in Grosvenor Square, but in the evening experienced a second and still more alarming fit, and continues in a state which is calculated to excite the greatest apprehension. We regret also to add, that Lady Cecilia Titmouse, his lordship's only daughter, happening to be with his lordship at the moment of his sudden seizure, was immediately seized with illness, which, in her ladyship's critical state of health, may be attended with most serious consequences."

In the evening papers, it was stated that the Earl of Dreddlington still continued in a precarious condition, and that Lady Cecilia was not expected to survive the night; and the instant that Mr Gammon laid his hands on the next morning's paper, he turned with eagerness and trepidation to a particular gloomy corner of it—and a faint momentary mist came over his eyes, while he read as follows:

66

Yesterday, in Grosvenor Square, in her 29th year, after giving premature birth to a son, still-born, Lady Cecilia Titmouse, the lady of Tittlebat Titmouse, Esq. M.P., and only daughter and heiress of the Right Honourable the Earl of Dredd lington." Mr Gammon laid down the paper, and for some moments felt overcome with a deadly faintness. Having, however, recovered himself a little, on casting a hasty apprehensive glance over the paper for intelligence of the Earl of Dreddlington, he read as follows:

"The Earl of Dreddlington, we regret to say, continues alarmingly ill. Drs Bailey and Whittington are in constant attendance upon his lordship. Our readers will see, in another part of our paper, the melancholy announcement of the death of his lordship's lovely and accomplished daughter, Lady Cecilia Titmouse, after giving premature birth to a son, still-born. We regret to hear it rumoured, that the illness of his lordship originated in a shock occasioned by circumstances of a very painful nature; but this report, we trust, will turn out to be unfounded. In the event of his lordship's demise, he is succeeded in his titles and estates by his son-in-law, and heir, upon the death of the Lady Cecilia, Mr Titmouse, M.P. for Yatton."

It will surely be a relief to one's feelings to pass away, for a while at least, from the contemplation of these events of untoward and disastrous issue, to persons and to incidents of a very

different character. Turn, therefore, kind and patient reader! your eye to that retreat of long-suffering virtue which is to be found in Vivian Street. Relieved from the immediate pressure which had, as it were, forced him down into the very dust, poor Aubrey's pious and well-disciplined mind was not long in recovering that tone of confident reliance upon the goodness and mercy of God which that God had seen fit so severely to try; and such he now permitted Aubrey to see had been his object. He and his lovely-his beloved wife and sister, soon recovered a considerable measure of composure, and even cheerfulness; yet felt they all in the deep waters. The generous and timely interference of Mr Runnington had secured them, indeed, a few months' respite from the harassing and tormenting attacks of those who seemed bent upon their destruction; but what was to become of them all when the arrival of the next term should have again set into motion against them the dismal machinery of the law? None of them could foresee any mode of exit from their troubles; speculation was idle: yet lost they not an humble but trembling hope, that Providence would yet make a way for their escape.

The one of all the recent occurrences which had most shocked and disheartened Mr Aubrey, and driven him nearest to the verge of downright despair, was that of Lady Stratton's death, and its afflicting concomitants. How powerfully and perseveringly did the Arch-enemy of mankind represent this circumstance to him -especially in those moods of depression which are incident to all of us in this fluctuating scene of trial and suffering-as proof that he was the sport of chance, the victim of evil destiny! What has he, his wife, his sister, done to deserve it? But, thank God! in vain were these suggestions from beneath; totally ineffectual

"To shake his trust in God!"

Certainly, the event alluded to baffled all his calculations, long, and deeply, and anxiously as he reflected upon it, in all its bearings-and his only refuge lay in the simple reference of it to the all-wise providence of God. Oh, foolish fiend! and didst thou really think this little matter was sufficient to make this Christian man doubt or deny God's moral government of the world?—Far otherwise, indeed, was it with him, enlightened by intelligence from on high; and which satisfied Aubrey, that it was but rea

sonable to expect, while there was so much that was utterly incomprehensible and inexplicable in God's own character, in his physical and natural government of the world, corresponding mystery and incomprehensibility in his moral government of the world. We are permitted to obtain a few occasional glimpses into the one, as well as into the other—and they should satisfy us of the reality of the sublime and awful system which is in existence around us. What know we of the ultimate scope and end of His working? What seeming good shall we be sure will not produce evil? What seeming evil shall we be sure will not produce, and is not designed to produce, good? And may not our ignorance in these respects be specially ordained to test the faith of man-to check presumptuous confidence-to repel palsying despair; in a word, to make man walk humbly with his God, in constant and implicit dependence upon Him? Oh, blessed is the man of true devoutness of mind, and protected from innumerable troubles and perils that assail and overpower those who choose to live without God in the world!-Thus was it that Aubrey, as he had not presumed in his prosperity, so despaired not in his adversity.

He had commenced a sedulous attendance at the chambers of Mr Mansfield, within a few days after the delicate kindness of Mr Runnington had afforded him the means of doing so. He already knew sufficient to charm him with the intricate but exquisite system of the law of real property; and the immediate practical operation of its principles, which he witnessed in his new scene of study, served to enhance his estimate of its importance and value. Mr Mansfield had recommended him to address his early and close attention to the incomparable essay of Mr Fearne, upon Contingent Remainders. He did so, and was soon enchanted with the simplicity, subtlety, and comprehensiveness of the system developed in that masterly performance. In addition to his absorbing professional labours, he continued his occasional contributions to substantial literature; but Mr Runnington's generosity had enabled him to dispense with that severe and incessant exertion to which he had been till then accustomed, and enabled him to address himself to his difficult yet delightful studies with unimpaired energy.

Some short time after he had commenced his attendance at Mr

Mansfield's chambers, Mr Aubrey was, one morning about ten o'clock, on his way down to Lincoln's Inn, and when about to cross Piccadilly, paused to let pass him a dusty post-chaise and four, dashing up St James's Street; and as it went close and rapidly by him, he quite started with astonishment, for, unless his eye had extraordinarily deceived him, he had seen in the chaise no other a person than Lord De la Zouch, who, however, if it were he, had not appeared to see Mr Aubrey, and probably had really not observed him.

"Why, how can this be?" thought Aubrey, standing and gazing for a moment in astonishment after the post-chaise. "The letter which Agnes had the other day from Lady De la Zouch, did not say a word about Lord De la Zouch's intention to return to England! And alone!—And in a post-chaise-and travelling all night, as he evidently has, from Dover! 'Tis strange! What can be the matter?"—And he stood for a moment irresolute whether or not he should retrace his steps, and satisfy his curiosity by calling at the house of Lord De la Zouch, in Dover Street. On consideration, however, he determined not to do so. He might be mistaken; but if not, Lord De la Zouch might have been called back to England on a matter of special urgency, and possibly deem a call from any one, except those he expected to see, intrusive. Aubrey, therefore, continued his way on to Lincoln's Inn; and was very soon engrossed with the matters there requiring his attention. But it really was Lord De la Zouch whom he had seen; and it was solely on Aubrey's own account that his lordship, leaving Lady De la Zouch at Paris, had taken this sudden 'ourney to England-not intending Aubrey, however, at all events at present, to be apprized of the fact. 'Twas entirely owing to the unconscious Gammon that Lord De la Zouch thus made his appearance in England; for, had that gentleman not taken such special pains to have inserted in the Morning Growl, the full and accurate account of the proceedings which he had caused to be instituted against himself, which the reader has had laid before him, and which his lordship in due course read at Paris, with infinite anxiety and alarm on the score of its possible bearing upon Mr Aubrey, his lordship would in all probability have continued at Paris for several months longer, in total ignorance of the thraldom of the unfortunate Aubreys. The moment that his lordship

had read over the report in question, he wrote off to Mr Runnington a strictly confidential letter, begging an immediate answer, with as full and exact an account of Mr Aubrey's circumstances as Mr Runnington could give. By the very next post, that gentleman wrote off to his lordship a long letter, acquainting him with what had befallen the persecuted Aubrey, viz. his double arrest, and in respect of so terrible a liability. Mr Runnington spoke, in very glowing and feeling terms of the manly fortitude of Mr Aubrey under his accumulated misfortunes; and, in short, drew so moving a picture of the deplorable circumstances in which Mr Aubrey and his family were plunged, that his lordship the next day wrote off to inform Mr Runnington, in confidence, that he might expect to see his lordship in London within a day or two-for that he was coming over solely on the affairs of the Aubreys-and was, in fact, resolved upon bringing about, cost what it might, either alone, or in conjunction with such other friends of Mr Aubrey as his lordship might think proper to take into his counsels, a complete and final settlement of Mr Aubrey's affairs, and so place him at once and for ever out of the reach of all his enemies; to set him once inore straight and free in the world, and give him a fair chance of securing, by the successful practice of the profession of the bar, that independence, affluence, and distinction, to which his great talents, learning, industry, and unconquerable energy, warranted him in aspiring. As soon as his lordship had recovered from the fatigues of his journey, he sent off a servant to request the immediate attendance of Mr Runnington-who was overjoyed at receiving the summons, and could hardly refrain from stepping over to Mr Mansfield's, in order to apprize Mr Aubrey of the arrival of Lord De la Zouch. He abstained, however, from doing so, on recollecting the strict injunctions of Lord De la Zouch; and immediately set off for Dover Street. But before they met, let me take the opportunity of mentioning one or two little matters connected with the previous movements of Mr Runnington.

He was a very able man; clear-headed, cautious, experienced, and singularly prompt and determined, when once he had resolved on any course of proceeding in short, he was quite capable of contending against even such a formidable opponent as Gammon, subtle, tortuous, and unscrupulous as he might be.

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