HERBERT LACY.

CHAPTER I.

I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.
No; an he were, I would burn my study.
Much Ado about Nothing.

1

"PRAY, Lady Appleby, did not you say that
Mr. Lacy was coming here to-day?"

This important question was put to her lady-
ship one morning about the latter end of July, in
the drawing-room at Huntley Park (of which Lord
Appleby was the noble owner,) in the presence of
a small party, consisting of the lady of Viscount
Malvern, son of the Earl of Rodborough, Agnes
Morton, her sister, and two Miss Tyrwhitts, daugh-
ters of Lord and Lady Appleby.

The querist was Mrs. Poole, an elderly widow
of comfortable fortune, brisk, loquacious, and in-
quisitive; fond of communicating information, and
eager in collecting it; a skilful match-maker, an
unrivalled genealogist, and, alas! a frequent cause
of mischief, though not often a wilful one. She
was a good-humoured woman, who had lived much
in the world, who was never dull but when alone,
and whose society was greatly sought. Mrs. Poole

то

THOMAS LISTER, ESQ.

OF

ARMITAGE PARK,

Staffordshire.

To no one can I dedicate the following work with more propriety than to yourself, and to none certainly with greater pleasure. Whatever may be my attachment to literary pursuits, I consider myself as owing it entirely to the kindness and assiduity with which, from my earliest years, you have directed my attention to the cultivation of elegant letters. If I have fallen short of attaining the excellence which your parental partiality might lead you to hope, I must attribute my deficiency to any cause, rather than to the want of your encouragement and assistance. It is an additional source of satisfaction to me in making to you the offering of this little work, that it will afford

some exemplification of filial duties, and convey my own sense, however imperfectly, of the devotedness and respect which are due to the parental character. By no one ought this sentiment to be more sincerely and deeply felt than by myself: convinced as I am, that to those ties of perfect confidence, friendship, and esteem, which your kindness has established between us, I owe the principal happiness of my life. With the truest gratitude and respect, believe

me,

Your very

affectionate Son,

THE AUTHOR.

HERBERT LACY.

CHAPTER I.

I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.
No; an he were, I would burn my study.
Much Ado about Nothing.

"PRAY, Lady Appleby, did not you say that Mr. Lacy was coming here to-day?"

This important question was put to her ladyship one morning about the latter end of July, in the drawing-room at Huntley Park (of which Lord Appleby was the noble owner,) in the presence of a small party, consisting of the lady of Viscount Malvern, son of the Earl of Rodborough, Agnes Morton, her sister, and two Miss Tyrwhitts, daughters of Lord and Lady Appleby.

The querist was Mrs. Poole, an elderly widow of comfortable fortune, brisk, loquacious, and inquisitive; fond of communicating information, and eager in collecting it; a skilful match-maker, an unrivalled genealogist, and, alas! a frequent cause of mischief, though not often a wilful one. was a good-humoured woman, who had lived much in the world, who was never dull but when alone, and whose society was greatly sought. Mrs. Poole

She