placid temper would have been seriously discomposed, had he not that morning, in the course of a long visit from Mr Henderson, the Sea Vale Esculapius, acquired some information respecting the matrimonial engagements of his young curate, and the circumstances thereto relating, which, in the dearth of more interesting gossip, was not only acceptable to the worthy Rector's craving appetite and accommodating taste, but would furnish him, par les suites, with a fair field for indulging his benevolent propensity and peculiar talent for giving gratuitous advice with patronizing condescension. Therefore he looked but tenderly reproachful at Lady Octavia, though the fins of the turbot were boiled to rags, and various other dishes, reduced to consommés, gave touching testimony of her cruel inconsideration; and scarcely had the servants left the dining-room, when, giving three preliminary hems, and an inward chuckle, with which he was wont to preface his discourses in the pulpit and elsewhere, the honourable Rector addressed his curate with a formal congratulation on his approaching marriage. Vernon's face crimsoned all over, as he bowed and stammered out a few words of awkward acknowledg ment, stealing impulsively a furtive glance at the Lady Octavia, who, affecting the most natural surprise in the world, artlessly exclaimed "Married!-Mr Vernon going to be married, uncle?-you don't say so? Oh, Mr Vernon, how secret you have been; -and may we know to whom, uncle?" "Toa most unexceptionable and everyway respectable and amiable young person, as I have this morning had the pleasure of learning from a friend of yours, my dear Mr Vernon !-from good Mr Henderson, who tells me that Miss Aboyne"- "Miss Aboyne !" interrupted Lady Octavia, with a pretty shriek of sudden dismay; "dear me! who could have thought it? I would not for the world have"

"You know Miss Aboyne, then?" asked the Doctor with some surprise, in his turn interrupting Lady Octavia. "Oh! I saw her to-day at church, and indeed she seems-she looks-that is, a

a very superior sort of person-I dare say very amiable, and excellent, and-You'll introduce me to Miss Aboyne, Mr Vernon?-I assure you I am dying to know her."

Vernon, now compelled to speak, made some awkward attempts to explain, that Miss Aboyne, from ill health and recent affliction, would not perhaps be able to avail herself of the honour of an introduction to Lady Octavia; and then the Doctor, impatient of colloquial trifling, which delayed the pouring forth of his luminous and well-digested ideas, proceeded to favour Vernon, not only with his entire approbation of the projected union, but with an elaborate dissertation on domestic economy, by attending to the several branches whereof, (which he condescended to dwell on more particularly,) a country curate might maintain a wife and family, and bring up a score of children, with infinite comfort and propriety, on an income short of a hundred and fifty pounds per annum. "Of course, my dear Mr Vernon!" the reverend gentleman went on to observe, "there can be no expensive luxuries, no idle superfluities, in such a modest and well-ordered establishment. But, after all, my dear sir! how little suffices for our real wants; and beyond those, what Christian character or philosophic mind would Octavia ! do, pray, desire that the gardener may be written to about these pines; it is really scandalous!-they cost me a guinea a-piece, and this is the second I have cut today, and both uneatable. Send me the guava-But, as I was proceeding to observe-as I was going on to remark to you, Mr Vernon-beyond our real necessities, (mere food and raiment,) what physical wants and temporal cares are worthy the consideration of a Christian and a philosopher? It hath been truly said—

'Man wants but little here below,

Nor wants that little long.' And with regard to the article of food especially, I am persuaded, Mr Vernon, and after long and mature deliberation on the subject, I feel no hesitation in declaring my entire conviction, that in no part of the United Kingdom is the infant population more hale, healthful, and multitudinous, than where oatmeal or potatoes, with milk, or even pure water, forms its unvaried and unsophisticated aliment. Therefore, my dear sir, with regard to your future family, (those numerous olive-branches with which it is my sincere prayer that Providence may

surround your table,) I have no hesitation in strenuously advising"What the Doctor proceeded to advise must remain for ever secret between himself and Vernon, whose feelings, during the preceding harangue, can only be compared to those of a person undergoing the "peine forte et dure," and who experienced proportionable relief when Lady Octavia, tired of continuing a silent tiers, arose to retire. As she passed him at the dining-room door, which he had hastened to hold open for her, she shook her fair head with a look of pretty anger, and archly putting up one taper forefinger to her rosy lip, said softly, "Oh fie! fie! Mr Vernon!-how treacherous you have been !" Vernon slowly and reluctantly returned to his mitigated penance; but far be it from us to review in detail the protracted torments of that mortal hour, during which the honourable and reverend gentleman, warmed with his own eloquence-charmed with his own theory -exalted with a sense of his own philanthropy, and with a consciousness of the lights which flowed in the faster as he continued to diffuse them poured out his oracular suggestions with a condescending suavity that descended to the most minute particulars. At length, however, articulation thickened-sentences lagged at their termination-words came slower -syllables dropped away to indefinite sounds-and at last, in a final be wilderment of" As I was saying, Mr Vernon-I repeat, my dear sir! -that-that-I have no hesitation in-in af-af-fir-r-r"- the comfortable double chin of the respectable adviser sank, embedded in its own rolls, on his ample chest, an incipient snore chimed in with the struggling affirmation, and after an attempt or two of guttural thickness, which sounded like "pease-porridge-cheap and wholesome," and "Mrs Rundell," broke out into a grand continuous bass. Then, quietly and cautiously, Vernon rose from his seat of torture -quietly and cautiously he stole to wards the door-but not so noiselessly did he effect his exit as to be wholly unnoticed by the half-conscious slumberer, whose drowsy attempts at articulation forthwith recommenced, but only to commission his curate, who thanked heaven for his escape, with

a message to the Lady Octavia. After the scene of his recent mortification, of which her Ladyship had been a witness, Vernon would gladly, had he been permitted, have avoided an early téte-à-tête with her; and his heart told him he was anxiously expected elsewhere; but the Doctor's message must be delivered-it need not delay him three minutes; and, with a determination that it should not, and hat in hand, he sprang up stairs, and into the drawing-room, from whence issued the sweet sounds of Lady Octavia's fine-toned harp and fine voice deliciously blending in an aria of "Semiramide." Another voice, less powerful but more touching, accompanied by a humbler instrument, was breathing out at this self-same hour in the orphan's home, such strains as well befitted the Sabbath vesper. Often did that low melodious voice pause in a cadence, or hang suspended on a note, while the singer's head was suddenly upraised in a listening attitude, her long slender fingers suspended over the silent chords, and her eyes glancing anxiously through the little casement toward the garden gate. Again and again recurred that anxious pause; each time the hymn resumed with tones less firm, and a more plaintive modulation; at last a deep and heavy sigh was the involuntary prelude; and as Millicent withdrew her eyes from the window, tears, which had been long collecting within their lids, fell on her listless fingers as she bent over her instrument, and endeavoured to renew the sacred harmony. It was but an endeavour. Her voice had become weak and tremulous; so, discontinuing her vocal tribute, she wisely resorted to silent communion with that book which contains "words in season" for all the soul's necessities-of peace for the disquieted-of strength to the weak-of healing to the sorely stricken -of hope to the broken-hearted. Millicent found there the aid she sought; and when, as was her custom, she had joined with her old servant in their nightly sacrifice of prayer and praise, she was able again, and without effort, to smile cheerfully, and speak cheeringly, to that faithful humble friend, the bursting indignation of whose affectionate zeal she endeavoured to repress with a sincere assurance

of her own conviction, that the morrow would bring with it a satisfactory explanation.

Early the next morning-earlier even than Miss Aboyne's primitive breakfast hour, Vernon entered the little parlour just as Nora was removing the tea equipage. She scarcely vouchsafed to notice his entrance even with a look, and the grave severity of her countenance by no means tended to dispel the troubled surprise with which he had remarked her employment. "Nora!" he hurriedly exclaimed, "what are you about ?where is Miss Aboyne?—Not ill? not ill, surely?—God forbid !"—" About as well as some folks wish her to be, I doubt," shortly and bitterly replied the indignant Nora, as she essayed, without farther parley, or even honouring him with a second glance, to pass Vernon with the tea-tray. But his fears were now too thoroughly awakened to permit her silent egress; and, grasping her wrist more forcibly than he was aware of, he said, "Nora! Nora! tell me, for God's sake, is she really ill?-is my Millicent"- and his voice trembled with an excess of agitation that shook even Nora's predetermined inflexibility, and she so far relented as to inform him, (as, indeed, she had been especially enjoined, in case he should call thus early,) that Miss Aboyne was suffering only from headache, but would be well enough to rise and receive him a little later in the day. She could not find in her heart, however, to give the supplement of Mil licent's message; namely, that the headache was, she believed, but the effect of a slight cold which she had taken the preceding day. In lieu of that assurance, so affectionately in tended to prevent self-reproach on the part of Vernon, the wrathful Nora, who had by no means any tender consideration for his feelings, took upon her to substitute an "amendment," imputing the headache to a sleepless night, and both the effect and its immediate cause to one far deeper, which she also vouched for on her own authority-the heartache; and then, giving way to the impulse of her warm and faithful spirit, the affectionate creature laid her hand on Vernon's shoulder, and, while tears filled her eyes as she fixed them earnestly on his, exclaimed-" Oh, Mr

Vernon! Mr Vernon! did I ever think it would have come to this!—that my child! my jewel! the flower of the world! Colonel Aboyne's daughter! should be slighted for that proud lady, who only came here to break my darling's heart, and help you to dig her grave, Mr Vernon? Ay, there she'll be soon, sir; and then you may go your ways and be happy;" with which comfortable and comforting assurance, Nora pushed by with her breakfasttray, followed, however, by Vernon, who, though his worst fears were relieved by the first part of her communication, still went on to ask a hundred anxious questions, and commission the half-relenting nurse with as many tender messages, though the latter was too discerning and honest to feel or affect great reliance on his assurance, that he should satisfactorily account to Miss Aboyne for his apparent neglect of the preceding day.

66

The incredulous messenger conscientiously "told the tale as 'twas told to her," nevertheless, virtuously refraining from comment on how the truth might be ;" and Millicent's heart was prompt to accept beforehand the promised explanation. During the watches of a sleepless night, it was impossible but that troubled thoughts and vague surmises had crept into her mind, involuntarily and unencouraged, nay, quickly and perseveringly repressed, with the generous confidence of a nature not prone to think evil; but still they returned like the phantoms of a feverish imagination, and Millicent was indeed sick in spirit, as well as physically indisposed, when Nora first drew her curtains that morning. But very soon the fresh air and the bright sunshine, entering at the unclosed lattice, brought with them sweet influences redolent of happier and more hopeful feelings; and when Nora soon after returned with her report of Vernon's early visit and affectionate messages, Millicent smiled with perfectly restored cheerfulness, inwardly rebuking the weakness which had subjected her to such causeless uneasiness. Neither was she disappointed that morning of the promised speedy return. Neither, on the part of Vernon, was any thing left unsaid to make his peace (had that been necessary) with one whose gentle bosom harboured no accusing spirit; and when he left her late and unwillingly

-in truth, it was always unwillingly that he did leave her-it was with a pledge to steal away to her again in time for one sweet hour of eveningwalk, and more than one after-hour of social happiness in the dear little parlour, where so many a past evening had stolen away with the swift-unsounding pace of unworldly innocent enjoyment. And punctual, as in former days, was Horace Vernon to the hour of tryst; and never, perhaps, even in former days, had his voice and looks, when addressing Millicent, expressed feelings so deep and tender. Those feelings were not excited by reviving attachment, for his true affection had never been alienated from their first object; but if his heart had not strayed from its allegiance, his lighter fancy might have been more susceptible of other fascinations; and a consciousness of this sort, and that he had for a time forgotten her who ever thought of him, perhaps it was, that imparted a shade of more than usual seriousness that evening to the expression of his large dark eyes, and of peculiar tenderness to his tone and manner. And for many succeeding days, even Nora's lynx-eyed jealousy detected no cause for dissatisfaction in any part of his conduct; and more than once Millicent hastened him from her side, where he was fain to linger, by reminding him of the lateness of the hour, and the courtesy due, on his part, to his entertainers at the Rectory. Of the fair lady who presided there, Vernon made less and less mention in his discourse with Millicent; though even now again a few words, a hasty remark, escaped him, that might have impressed an indifferent observer with a persuasion, that Lady Octavia's charms and opinions had, at least, their due weight with her uncle's handsome curate; and certainly the delightful naïveté with which she had betrayed her admiration of his fine person and interesting character, had

by no means depreciated Vernon's estimation of her Ladyship's refined taste and superior judgment. Lady Octavia had also performed, to the life, a few sallies of artless indiscretion and amiable enthusiasm, from which the gentleman was not very slow to infer, that she discerned in him intellectual as well as personal qualities of a higher order, than even his affectionate Millicent gave him credit for. She, at least, had never administered that incense to his vanity, which was so delicately, and of course unconsciously, offered by the Lady Octavia; still less had Miss Aboyne, in the humble simplicity of her heart, ever dreamt of regretting for Horace, that Fate, whose agency in human affairs she was not wont to acknowledge, had marked out for him the obscure lot of a country clergyman. Millicent Aboyne could fancy no lot in life so peculiarly favoured. Lady Octavia Falkland had allowed Vernon to perceive that for him, capable as he was of-she never said exactly what-she considered it one of pitiable degradation. And there again, though Vernon's best feelings and more serious conviction sided with Millicent, the lurking weakness of his nature was grateful to Lady Octavia for her flattering prepossession.

"Millicent certainly loves me with true affection," once or twice soliloquized Vernon; " and yet, how strange it is, that she should have no ambition for me-that she should see me with less partial eyes than one to whom, comparatively speaking, I am nothing-at least"-and then broke in something very like a sigh-" to whom I can be nothing now ;-but Milly has seen so little of the world, and Lady Octavia so much, and has such extraordinary insight into character!-so much warmth of feeling! -so much heart!"-Poor Millicent! wert thou cold and heartless?

We are ourself an old militiaman, and therefore always rejoice to meet a brother officer in types. Cedat toga armis, is our motto in all matters of autobiography and adventure; for the odds are, that the life of one soldier, however unpretending and ungifted, will contain more both of amusement and instruction, than the memoirs of a dozen barristers, a score of M.P.s, or a whole centenary of squires, doctórs, stockbrokers, parsons, or writers to the signet, with a bishop or two, and half the members of the Glasgow coffeeroom tossed into the bargain. Soldiers and sailors, therefore, are far indeed from being the worst authors going in these days of universal authorship, and those who call them so, lie in their throat. On the contrary, we are ready to depone, so far as we know, and shall be asked," that their works are excellent. We delight in the Sketch-books, both naval and military-revel in the Subalterngloat over Lord Londonderry-devour Napier-bolt Cyril Thornton-and believe that first-rate entertainment for man and beast may be found in the Recollections of Captain Sherer. The United Service Journal unites high promise with competent performance; and we publicly pronounce that man to be an ass who cannot, from "Twelve Years of Military Adventure," extract as many hours of pleasant reading.

The truth is, that soldiers have generally seen a good deal, and therefore in all probability have something to tell worth listening to. They have opportunities of observing society under different aspects from those presented to ordinary travellers. There is seldom room for the latter till "rugged war has smoothed his wrinkled front;" and they can only describe the volcano when the eruption has ceased. It is the former alone who

give us the crash and the concussion; the burning torrent and the volume of flame. They alone have the privilege of observing society at moments when the bonds of civil government are rent asunder, and mankind, in obedience to the original impulse of their nature, have recourse to

"The simple plan,

That they should take that have the
power,

And they should keep who can."

Their great recommendation is, however, that they are not travellers by profession. Of these we are sick ad nauseam. Every corner of Europe, from Iceland to Constantinople, has been ransacked an hundred times over by travellers, differing in all the predicables of age, country, character, and pursuit, and agreeing but in one object-that of publishing their travels. The peace of 1814, which restored tranquillity to Europe, made travelling both a pleasant and a profitable concern. Then rushed forth upon the public whole legions of volumes, full of interesting remarks on roads, plays, and hotels, post-horses and houses, Talma, the Tuileries, Goethe, Prince Metternich, German universities, and the field of Waterloo. A fortnight at Paris furnished matter for a couple of octavos, and many Pauls rejoiced in the publication of their letters to imaginary kinsfolk. By degrees, however, the market became overstocked with this kind of ware. Prices gradually declined, and Mr Murray and Mr Colburn would no longer fork out, with that tempting liberality which had so profusely fertilized this department of literature. Our disappointed travellers then found it necessary to take a wider range. Europe was no longer the ultima Thule of their peregrinations. Yielding to the sad necessity of the