more pleasant than the friendship between Sancho and Dapple. If it was so between human creatures, we should all be the better for it; it seems so reasonable," continued Jack.

"One must be very much in want of a friend," said Tremaine, "to bestow so much affection on one's horse!"

"Where can you get a better?" asked Jack, warming in praise of his horse. "Give me leave to ask where will you get one that is always ready at all calls, will lend you his back in all weathers, and for all burthens; will give you health and pleasure, do business for you, fight for you, and save your life for you?" said Careless.

"Save your life?" exclaimed Tremaine.

"Yes!" answered the orator of the horse; "I could shew you such brave things done by horses, in battle, and among the Tartars."

"Where?" cried Tremaine.

"In the Gentleman's Recreation," answered Careless.

"Pray go on," said the host, much amused. "What wonder, then," continued Jack, "if I, who am a lone man to boot, and have few things to love me, as the beggar said of his dog-"

Tremaine gave a sort of sigh.

"What wonder, I say, if I myself delight in being good to a dumb creature who is so good to me?"

"Upon my word," said Tremaine, softening, you have made an excellent defence, and shall be as good to your horse as ever you please. pray go on; what next in your day?"

But

Why, I have a flock of hungry pensioners to satisfy, in my poultry."

"So has Miss Evelyn," said Tremaine thoughtfully. "Georgy and I are rivals," continued Careless, not perceiving his thoughtfulness; "but though she pretends a great deal, like a chit as she is, she knows little about it; besides she is all for Darking, and does not care for Game. Would you believe it, the last time she was at Bachelor's Hall, she did not know a Birchin pile from a Shakebag."

"I protest nor I" observed Tremaine listlessly: "what do you do next?"

"I come in and breakfast,” said Careless," which I have well earned, and eat with a relish."

"A true pupil of Dr. Evelyn," cried Tremaine. "And where will you find a better master?" answered Jack; "all his maxims deserve to be written in letters of gold."

"And his daughter's," said Tremaine, in a scrutinizing tone.

"What, my dear Georgy? why she's a chip of the old block; or rather as the saying is, she's all block herself, for I don't know whether her sense or her beauty is the greatest."

"You speak feelingly," observed Tremaine.

"So I ought," said Jack, clinching it with a thump on the table as he said it, "for I love her as if she was my own flesh and blood.”

"Indeed!" cried Tremaine, with a little earnest

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ness; but to be sure man and wife are the same flesh and blood.”

"Oh! as to that I'm too poor, and too old by a dozen years at least," said Jack, in a tone as if he had settled the matter with himself.

Tremaine became still more thoughtful, and the conversation languished.

"As to the Doctor," observed Careless, resuming it, "you are more obliged to him than you know of." "As how?".

"Why his having no claret yesterday was all a fudge."

Tremaine looked surprised.

"Poz, I assure you," continued Careless; "he told me before dinner, that he knew it tore you to pieces, and desired me not to peach."

"It is a little extraordinary," remarked Tremaine, with some gravity," that he should pretend to know me better than I do myself."

"Most people have that way," replied Careless; "but he had better authority still, for your physician in Northamptonshire is an old college friend of his, with whom he corresponds, and he told him,

that if he could keep you from sour wine, and to early hours, you would do very well."

"He did!" exclaimed Tremaine, in a splenetic

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tone; upon my word, I am much obliged to these two worthy gentlemen, for the trouble they take about me."

"I think you ought," continued Careless, taking him à la lettre," and Miss Evelyn too!"

"Miss Evelyn, what of her?"

"Why she was in the plot, and said it was a pity you were so spoilt."

"She did!" cried Tremaine stiffly.

"Yes, for she added, you could be very delightful if you pleased."

"She is a very charming girl," exclaimed Tremaine, and milling the chocolate with rather increased fervour, asked his guest if he would not have some more.

It was declined," and indeed," added Jack, "it's well for me I have fifteen miles to ride, for it will require it all to carry off this good breakfast of your's." Why, what would you do if you were at home, and had no place to ride to?"

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"That is a difficult supposition," retorted the guest; "but if I had not, I know a good enough remedy."

"Pray what?"

"To dig in my garden," said Jack.

"I have heard of such things, but never saw them,” replied the host.

"Then come to Bachelor's Hall, and I'll shew you cauliflowers and cucumbers of my own raising, that beat even our friend's there," pointing towards Evelyn Hall;" indeed it's the only thing he is a little touchy about."

"But how if it rains?" remarked Tremaine.

“Oh! I have abundant employment, for I make fish and fruit nets, play the fiddle, and have the best turning lathe in the county."

"Bachelor's Hall must be a place worth seeing," observed Tremaine.

"I shall be proud to shew it you," answered Careless.

"I suppose you read, too.”

"Oh yes, a great deal: indeed there is now so much reading in the papers, that they take a great deal of time to keep up with them. The landlord of the Hound and Horn sends me an evening, three times a week, and I have myself the county papers; so that with all this, the Gentleman's Magazine, and the Annual Register, I have never been a week behind things since the French Revolution. But besides this, I have my brother's interest to manage at Belford, where there are a number of votes for his borough. I set up the club at the Hound and Horn on purpose, and this takes up a deal of time."