plained not to pay for the use of his suffering countrymen, provided that the necessitous and the aged shared them. But this great end had not been effected without a mixture (too frequent) of clamour and hypocrisy; yet the struggle, made with calmness and decency, was successful. The tenantry, relieved from the smart under which they had so long suffered, grew more attached to their homes, and grateful to their deliverers.

These, however, were not all the advantages which they reaped from a generous and benevolent landlord. An enemy to every species of oppression and slavery, Mr. Mortimer had, for many years before his decease, surrendered his rights of game to the occupiers of his various farms. Conscious, that although he could not legally invade the land of a stranger, however situate in his manor, he could yet shackle his own tenantry, and forbid them from the sports of the field, he waved those immunities, because he felt that, as a just and thinking man, he ought not to turn them to his amusement or advantage. Fach tenant on the manor, then, had the game on his land at his own control, and while he hailed his harvests, risen to ripeness and abundance, and unmolested by the tooth of vermin, he rejoiced heartily in a privilege, the more pleasing, as it seemed to be a part of that liberty which as a cultivator of the soil, he thought he had a title to enjoy.

Such (if the love of a neighbouring population be esteemed a blessing) were a few of the good fortunes which befel a youth just launched upon the world.

Miss Mortimer, who will be found to bear no inconsiderable part in the transactions which form the subjects of future pages, was eminently qualified to temper the levity of her brother, and in some measure to remedy the defects of his unfortunate education. Of her personal attractions and accomplishments we are not able to speak in the impassioned style of ancient novelists; they were such, however as to command the admiration of those who had the fortune to mix in the circle where she visited. The description of her mental endowments is a more easy, perhaps a more grateful task. Nature had gifted her with a strong intellect, which imparted to her actions a firmness of purpose, rare, but yet most valuable in woman. Having gone through the

drudgery of languages, and escaped from the leadingstrings of learning, she felt the advanced stage she had attained to in no other light than as the means of making herself useful and agreeable. To be proud of her acquisitions, to despise her sex for that softness and delicacy which she knew to be its chief ornament, were faults, which had never vitiated the mind of Miss Mortimer. With such talents, knowledge, and discretion, it cannot be surprising to hear, that wherever her society had been experienced it soon became esteemed and courted.

If this young lady could be said to excel in any one particular accomplishment, it was in painting. Circumstances which had excited the genius of other lovers of the Fine Arts, were propitious to her's also. The beauty of the surrounding landscapes in the neigbourhood where she lived, had very early invited the efforts of an untutored pencil. There was that rapid and discursive traveller, the Ouse, dispending his rich waters on the domain of Byrdwood; now smiling beneath the boughs in the light of the watchful sunbeam, now bubbling on the shallows with a murmur of pleasing melancholy, and anon dashing down the steep with the roar of an Alpine torrent, whilst his distant streams sparkled afar amongst the meadows to the utmost verge of sight. In spite, too, of the flatness of Bedfordshire, the Hall lay sufficiently near the neighbouring frontier to be commanded by the lofty Chilterns, where beech and ash of gigantic size ennobled the summits, and flung out their sinewy limbs into the vale below. The sunny glade, the plenteous and verdant pasturage, the briskly sportive cattle, formed the foreground of the picture, whilst a many-coloured wood, reposing in majestic silence, closed the prospect.

Roger Mortimer was walking with his sister one summer's evening on a raised terrace which looked out towards the view we have been describing, when she availed herself of the rare opportunity which then offered itself of suggesting to her brother the result of some serious thoughts which she had deemed of importance to his future welfare. Differing much in domestic pursuits, the kindest unanimity had, nevertheless, prevailed between them. The youth had as yet sufficient sense

to make sacrifices for the happiness of his mother and sister, while, on their side, they returned his respect and affection with every tenderness.

"My mother and I, Roger," said Miss Mortimer, are anxious upon a subject concerning you which is really worth notice, although you never mention it to

"And what may that be, dear Mary?" returned her brother.

"You might guess it, Roger, without much difficulty. My mother would have talked to you herself, only that she dislikes lecturing, as you well know."

66 Well, but what is it, Mary? what have I done now? Have you found out some fresh fault in me? Don't I go round to all the neighbours, and behave civilly to all the neighbours, and stand up for reforms, and improvements of all sorts? What would you have of me in addition to all this?"

"No fault: I never, that is to say, scarcely ever, do find fault with you, Roger; I have no right to do so:" said the young lady, apprehensive of some misconception; "every body praises your spirited behaviour in public, but we think that there is one thing still wanting, and that is

"And that is," resumed Mortimer, imitating his sister's arch address.

"And that is

-" said she again.

"What? What?" exclaimed the young man with impatience.

"A wife-Roger, to be sure." He was silent for a moment with astonishment. "You very well know," added she, observing the surprise which the disclosure had occasioned;" you very well know," she repeated, in a mild and conciliating tone, "that we, that is, my mother and myself, can live upon our income, either in the neighbourhood or elsewhere, with the most heartfelt contentedness, provided that you are well and happy. Your situation in the county requires that you should enlarge your circle, which under present circumstances cannot be done with convenience, and our mother agrees with me that it would be the best for your interest to marry.

"You are a generous girl," exclaimed the young man

with emotion, "but as far as the turning my mother and you out of Byrdwood Hall is concerned, I will never do it for the sake of any wife;-never," he added with increased energy."

66

"Softly, softly, brother," returned Miss Mortimer; no one questions your excellent disposition; but tell me now, in confidence, has not this project sometimes entered into your thoughts?"

"If you will press me closely," said he, "I must confess that once or twice it may have."

"Then you agree with us," replied his sister, "that there is no objection to the plan.'

"So far from that, I will even tell you the name of the girl whom, if ever I marry at all, I am determined to have, and no other, but that is always provided that my mother and sister continue in the old spot."

"Never mind that, Roger; but tell me," said the other, smiling with an air of curiosity, "may I be bold enough to claim your promise-who is the lassie, brother?"

"Why, as for that, Mary-I have no particular objection to let my mother know; but, really, I had not the slightest intention of disturbing the family with any arrangement of that kind, I assure you, upon my honour." "Nobody questions your honour, my dear brother,' said the young lady with a glance of evident disappointment, fearful to repeat the inquiry.

"Well then," said he, "as you have been a very good girl, and have not plagued me with questions and entreaties upon the subject-you are too well bred to do that Mary," he paused, to the infinite mortification of the party whom he addressed, who, however, had now the courage to ask,

"What then, Roger?"

"Why, then-Mary," slowly proceeded Mortimer, "if ever I change my present condition, it shall be for the sake of Jane Hamilton; that is," he added, hesitatingly, "provided you and Mrs. Mortimer"

"Now, pray don't, Roger, don't mention it-I am so much obliged to you for this discovery; it will give my mother so much pleasure! But stay-Mrs. Hamilton is the rich merchant's widow, is she not?"

"Yes," was the reply. "You know her very well."

"And her daughters too," replied the sister; "but I asked, because, she must be immensely rich, if she is the merchant's widow."

"Rich enough, Mary.”

"And are you sure that you will be a favourite with the old lady, for I am told, that she prides herself upon her money, Roger?"

"I have had no reason to complain of my reception at Alderbury Park, or Golden Grove, as the common people call it. Mrs. Hamilton is absolutely pressing with hospitality whenever I look in; and, besides, think of our family. The honour of alliance would be on our side, I think."

"Pardon me, brother," said Miss Mary, "I confess honesty enough to tell you that Jane Hamilton is much more to my taste than her mother, and I fear that I have been impertinent in asking you as I did about her love of grandeur; but you must take it in good part, and most likely the respectability of our rank would vanquish any scruple on the score of money, though I know what my mother will say upon that subject."

"It does not follow always, Mary," said her brother, "that because a person is so lucky as to be rich, she must be proud and disdainful of every body who has not quite so much; and I assure you, that as far as I have noticed Mrs. Hamilton, although her tastes, to be sure, are not quite in unison with ours, she appears rather a humble woman, than otherwise."

"Well," returned Miss Mortimer, "it is not for me to contradict you there, and I do sincerely respect Jane, who, I know, is neither haughty, nor presuming in the least. But, come, Roger, you have got our secret, and we have managed to find your's out, and see, Richard is coming to tell us that coffee is ready.'

Upon this, both returned to the hall, where we will leave them for the present, enjoying the full life of a new discussion, and on a subject far more interesting to the parties themselves than to any stranger.

Some account of Mrs. Hamilton and her family, will close the present chapter. In the early part of the nineteenth century it came to be generally understood in