likeness of Queen Elizabeth, that she knighted him immediately.

Mary. Then he was a painter by trade?

Aunt Betty. By trade! The minx will drive me distracted. Be it known to you, miss, we have never had a tradesman in our family; and I trust I never shall live to see it so degraded. Painting was merely Sir Gregory's profession.

Mary. I hope I shall learn in time to make the proper distinctions; but I fear it will be difficult, for my mother always taught me to allow no other distinction than that of personal worth, and I must confess I do not see the propriety of any other.

Aunt Betty. No, and I presume you never will, while your mother entertains her present low ideas of meritorious industry, as she pleases to call the occupation of those who are mean enough to work for their living. I did hope to make you sensible of the dignity of your descent; but I now find I must look elsewhere for an heir to my invaluable legacy—this precious, precious coat of arms.

LESSON XCIII.

FORTUNE'S FROLIC.

(Robin Roughhead discovered raking hay )

Robin. Ah! work, work, work! all day long, and no such thing as stopping a moment to rest! for there's old Snacks, the steward, always upon the lookout;

and if he sees one, slap he has it down in his book, and then there's a sixpence gone plump. (Comes forward.) I do hate that old chap, and that's the truth on't. Now if I was lord of this place I'd make one rule-there should be no such thing as work; it should be one long holiday all the year round. Your great folks have strange whims in their heads, that's for sartin. I don't know what to make of 'um, not I. Now, there's all yon great park there, kept for his lordship to look at, and his lordship has not seen it these twelve years. Ah! if it was mine, I'd let all the villagers turn their cows in there, and it should not cost 'em a farthing; then, as the parson said last Sunday, I should be as rich as any in the land, for I should have the blessings of the poor. Dang it! here comes Snacks. Now I shall get a fine jobation, I suppose. (Enter Snacks, bowing very obsequiously-Robin takes his hat off, and stands staring at him.)

Rob. I be main tired, Master Snacks; so I stopt to rest myself a little. I hope you'll excuse it. I wonder what the dickens he's grinning at. (Aside.)

Snacks. Excuse it! I hope your lordship's infinite goodness and condescension will excuse your lordship's most obsequious, devoted, and very humble servant, Timothy Snacks, who is come into the presence of your lordship, for the purpose of informing your lordship

Rob. Lordship! he, he, he! Wall! I never knew as I had a hump before! Why, Master Snacks, you grow funny in your old age.

Snacks. No, my lord, I know my duty better; I should never think of being funny with a lord.

Rob. What lord? Oh, you mean the Lord Harry, I suppose. No, no, you must not be too funny with him, or he'll be after playing the very deuce with you.

Snacks. I say, I should never think of jesting with a person of your lordship's dignified character.

Rob. Dig-dig-what? Why, now I look at you, I see how it is; you are mad. I wonder what quarter the moon's in. Dickens! how your eyes do roll! I never saw you so before. you out alone ?

How came they to let

Snacks. Your lordship is most graciously pleased to be facetious.

Rob. Why, what gammon are you at! Don't come near me, for you've been bit by a mad dog; I'm sure you have.

Snacks. If your lordship would be so kind as to read this letter, it would convince your lordship. Will your lordship condescend?

Rob. Why, I would condescend, but for a few reasons; and one of 'em is, that I can't read.

Snacks. I think your lordship is perfectly right; for these pursuits are too low for one of your lordship's nobility.

Rob. Lordship, and lordship again! I'll tell you what, Master Snacks-let's have no more of your fun, for I won't stand it any longer, for all you be steward here. My name's Robin Roughhead, and if you don't choose to call me by that name, I shan't answer you, that's flat. I don't like him well enough to stand his jokes. (Aside.)

Snacks. Why, then, Master Robin, be so kind as to attend, whilst I read this letter. (Reads.) "Sir,—

This is to inform you, that my Lord Lackwit died this morning, after a very short illness; during which he declared that he had been married, and had an heir to his estate the woman he married was commonly called, or known, by the name of Roughhead: she was poor and illiterate, and, through motives of false shame, his lordship never acknowledged her as his wife. She has been dead some time since, and left behind her a son, called Robin Roughhead. Now this said Robin is the legal heir to the estate. I have therefore sent you the necessary writings to put him into immediate possession, according to his lordship's last will and testament. Yours to command,

"KIT CODICIL, Att'y at Law."

Rob. What!-What, all mine? the houses, the trees, the fields, the hedges, the ditches, the gates, the horses, the dogs, the cats, the cocks, and the hens, and the cows, and the bulls, and the pigs, and the— what! are they, are they all mine? and I, Robin Roughhead, am the rightful lord of all this estate? Don't keep me a minute, now, but tell me, is it so? Make haste, ell me-quick, quick!

Snacks. I repeat it, the whole estate is yours.

Rob. Huzza! Huzza! (Catches off Snack's hat and wig.) Set the bells a ringing; set the ale a running; set-go get my hat full of guineas to make a scramble with; call all the tenants together. I'll lower their rents-I'll

Snacks. I hope your lordship will do me the favor

to

Rob. Why, that may be as it happens; I can't tell. (Carelessly.)

Y

Snacks. Will your lordship dine at the castle to-day?

Rob. Yes.

Snacks. What would your lordship choose for dinner?

Rob. Beef-steaks and onions, and plenty of 'em.

Snacks. Beef-steaks and onions! What a dish for a lord! He'll be a savory bit for my daughter, though. (Aside.)

Rob. What are you at there, Snacks? Go, get me the guineas-make haste; I'll have the scramble, and then I'll go to Dolly, and tell her the news.

Snacks. Dolly! Pray, my lord, who's Dolly? Rob. Why, Dolly is to be my lady, and your mistress, if I find you honest enough to keep you in my employ.

Snacks. He rather smokes me. (Aside.) I have a beauteous daughter, who is allowed to be the very pink of perfection.

Rob. Hang your daughter! I have got something else to think of: don't talk to me of your daughter: stir your stumps, and get the money.

Snacks. I am your lordship's most obsequious. Zounds! what a peer of the realm! (Aside and exit.)

Rob. Ha ha! ha! What work I will make in the village! Work? no, there shall be no such thing as work it shall be all play. Where shall I go? I'll go to no, I won't go there! I'll go to Farmer Hedgestakes, and tell him—no, I'll not go there; I'll go

I'll go nowhere; yes, I will; I'll go everywhere; I'll be neither here nor there, nor any where else. How pleased Dolly will be when she hears—