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hear he is as beautiful a young man as ever two looking eyes were clapt upon; and I am sure if you are any of that cruel crew, and were to offer me all the golden guineas that ever were coined, I would not touch one brass farthing of them!"

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This importunate young man assured her, "he was not in league with the cruel crew." But Biddy O'Connor (so was this honest simple girl named) would not take his money; who, after retiring a few steps to go on his embassy, suddenly returned. May be," she exclaimed, "I ought not to leave you in the shop where all the master's and poor childer's property is (although you do look like a gentleman bred and born): so myself is after thinking you had better wait in the parlour, where there is nothing at all, at all, to take, unless you open the buffet and pocket the little modicum of plate there, which you might soon do-I'll tell no lie; and as for the Londoners, they are up to any thing of that kind. People think themselves mighty clever in disparaging poor Ireland, when all the rogues that are there come here; for this is the soil for rogues to thrive in and such pilaver too about Irish blunders and

bulls! But what bigger blunder could an Irish bailey make, myself would be mighty glad to know, than to seize a dead body to pay its debts? I am sure, if that was not a tiger in a bull's hide, my name is not Biddy O'Connor!"

By the time Biddy had completed her oration, which had been interrupted by many sobs, she had conducted the stranger to a neat parlour, where he beheld an uncommonly fine youth, of about fifteen years of age, administering water to, and striving to compose, his sister, a most beautiful girl, just entered on her teens, who was sobbing hysterically, whilst he himself was weeping piteously.

"Master Charless," said Biddy, "I believe this is a gentleman, and he wants to see the master about madam St. Clair."

"St. Clair!" repeated the stranger, in extreme and visible emotion-" St. Clair!" Then suddenly collecting his self-possession, and advancing to Charles Goodwin, gracefully and benignly said-" Accidentally I heard of the calamity your family are now unfortunately doomed to witness, and have taken the liberty of thus intruding, to offer my services to Mr. Goodwin."

"Will you have the goodness to be seated, sir?" said Charles Goodwin, motioning to the stranger to take a seat, but still persevering in his attentions to his sister: "My sister is quite subdued, sir; she is so fondly attached to Miss De Clifford."-Again the stranger's emotion was extreme and visible; but Charles, unmindful of it, continued"So indeed are we all, for who can help loving Miss De Clifford? But, even were we not attached to her, our hearts must be hard indeed, could we see her present distress unmoved."-Charles here hastily wiped his eyes, and, by every exertion, strove to resume a steady voice." The servant said, sir, you wished to see my father; but I fear it is not now in his power to wait upon you, for he is guarding the body of Mrs. St. Clair, until my uncle returns with money to redeem it."

"At whose suit was Mrs. St. Clair arrested?" asked the stranger, in a voice tremulous from suppressed emotion.

"At the suit of a wicked, very wicked man, named Laroche, sir, a supposed friend of her husband's, the late general St. Clair. He arrested her once before, and sent her (he did indeed, sir, if you'll believe me), old

and infirm as she was, to prison. Some unknown friend then set her free, and she came immediately from prison, with her granddaughter, to lodge with us.-Poor old lady! she had but few comforts left when most she wanted them: she had little money, and not one servant-no, not one; but very soon the sweetness and goodness of Miss De Clifford made us all her willing servants. It was, indeed, a pleasure to oblige her; but very hard to assist Mrs. St. Clair in any way, she was so proud: but my father and mother soon loved, as well as pitied, Miss De Clifford, and, in spite of all the struggles of Mrs. St. Clair's pride, did all they could to serve her;-but indeed, sir, that was not much, for my father is not rich, and has ten children. Mrs. St. Clair's health was in a very declining state when she came here-it grew every day rapidly worse. My uncle, who is considered a skilful apothecary, attended her carefully, and obtained other, and, as he thought better, advice for her. But all would not do; and my uncle was of opinion she could not hold out many days longer. She was very restless all last night, and about seven this morning fell into a deep sleep; my mother,

Miss De Clifford, and Biddy, watching by her easy-chair (as for many weeks she could not rest in bed): but oh, sir, sir! think how her sleep was broken! four bailiffs rushed in through the shop while the shutters were taking down this morning, and finding their way to her chamber, arrested her, oh! sir, as she slept! Their touch awoke her-the shock was too much for her feeble frame to endure, and she almost immediately expired, as poor Miss De Clifford, nearly frantic with horror and distress, strove to rescue her from the unfeeling ruffians: but since Miss De Clifford could not melt their cruel hearts, nothing could. My father offered bail: but it was a malicious arrest, and they would have the money instantly, or the body; for which, to add to their barbarity, they immediately brought a shell from a neighbouring undertaker's. My father was greatly distressed at the rejection of his bail. My mother urged him to pay the money out of a little legacy lately bequeathed to him, by a man who had once been shopman to my father, in more prosperous times a legacy my father had determined not to touch, but to leave for my mother's

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