little prepared to see such a person as Mrs. Bonville in the widow mentioned by Lord Hduring their journey, that it was quite beyond the power of his discretion to return the lady's compliments with that politeness which he felt due to any relation of Mr. Dalben. Mrs.

Bonville was rather a tall

person, and seemed to be somewhat under fifty, being rather inclined to what the French call embonpoint. Her husband having been dead more than a year and a day, she had laid aside her weeds, and was in fashionable second mourning, with white and grey roses in her cap, and a profusion of auburn ringlets hanging on each side of her cheeks: there was also a bright bloom on those cheeks-which, at any rate, did not convey the idea of that sort of subdued feeling which even a child always attributes to one who has lately become a widow. In short, Henry was taken by surprise; and when Mrs. Bonville took him by the hand, and assured him that she had long desired to see him, that she was now more than gratified by what she had seen of him, and that she hoped to behold a friendship taking place between him and her Edgar, who was, she assured him, most worthy of his regard, he could only reply, "Mam-Mam-much obliged-you are very kind-I hope so too-but I have for

I did not

gotten-where did I leave Lily? think of her till this moment." And he was rushing out of the room, when Lord H, stopping his progress, assured him that he had consigned the white lady, in her basket, to the tender care of Sally.

"What is Lily, and who is Lily?" said Mrs. Bonville. "I must know all about Lily. A little kitten you say, Lord H, a protegée of Master Milner's. Am I to say Master Milner

or Mr. Milner.

point I see.

Which is it to be? A doubtful Shall it be Henry? Shall I call you Henry? Henry is a sweet name: I would have named Edgar Henry, but poor Mr. Bonville would have it Edgar,—an old family name ; though how the Bonvilles, who are of Norman extraction, should have adopted a Saxon name, I cannot understand. I call this a sort of anomaly. But, dear Henry, do tell me about this little protegée of your's. Well, I do love to see tenderness towards animals in young gentlemen; it is so rare a quality. My Edgar-" in this place Mrs. Bonville was interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Kitty, with a large barn-door fowl, smoking from the spit, followed by Maurice, who, since Mr. Dalben's return, had been promoted to the office of footboy, with a complete suit of grey cloth, car

rying a dish of mashed potatoes, garnished with sausages. A hot apple-pie completed the treat; and as these three dishes smoked upon the table, Mr. Dalben said in amazement, " Why Kitty, a hot supper?-this is an unexpected treat."

"Master Milner has had no dinner," replied Mrs. Kitty, as she corrected the arrangement of a dish which Maurice had just set down, at the same time giving the boy a shove, which was not intended to have been seen by her master.

"Then I am to understand, Mrs. Kitty," said Lord H," that this tempting regale is only intended for Master Milner. You have taken no account of me, and I can assure you that I have fared no better to-day than your friend, Master Milner."

"I beg your pardon, my Lord,” replied Mrs. Kitty, courtseying, "but".

"But you did not happen to think of me: however, I am very well inclined to put up with the affront, if I may be permitted to partake of the good cheer; for I am really very hungry."

The party then gathered round the table, Lady H― taking the head, and Mr. Dalben a seat near the fire, looking benignly at one friendly face, and then at another. 'I do love," he said, "that old-fashioned meal the

supper, when the work of the day is finished, and the family are collected. It was an injury to sociability when this meal was superseded by the tray of cut glass and sweetmeats. We are getting too fine in this country, Lord H—; too fine in our habits. I doubt much whether our intellectual advancement bears a due proportion with the refinements of our habits. If that is the case, as I apprehend, there will be a re-action by-and-bye-a re-action, in which all that is mere tinsel in the state of society will be reduced to non-entity, and nothing will remain but that which is solid and real. Where the habits are simple, and the mind truly elevated, then is society in the best state; and this is a state which is promoted only by pure religion; therefore, if a man truly loves his country, he will labour in the cause of religion. The redeemed of the Lord are the real strength of any state. In proportion as the true servant of God' multiplies or diminishes in any country, so is that country strong or weak."

"to

"How delightful it is," said Mrs. Bonville to Lady H, in a loud whisper, " to hear my dear uncle converse: every sentiment which drops from his lips, deserves to be graven in letters of gold."

66

What is that you are saying, cousin," said

Mr. Dalben. "" Now, do I not know, that you are by no means convinced that the sentiments which I express are, in the main, particularly wise?-then why say that they should be engraven in letters of gold."

Mrs. Bonville laughed, and replied " You do not know what I think of you, uncle; it would not be pretty in me to say. But I only wish that Edgar had enjoyed the same advantages of hearing you converse as Master Milner has had from childhood. It is wonderful how much is gathered up in conversation-much more than in regular lessons-and I do seriously wish, my dear uncle, that you would permit poor Edgar to come and reside with you some long vacation. Your conversation and Master Milner's society would be such an advantage to him. Don't you think so, Lady H-?"

Lady H— made no answer; but Mr. Dalben said, "I should have great pleasure in showing any kindness to your son, Mrs. Bonville; but I doubt that I may be too old and grave for him, and Henry too young, and perhaps not sufficiently established to do him good. However," he added, " we shall see how things may turn out another summer: your son is engaged, I understand, during the next long vacation; and we shall see what the summer after may pro