daughter. "I am sure it was those deformities of nature that started the horses."

The coach now stopped at the rectory.Julia was the first to alight, and, to her extreme amazement, beheld Fitzroy standing by the carriage, ready to hand her out."Mr. Fitzroy !" she exclaimed: "why you come on flying dragon, or riding on the meteor!"

"No," he replied, " my ance was the coach-box."

humble convey

"Which was also mine," said lord Francis Loraine, now approaching her.

"What can this mean?" asked doctor Hargrave.

"I must earnestly implore your mercy, doctor Hargrave, and forgiveness for your poor coachman," replied Fitzroy, "who made such potent libations to my success, that he rendered himself totally unable to perform in his vocation to-night; and the least I could do, in gratitude, was to prove his substitute; and I trust you found me a careful one."

Doctor Hargrave said, "he was inexpressibly shocked at the circumstance," although secretly elated at the flattering incident of a duke's grandson, and heir presumptive to

But

the title, and a marquis's son, having conferred such an honour on his family. now a very great difficulty presented itself to the rector-he could not offer his carriage to convey these knights-errant home, having no coachman to convey it back. -"They preferred walking," lord Francis said; "but as the night was dark, and a number of streams and posts in their way, they would accept an escort with a lantern;" and while the lantern was getting ready, his lordship joined the ladies in the drawing-room, for lord Francis alone was left to hear the fine speeches and apologies of doctor Hargrave, Fitzroy having closely followed Miss De Clifford to the drawing-room; and where, seated by her, when the lantern was announced, lord Francis was compelled repeatedly to call him to depart, before he could prevail upon himself to take leave, which, with evident reluctance, he at length did

Julia felt not at all sorry for his departure, as she was very tired, and feared she might sleep too long in the morning if kept up much later, and be deprived of the pleasure of fulfilling her appointment with doctor Sydenham to take an early walk.

CHAPTER IX.

JULIA, doctor Sydenham, and Charles Goodwin, were true to their appointment the following morning; but the latter, almost in tears, informed his companions, "that Celestina, hearing them talk of their intended excursion, had arisen early on purpose to accompany them, and spoil their pleasure."

Celestina now made her appearance, and told them "she meant to be very quiet and orderly," and was as good as her word. They found her very useful in understanding the secret of opening gates, knowing the best paths, where there were vicious cattle, and where sharp dogs; and did certainly contrive to amuse her cousin a little, by challenging him to leap ditches, and jump with poles over dikes.

Julia and doctor Sydenham walked together. This venerable man seemed unusually thoughtful, and Julia feared he was not

well. At last he suddenly asked her, "what she thought of the candidates ?"

"Mr. Smith, sir," she replied, "is unfortunate for figure; but he seems the quick, shrewd, and so clever man, as if he possessed information a great deal; and his conversation appeared to me spirited, sometimes sarcastic, but always much entertaining."

"You have hit him off exactly. I know him intimately. Now for the others--what think you of them ?"

"Of Mr. Rackrent, I shrink from the horror of at all thinking; and for sir Samuel Clodly, I grieve for why nature has, in every respect, dealt so very severely hard for him."

"You are an accurate discriminator of character, I see.-Come, now for Mr. Fitzroy."

"My opinion of Mr. Fitzroy can no more now be for the unprejudiced one; therefore I do think it fair not quite to give sentiments for him, after speaking so much freely of his opponents."

"Cannot now give an unprejudiced opinion of Mr. Fitzroy !-Perhaps I may presume too much if I request an explanation."

Julia now sketched, with artless ingenuity, a slight outline of her own history and situation-told all the particulars of her humiliating visit at Delamore House, and Fitzroy's conduct there; his rescue of Biddy O'Connor; and lastly, his protecting her from the insults of the inebriated young men upon the hustings. "And thus," doctor Sydenham," she added, “circumstances have arisen one after another to follow, that make display for me of the much goodness of Mr. Fitzroy's heart-the rare perfections of his so great deal amiable mind: and although I do know very certainly, my reason has to tell, I must for him have the thought so estimable, yet gratitude I feel cannot ever prove for me the impartial judge: and beside this all, dear sir, he is in resemblance strong for one dear friend to me (the friend dearest of my heart), and this resemblance, for sure, makes its much effect; for I look not on him as I do on other so nearly strangers, but seem to see in him some one who comes for the claim of renewal to former friendship."

"Friendship!" said doctor Sydenham. "Yes, dear sir," Julia replied; "for the friend for whom Mr. Fitzroy reminds so