of the vulgar dead; but what nice calculator had then computed so exactly, how many feet of earth would suffice to include (each in his common cell) the remnant of the ancient race?

The broad disk of the setting sun was yet high in the golden chambers of the west, when we turned from the cemetery of the De la Veres, to pursue our walk towards their ancient mansion house. Our road lay, as described, through those venerable woods, some of whose noble oaks appeared coeval with the earlier generations of the family; and many of them, in their various stages of decay, were strikingly typical of its long decline and approaching extinction. One in particular arrested our attention. Almost the last of the grove, and now, indeed, considerably in advance of it, from the decay, or removal of intermediate timber, it stood singly on the open grass land immediately approximating to the mansion. It had been a superb tree! the monarch of the grove! Its bole, rugged and rifted, and of immense circumference, stood up so proudly steadfast, as if the enormous roots, spreading for many yards around, and heaving through the turf in twisted nakedness, and knots, and curious fretwork, had grappled with the very centre of the earth, and would maintain their hold, till shaken thence by nature's last convulsions. But the vast trunk was hollow at the corehollowed out into a spacious grotto, where the sheep took shelter, and the mare, with her young colt beside her, lay down in the heat of the day. And still the mere shell, with its tough coating of rough mossy bark, was of strength sufficient to bear up the burthen of the forks into which the tree branched off from its centre. Three noble limbs had they been, in the days of their vigorous maturity, overspreading the earth for many roods around, with the broad shadow of their leafy branches; but now despoiled of those, the gigantic arms stretched out their unsheltered nakedness in the stern grandeur of decaying greatness. Two of those forks were completely dead. From one of them the bark had dropt away, leaving it exposed in skeleton whiteness. The third shewed signs of feebly lingering life—a mossy spray or two, on which a few leaves yet hung, but they were pale and sickly, and ready to fall at the first

autumnal blast.

The road wound along close under the trunk of that old tree. A few yards farther, and we stood before the gateway of Halliburn House.

I never beheld a scene of more quiet cheerfulness than that before us-yes, of cheerful quiet-for, however the observant eye might trace indications of decay and change, there was none of neglect and desolation-no appearance of ruin or dilapidation about the buildings, or of slovenly disorder in the homestead. It is true, the broad gravelled road of approach, was no longer of that bright colour which tells of frequent renewal, and there were no tracks of carriage-wheels, except of such as had passed and repassed for agricultural purposes; but it was hard and smooth, and neatly edged and weeded, and nothing could exceed the fine order, and rich verdure, of the pastures through which it wound. The people were engaged in hay-making that very evening, and the waggons were plying to and fro before the old gateway-to and fro from the adjoining open rich yard, within which we had a glimpse of objects strangely incongruous. The coach-house and stables opened into the same area, surrounded on the other sides by barns, granaries, and cattle stalls, but the line of demarcation was no longer so evident between the two departments, as it doubtless had been in the more flourishing days of the establishment. One large building had fallen entirely into decay, and to supply the want of it, others had been converted to purposes wide of those for which they were originally designed. Part of the large barn was metamorphosed into a cart-shed, and a rough clumsy broadwheeled dung-cart was stowed away in the capacious coach-house - (Oh spirits of the departed De la Veres!) cheek by jowl with the old family coach! that indescribable vehicle! The coach-house doors stood wide open, and we took a full survey of it. It was in shape like those lackered tin toys, (themselves, I believe, become unfashionable now,) which were the delight of children when I was a child-like the coaches in old prints and pictures, representing the setting forth of Louis le Grand and his Court, to take the air in the neighbourhood of Versailles. It was low, and broad and deep, and carved and gilded, and

all windows in the upper pannels. The lower, every one emblazoned with the family arms; the ostrich plume spreading so extravagantly, as if the whole tail of an ostrich must have gone to the composition of each. Years had elapsed since that venerable relic had moved from its restingplace, except when irreverently drawn forward or aside, to make way for the vulgar associates, thrust into the space beside it, once occupied by a towering phæton and a stately chariot-varnish there was none remaining on its blistered and dusty pannels; a heap of oat-straw had fallen down from the raftered ceiling on its dishonoured top, and a parcel of clucking hens were pecking about, and perching on its wheels and springs; while at one side window, whence in its days of glory looked forth so many fair and noble faces, in awful majesty of plume and periwig, a dunghill cock had taken his bold station, and there he stood clapping his wings, and crowing as it were in conscious exultation. The stable doors were also open, but no pampered steeds were visible in the long range of stalls; two of them were converted into calf-pens; a sick cow was tethered in a third, and by the clumsy rusty collars, and pieces of coarse harness hanging about on the others, they were apparently occupied by the farm horses; one of these, indeed, an old blind mare, suffering from some disease in its legs, which were swathed and bandaged up, was littered in a side stall, over which, on a painted board above the manger, the name of Highflier," was still legible. In another, (one of those converted into calf-pens,) we read that of "Cressy." A great grey cat sat snugly trussed up on the broad ledge of one of the stall partitions; a mouser, of such venerable aspect, as if her early days had been contemporaneous with the prime of Highflier and Cressy. Invited by the open gates, and by the absence of the people, we took a brief survey of all these things, and then returned to the great gateway, from which we had turned aside for a moment.

The mansion-house, comprising its several court-yards, offices, and outbuildings, occupied altogether a large square, surrounded by a stone wall, in some places scarcely breast-high, in others, (as along the principal front,)

sufficiently elevated to afford a lofty broad archway, through which we passed into the first court, a square grassplat enclosed on every side by the same grey wall, over which the ivy crept with its tenacious verdure, knotting itself into a leafy mass over the first archway. The second, to which we passed on over a broad stone pavement, dividing the grass-plat, was far otherwise surmounted. There, conspicuous in the centre, was the family achievement, deeply and richly carved, and still almost uninjured by Time's" effacing fingers." It had evidently been cleared even of late from the encroaching ivy; but I smiled to perceive, that one idle tendril insinuating itself round the border of the shield, and through the open fretwork of the coronet, had crept up to the very top of the proud nodding plume, and flaunted, as if triumphantly, above its loftiest bend. Passing under that second arch, we found ourselves in a second court, of the same dimensions, and nearly similar to the first, only that we now fronted the doorway of the mansion, and its principal bay windows. In one corner too, adjoining the house, arose a slender turret, within an arched hollow of which a great bell was visible, and above appeared the face of an old clock. In the opposite angle of the square, flourished a large white rose-tree, which had been trained far along the side wall of the court, and also against the house itself up to the very parapet. The elegant trailer was now covered with its pale blossoms, those and the light green leaves, beautifully harmonizing with the quiet colouring of the old stone wall, and the general tone of chastened repose characterising the whole-a repose unbroken, though brightened into mellow richness, by the amber hue of sunset, reflected on the long low front of the ancient dwelling, tinting its grey walls with a soft warm cream colour, gilding the projecting stonework of the rich bay windows, the dentated edges of the parapet, and the angles and pinnacles of the little turret. The grass plats were thrown into deep shadow by the surrounding wall, except that one broad sunbeam, stealing in under the archway, and along the paved walk, brightened its soft turf edges into two lines of emerald velvet, and gleaming onwards, penetrated through the open

door far into the interior of the mansion. There was no stir of life-no sound audible, except the ticking of the old turret clock, and the low, broken, tender cooing of a few tame pigeons, nestling here and there on the walls and parapet, or pattering about the grass plats and pavement with their pretty rose-coloured feet, their demure looks, and soft, sleek, quaker plumage. Close beside the housedoor, basking in the warm sunshine, lay a fine old hound-Sagacity itself depicted in its grave, mild, countenance, its close hung ears, and long dewlaps, and in the meditative expression of its half-closed eyes. He lay there as motionless as his stone prototype, stretched out at the feet of that grim Sir Richard, in Halliburn Church, and it was rather an evidence of the perfect security of that quiet dwelling, and its venerable inmates, than of faithless guardianship in the old household Argus, that he shewed no signs of hostility at our approach, nor otherwise noticed us than by half raising himself, with a look of courteous invitation, and wagging his tail, when, on the encouragement of that dumb welcome, we ventured near enough to pat his sleek old head. We looked about us-at the upper and lower windows-and through the open doorway, into a broad, low, vaulted stone passage, or vestibule, terminating in the middle of the house in another of similar construction, intersecting it at right angles. No living soul was visible. We stepped over the threshold to reach the knocker of the heavy door, flung back against the inner wall. It was a huge massy door, of oak planks laid obliquely, and almost blackened by age, studded all over with great iron knobs, and farther strengthened by bars, and enormous hinges of the same. The knocker was an uncouthly-fashioned lump of iron, and fell from our hand with a dead sullen sound, when after a moment's hesitation, (for it seemed almost sacrilegious to disturb that peaceful silence,) we ventured to strike two strokes on the old door. Not even an echo replied to our summons—no, nor to a second, nor a third appeal.

No bell was visible, save that in the clock-turret, and there appeared no visible means of pulling, what nevertheless was probably the usual announcement of visitors.

Loth were we to relinquish our hope of being admitted to see the interior of the house; and after a moment's consultation, two of us-the two boldest of our party, agreed to steal in, down that inviting passage, in quest of its living inmates, if such there were, while the other two more discreetly re-trod their way to the outer demesne, to ask information of the haymakers. You and I, Lillias, were the daring twain who went in to spy out the land-I, foremost in the bold intrusion, but so cowardly withal, that I stole along as motionless as the yellow sunbeam that gleamed onward before us, like a golden clue, quite to the extremity of the first broad passage, and across the second, even to the opposite wall, against which it flashed upward with a paler ray, melting gradually into the natural colour of the grey stone, and the deep shadows of the vaulted roof. Arrived at the termination of that first passage, the second presented to our view, at one end, the perspective of a half closed door; at the other, a third intersecting vaulted way, through which again the cheerful sunshine streamed from some unseen inlet across the darkness of the central passage.-My companion, hesitating to proceed farther, slowly retreated towards the outer door, while I, with true female perseverance, looked, and longed, and lingered, yet, "let I dare not, wait upon I would, like the poor cat i' th' adage." And lo! while I stood there, that very animal, a fine large demurelooking tortoise shell, came stealing into sight, just in the stream of light which darted down the farther passage. Motionless as I stood, the keen-eyed prowler caught a glimpse of me, and there she stopped for a moment, peering with suspicious keenness, her long body drawn out to its utmost extent, and to the thinness of a weasel, her eyes glittering like fire stones in the sunny ray, one velvet forepaw cautiously advanced, the other delicately curling inward, till crouching gradually to the very ground, she slipped away with the swiftness of lightning, and vanished as noiselessly. glimpse of that living creature lured me onwards, however; for I thought, by following her track, I might possibly find my way to the kitchen or offices. I was not deceived in my conjecture. The first turning to the right

The

afforded to my choice two open doorways-one leading into a kitchen, the other into a small wainscotted chamber, looking like a housekeeper's room. I turned into the former-a fine oldfashioned place! with a huge gaping fire-place; deep, narrow windows in the thick walls-old oak benches and tables, with voluted legs, braced together with massive bars,-ranges of bright pewter and fine old delf-huge round dishes, with scalloped edges antique tea-kettles-spits on which an ox might have been roasted whole coffee-pots, and chocolate-pots, and posset-pots, and porringers, and pipkins, little squat things upon three feet, that looked as if they could toddle about by themselves and vessels and utensils of all shapes and sizes, wares, and metals, whose proper use it would have puzzled any soul to determine, save he, that wight well versed in ancient lore, who has written so learnedly on culinary antiquities. I could have worshipped the very potlids! But there was no time to indulge the idolatrous longing, and, alas! no creature visible-no living creature but my tortoise-shell guide, who had taken up her station before the glowing wood fire on the hearth, over which, suspended by a monstrous crook, hung a great black tea-kettle, spitting and sputtering in concert with the drowsy hum of Madam Grimalkin. "I took but one look, and then tore myself away," peeping for a moment as I passed it, into the adjoining small apartment. That was also vacantbut through the wide lattice window, I 'spied a small green court, bordered under the surrounding walls with beds of sweet and useful herbs and shrubs, and a few flowers-coxcombs, and love-lies-bleeding, were trailing on the bright smooth turf-Two sweet bay trees flourished in opposite corners, and everlasting peas clung to the wall,

and here and there a fine old rosemary, and many sweet old-fashioned herbs. Peppermint and basil, and sweet marjoram, and fragrant lavender, had their place amongst the polyanthus and sweet-williams, within the feathery fringe of London pride.

Another, and another look, I stole through the open lattice, at that lovely little garden.

The possession of such a one would have satisfied all my ambition as a landholder, but I called to mind the tenth commandment, and turned hastily away to rejoin my friends without. They, meanwhile, had been successful in their application to the haymakers, and I met them re-entering the second court, accompanied by a little old humpbacked dame, with small twinkling three-cornered blue eyes with red rims, and two pink puckered cheeks, like frost-bitten pippins. She looked like one of the appurtenances of the place, and seemed familiar with everything relating to "the family." From her we learned, that the whole domestic establishment, (now reduced to a very few servants,) had turned out into the hay-field, with the exception of the housekeeper, who had walked into the village," Miss Grace's maid," (for so the aged dame called her still more aged mistress,) who was sitting in her lady's sick chamber, and a footman, who was somewhere about the offices, she supposed, and whom she would seek out, and send to us. So we stood quietly waiting in this beautiful court-yard, caressing the old dog, and examining the rich bay windows, while the dame passed into the house, on the mission she had undertaken in our service. Whoever would know more of Halliburn House, will wait with us, till we learn the result of her embassy.

A.