and called the old valet. His surprise would have made a subject for the pencil. The old man turned suddenly round, let the stick drop from his hand, and remained with open mouth, and vacant gaze, rivetted to the spot where he stood. "So you don't know me," said Vaughan: "Did you think I was no longer in the land of the living, my old friend? how goes on all at home?"

Peter recovered his recollection and speech together. "It is himself, sure enough: oh, that your honour had but come a few days sooner, or not at all. You have chosen an evil hour. Alas, the day!"

"What can have brought me home?" exclaimed Vaughan; "what should bring me, but peace, and the hope of a welcome home. Come, find your way to me here. Let me know all that you can tell me."

Peter at length made his appearance at the door, which he continued to hold in his hand, as if even then loth to advance any further, his eyes bent on the ground, sighing bitterly; a few tears even found their way. "Come, Sir," said Vaughan, struggling against his fears, 66 out with the worst at once. am prepared for any thing.""Alas, the day," ejaculated Peter, "that my master had but lived to see this day."-" Dead!" cried Vaughan; "dead! There passed away a spirit not understood by the world. He

I

had a heart, generous and forgiving. He was kinder to me than I deserved.”. 66 Less,-a hundred times less," exclaimed Peter angrily, I thought--but it is a strange world, Mr. Francis. But there may be treachery and deceit at the bottom of the will."—“T

can easily guess what you have not the courage to tell me, Peter," said Vaughan; "my cousin, I conclude, inherits all."-" Every shilling, sir!" cried Peter, wrathfully; "and never came an estate into the power of one that will misuse it more; and how it came about at this moment I am at a loss to tell. Why, it is not six months since that my mas ter made a will in your honour's favor; and then, when he lay on his death-bed, down comes this artful nephew, and turns every thing his own way. That will was made on the very day after the news reached us of the great battle of Vittoria. When your honour got promotion-when the Gazette came in that night, my master made me read every syllable of it said that you were a credit to the name of Vaughan, and should have wherewith to support it when he was gone. Next morning he sent for a lawyer, and made his will in my presence-locked it up, and bade me remember where he had placed it. When I saw plunder and treachery going on, almost before the hearse had left the door, I secured this will, and

produced it too. But Mr. Philip Courtney laughed me in my face, said I knew nothing of law, and that the first will went for nothing. But my mind misgave me, he was so anxious to get hold of it; and I swore by my master's death-bed, that it should never pass from my hands into any but your honour's. I have borne it about me to this day; and here it is.”

Your zeal and fidelity shall not go unrewarded," said Vaughan; " but you must not be sanguine in your hopes for me. If I have been played false I shall assert my rights. But are you still living at the hall?" "No, sir," said Peter, with a heavy sigh; "I had hoped to have died in it; but young Mr. Courtney was not one to whom grey hairs and long service are any recommendation. Thank heaven, I am not left to starve in my old age; my worthy master took care of that. I am now on my way to London to spend the remainder of my days with a widowed sister."

"And does my cousin mean to reside in the old mansion-house?" said Vaughan.

"Yes," said Peter, with fresh indignation; "there is a new housekeeper come down already; a fine town lady, all drest out in flounces and laces that put old Sarah quite out of the world; and a new butler or steward, one that seems to know how to act the

gentleman as well as his master; and two powdered puppies, that seem to know best how to lounge about all day, and play at cards half the night."

"But the house is so unlike all Courtney's ideas of modern elegance," said Vaughan, rather musing aloud than addressing the faithful domestic. "Ay, he'll soon alter that," cried Peter; "why, there have been a crowd of upholsterers and carpenters at work ever since the day of the funeral. The old furniture, that my old master valued so much, my new one says is good for nothing but fire-wood. The picture of the old gentleman's father, the admiral, that has hung up in the front drawing-room time out of mind, was thrown into a cart, to be sold along with the rest. The curiosity-room is to be pulled entirely down, to make way for an entrance-hall or greenhouse, or something of the kind. The two parlours are to be thrown into a ball-room; and his very study is to be all new furnished as a dressing-room for young Mrs. Courtney that is to be."

"Going to be married too," cried Vaughan, with a pang; "to whom?"

"Nay," said the old narrator, with an expressive shake of the head; "the lady that could make such a choice has not much chance of happiness; poor as I am, I would not let a child of mine change places with his bride."

"I

A horn sounded below; the London coach was driving into the yard. Peter rose. must be gone, Sir," Not without some remembrance, my old friend," said Vaughan, putting a purse into his hand. Peter bowed profoundly as he retreated towards the door, and alternately muttering benedictions and poising the purse in his hand, took his slow way down stairs.

CHAPTER XXII.

When we two parted,
In silence and tears,
Half-broken hearted
To sever for years;

Pale

grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;

Surely that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

Lord Byron.

NOTWITHSTANDING the fortitude with which Vaughan had disguised his feelings from the messenger of such unwelcome news, he was not such a hero, or to speak more properly, such a stoic, as to contemplate his loss with absolute indifference.

The evidence which he held in his hand