"What is that?" said Mrs. Kitty, who at that moment came down the stairs.

Nothing but the young master," replied Thomas; "he was here but a moment since, and now he has reached the top of yon bank, — There he stands; and if I mistake not, he is pluming himself for another flight.-Oh! there he goes off again, quite beyond my eye."

"And why should he not run, Thomas ?” replied Mrs. Kitty ; "it is the way of all young things when they are pleased, kittens and puppies, and all of them—they are always in motion when they are satisfied. I am sure I find enough of that in Maurice."

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Why, you are not going to compare Master Milner with Maurice, Mrs. Kitty ?" said Tho

mas.

"What makes you think of that, Thomas?" replied the housekeeper. "Only they are both young, and likes to be in motion; and you know very well there is no keeping Maurice quiet at any time. I am sure, Thomas, I have rued the day a thousand times, since master took it into his head to take in that boy; and now he is to be a foot-boy-we shall be plagued to death with him."

"Then why did you complain to master that

you could not run about as you used to do, Mrs. Kitty?" replied Thomas, "and that you wanted help ?"

"How could I have thought that he should have given me such a helper as that wild Irish lad," she replied; "it is hard for an infirm person, like me, to be plagued with such an unlucky boy as that Maurice.”

"To my thinking," replied Thomas, "if master will put up with the infirmities of your old age, you can do no less than put up, in your turn, Mrs. Kitty, with the follies of the poor orphan's young years."

“ I wish you would mind your own affairs, Thomas, and not meddle with mine," said Mrs. Kitty. "I can tell you, that Maurice would have been quite another thing by this time, if you had left him to my management whilst master was out."

"I reckon so too," replied Thomas, as he walked out of the kitchen by a back door; for although this conversation had been commenced in the hall, it was finished in the kitchen.

The family were assembled at breakfast in the study, when Henry, all glowing with happiness and exercise, entered the room-excusing his not having appeared sooner, by saying that he had ran farther than he had intended.

Mr. Dalben was reading Dr. Matthews's letter when Henry came in; or rather, having read it aloud, was commenting upon it whilst the tea was under preparation. As Henry sat down, the old gentleman closed the letter, and put it into his pocket, saying, "Henry, my dear, Dr. Matthews speaks very favourably of you. You have, I trust, been enabled to conduct yourself well at Clent Green: this, my boy, ought to be a cause of thankfulness to God, both

to you and me; for I trust that you know to whom the glory is due, when such poor weak creatures as we are, are assisted to conduct ourselves with propriety." So saying, Mr. Dalben extended his hand to Henry, and proceeded to introduce another subject; for he immediately turned to Lord H, and asked him if he could not by any means make it convenient to stay longer than one more day with him; for it seems that Lord and Lady H had determined to leave Mr. Dalben's the next morning the noble parents being anxious to see their children, whom they had left under the tender care of Lord H's widowed sister.

Whilst Mr. Dalben was agitating this point with his friend, a dialogue in whispers, which became more audible every minute, was taking

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I cannot see it," said

“Mr. Dalben is the proper judge," was the lady's reply. My uncle is an excellent man, the best of men; but young people require encouragement," said Mrs. Bonville.

"Our friend Henry does not look as if he required very much to raise his spirits just now, Mrs. Bonville," replied Lady H———.

"He is a charming boy indeed," returned Mrs. Bonville, giving him a fixed and expressive look, by which she drew his attention from what was passing between Lord H and his uncle; "but I think, what would give him so much pleasure, should not be concealed from him."

Are you speaking of me, ma'am," said Henry, with a smile and a blush, as if half afraid of his own boldness.

"What," said Mrs. Bonville,

"do

you

think

that because I used the expression charming boy,' I must needs be speaking of you? Perhaps I was alluding to my Edgar. You may be sure that I think my own dear son a charming boy-young man, I should say they are all men at Oxford. Is it not so, Mr.

Dalben ?"

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They all think themselves such, at least," replied Mr. Dalben; "but I beg, cousin, that you will not be putting it into Henry's head that he is a man."

"Whereas," added Lord H, "he is only just old enough to be put apprentice to a shoemaker or tailor, or some such handicraft."

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Really, Lord H-" replied Mrs. Bonville, "you have very extraordinary ideas. I assure you, that when my Edgar was only master Milner's age, he was quite a man in his own opinion. His poor father bought him a pony about that time-for it was his opinion that a young man never sits a horse well unless he begins early. By-the-bye, Mr. Dalben, should you wish for a quiet pony for master Milner, Edgar's is at your command: it is eating off its head at the stables in Bath, and I have told Edgar that I will not keep it after the vacation. You shall have it for an old song, or merely for its keep, at least till my son takes his degree."

"Mrs. Bonville," replied Mr. Dalben, "I am very greatly obliged to you, but Henry Milner is to be a clergyman; ten to one if he is ever more than a curate, or at most a rector on a moderate competence; and it will be a very great saving to him if he accustoms himself to