indeed it seemed to give him more annoyance than the marriage itself, which, greatly as his interests were affected by it, he bore with philosophical calmness.

CHAPTER VI.

AMONG the friends who sympathized with Mr. Paulet on the untoward event' (to borrow a felicitous diplomatic phrase of recent invention) which had occurred in his family, the Axfords were pre-eminent. A day or two after its public announcement, I met the important gentleman himself, and his first word was, a lament for the sad calamity which had befallen poor Paulet. "I have not seen them since," said he; "how do they bear it?"

"As well as can be expected," answered I.

"Well, who could have thought of such a thing?" pursued Mr. Axford, "it must have come like a thunder-clap upon them; for if Paulet had known of it soon enough, he would, of course have moved heaven and earth to prevent it. But what could have induced him to attend the wedding! I don't comprehend that; I think he was mistaken in his policy there; (do you understand?)"

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Why, between ourselves, I don't think our friend is much of a politician.”

"Why no, no, I don't think he is; I don't think he is, Sir Matthew; if he had played his cards well, (do you observe?) this could never have happened; that's my firm opinion. He should never have let the old man out of his sight, (don't you understand?) you see he is lost by being too secure."

"In fact," said I, "it was a mismanaged business altogether, or rather, I should say, it was never managed at all." "Ay, there it was, there it was; he never went about the thing like a man of the world. It's nothing to me personally, (you understand?) but I can't help feeling vexed and angry to see a man throw away fortune in such a manner. But perhaps there's some hope yet; she's a young moman, to be sure, but he's an old man, eh? and they mayn't have children, eh? What do you think?"

"I'm afraid there is but a slight chance in that quarter. Lord Truro is, I am told, a fine hale old fellow.”

"Um! well, I can't help wondering how a man of sense like Paulet should have taken his measures so ill as to suffer

such a business to be brought about. Good morning, Sir Matthew."

From that day forth I observed a change in the manner of the Axfords toward the family at the Priory, and especially to that member of it who had hitherto been the object of their importunate attentions. Lady Susan could now contrive to live without her, and the epithets of endearment and eulogy which she had been wont to lavish upon "her sweet, incomparable Alice," began to be moderated. The Paulets were either unconscious of this drawing off, or did not choose to take notice of it. Indeed it could have given them little concern, for the Axford family (except one) were never prime favourites at the Priory, where their advances were not encouraged by any reciprocal conduct beyond that, which good neighbourhood demanded. The exception named, however, had, as the reader is aware, been always treated with distinguished kindness and consideration, more particularly by her to whom his regards seemed to be chiefly directed; but the amiable character and agreeable conversation of the young man justified this distinction. On the present occasion, his visits became gradually less frequent, but, at the same time, his spirits seemed to be depressed, and his manner toward the Paulets was more earnestly affectionate than usual. Alice Paulet likewise, I thought, again betrayed symptoms of care and uneasiness in his presence. These indications might have alarmed me, but I had not long since determined not to suffer my confidence to be disturbed by her friendship for Captain Axford. Even my scepticism was at length satisfied of her genuineness, and none of those assassin-like suspicions which were continually lurking about my mind, now dared to approach the purity of this character, consecrated to my love and to my happiness. As surely as I knew that she was incapable of playing a double part, so certainly was she free from any taint of coquetry, and she would never encourage my passion, which her woman's eye could scarcely have failed to perceive, had she fixed her affections upon another person; and though I will not deny that I should have been glad to have heard some explanation of her marked kindness toward young Axford, whose merits seemed scarcely to warrant such proofs of esteem from a character like her's, I could not permit myself to think that her conduct was otherwise than irreproachable,

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