a few minutes silence, during which, Lord Dunderton did not appear any more at ease than himself, affected to turn his attention to some paintings, which were at any time worthy of more admiration, than their possessor knew how to bestow on them. "Them there are thought very valuable, my lord." said their sapient owner, who appeared glad to divert the conversation, "and they ought, there is a power of money laid dead in them."

66

These are

the works of some great masters," replied

the Earl very coldly. Yes, your lordship," answered the scientific peer, "I think they are pretty enough, I always buy a good few together, and then it is odds if there are not some, worth looking at among them. That there is called the feast of the vines, and you see Bacchus sure enough, laying drunk a-top of that cask. I like history pieces, and I can shew your lordship a Welshman by Wright of Derby, as natural as life, one would swear one could take the leek out of his hat; I have it in my counting ho— that

is

is study, I mean." Lord Drelincourt declined the pleasure, saying that he had an appointment which he was obliged to attend, and therefore wished to finish the business about which he came; and that was, to declare, that as the sole care of Lady Harriett's person and fortune was left to him, until she attained her twenty-first year, he conceived himself bound notwithstanding she had deprived him of the former part of his charge to redouble his vigilance in the latter; that being now the only way, in which he could shew his attention to the trust reposed in him, and his anxiety for her welfare. He therefore thought that Lord Dunderton must acquiesce in the propriety of his conduct as a guardian, when he solemnly declared, that until she attained the period when her fortune would be consigned into her own disposal, he should not allow the smallest part of it to be appropriated to her use; but that on the arrival of the time when he should gladly resign

his

his trust, Lady Harriett would find, that he had transacted her affairs, with the integrity, which his regard for his deceased friend her father, and for his own honor demanded. Lord Dunderton by no means approved of this kind of integrity, and as it is very natural to judge the intentions of others, by comparing them with what our own would be in similar circumstances, he immediately thought, that the Earl could only wish to keep Lady Harriett's affairs in his hands, with a hope of reaping some advantage from them. He could not disguise his vexation, and told Lord Drelincourt, that as his own son had so recently committed the very same fault, he might make allowances. for Mr. Dunderton, as he had doubtless done for Lord Courtney. "Sir," replied the Earl, elevating himself to the very utmost of his fine height, "I cannot think the cases parallel: and if they were, I would rather see my son starve, than solicit a maintenance for him, from his

wife; but, I have done; I have communicated my intentions to you, I shall abide by my resolutions, and have the honor to wish you a good morning." So saying, he took his leave, regardless of the angry remonstrances of Lord Dunderton, whose frequent wishes that he had known the Earl's resolutions a day sooner, did not contribute to erase the impressions already made on Lord Drelincourt, of his having been meanly privy to the transaction, and afterwards basely denying any knowledge of it.

END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

Hazard, Printer, 49, Beech Street.