looked so beautiful, and warbled so invitingly, that he could not stir. In short, he let the coach go without him, passed the whole day by the side of the stream, and wrote a civil letter to his cousin declining his offer."

"And did he not repent?" asked Tremaine.

"Sometimes," continued Evelyn, "when he has wanted money, generally for some benevolent purpose or other: for his brother always supplies him with a good horse; the only great expense he has. In all other points of view, as an innocent and honourable character, always the most cheerful creature in the world, always carrying his cheerfulness into society, and ever on the watch to do a good turn, I know not a worthier man or more welcome guest."

Tremaine pondered these words, and observing the speaking countenance of Georgina approve every thing her father had said, certain thoughts darted into his mind.

After a pace or two, which brought them to the hall door :

"And how old may this worthy be?" asked Tremaine.

"I have told you, about your standing," said the Doctor.

"He is the best creature in the world," said Georgina.

"He is at least a happy one in such favour," observed Tremaine; "and if it were not for his age"

"Oh! that is nothing," replied Georgina, understanding him, "for I've been married to him a long while already; ever since I was five years old."

1

This speech cut both ways, and it both pained and pleased Tremaine accordingly, though each almost without his knowing it, and certainly without his knowing why. At all events, he felt more grave than he had done during any previous part of the conversation; when the bell ringing loud, "I dare say that's he," she continued, "and like a good wife I ought to go to meet him.”.

"You forget," said her father," that he never does me the honour of ringing the bell, but rides straight to the stable-door, and puts his horse up himself."

"True," said Georgina; "who can it be ?"

A servant announced a neighbouring nobleman, in the person of Lord St. Clair.

CHAP. XXIX.

A VISCOUNT.

"If all the year were playing holidays,

"To sport would be as tedious as to work."

SHAKSPEARE.

LORD ST. CLAIR was a viscount of considerable estate, and by the mother's side related to Evelyn. He was well enough disposed, but spoilt in the bringing up; to which the early loss of his father and a too indulgent mother had much contributed. He had been a traveller, a politician, a speaker, and a violent party-man; and on coming to his estate, he too had built him a house, and had been very happy. But, the house finished, he had fled back to London; which had exhausted its pleasures upon him; so that from mere satiety he felt miserable. He was not indeed one of those who philosophized on the general miseries of the world; from which he had not the least thought of retiring. But he was not the lowest in the rank of listlessness: and though he had neither Tremaine's attainments, nor his

fastidiousness, yet he was fully as great a burthen to himself; with this especial difference, that he was very willing to cast that burthen upon any one who would receive it.

He had sufficient sense to have a great respect for Evelyn, and susceptibility enough left to be struck with his daughter,—to whom indeed the neighbourhood had sometimes assigned him, as they would any one else whose estates had bordered so closely upon her father's.

As Tremaine knew him in the world, and was also his neighbour in the country, he could not exactly obey his first impulse, which was to take his leave; and the Viscount, yawning out a compliment, said he did not know he was in Yorkshire.

Evelyn (who was not sorry at an opportunity to play off one ennuyé against the other, with the hope of benefiting both) observed, that it was no wonder, for Mr. Tremaine was so great a recluse that he scarcely condescended to visit his neighbours.

"You forget I have been ill," said Tremaine, not much liking the topics to which this might lead.

"That is the very reason," pursued the Viscount, "that you should visit every body. For my part, well or ill, I think to be by one's-self is the greatest bore in nature; and I therefore make a point of see

ing all the world. Had I known you were herė, I should certainly have beat up your quarters."

"I am exceedingly obliged to you," said Tre

maine.

"Not much,” replied St. Clair, "for I assure you I am so intolerably dull at home, that I'm glad to bestow myself on any body."

Tremaine bowed his thanks again.

my

"I believe," continued Lord St. Clair, "I must take mother's advice after all, and marry; if any lady will have pity upon me," added he, looking at Miss Evelyn.

"He wanted a wife to make him unaisy,"

said the Doctor laughing.

"Upon my soul I believe you've hit it," observed St. Clair, "for I am so plaguy easy from morning till night, that I absolutely don't know what to do with myself; if I could but be a little uneasy, there's no knowing how I might feel after it."

"The ladies are at least obliged to you," said Georgina.

"Have you no books, no studies?" asked Tremaine.

"For books, thousands; but I'm glutted with them, and have resolved to leave them to wiser people, such as my good friend here, who is always so kind as to tell me all I want to know."