lier, and less snoring companion for the drawing-room-not content with lavishing my energies, and wasting my substance in these ridiculous attempts at achieving fame as a sportsman-attempts which met with invariable failure and derision, I should likewise make a practice of leaving my home at daybreak, and regardless of the terror I inflicted on the weak nerves of my delicate spouse, spend the night in carousing with boon companions at some disreputable farmer's, and return the following day glorying in, rather than ashamed of, such an utter subversion of all marital duties, and domestic subordination ?”

Such is an abbreviated summary of the lecture which Mrs. Nogo thought proper to inflict as a slight castigation for my misdemeanors, on the eventful day that witnessed the triumph of my gallant little pack, and the first and last appearance of enthusiastic Doctor Dott in the hunting-field. But alas ! this was not all. So good an opportunity of at once assuming the reins of government was not lost on the female diplomatist at the head of the home department. The agitation of mind endured for my sake (now could I resist such an argumentum ad hominem ?) very naturally brought on one of those organic affections of the nerves, which I need not call on heads of families to bear me witness. so mysteriously baffle constitutional vigour and professional skill. Little Doctor Dott shook his head as though conscious that he too was in the scrape ; while he avowed his utter inability 10 minister relief to this inexplicable affliction. Aware that he had participated in its origin, he felt so uneasy in the immediate presence of the sufferer that he implored me to allow him to curtail his visit, and return forthwith to the bosom of his family, and that London practice, which he always thought it necessary to extol, as “ equal to that of the late Sir Henry Halford—a weight of responsibility, Mr. Nogo, that few shoulders could bear."

“But, at least,” said I, “ before you go, Doctor, set my mind at ease by recommending some beneficial treatment for Mrs. Nogo, as I am exceedingly anxious about her state of health.”

“Not the slightest cause for alarm, my dear Sir," was the reply. “ Between ourselves, in professional confidence, Mrs. Nogo is as well as you or I, but,” (and here the Doctor laid his finger to his nose, and looked unutterable things) “your good lady will never get better here. She has taken a dislike to the place, Sir, and consequently it disagrees with lier. Take her away, Mr. Nogo, take her to Leamington, Cheltenham, Malvern, Bath-anywhere you think you can command a certain amount of gaiety and amusement, and i am prepared to stake my reputation as a physician, that she is quite recovered in a fortnight.”

Such was the farewell advice of my kind-hearted friend, as I packed him up in the dog-cart on his return to the metropolis ; and when I thought it over in my own mind, and found with what avidity the idea was seized upon by my wife, I resolved—though sorely against my inclination-upon quitting Wildwood, selling the harriers, breaking up the establishment, and leaving the farm to take care of itself—a method that, at least, could not pay worse than the present one. No sooner had this course been decided on, than I had reason to admire Doctor Dott's professional foresight, in the immediate improvement which took place in my wife's health ; and by the time our arrangements for departure were concluded, and Bath—that city of precipices—fixed upon as our temporary residence, she was so well, that for the life of me I could not perceive any reason why we should go away at all. However, it was too late to repent. The farm-house was shut up, the furniture put away and covered, the stables deserted and desolate, with here and there a melancholy pitchfork propping the open door of some comfortless loose-box-for I had sent on the three horses I determined to keep, that I might get a little hunting during my banishment. The kennels were cleaned and emptied ; the very garden looked like a wilderness ; and as the woman “left in possession,” with soapy arms, and coarse apron, curiously folded round her skirt, made her farewell curtsey, and shut the front door upon our departing carriage, I threw myself into the corner of the vehicle, and for the first time in my life felt very much disposed to quarrel with Mrs. Nogo, for the unfeeling state of high spirits in which she left her home.

What a contrast was it, after a few hours of travelling, to rattle up to the door of the White Rose Hotel, where we had determined to take up our abode until we could procure a suitable residence in the valetudinarian city of Bath! How the post-boy, conscious of the dignity which in these railroad days is attached to a real travelling-carriage and appendages, boiled up his merriest canter, to stop dead-short with a jerk that nearly sent my nose through the front-window! How the magnificent proportions of “ James” and his cauliflower-head struck dumb the throng of idlers, who are always ready to witness the descent of a private individual from his carriage! How the landlord attended Mrs. Nogo into his house, with a deference usually reserved for princesses of the blood ; while the head-waiter—a privileged and plethoric individual in black silk shorts and gold knee-buckles-asked after my brother-inlaw, Mr. Topthorne, and “hoped I had enjoyed good sport with my 'ounds”! How the ostlers and attendants without, and the chambermaid and boots within, all seemed to know me personally as a friend, and to revere me immeasurably as a superior : and how I hugged myself in the conviction that although I might have driven up to the door of the Clarendon, nor found that the namc of Mr. Nogo commanded attention from one regardless functionary of that metropolitan establishment, yet my arrival at the “ White Rose Hotel," Bath, was heralded with all the honours, and attended with all the distinctions due to a visitor whose stay was likely to be prolonged to an indefinite length, and whose bill would bear due proportion, multiplying its items and increasing in its volume, as the termination of his sojourn was further and further postponed !

“ The bill of fare, Sir this morning's paper— list of visitors in Bath

and card of appointments of the hounds !” wheezed the fat waiter, as he entered our sitting-room with all these important documents in his hands.

“ Like to see your apartments, Ma'am ?” added an elderly and smartly dressed female, who had evidently made a capital race with the waiter up-stairs, and only been beaten on the post.

“I trust you will find the suite of rooms I have prepared comfortable, "continued the landlord, as following on the heels of his myrmidons, he conducted us through a labyrinth of passages, and across spacious and stately halls, to the comfortable dormitories prepared for our receplier, and less snoring companion for the drawing-room-not content with lavishing my energies, and wasting my substance in these ridiculous attempts at achieving fame as a sportsman-attempts which met with invariable failure and derision, I should likewise make a practice of leaving my home at daybreak, and regardless of the terror I inflicted on the weak nerves of my delicate spouse, spend the night in carousing with boon companions at some disreputable farmer's, and return the following day glorying in, rather than ashamed of, such an utter subversion of all marital duties, and domestic subordination ?".

Such is an abbreviated summary of the lecture which Mrs. Nogo thought proper to inflict as a slight castigation for my misdemeanors, on the eventful day that witnessed the triumph of my gallant little pack, and the first and last appearance of enthusiastic Doctor Dott in the hunting-field. But alas ! this was not all. So good an opportunity of at once assuming the reins of government was not lost on the female diplomatist at the head of the home department. The agitation of mind endured for my sake (now could I resist such an argumentum ad hominem ?) very naturally brought on one of those organic affections of the nerves, which I need not call on heads of families to bear me witness, so mysteriously baffle constitutional vigour and professional skill. Little Doctor Dott shook his head as though conscious that he too was in the scrape ; while he avowed his utter inability io minister relief to this inexplicable affliction. Aware that he had participated in its origin, he felt so uneasy in the immediate presence of the sufferer that he implored me to allow him to curtail his visit, and return forthwith to the bosom of his family, and that London practice, which he always thought it necessary to extol, as “ equal to that of the late Sir Henry Halford—a weight of responsibility, Mr. Nogo, that few shoulders could bear.”

“But, at least," said I, “ before you go, Doctor, set my mind at ease by recommending some beneficial treatment for Mrs. Nogo, as I am exceedingly anxious about her state of health.”

“Not the slightest cause for alarm, my dear Sir," was the reply. “ Between ourselves, in professional confidence, Mrs. Nogo is as well as you or I, but—" (and here the Doctor laid his finger to his nose, and looked unutterable things) “your good lady will never get better here. She has taken a dislike to the place, Sir, and consequently it disagrees with ler. Take her away, Mr. Nogo, take her to Leamington, Cheltenham, Malvern, Bath—anywhere you think you can command a certain amount of gaiety and amusement, and i am prepared to stake my reputation as a physician, that she is quite recovered in a fortnight."

Such was the farewell advice of my kind-hearted friend, as I packed him up in the dog-cart on his return to the metropolis ; and when I thought it over in my own mind, and found with what avidity the idea was seized upon by my wife, I resolved—though sorely against my inclination-upon quitting Wildwood, selling the harriers, breaking up the establishment, and leaving the farm to take care of itself-a method that, at least, could not pay worse than the present one. No sooner had this course been decided on, than I had reason to admire Doctor Dott's professional foresight, in the immediate improvement which took place in my wife's health ; and by the time our arrangements for departure were concluded, and Bath-that city of precipices--fixed upon as our temporary residence, she was so well, that for the life of me I could not perceive any reason why we should go away at all. However, it was too late to repent. The farm-house was shut up, the furniture put away and covered, the stables deserted and desolate, with here and there a melancholy pitchfork propping the open door of some comfortless loose-box-for I had sent on the three horses I determined to keep, that I might get a little hunting during my banishment. The kennels were cleaned and emptied ; the very garden looked like a wilderness ; and as the woman “left in possession,” with soapy arms, and coarse apron, curiously folded round her skirt, made her farewell curtsey, and shut the front-door upon our departing carriage, I threw myself into the corner of the vehicle, and for the first time in my life felt very much disposed to quarrel with Mrs. Nogo, for the unfeeling state of high spirits in which she left her home.

What a contrast was it, after a few hours of travelling, to rattle up to the door of the White Rose Hotel, where we had determined to take up our abode until we could procure a suitable residence in the valetudi. narian city of Bath! How the post-boy, conscious of the dignity which in these railroad days is attached to a real travelling-carriage and appendages, boiled up his merriest canter, to stop dead-short with a jerk that nearly sent my nose through the front-window! How the magnificent proportions of “ James ” and his cauliflower-head struck dumb the throng of idlers, who are always ready to witness the descent of a private individual from his carriage! How the landlord attended Mrs. Nogo into his house, with a deference usually reserved for princesses of the blood ; while the head-waiter-a privileged and plethoric individual in black silk shorts and gold knee-buckles—asked after my brother-inlaw, Mr. Topthorne, and “ hoped I had enjoyed good sport with my 'ounds"! How the ostlers and attendants without, and the chambermaid and boots within, all seemed to know me personally as a friend, and to revere me immeasurably as a superior : and how I hugged myself in the conviction that although I might have driven up to the door of the Clarendon, nor found that the namc of Mr. Nogo commanded attention from one regardless functionary of that metropolitan establishment, yet my arrival at the “ White Rose Hotel,” Bath, was heralded with all the honours, and attended with all the distinctions due to a visitor whose stay was likely to be prolonged to an indefinite length, and whose bill would bear due proportion, multiplying its items and increasing in its volume, as the termination of his sojourn was further and further postponed !

“ The bill of fare, Sir-this morning's paper- list of visitors in Bath —and card of appointments of the hounds !" wheezed the fat waiter, as he entered our sitting-room with all these important documents in his hands.

“ Like to see your apartments, Ma’am?” added an elderly and smartly dressed female, who had evidently made a capital race with the waiter up-stairs, and only been beaten on the post.

“ I trust you will find the suite of rooms I have prepared comfortable,"continued the landlord, as following on the heels of his myrmidons, he conducted us through a labyrinth of passages, and across spacious and stately halls, to the comfortable dormitories prepared for our receplier, and less snoring companion for the drawing-room-not content with lavishing my energies, and wasting my substance in these ridiculous attempts at achieving fame as a sportsman--attempts which met with invariable failure and derision, I should likewise make a practice of leaving my home at daybreak, and regardless of the terror I inflicted on the weak nerves of my delicate spouse, spend the night in carousing with boon companions at some disreputable farmer's, and return the following day glorying in, rather than ashamed of, such an utter subversion of all marital duties, and domestic subordination ?"

Such is an abbreviated summary of the lecture which Mrs. Nogo thought proper to inflict as a slight castigation for my misdemeanors, on the eventful day that witnessed the triumph of my gallant little pack, and the first and last appearance of enthusiastic Doctor Dott in the hunting-field. But alas ! this was not all. So good an opportunity of at once assuming the reins of government was not lost on the female diplomatist at the head of the home department. The agitation of mind endured for my sake (now could I resist such an argumentum ad hominem ?) very naturally brought on one of those organic affections of the nerves, which I need not call on heads of families to bear me witness, so mysteriously baffle constitutional vigour and professional skill. Little Doctor Dott shook his head as though conscious that he too was in the scrape ; while he avowed his utter inability 10 minister relief to this inexplicable affliction. Aware that he had participated in its origin, he felt so uneasy in the immediate presence of the sufferer that he implored me to allow him to curtail his visit, and return forthwith to the bosom of his family, and that London practice, which he always thought it necessary to extol, as “ equal to that of the late Sir Henry Halford—a weight of responsibility, Mr. Nogo, that few shoulders could bear.”

“But, at least,” said I, “ before you go, Doctor, set my mind at ease by recommending some beneficial treatment for Mrs. Nogo, as I am exceedingly anxious about her state of health.”

“Not the slightest cause for alarm, my dear Sir," was the reply. “ Between ourselves, in professional confidence, Mrs. Nogo is as well as you or I, but-"(and here the Doctor laid his finger to his nose, and looked unutterable things) “your good lady will never get better here. She has taken a dislike to the place, Sir, and consequently it disagrees with ler. Take her away, Mr. Nogo, take her to Leamington, Cheltenham, Malvern, Bath-anywhere you think you can command a certain amount of gaiety and amusement, and i am prepared to stake my reputation as a physician, that she is quite recovered in a fortnight.”

Such was the farewell advice of my kind-hearted friend, as I packed him up in the dog-cart on his return to the metropolis ; and when I thought it over in my own mind, and found with what avidity the idea was seized upon by my wife, I resolved—though sorely against my inclination-upon quitting Wildwood, selling the harriers, breaking up the establishment, and leaving the farm to take care of itself-a method that, at least, could not pay worse than the present one. No sooner had this course been decided on, than I had reason to admire Doctor Dott's professional foresight, in the immediate improvement which took place in my wife's health ; and by the time our arrangements for departure were concluded, and Bath—that city of precipices—fixed upon as