discourse to the dishes before them, and during dinner entered into a long disquisition on French and English cookery.

After dinner, the physician, Doctor Marshall, and Miss Julia, his daughter-Mrs. Marshall was indisposed, and could not leave home-came to drink tea with the admiral: rather, they came in a friendly manner to see the affianced couple, and to contribute, by their presence, to the amusement of the admiral in his new capacity of father and father-in-law. Caroline was truly happy to see Julia; and Charles took the liberty to introduce her to George, whom the admiral had just introduced to the doctor. But the admiral had not yet risen from his wine. The young ladies returned to the drawing-room. Charles begged to be allowed to follow them very soon, which was agreed to nemine contradicente.

In the drawing-room a trio was soon engaged into: Caroline played on the harp, Julia sung, Charles managed by turns a flute and violincello. The company below stairs, the admiral, the captain, and the doctor, were quite at home, and the admiral went into all the details of Charles's adventures at his house and with his daughter; first, as Bobbin John the hairdresser; secondly, as Dr. Boston the botanist. There was not an item of the veriest part of the whole drama that the ad. miral did not mention, and many parts he coloured so strongly, that all three were distinctly heard throughout the whole house to be convulsed with laugh

ter.

But what amused beyond measure the admiral, was the recollection of the odd figure the lieutenant made when he could distinctly, and devoid of passion, view Charles in the wide-sleeved,

broad-tailed, plain-breasted, collarless coat; the waistcoat that seemed to have lived in the days of Cromwell; the small-clothes, and long boots without tops; and, above all, the hat and wig: but all this the admiral was sure was nothing to the appearance the lieutenant made in the dress of Bobbin John. John's dress was the quintescence of eccentricity, and in it the bold lieutenant came on foot, through the streets, to Miss Springfield's library.

"In short, Captain Wallace, your cousin is a devilish clever fellow, but he is honourable and virtuous."

"And what is equal to all this, he is," exclaimed the doctor, who could be silent no longer, "he is the sole object of Miss Springfield's choice."

"You are very right, doctor," rejoined the admiral," and she is the object of his choice, and my fortune

is sufficient, and my interest is none of the least to get him promoted."

"Upon my honour, admiral," replied the thunderstruck military man, "this quite confounds my intellects; but since you are agreeable to the match, I see no reason why my cousin should hesitate: only I think it would be at least prudent to write to his family in the north, and get their approbation; perhaps, if you have no objection, one of his sisters would be proud to be bride's maid: but that won't do either."" I fear, sir, it won't; there's Julia Marshall."-"Very true, sir."-" But, captain, he shall to-morrow write home."-" Agreed, sir, and I'll expect Robert also."

It is hardly necessary to tell the reader, that our hero's friends approved of the match. All things having been properly arranged, the uncle, the dean, came post from Lincoln, and Eliza

and Robert from the north; and the hands of Charles and Caroline were joined; their hearts were long ago tied by ties more indissoluble than even the strength of the church's vows. The new-married couple left the admiral's house in town, himself and the captain and Miss Eliza Stuart accompanying them; and Charles and Caroline slept together, for the first time, that night at St. Albans.