I knew both were mine. Dundrumming had shot at two which rose across him, and I caught the twinkle of the keeper's eye as my friend exclaimed,

"I'm in good form I see by these two shots. Take your time, sir, and I'll be bound you'll do better next time."

"Why, I protest those birds are mine. I fired at them both." "Then it was after I had killed them, that's all," quoth Dundrumming. He was a dreadful man. I never was in such agonies of rage in my life as I was ere the day was over. He blazed away at everything that rose, claimed everything that fell, and in the evening, as we sat at dinner talking of the shooting, I heard him, sotto voce, say of me-me, the crack shot of the regiment-" MacBirdie, I'm thinking my friend the captain has not had much practice with the grouse. He couldn't get on to them to-day at all. But he'll do better," he added, in a louder voice, as he perceived my eye turned on him. "I could see by the style of that right and left you got" (I had dozens of them, I swear) "just before we left, that you were no novice." We had bagged 1714 brace, of which I had killed fully three-fourths; but before the evening was over, I had the satisfaction of hearing Dundrumming take his oath he had killed 200 brace to his own gun, the ten he said which were lost, and of seeing him removed to his chamber in a high state of exaltation, declaring,-"I shay, MaBirdie, I shos five hundre brashe to my gun. The captin can't shoot; you can't shoot; Pinttail can't shoot; the old General can't hit haystack." And so ended my first day with the grouse, and with Drumming of Dundrumming.

There are many of them, I daresay, at work on the moors this moment, and Dundrumming still enjoys a high reputation at Kamptully with every one but the keeper.

THE

CORNHILL MAGAZINE.

OCTOBER, 1867.

The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly.

CHAPTER XVII.

AT CASTELLO.

PRIVATE letter from a friend had told Jack Bramleigh that his father's opposition to the Government had considerably damaged his chance of being employed, but that he possibly might get a small command on the African station. With what joy then did he receive "the official," marked on H.M.'s. service, informing him that he was appointed to the Sneezer despatch gunboat, to serve in the Mediterranean, and enjoining him to repair to town without unnecessary delay, to receive further orders.

He had forborne, as we have seen, to tell Julia his former tidings. They were not indeed of a nature to rejoice over, but here was great news. He only wanted two more

years to be qualified for his "Post," and once a captain, he would have a position which might warrant his asking Julia to be his wife, and thus was it that the great dream of his whole existence was interwoven into his career, and his advancement as a sailor linked with his hopes as a lover; and surely it is well for us that ambitions in life appeal to VOL. XVI.-No. 94. 19.

us in other and humbler ways than by the sense of triumph, and that there are better rewards for success than either the favour of princes or the insignia of rank.

› To poor Jack, looking beyond that two years, it was not a threedecker, nor even frigate, it was the paradise of a cottage overgrown with sweetbriar and honeysuckle, that presented itself, and a certain graceful figure, gauzy and floating, sitting in the porch, while he lay at her feet, lulled by the drowsy ripple of the little trout-stream, that ran close by. So possessed was he by this vision, so entirely and wholly did it engross him, that it was with difficulty he gave coherent replies to the questions poured in upon him at the breakfast-table, as to the sort of service he was about to be engaged in, and whether it was as good or a better thing than he had been expecting.

"I wish you joy, Jack," said Augustus. "You're a lucky dog to get afloat again so soon. You haven't been full six months on half-pay."

66

"I wish you joy too," said Temple, "and am thankful to Fate it is you, and not I, have to take the command of H.M.'s gunboat Sneezer." Perhaps, all things considered, it is as well as it is," said Jack dryly. "It is a position of some importance. I mean it is not the mere command of a small vessel," said Marion haughtily; for she was always eager that every incident that befell the family should redound to their distinction, and subserve their onward march to greatness.

"Oh, Jack," whispered Nelly, "let us walk over to the cottage, and tell them the news ;" and Jack blushed as he squeezed her hand in gratitude for the speech.

"I almost wonder they gave you this, Jack," said his father, "seeing how active a part I took against them; but I suppose there is some truth in the saying that Ministers would rather soothe enemies than succour friends."

"Don't you suspect, papa, that Lord Culduff may have had some share in this event? His influence, I know, is very great with his party," said Marion.

"I hope and trust not," burst out Jack; "rather than owe my promotion to that bewigged old dandy, I'd go and keep a lighthouse.",

"A most illiberal speech," said Temple. "I was about to employ a stronger word, but still not stronger than my sense of its necessity."

"Remember, Temple," replied Jack, "I have no possible objection to his being your patron. I only protest that he shan't be mine. He may make you something ordinary or extraordinary to-morrow, and I'll never quarrel about it."

"I am grateful for the concession," said the other, bowing.

"If it was Lord Culduff that got you this step," said Colonel Bramleigh, "I must say nothing could be more delicate than his conduct; he never so much as hinted to me that he had taken trouble in the matter." "He is such a gentleman!" said Marion, with a very enthusiastic emphasis on the word.

"Well, perhaps it's a very ignoble confession," said Nelly, "but I