great absence of mind, wore in his study an Apollo cap over his wig, and a dressing-gown like Fitzcribb's, only that Grunter's was bran new, and Fitzcribb's greasy, dusty, and inkstained. What could it all mean? Mean what it would, Annie rejoiced at the change, and Mr. Lindsay patiently awaited an explanation of his old usher's new freak. Sparkleton and Dashington, alas! they sat down together in Queen's Bench-Lord Gripeall was obdurate the usurer's bills accepted by his son closed his heart for ever against him; he began to fear the old beau would never get off, and having sometimes privately done a little in the usury line himself, in addition to his indignation at his son's extravagance, was added envy of the immense profits Ferret and Scrape had attempted to realise, and which added a new and august proof to the old proverb, "that two of a trade can never agree.

Sparkleton was very downcast in his new abode, but Dashington had wit, and necessity with him was indeed the parent of inven

tion. Having learnt from Sparkleton some details of the dénouement in St. James's Square, which were as yet unknown to him, he conceived and executed a set of very clever caricatures on the subject.

Himself, Sparkleton, and Riskwell were so well known about town that a caricature of the monsters themselves could not have been sooner recognised. The absurd events of that morning, including the adventures of Fatima and the cork calf-Screech and the new wig -Riskwell and the fire, were struck off with great spirit, and a burlesque poem tacked to them, called "The Three Wooers." The whole was the talk of the town for a week, and the edition was bought up at once. profits were not great enough to get Dashington out of prison, but sufficient to secure him every attainable comfort therein; and, in proof that none are all evil, these, to his honour be it spoken, he shared with poor Sparkleton, who, for want of his valet, his bath, and his fashionable attire, was fast suffering himself to degenerate into "poor old Sparkleton."

The

CHAPTER XXIII.

""Tis these that early taint the female soul,
Instruct the eyes of young coquettes to roll,
Teach infant cheeks a bidden blush to know,
And little hearts to flutter at a beau."

POPE.

"I do not at all approve of Julian's behaviour," said Mrs. Lindsay, one day when alone with Augusta; "he not only does not propose himself, but I am sure he prevents others from doing so; if you cannot like Sir Peter, do look about you and make a conquest of some one else. The season is gliding by, and neither you nor Ellen have done any thing— of her I have but little hope, but you, I own it will almost break my heart if you neither bring Julian to the point nor punish him for the delay. Now, listen; Lord Gripeall ad

mired you so much, that I have a great idea he would propose for you if he had an opportunity of seeing a little more of you, particularly if you made yourself agreeable; he is fond of money, and your being niece to so rich a man would tempt him."

"Lord Gripeall, mamma! Oh! fancy that old miser!"

"As for age, that is of no consequence in a man, and I would much rather see you marry a miser than a spendthrift; of course you would have a handsome allowance, and no character is so much courted and looked up to as a miser."

"Oh! but, mamma, think of my becoming old York Sparkleton's mother!"

"I would much rather you became his mother than his wife. Now listen, Augusta; you are a sensible girl, and not the whimsical oddity Ellen is-I know you prefer Julian to any one else, at least I know you did prefer him, and if I saw him coming promptly and eagerly forward I would not advise you to jilt him, but from his behaviour I doubt

whether he does not mean to jilt you; the set he lives in is quite an anti-matrimonial one; his public devotion to this singer, this Zelie, is quite an insult to you. If I were a girl, I would rather marry a man I did not love than one who did not love me. If you marry for worldly advantages, let them be advantages indeed a coronet and a fortune; think to be a lovely young countess !......"

Yes, but what a hideous old earl-"

"Never mind, your next may be a young duke. However, I should not select Lord Gripeall if I knew any other man of the same rank at all attainable...there is Lord Ogleton, his son, but I think he would be much more difficult to get; a man of fifty is so wily, much more so than one of seventy-five, and I hear he is after Miss Cheshire, the great city heiress. I think you had better see what can be done with Gripeall, and, to give you a chance, I have asked him to escort us to Hampton Court to-day-only ourselves—say nothing about it to any one; I have ordered the chariot, and we can call at Gripeall House, and take him up there."