the whole household, with the exception of Master Crockston: his name had been bestowed in their humbler days, when the family title was Scrutt; but he was now the heir of its improved form, arms and all, whose abiding-place was Eton, preparatory for Oxford, to be made a finished gentleman.

Things had reached this stage of perfection, when, dropping in one morning, we found Emma, as usual, practising "Hope on, hope ever, on the piano, while Herbert Symmington stood behind her chair, turning the leaves of the music-book with most praise. worthy attention.

We knew Herbert to be related to the family, but not near enough to prevent sundry ingenious interpretations of his cousinlike assiduity to Miss Scrutley. His connections were somewhat better than those of the Scrutleys had been; he was the son of a respectable physician, whose days had been cut short just when his family were half provided for, and he departed this life, leaving a wife and two grown-up daughters with means just sufficient to maintain them in a pinched respectability, which they supported in a very small house, named by the mother-we could never learn wherefore" Geranium Cottage; " but it certainly sounded well, with tremendous abilities for collecting all the gossip of the neighbourhood, and an unconquerable love for fashionable finery, which they were obliged to wear many a day after its glory was departed. Herbert had obtained the profession of a barrister; but his legal career was yet brief, and briefs with him had been few; the man was in life's verdant days, a little green in heart, perhaps, as well as in experience; tall, and bright-eyed, and dashing, but too easily embarrassed for the bar, and notable for nothing, yet able and willing to laugh when occasion offered, with no particular objection to a theatre or a party, and not at all averse to flirtation, especially as regarded Emma.

We had a suspicion that our absence could have been pardoned at the moment; but in bustled Mr. and Mrs. Scrutley, exclaiming in a breath, "Emma, Emma, you will certainly be too late for the missionary meeting;" and as they responded to our salutations, both added, in a condescending tone, "Good morning, Mr. Symmington."

The young barrister looked about to do deadly violence to the silk waterproof, which, according to the more safe than graceful prescription of fashion for morning calls, was held fast under his

arm.

Poor Emma rose in evident perturbation; but Mrs. Scrutley pointed to a chair at her side, and she was seated instantly, while the mighty merchant, throwing himself on a sofa, demanded, with an air which still savoured of the warehouse: "What news, Symmington? How does business do with you?"

"Are you a subscriber to the London Missionary Society?" inquired Mrs. Scrutley.

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'Pretty well, thank

No, madam."

you, sir."

“Good morning, ladies," said Herbert, as he hurried out of the room with a face furiously red, and many a vain endeavour to conceal the chagrin that rose on the young man's mind like a mountain river.

"A vain, conceited coxcomb," said Mr. Scrutley, as soon as the door was shut.

"Full of worldly-mindedness," responded his helpmate. But poor Emma had not been detained for nothing; and we suspect our presence was considered to enhance the value of the rebuke, for the pair forthwith commenced a joint exhortation, the end and aim of which was, that Emma should not encourage the attentions of any character so vain and frivolous as Herbert Symmington, he being altogether unsuitable and unworthy of a religious and well brought-up young lady.

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I'm sure I don't encourage him," said Emma, growing very red and restless on her chair; "but they do he's a very say young man, clever in his profession.'

and very "He is an unconverted creature, child," interrupted Mrs. Scrutley; and the family are so given to levity after all their affliction, one can scarcely endure them,-not to speak of their pride but it will have a fall.”

Poor Emma listened in total silence, and at last left the room with her handkerchief to her eyes; and we, after hearing an immensity about parental solicitude, and the pair's anxiety that their children should regard "not the interests of this life, but that which is to come," returned to our own solitary abode, devoutly thanking Providence, who had not visited us with such responsibilities.

In our subsequent visits to Scrutley House we saw no more of Herbert Symmington; even his mother and sisters had given up their quiet calls, and the family were never invited to Mrs. Scrutley's pious and very select parties.

Emma continued to attend the missionary meetings and work for the Lazars, but the girl's patient look grew sad and abstracted at times, as though her thoughts were not all of Berlin and canvas; and at the close of the next term we heard there was grief in Geranium Cottage, for Herbert had chosen to exchange his prospects at the British bar for a very small and civil situation under the East India Government, and sailed for the banks of the Ganges with the loudly-expressed resolution to return a nabob, or

return no more.

Season after season brought changes to Lumberton Place: the Brickleys, the Mugleys, and the Crackleys, becoming aristocratic in their turn, came up from the streets of shops and warehouses, and built their mansions beside Scrutley House; with palings quite as high, windows as abundant in their drapery, and parties equally select, which multiplied every winter. Time did its work in Scrutley House also; the chiefs of the establishment increased in wealth and piety; Master Crockston removed from Eton to Oxford, and his wants and demands increased marvellously in consequence.

Emma expanded into womanhood, and was thought less pretty by her young lady friends, but certainly not less disciplined or industrious, for many were the rugs and stool-covers of her frame; her three juniors grew too tall for the nursery, and were therefore brought into the drawing-room to knit perpetual purses, being all members of the "Useful Arts Encouragement Society," under the special superintendence of their mama, and her nearest evangelical friend, the Honourable and Reverend Frederic Alphonso Sniveller, incumbent of Wuish Fleecington, who had lately succeeded to the family estates by the death of his eldest brother, the Honourable Piperly, which took place suddenly after a total-abstinence soirée.

In the meantime, if letters came from Herbert to Geranium Cottage, their contents seldom transpired. Some said they brought no good report, and gradually grew short and few; but at length rumours of great fortune began to prevail. At first they were vague and indistinct, but by-and-bye they took a definite form, and it was known that Herbert Symmington had grown suddenly rich by the legacy of an extraordinary friend in India, and was on his homeward voyage to rejoice the hearts of his friends.

Mrs. Scrutley and her carriage, on their next round of visits, were observed to call at Geranium Cottage, and Mrs. Symmington, with her two daughters, were marshalled to the drawing room

next day, all in the usual faded finery, and an immense fluster about Herbert.

It was just four years from the date of the first-mentioned visit; many had intervened, but a call was for some time owing, and we hastened to discharge the obligation, when sounds of cordial greetings, and most friendly inquiries, reached us from the drawing-room, and on entering we were presented to Herbert Symmington. There he sat in the power of his Eastern experience, and the glory of that recent legacy, surrounded by his mother and sisters; better dressed than was their wont, and far too proud to speak; Mr. and Mrs. Scrutley, whose wrapt attention was only interrupted to express their delight at seeing him restored to the bosom of his family; the Honourable and Reverend Sniveller, who felt his light eclipsed, but seemed by no means disposed to put it under a bushel; and the four young Scrutleys, listening in mute admiration, with large drops, that were not those of sorrow, rising in poor Emma's eyes. His dress spoke of fortune and advancing taste, his manner was improved, he had even grown gentlemanly; but the face-oh! the fair young face-was changed; the Indian sun had darkened, years had quieted it. It had gathered composure, confidence, and we thought craft, as he enlarged on the missionary operations in India, and his own endeavours to establish prayer-meetings in Calcutta. How had the themes of the young barrister altered! but Emma was not forgotten-why should she? Did not the gentleman find her family still more prosperous, and her fortune probably larger, than it had been on the day we heard the girl admonished to give no encouragement to such a frivolous character. Now Mr. Scrutley could see no vanity in a gentleman so well dressed, and Mrs. found his "worldly-mindedness" merged in those mighty thousands; but to that trusting memory he was still the same.

Signs of wealth began to make themselves manifest from that time about Geranium Cottage; all Lumberton Place visited there; and those who thought themselves properly treated gave parties in honour of Herbert's arrival. Before these were over, he had purchased Sir Hunter Tatterall's estate from the creditors; and at the same time the city newspapers announced an intended marriage in "High Life;" and, after hearing a world of gossip on the subject, from neighbours, milliners and attorneys, we were invited to join Emma's bridal party, and see her become Mrs. Herbert Symmington.

We have forgotten the number of carriages that accompanied us to St. George's, where, as Mrs. Scrutley observed, the ceremony had been performed for the Duke and Duchess of Swindleshire, only a week before; but we remember that all the lady's Sabbath scholars were ranged in a pew, and kept very quiet by the frowns of the parish beadle. The affair went on after the fashion of weddings by special license; the ring was put on, the benediction was pronounced. Mr. Scrutley "trusted they would continue to walk in the good way," and his lady requested, "grace to be thankful."

Emma looked too glad to escape into the carriage from the gazing crowd assembled, according to custom, at the church door. She was seated, and Herbert was stepping in, when out of the crowd stepped a large gaunt-faced specimen of humanity, clothed in the undress of a Highland officer, who, grasping a huge horsewhip in one hand, and collaring the bridegroom with the other, dragged him down and began to belabour him most unmercifully, beating time to every blow with one of his feet on the gentleman's person, while he vociferated, with a strong northern accent

"Ye theivin loon, aul larn ye for wilein awa the Calcutta lassie's liken frae me, and makin the auld mon trow ye wud merry her, till he left a' till yer protection."

"Let me go! let me go!" cried Mr. Symmington, endeavouring to kick back; in which laudable attempt, however, he was foiled. "I did not, I have not taken the lady.'

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Na, but ye got the cash," shouted his assailant, with another whack, " and that's the cream o' the kirn.'

""

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"Diamond cut diamond," thought we : it's an honour to belong to such a species. Here the gentlemen were separated by the guardians of the peace, Herbert scrambled into the carriage, and the Scot was bundled towards the police office; but his national discretion returned to his rescue in time, and after a brief parley we saw him sneak quietly away. As for the bridegroom, after being kicked and horsewhipped, he was driven home to elegant déjeuner à la fourchette." Of course the Highland Officer was pronounced to be insane. We heard he was Captain M'Turk of the 42nd; but Mrs. Scrutley lamented daily over his affliction, and the happy pair set off for the Continent. They have long since returned, and now reside at Symmington Park. Emma looks as subdued and patient as ever; but to our eyes, she never smiles