newly-engaged servants had gone down two or three days before, in charge of a large van full of luggage; and in the first carriage were going only Lord and Lady Drelincourt and Miss Aubrey, his lordship's valet and Lady Drelincourt's maid sitting in the rumble behind; while the second carriage was occupied by little Charles and Agnes, and their attendants, together with Harriet, Miss Aubrey's faithful and pretty little maid. Every thing being at length ready, the word was given, crack went the whips, and away they rolled on their memorable and exciting journey. There was an evident air of expectation and interest along the road, for a long while before they approached Yatton; for in fact it was generally known that Lord Drelincourt, who, it was believed, had passed through a series of romantic adventures, was going down to take possession of the ancient family estate in Yorkshire. How the hearts of the travellers yearned towards the dear old familiar objects on each side of the road, which, as they advanced at a rapid pace, they passed with increasing frequency! At length they reached the last posting-house, which was within twelve miles of Yatton, and where there were manifest symptoms of preparation and excitement. Eight very fine horses were brought out in a twinkling, and the harness appeared both new and gay. Mrs Spruce, the landlady, together with her two daughters, all of them dressed with unusual smartness, stood at the inn door, curtsying repeatedly: and on Lady Drelincourt and Kate seeing them, they beckoned them to the carriage door, and enquired after their health, with such a kindness and interest in their manner as almost brought tears into their eyes.

"So you have not forgotten us, Mrs Spruce?" asked Lord Drelincourt with a gay smile, as they handed a couple of glasses of water into the carriage, at the request of Lady Drelincourt and Kate, who were evidently getting very nervous with their proximity to Yatton, and the exciting scenes which there awaited them.

"Oh, my lord, forgotten your lordship! No, my ladies, not for one minute since the dismal day you all went-my lord! There's such a stir, my ladies, along the road-you'll see it all when you get a mile further on! Of course, your lordship and your ladyships know what's going to be done at the Hall

"Ah, ah! so I hear! Well-good-day, Mrs Spruce!" cried Lord Drelincourt, and the next moment they had dashed off in their last stage, and at a thundering pace to be sure. It was nearly twelve o'clock at noon, and the day was bright and beautiful and there was a fresh and exhilarating breeze, stirring, that oft came laden with the rich scents of summer fields.

"Oh Agnes! oh Kate! what a contrast is this to the day on which our horses' heads, two years ago, were turned the other way!" exclaimed Lord Drelincourt; but received only a faint reply, for his companions were getting excited and restless with the rapidly increasing evidences of excitement on the road. As they advanced they overtook vehicles of every description, all containing people in gay holyday trim, and all with their horses' heads turned one way; viz. towards the great centre of attraction, Yatton. At length the increasing number of carriages, chaises, cars, gigs, vans, carts, waggons-many of them decked with ribands, flowers, and laurel boughs-compelled them to slacken their speed, and gave them fuller opportunities of witnessing the joyful enthusiasm with which their approach was greeted. Already they heard, or imagined they heard, from the direction of Yatton, the sounds of voices and music.

“I'm sure, Charles, I shall cry like a child”—quoth Kate, her eyes suddenly filling with tears; and such was the case also with Lady Drelincourt.

"And what, Kate, if you do?" cried her brother joyfully, kissing and embracing them affectionately.

"Charles! Charles !—I declare there's old Granny Grimstonit is indeed!” cried Kate eagerly, as they passed an old-fashioned market-cart, in which sat, sure enough, the good creature Miss Aubrey had mentioned, beside her daughter, to whom Kate waved her hand repeatedly-for the former had been an old pensioner of the late Mrs Aubrey's.

Oh, what a sight burst upon them when they came to the turning of the road which brought them full in view of Yatton -the village and the Hall! They came, too, to a dead stand-still -'twas impossible to get on for some time, for they seemed to have got suddenly into the middle of some great fair! What a shout rent the air! Boughs of laurel were waving in all direc

tions, with wreaths and ribands! Beautiful nosegays were flung in through the carriage windows by men, women, and even children, all dressed in their best and gayest attire! Here was formed an equestrian procession that was to precede them into Yatton, consisting of some hundred stout Yorkshire yeomen, chiefly tenants of Lord Drelincourt and his neighbours. Louder and louder came the shouts of welcome from all quarters, before and behind, intermingled at length, as they entered the village, with the clash and clangour of cymbals, the thundering of drums, the sounds of trumpets, trombones, clarionets, and shrill inspiriting fifes. 'Twas really most exciting, and Lady Drelincourt and Kate were already amply fulfilling their own predictions. Their carriage suddenly stopped for some moments; and a louder shout than had yet been heard burst around them, while the fine military band approached playing “Rule Britannia!" followed by a procession of at least two hundred horsemen, headed by Delamere, and all wearing his bright blue election colours! He thrust his hand into the carriage, and grasping those of each of them, again rode off. Here an attempt was made to take the horses out of Lord Drelincourt's carriage, which he peremptorily forbade, acknowledging, however, the affectionate enthusiasm which prompted the proposal, by repeatedly bowing in all directions as they passed down the village. Flags and branches of laurel hung from almost every window, and the crowd had become so great as to prevent them frequently from moving on for more than a minute or two together. At length they saw the dear old church, with its long, thin, grey spire-no doubt its little bells were ringing as loudly as they could be rung, but they could not be heard; for the band at that moment, when within a few yards of the park gates, struck up in fine style the inspiriting air of “The King shall hae his ain again!" A great number of carriages were drawn up on each side of the entrance to the park, and the high antique iron gates and stone pillars were covered with wreaths of flowers and branches of laurel. Immediately within the gates, on each side, upon forms and stools, sat about a dozen of the oldest tenants on the estate, male and female, who, on the approach of Lord Drelincourt, lifted up their hands feebly towards heaven, while tears ran down their eyes, and they implored

a blessing on those who were re-entering their own, after so long and cruel a separation from it. But here the eager and affectionate eyes of the travellers lit upon an object infinitely more interesting and affecting than any they had yet seen—'twas the venerable figure of Dr Tatham, who, with his hat off, stood with his hand and his face elevated momentarily towards heaven, imploring a blessing upon those who were entering. Lord Drelincourt instantly called for the carriage-door to be opened, and, within a moment or two's time, he had grasped the little Doctor's hands in his own; and Lady Drelincourt and Kate, having also hastily alighted, had thrown their arms around him, and kissed him with the feelings of two daughters towards a fond and venerated father. The little Doctor was quite overcome, and could scarcely say a word—indeed, they were all much excited. At this point came up Mr Delamere, who had dismounted at the gate, and placing Kate's arm hastily, and with a proud and triumphant air, within his own, while Lady Drelincourt was supported between her husband and Dr Tatham, the two children following, with their attendants, immediately behind—in this manner they approached the Hall, each side of the avenue being lined with the gaily-dressed gentry of the neighbourhood, collected from far and wide. When they reached the fine old gateway, there shot up suddenly into the air, upon a flag-staff planted upon the centre of the turret, a splendid crimson banner, while the band within the court-yard struck up the spirit-stirring air, one which no Englishman can listen to without excitement "See the Conquering Hero comes!" The moment that they had passed under the old gateway, what a gay and brilliant scene presented itself! Upon the steps fronting the door, and indeed all around, stood the most distinguished persons in the county, ready to greet the new-comers. There was the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, the High Sheriff, two of the county MembersCatholics and Protestant-high Tories and high Whigs—there they were the high-born, the beautiful-the gifted, the goodall crowding with eager and enthusiastic welcome around those who were thus returning to their own, after so extraordinary and infamous an exclusion and banishment. To Lady Drelincourt, to Miss Aubrey, to Lord Drelincourt himself, amidst the

overpowering excitement of the moment, it appeared as though they were in a vivid and dazzling dream, and they felt completely confused and bewildered. Lady De la Zouch, and one or two others of their considerate friends, observing the painful excitement under which Lady Drelincourt and Miss Aubrey were labouring, succeeded in withdrawing them for a while from the tumultuous and splendid scene into their chambers.

A splendid cold collation was spread in the hall for the immediate friends and guests of Lord Drelincourt, while an immense entertainment, of a more substantial description, was prepared under an awning, upon the beautiful terrace at the back of the Hall, for about three hundred people, consisting principally of the tenantry, their families and friends. (Half-a-dozen feasts were going on in the village, for those who were necessarily excluded from the terrace tables.) The substantial business of the day-viz. feasting-was to commence, both for gentle and simple, at three o'clock, shortly before which period Lady Drelincourt and Miss Aubrey appeared in the drawing-room, and then in the hall, infinitely the better for their refreshing toilets. 'Tis true that their eyes looked somewhat impaired by the excessive emotions occasioned by the events of the day-for they had both been several times, during their brief absence, on the verge of hysterics; yet for all that they looked a pair of as lovely women as dear Old England, rich in delicate beauty as it is, could produce. They both wore plain white muslin dresses, with small blue rosettes, which Lady De la Zouch had intimated would give a certain person infinite gratification-meaning the new member for the borough ; for his colours were blue-whereof there was a modest glimpse in his own surtout. Lord Drelincourt also appeared greatly the better for his visit to his dressing-room, and was in the highest possible spirits as well he might be, amidst a scene so glorious and triumphant as that around him; all people, high and low, rich and poor, without distinction of party, vying with one another in doing him honour, and welcoming him back to the halls of his ancestors. At length, it being announced that all was in readiness, before sitting down to their own banquet, Lord Drelincourt, with Lady Drelincourt on one arm and his sister on the other, and followed by Dr Tatham, Mr Run