exclaimed Lord De la Zouch, with sudden fervour. "And that support will embrace those dearer to me than life-dearer -far-far"- -He ceased. "My God, Aubrey !-Aubrey! what's the matter?" hastily exclaimed Lord De la Zouch, feeling Mr Aubrey leaning heavily against him. He grasped Mr Aubrey firmly-for his head suddenly drooped; and, but for his companion's support, he must have fallen to the ground. His delicate frame was worn out with the late excitement, and the intense anxiety and exhaustion he had undergone; having scarce tasted food for the last two days. The sudden recurrence of his thoughts to the objects of his fond and ineffable love, had completely overpowered his exhausted nature. Mark-it was only his physical nature that for a moment gave way. It was quite unworthy of the noble soul which animated it. Of such a one it may be said the sword is too keen for its scabbard. His sensibilities were exquisite; perhaps morbidly so. A soul like his, placed in a body which, as I long ago explained, was constitutionally feeble, might, from the intimate and inscrutable connec. tion and sympathy between mind and body, for a moment appear to be of an inferior temper: whereas the momentary shock and vibration occasioned by external accident over that soul, quickly re-exhibited its native nobleness and strength. Mr Aubrey, who sunk into Lord De la Zouch's arms in the way I have described, just as they were passing a small shop whose owner stood at the door, was quickly taken into it; and within a few minutes, and with the aid of a glass of water, revived in time to take advantage of Lord De la Zouch's carriage, which was passing on its way from the castle to his hotel. There was only Lady De la Zouch within it, and she welcomed Mr Aubrey with the most affectionate sympathy; insisting upon their driving him to his lodgings, in order that they might, by their presence, comfort and apease Mrs Aubrey and Miss Aubrey. Mr Aubrey, how ever, most earnestly dissuaded them, saying, he would rather that, on so painful an occasion, they should be alone; and after taking a glass of wine and water, which greatly revived him, he quitted the hotel, alone and on foot, and made for his lodgings. The streets were occupied by passengers, some returning from the castle after the great trial of the day; others standing here and there, in little knots, conversing as he passed them; and he felt conscious that the subject of their thoughts and conversation, was himself and his fallen fortunes. Several deep-drawn sighs escaped him, as he walked on, the herald of such dismal tidings, to those whom he loved: and he felt but for that which supported him from within, as it were, a fallen angel so far as concerned this world's honours and greatness. The splendours of human pomp and prosperity seemed rapidly vanishing in the distance. In the temporary depression of his spirits, he experienced feelings somewhat akin to those of the heartsickened exile, whose fond eyes are riveted upon the mosques and minarets of his native city, bathed in the soft sunlight of evening, where are the cherished objects of all his tenderest thoughts and feelings; while his vessel is rapidly bearing him from it, amid the rising wind, the increasing and ominous swell of the waters, the thickening gloom of night-whither ? The Minster clock struck ten as he passed one of the corners of the vast majestic structure, grey-glistening in the faint moonlight. The chimes echoed in his ear, and smote his subdued soul with a sense of peculiar solemnity and awe; they forced upon him a reflection upon the transient littleness of earthly things. Then he thought of those dear beings who were awaiting his return, and a gush of grief and tenderness overflowed his heart, as he quickened his steps, with an inward and fervent prayer that Heaven would support them under the misfortune which had befallen them. As he neared the retired row of houses where his lodgings were situated, he imagined that he saw some one near the door of his lodgings, as if on the look-out for his approach; and who, as he drew nearer, at length entered his lodgings. This was a person whom Mr Aubrey did not at all suspect it was his worthy friend Dr Tatham; who, unable to quit Yatton in time to hear the trial, had early that morning mounted his horse, and, after a long and hard ride, reached York soon after Mr Aubrey had set off for the castle. Though many of the country people then in York were aware that Mrs and Miss Aubrey were also there, a delicate consideration for their exquisitely distressing situation restrained them from intruding upon their privacy, which had been evidently sought for by the species of lodgings which Mr Aubrey had engaged. On the second day, the excellent Dr Tatham had been their welcome and instructive guest, scarce ever leaving them; Mr Aubrey's groom bringing word, from time to time, from his master how the trial went on. Late in the evening, urged by Kate, the Doctor had gone off to the castle, to wait till he could bring intelligence of the final result of the trial. He had not been observed by Mr Aubrey amidst the number of people who were about; and had at length fulfilled his mission, and been beforehand with Mr Aubrey in communicating the unfortunate issue of the struggle. The instant that Mr Aubrey had set his foot within the door, he was locked in the impassioned embrace of his wife and sister. None of them spoke for some moments. "Dearest Charles !-we've heard it all-we know it all!" at length they exclaimed in a breath. "Thank God, it is over at last-and we know the worst! Are you well, dearest Charles?" inquired Mrs Aubrey, with fond anxiety. "Thank God, my Agnes, I am well!" said Mr Aubrey, much excited -" and thank God that the dreadful suspense is at an end; and for the fortitude, my sweet loves, with which you bear the result. And how are you, my excellent friend?" continued he, addressing Dr Tatham, and grasping his hands; "my venerable and pious friend-how it refreshes my heart to see you! as one of the chosen ministers of that God whose creatures we are, and whose dispensations we receive with reverent submission !" "God Almighty bless you all, my dear friends!" replied Dr Tatham, powerfully affected. "Believe that all this is from HIM! He has wise ends in view, though we see not nor comprehend them! Faint not when ye are rebuked of Him! If ye faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small! But I rejoice to see your resignation." Aubrey, his wife, and sister, were for a while overcome with their emotions. "I feel as if a very mountain had been lifted off my heart! How blest am I in my wife and sister!" A heavenly smile irradiated his pale features-and he clasped his wife and then his sister in his arms. They wept as they tenderly returned his embrace. "Heaven," said he, "that gave us all, has taken all: why should we murmur? He will enable us, if we pray for His assistance, to bear with equanimity our present adversity, as well as our past prosperity! Come, Agnes! Kate! play the women!" Dr Tatham sate silent by; but the tears ran down his cheeks. At length Mr Aubrey gave them a general account of what had occurred at the trial-and which, I need hardly say, was listened to in breathless silence. "Who is that letter from, love, lying on the table?" inquired Mr Aubrey, during a pause in the conversation. "It's only from Johnson, to say the children are quite well," replied Mrs Aubrey. The ruined parents, as if by a common impulse, looked unutterable things at each other. Then the mother turned deadly pale; and her husband tenderly kissed her cold cheek; while Kate could scarcely restrain her feelings. The excitement of each was beginning to give way before sheer bodily and mental exhaus tion; and Dr Tatham, observing it, rose to take his departure. It was arranged that the carriage should be at the door by eight o'clock in the morning, to convey them back to Yatton-and that Dr Tatham should breakfast with, and then accompany them on horseback. He then took his departure for the night, with a very full heart; and those whom he left soon afterwards retired for the night; and having first invoked the mercy and pity of Heaven, sunk into slumber and brief forgetfulness of the perilous position in which they had been placed by the event of the day. Somewhat different was the mode in which the night was spent by the victorious party. Gammon, as has been seen, was the first to congratulate Titmouse on his splendid success. The next was old Quirk—who, with a sort of conviction that he should find Gammon beforehand with him-bustled out of court, leaving Snap to pay "I assure you all," said Aubrey, the jury, settle the court-fees, collect NO. CCXCVII. VOL. XLVIII. G the papers, and so forth. Both Quirk and Snap (as soon as he was at liberty) exhibited a courtesy towards Titmouse which had a strong dash of reverence in it, such as was due to the possessor of ten thousand a-year; but Gammon exhibited the tranquil matter-of-fact confidence of a man who had determined to be, and indeed knew that he was, the entire master of Titmouse. way "I wish you'd call a coach, or something of that sort, gents.-I'm devilish tired-I am, 'pon my soul!" said Mr Titmouse, yawning, as he stood on the steps between Quirk and Gammon, waiting for Snap's arrival. He was, in fact, almost mad-bursting with excitement; and could not stand still for a moment. Now he whistled aloud, loudly and boldly; then he hummed a bar or two of some low comic song; and ever and anon drew on and off his damp gloves with an air of petulant impetuosity. Then he ran his hand through his hair with careless grace; and then, with arms folded on his breast for a moment, looked eagerly, but with a would-be languid air, at two or three coroneted coaches, which one by one, with their depressed and disappointed inmates, rolled off. At length Lord Widdrington, amidst a sharp impetuous cry of "Make way for the judge, there! make for his lordship!" appeared, with a worn-out air; and passing close by Titmouse, was honoured by him with a very fine bow indeednot being, however, in the least aware of the fact as he passed on to his carriage. The steps were drawn up; the door closed; and amidst a sharp blast of trumpets, the carriage drove slowly off, preceded and followed by the usual attendants. All this pomp and ceremony made a very deep impression upon the mind of Titmouse. thought he, with a sudden sigh of "Ah," mingled excitement and exhaustion "who knows but I may be a judge some day? It's a devilish pleasant thing, I'm sure! What a fuss he must make wherever he goes! 'Pon my life, quite delightful!" As there was no coach to be had, Mr Titmouse was forced to walk home, arm-in-arm with Mr Quirk and Mr Gammon, and followed, at a little distance, by a knot of persons, acquainted with his name and person, and feeling towards him a strange mixture of emotionsdislike, wonder, contempt, admiration. [July, gentleman was now worth, it was said, Goodness gracious! that strange little of Yatton!! Old Quirk shook Titten thousand a-year; and was squire mouse's hand with irrepressible enthusiasm, at least a dozen times on their way to the inn; while Gammon spoke, in an earnest tone, of the diffinow and then squeezed his arm, and culties yet to be overcome. On reach standing at the door, and had evidently ing the inn, the landlady, who was been on the look-out for her suddenly distinguished guest, received him with several most profound curtsies, and about his health, as he had had no most eager and respectful enquiries luncheon--and asking what he would be pleased to have for his supper. She added, moreover, that fearing his former bedroom might not have been to his mind, she had changed it, and best she had. he would that night sleep in the very quoth Mr Quirk, with an excited air. "We must make a night on't, eh?" His partners assented to it, as did Mr fowl, ham, beef-steaks, and mutton Titmouse; and cold beef, sausages, chops, were ordered to be in readiness in half-an-hour's time. wards Mr Titmouse followed the Soon afterchambermaid to his new bedroom. "This is the room we always give to quality folk-when we get them,"said she, as she laid his candle on the drawers, and looked with a little triumph round the room. "Ah-yes!-'pon my soul-quite right-always do your best for quality! -Lovely gal-eh?" Here he chucked posed to imprint a kiss upon her cheek: her under the chin, and seemed dis. the way quality folks behave!" she but, with a "Lord, sir-that's not modestly withdrew. alone, first threw himself on the bed; Titmouse, left then sate down; then danced about; then started off, and walked about; then took off his coat; then threw himself on the bed again; hummed, whistled, jumped up again-in a sort of wild ecstasy, or delirium. In short, it is plain that he was not master of himself. In fact, his little mind was as agitated by the day's event, as a for a while would be on a stone being small green puddle by the road-side suddenly flung into it by a child. While Messrs Quirk and Snap were, after their sort, as excited as even Mr his bed-room, and ordering thither Titmouse was, Gammon, retiring to pens, ink, and paper, sate down and wrote the following letter: "York, 5th April 18 "My dear sir,-The very first leisure moment I have, I devote to informing you, as one of the most intimate friends of our highly-respected client, Mr Titmouse, of the brilliant event which has just occurred. After a most severe and protracted struggle of two days, (the Attorney-General having come down special on the other side,) the jury, many of them the chief gentlemen of the county, have within this last hour returned a verdict in favour of our common friend, Mr Titmouse-thereby declaring him entitled to the whole of the estates at Yatton, (ten thousand a-year rent-roll, at least,) and, by consequence, to an immense accumulation of bygone rents, which must be made up to him by his predecessor, who, with all his powerful party, and in spite of the unscrupulous means resorted to to defeat the ends of justice, is dismayed beyond expression at the result of this grand struggle-unprecedented in the annals of modern litigation. The result has given lively satisfaction in these parts-it is plain that our friend, Mr Titmouse, will very soon become a great lion in society. "To you, my dear sir, as an early and valued friend of our interesting client, I sit down to communicate the earliest intelligence of this most important event; and I trust that you will, with our respectful compliments, communicate this happy event to your amiable family-who, I am persuaded, must ever feel a very warm interest in our client's welfare. He is now, naturally enough, much excited with his extraordinary good fortune, to which we are only too proud and happy to have contributed by our humble, but strenuous and longcontinued exertions. He begs me to express his most cordial feelings towards you, and to say that, on his return to town, Satin Lodge will be one of the very first places at which he will call. In the mean time, I beg you will believe me, my dear sir, with the best compliments of myself and partners, yours most sincerely, "OILY GAMMON. "Thomas Tag-rag, Esq." &c. &c. &c. "That, I think, will about do"-quoth Gammon to himself, with a thoughtful air, as, having made an exact copy of the above letter, he sealed it up and directed it. He then came down stairs to supper, having first sent the letter off to the post-office. What a merry meal was that same supper! Mr Titmouse, Mr Quirk, and Mr Snap, eat almost to bursting: Gammon was more abstinent-but took a far greater quantity than usual of the bouncing bottled porter, the hard port, and fiery sherry, which his companions drank as if they had been but with hot water and cold; and to these water. Then came in the spiritsit was very hard for any one to resist all present did ample justice; in fact the other's entreaties: Mr Gammon seemed as if, on such an occasion, he in due time felt himself going-but the partners, at different stages of had no help for it. Every one of the evening, made a speech to Titmouse, and proposed his health; who, of course, replied to each, and drank the health of each. Presently old Quirk sung a comic song, and Snap joined in one called " Handin a very dismal key; and then he cuff v. Halter;" at which Gammon laughed heartily, and listened with that degree of pleased attention, which showed that he had resolved, for once enjoyment of the passing hour. Then at least, to abandon himself to the Titmouse began to speak of what he should do, as soon as he had "touched the shiners"-his companions entering into all his little schemes with a sort old Mr Quirk, after by turns laughof affectionate enthusiasm. At length ing, crying, singing, and talking, leaned back in his chair, with his halfin his hand, and fell fast asleep. emptied tumbler of brandy and water Gammon also, in spite of all he could and exhibit the effects of a hasty and do, began the deuce take it!—to feel hearty meal, and his very unusual potations, especially after such long abstinence and intense anxiety as he had experienced during the previous two days. He had intended to have seen them all under the table; but he began gradually to feel a want of and feelings, which a little disquieted control over himself, his thoughts, him, as he now and then caught glimpses of the extent to which it was proceeding. "In vino veritas," properly translated, means-that when a man is fairly under the influence of liquor, you see a strong manifestation [July, quitted the room in the manner above his nose, as soon as Gammon had company for us, just now-eh ?-Shall described" Mr Quirk an't much we go out and have some fun ?" where you like, Titmouse," replied "Walk will do us good-yes. Go Snap, who, though young, was a thoroughly seasoned vessel, and could hold a great deal of drink without seeming, or really being much the worse for it. As for Titmouse, happily for him! (seeing that he was so soon means, unless indeed the envious fates to have the command of unlimited should in the mean time interpose to dash the brimfull cup from his eager lips,) he was becoming more and more accustomed to the effects of drink; which had, up to the moment I am speaking of, no other effect pitch of indefinite daring and enterthan to elevate his spirits up to the prise. "'Pon my life, Snap, couldn't us for the night air?" "What shall we stand another tumbler-eh? Warm it be?" quoth Snap, ringing the bell -"whisky?" of his real character. The vain man is vainer; the voluble, more voluble; the morose, more morose; the detractor, more detracting; the sycophant, more sycophantic, and so forth. Now Gammon was a cold, cautious, long-headed schemer; and as the fumes of liquor mounted up into his head, they only increased the action and intensity of those qualities for which, when sober, he was so preeminently distinguished, only that there was a half-conscious want of coherency and subordination. The impulse and the habit were present; but there seemed a strange disturbing force in short-what is the use of disguising matters?-Gammon was getting very drunk; and he felt very sorry for it but it was too late. In due time the dismal effort not to appear drunk, ceased-a great relief! Silent and more silent he became; more and more observant of the motions of Snap and Titmouse; more and more complicated and profound in his schemes and purposes; and at length he felt as if, by some incomprehensible means, he were taking himself in-inveigling himself: at which point, after a vain attempt to understand his exact position with reference to himself, he slowly, but rather unsteadily, rose from his chair; looked with an unsettled eye at Titmouse for nearly a minute; a queer smile now and then flitted across his features; and he presently rung the bell. Boots having obeyed the summons, Gammon, with a very turbid brain, followed him to the door, with a most desperate effort to walk thither steadily-but in vain. Having reached his room, he sate down with a sort of suspicion that he had said or done something to commit himself. Vain was the attempt to wind up his watch; and at length he gave it up, with a faint curse. With only one stocking off, after four or five times trying to blow out his candle in vain, he suc ceeded and got into bed; his head, however, occupying the place in the bed assigned to his feet. asleep for about half-an-hour-and He lay then experienced certain insupportable sensations. He was indeed very mi scrable; and lost all thoughts of what would become of Titmouse-of Quirk and Snap-in his own indispo sition. "I say, Snap," quoth Titmouse with a grin, and putting his finger to replied Mr Titmouse recklessly; and "Devil knows, and devil cares!" presently there stood before the friends had ordered. Immediately after distwo smoking tumblers of what they posing of them, the two gentlemen, quite up to the mark, as they expressed it—each with a cigar in his mouth, sallied forth in quest of adventures. Titmouse felt that he had now become ings prompted him to purse, as early a gentleman; and his tast and feelduct-particularly in his amusements. as possible, a gentlemanly ine of conIt was now past twelve; and the narrow old-fashioned streets of York, silent and deserted, formed a strong contrast to the streets of London at the same hour, and seemed scarcely to admit of much sport. But sport our friends were determined to have; and the night air aiding the effect of became somewhat excited and violent. their miscellaneous potations, they soon Yet it seemed difficult to get up a direction. row-for no one was visible in any Snap suddenly shouted Titmouse joined him; when having "Fire!" at the top of his voice, and heard half-a-dozen windows hastily thrown up by the dismayed inhabitants whom the alarming sounds had off at their top speed. In another aroused from sleep, they scampered part of the town, they yelled, and |