her sick or sorrowing relatives; and, as the lady's friendship, like the quicksilver of the barometer, rose or sunk with sunshine or clouds, her countenance partook of a similar change towards those whose pecuniary or other embarrassments made them no longer visitants for Glendalough Abbey.

On the morning subsequent to the arri val of Delacour, his younger pupil, curious to see what the new tutor was,' frisked into his room; Charles kindly saluted him, and inquired the usual hour of prayers.

• Prayers!' echoed Edmond, why, Sir, this is not Sunday.'

• Have you not morning prayers, my dear boy; do you not thank your good Father in heaven for his preservation of you during the night, and for permitting you to see a new day; and do you not entreat his guidance through the perils and temptations. of that day,' inquired the pious young clergyman.

6

Why, Sir,' replied Edmond, we never have prayers except on a rainy Sunday, when papa is not out riding, and mamma not in bed, and when we have not any company; but, indeed, I hate prayers, Miss Lambert looks so cross reading them, and mamma yawns, and seems so tired, my brother, Somerset, makes faces, and the girls laugh, and Miss Lambert scolds, and makes them get off long hymns, and they then mamma grows mad, and threatens papa of us; so we don't like papa, or Sunday, or prayers.'

cry;

to tell

Delacour, although much shocked, forbore to reprehend; as, by so doing, he should have criminated the ill-judging parents: but he asked, how do you hope to do what is right, without the assistance and direction of God?'

Sure papa and mamma direct us, and say, we must not mind any one else; and very angry they were, last Sunday, with

Mr. Vernon, who walked from church with us, for taking me with him to see a poor man, very sick, and for asking me, if I thought I might ever be sick, and like that man, going into the presence of God to answer for my sins.'

• Vernon!' repeated Charles, surely I should know that name: has he a son, my dear ?'

'Ab, poor Henry Vernon, he is dying, they say,' answered Edmond; and I am very sorry for him, he is so good-natured: he once wrote my theme for me, and it got me a premium ; he used to tie our flies, and mend our nets; and he brought me several books from Dublin, although I have not read any of them yet,'

Any further inquiries were prevented by. a summons to the breakfast table; at which all the family had assembled, with the exception of Mrs. Courtney, who seldom appeared until a late hour; dedicating a suitable portion of time to the oracular inter

pretations of her nightly dreams, cautiously edited by her femme-de-chambre.'

When seated, Edmond laughingly said, only think, Somerset, how funny! Mr. Delacour asked me, what hour we went to prayers every morning.'

Mr. Somerset, aged nineteen, and perfectly aware of his consequence, as heir to Glendalough, negligently answered, Mr. Delacour's trade is to pray, but, in my opinion, persons of business should avoid the shop.

Charles, colouring slightly at this sally from an unpromising pupil, replied, we should all have one business-that of a christian.'

'Oh a truce, I pray you,' retorted the young gentleman: confound me if this is not what makes me determine, when this place is mine, never to ask more, at a time, than one of a sort; for what could be a greater bore than to have barristers talking

nothing but law; your cloth nothing but religion; physicians turning me sick with medicine; and gentlemen of the sword, with all the gold they possess on their shoulders, endeavouring to astonish with their hair-breadth escapes, and making a merit of exploits for which, by the bye, we pay them well.'

The professions have been honored most highly,' mildly observed Delacour; and I am but too happy in being a member of one, when I recollect WHO was styled, Wonderful Counsellor-Captain of our Salvation-Great Physician-Bishop of our Souls.'

..That is Bible, of course,' answered Mr. Somerset ; Miss Lambert, it is part of your profession too, to know where-abouts it lies.'

Miss Lambert blushed from conscious ignorance, but said tartly, 'perhaps it may be near the parable of the rich man, who