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an ample crimson curtain, effectually excluding the chill morning air-he reflected with a heavy sigh upon the precarious tenure by which he held the little comforts that were yet left to him. Oh!-thought he-if Heaven were but to relieve me from the frightful pressure of liability under which I am bound to the earth, what labour, what privation would I repine at! What gladness would not spring up in my heart! But rousing himself from vain thoughts of this kind, he began to arrange his manuscripts, when his ear caught a sound on the stair-'twas the light step of his sister, coming down to perform her promised undertaking -not an unusual one by any means-to transcribe for the press the manuscript he was about completing that morning. My sweet Kate," said he tenderly, as she entered with her little chamber light, which she extinguished as she entered" I am really grieved to see you stirring so early-go back to bed." But she kissed his cheek affectionately, and refused to do any such thing; and telling him of the restless night she had passed, of which indeed her pale and depressed features bore but too legible evidence, she sate herself down in her accustomed place, nearly opposite to him, cleared away space enough for her little desk, and then opening it, was presently engaged in her delightful task-for to her it was indeed delightful-of copying out her brother's composition. Thus she sat, silent and industrious scarce opening her lips, except to ask him to explain an illegible word or so, till the hour had arrived-eight o'clock - for the close of their morning toil. The reader will be pleased to hear that the article on which they had been engaged and which was on a question of foreign politics, of great difficulty and importance-produced him a cheque for sixty guineas, and excited very general attention and admiration. Oh, how precious was this reward of his honourable and severe toil! How it cheered him who had earned it, and those who were, alas! entirely dependent upon his noble exertions! And how sensibly it augmented their little means! Grateful, indeed, were all of them for the success which had attended his labours !

As I do not intend to occupy the reader with any details relating to Mr Aubrey's Temple avocations, I shall

content myself with saying that the more Mr Weasel and Mr Aubrey came to know of each other, the more Aubrey respected his legal knowledge and ability, and he, Aubrey's intellectual energy and successful application, which, indeed, consciously brought home to Aubrey its own reward, in the daily acquisition of solid learning, and increasing facility in the use of it. His mind was formed for things, and was not apt to occupy itself with mere words, or technicalities. He was ever in quest of the principles of law, its reason, and spirit. He quickly began to appreciate the sound practical good sense on which almost all the rules of law are founded, and the effectual manner in which they are accommodated to the innumerable and evervarying exigencies of human affairs. The mere forms and technicalities of the law, Mr Aubrey often compared to short-hand, whose characters to the uninitiated appear quaint and useless, but are perfectly invaluable to him who has seen the object, and patiently acquired the use of them. Whatever Mr Aubrey's hand found to do, while studying the law, he did it, indeed, with his might-which is the grand secret of the difference in the success of different persons addressing themselves to legal studies. Great or small, easy or difficult, simple or complicated, interesting or uninteresting, he made a point of mastering it thoroughly, and, as far as possible, by his own efforts; which generated early a habit of selfreliance which no one better than he knew the value of-how inestimable, how indispensable, not to the lawyer merely, but to any one entrusted with the responsible management of affairs. In short, he had all the success which is sure to attend the exertions of a man of superior sense and spirit, who is in earnest in what he is about. He frequently surprised Mr Weasel with the exactness and extent of his legal information-his acuteness, clear-headedness, and tenacity in dealing with matters of downright difficulty-and Mr Weasel had several times, in consultation, an opportunity of expressing his very flattering opinion concerning Mr Aubrey to the Attorney-General. The mention of that eminent person reminds me of an observation which I intended to have made some time ago. The reader is not to imagine, from my silence upon

the subject, that Mr Aubrey, in his fallen fortunes, was heartlessly forgotten or neglected by the distinguished friends and associates of former and more prosperous days. It was not they that withdrew from him, but he that withdrew from them; and that, too, of set purpose, resolutely adhered to, on the ground that it could not be otherwise, without seriously interfering with the due prosecution of those plans of life on which were dependent not only his all, and that of those connected with him-but his fond hopes of yet extricating himself, by his own personal exertions, from the direful difficulties and dangers which at present environed him of achieving, with his own right hand, independence. The Attorney-General frequently called to enquire how he was getting on; and, let me not forget here to state a fact which I conceive infinitely to redound to poor Aubrey's honour-viz. that he thrice refused offers made him from very high quarters, of considerable sinecures, i. e. handsome salaries for purely nominal services-which he was earnestly and repeatedly reminded would at once afford him a liberal maintenance, and leave the whole of his time at his own disposal, to follow any pursuit or profession which he chose. Mr Aubrey justly considered that it was very difficult, if not indeed impossible, for any honourable and high-minded man to be a sinecurist. He that holds a sinecure, in my opinion, is plundering the public; and how it is less contrary to the dictates of honour and justice, deliberately to defraud an individual, than deliberately and openly to defraud that collection of individuals called the public, let casuists determine. As for Mr Aubrey, he saw stretching before him the clear, straight, bright line of honour, and he resolved to follow it, without faltering or wavering, come what come might. He resolved, with the blessing of Providence, that his own exertions should procure his bread, and, if such was the will of Heaven, lead him to distinction among mankind. He had formed this determination, and resolved to work it out- never to pause or give way, but to die in the struggle. Such a spirit must conquer, whatever is opposed to it. What is difficulty? Only a word indicating the degree of strength requisite for

accomplishing particular objects; a mere notice of the necessity for exertion; a bugbear to children and fools; only a mere stimulus to men.

Mr Gammon felt very little difficulty in putting off Mr Quirk from his purpose of enforcing the payment by Mr Aubrey of the balance of his account; in demonstrating to him the policy of waiting a little longer. He pledged himself, when the proper time came, to adopt measures of undoubted efficacy, assuring his sullen senior in a low tone, that since his letter had reached Mr Aubrey, circumstances had occurred which would render it in the last degree dangerous to press that gentleman upon the subject. What that was which had happened, Mr Gammon, as usual, refused to state. This was a considerable source of vexation to the old gentleman: but he had a far greater one, in the decisive and final overthrow of his fondly cherished hopes concerning his daughter's alliance with Titmouse. The paragraph in the "Aurora," announcing Mr Titmouse's engagement to his brilliant relative, the Lady Cecilia, had emanated from the pen of Mr Gammon, who had had several objects in view in giving early publicity to the event he announced in such courtly terms. Happening on the morning on which it appeared, to be glancing over the fascinating columns of the Aurora, at a public office, (the paper taken in at their own establishment being the Morning Growl,) he made a point of purchasing that day's Aurora; and on returning to Saffron Hill, he enquired whether Mr Quirk were at home. Hearing that he was sitting alone, in his room,—in rushed Mr Gammon, breathless with surprise and haste, and plucking the paper out of his pocket," By heavens, Mr Quirk!" he almost gasped as he doubled down the paper to the place where stood the announcement in question, and put it into Mr Quirk's hands," this young fellow's given you the slip, after all! See!-The moment that my back is turned,"

Mr Quirk having with a little trepidation adjusted his spectacles, perused the paragraph with a somewhat flushed face. He had, in fact, for some time had grievous misgivings on the subject of his chance of becoming the father-in-law of his distinguished client, Mr Titmouse; but now his

faintest gliomering of hope was suddenly and completely extinguished, and the old gentleman felt quite desolate. He looked up, on finishing the paragraph, and gazed rather ruefully at his indignant and sympathizing companion.

"It seems all up, Gammon, certainly don't it?" said he, with a flustered air.

"Indeed, my dear sir, it does! You have my sincerest"

"Now, come, t'other end of the thing, Gammon! You know every promise of marriage has two ends one joins the heart, and t'other the pocket; out heart, in pocket-so have at him, by Jove!" He rose up and rubbed his hands as he stood before the fire." Breach of promise-thundering damages-devilish deep purse -special jury-broken heart, and all that! I wish he'd written her more letters! Adad, I'll have a shot at him by next assizes—a writ on the file this very day! What d'ye think on't, friend Gammon, between ourselves?" "Why, my dear sir-to tell you the truth-ar'n't you really well out of it? He's a miserable little upstart he'd have made a wretched husband for so superior a girl as Miss Quirk." "Ah-ay! ay! She is a good girl, Gammon-there you're right; would have made the best of wives my eyes, (between ourselves!) how that'll go to the jury! Gad, I fancy I see 'em-perhaps all of 'em daughters of their own.'

"Looking at the thing calmly, Mr Quirk," said Gammon gravely-apprehensive of Mr Quirk's carrying too far so very absurd an affair-" where's the evidence of the promise? Because, you know, there's certainly something depends on that-eh?"

"Evidence? Deuce take you, Gammon! where are your wits? Evi dence? Lots-lots of it! A'n't there I-her father? A'n't I a competent witness? Wait and see old Caleb Quirk get into the box. I'll settle his hash in half a minute."

"Yes-if you're believed, perhaps." "Believe be—! Who's to be believed, if her own father isn't?" "Why, you may be too much swayed by your feelings!" Feelings be -! It's past all that; he has none-so he must pay, for he has cash! He ought to be made an example of!"

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"Still, to come to the point, Mr Quirk, I vow it quite teases me-this matter of the evidence"

"Evidence? Why, Lord bless my soul, Gammon," quoth Quirk testily, "haven't you had your eyes and ears open all this while? Gad, what a crack witness you'd make! A man of your your intellect-serve a friend at a pinch-and in a matter about his daughter? Ah, how often you've seen 'em together-walking, talking, laughing, dancing, riding-writ in her album-made her presents, and she him. Evidence? Oceans of it, and to spare! Secure Subtle-and I wouldn't take £5000 for my verdict!"

"Why, you see, Mr Quirk," said Gammon, very seriously-" though I've striven my utmost these six months to bring it about, the artful little scamp has never given me the least thing that I could lay hold of, and swear to."

"Oh, you'll recollect enough, in due time, friend Gammon, if you'll only turn your attention to it; and if you'll bear in mind it's life and death to my poor girl. Oh Lord! I must get my sister to break it to her, and I'll send sealed instructions to Mr Weasel, shall we, say? or Lynx? ay, Lynx; for he'll then have to fight for his own pleadings; and can't turn round at the trial and say, this is not right,' and that's wrong,' and,' why didn't you have such and such evidence? Lynx is the man; and I'll lay the venue in Yorkshire, for Titmouse is devilish disliked down there; and a special jury will be only too glad to give him a desperate slap in the chops! We'll lay the damages at twenty thousand pounds! Ab, ha! I'll teach the young villain to break the hearts of an old man and his daughter. But, egad," he pulled out his watch, "half-past two; and Nicky Crowbar sure to be put up at three! By Jove! it won't do to be out of the way; he's head of the gang, and they always come down very li beral when they're in trouble. Snap! Amminadab! hollo! who's there? Drat them all, why don't they speak ?" The old gentleman was soon, however, attended to.

"Are they here?" he enquired as Mr Amminadab entered.

"Yes sir, all three; and the coach is at the door, too. Nicky Crowbar's to be up at three, sir"

"I sce-I know-I'm ready," re

plied Mr Quirk, who was presently seated in the coach with three gentle men, to whom he minutely explained the person of Mr Nicky Crowbar, and the place at which it was quite certain that Mr Crowbar could not have been at half-past eight o'clock on Tuesday the 9th of July, seeing that he hap pened at that precise time to be elsewhere, in company with these three gentlemen-to wit, at Chelsea, and not at Clapham.

Though Mr Gammon thus sympa. thized with one of the gentle beings who had been "rifled of all their sweetness," I grieve to say that the other, Miss Tag-rag, never occupied his thoughts for one moment. He neither knew nor cared whether or not she was apprized of the destruction of all her fond hopes, by the paragraph which had appeared in the Aurora. In fact, he felt that he had really done enough, on the part of Mr Titmouse, for his early friend and patron, Mr Tag. rag, on whom the stream of fortune had set in strong and steady; and, in short, Mr Gammon knew that Mr Tag-rag had received a substantial memento of his connexion with Tittlebat Titmouse. In fact, how truly disinterested a man was Mr Gammon towards all with whom he came in contact! What had he not done, as I have been saying, for the Tag-rags? What for Mr Titmouse? What for the Earl of Dreddlington? What for Mr Quirk, and even Snap? As for Mr Quirk, had he not been put in possession of his long coveted bond for L.10,000? of which, by the way, he allotted L.1000 only to the man-Mr Gammon-by whose unwearying exertions and consummate ability he obtained so splendid a prize, and L.300 to Mr Snap. Then, had not Mr Quirk also been paid his bill against Titmouse of L.5000 and upwards, and L.2500 by Mr Aubrey? And, governed by the articles of their partnership, what a lion's half of this spoil had not been appropriated to the respectable old head of the firm? Mr Gammon did undoubtedly complain indignantly of the trifling portion allotted to him, but he was encountered by such a desperate pertinacity on the part of Mr Quirk as baffled him entirely, and caused him to abandon his further claim in disgust and despair. Thus, the L.20,000 obtained by Mr

Titmouse, on mortgage of the Yatton property, was reduced at once to the sum of L.5000;-but out of this handsome balance had yet to come, first, L.800, with interest, due to Mr Quirk for subsistence-money advanced to his protegé; secondly, L.500 due to Mr Snap, for monies alleged to have been also lent by him to his friend Titmouse at different times, in the manner that has been already explained to the reader-Snap's demand for repayment being accompanied by verbatim copies of between forty and fifty memoranda,

many of them in pencil,-notes of hand, receipts, I.Ö.U's, &c., in whose handwriting the figures representing the sums lent, and the times when, could not be ascertained, and did not signify: it being, in point of law, good prima facie evidence for Snap, in the event of a trial, simply to produce the documents and prove the signature of his friend Mr Titmouse. Titmouse discharged a volley of imprecations at Snap's head, on receiving this unexpected claim, and referred it to Mr Gammon; who, after subjecting it to a bona fide and very rigorous examination, found it in vain to attempt to resist, or even diminish it; such perfect method and accuracy had Snap observed in his accounts, that they secured him a clear gain of L.350; the difference between that sum and L.500, being the amount actually and bona fide advanced by him to Titmouse. Deducting, therefore, L.1300, (the amount of the two minor demands of L.800 and L.500 above specified,) there remained to Mr Titmouse out of the L.20,000 the sum of L.3700; and he ought to have been thankful; for he might have got nothing,-or even have been brought in debtor to Messrs Quirk, Gammon, and Snap. I say that Mr Gammon would seem, from the above statement of accounts, not to have been dealt with in any degree adequately to his merits. He felt it so, but soon reconciled himself to it, occupied as he was with arduous and extensive speculations, amidst all the complication of which he never for a moment lost sight of one object, viz.—himself. His schemes were boldly conceived, and he went about the accomplishment of them with equal patience and sagacity. Almost every thing was going as he could wish. He had contrived to place himself in a very con

venient fast-and-loose sort of position with reference to his fellow-partners one which admitted of his easily disengaging himself from them, whenever the proper time arrived for taking such a step. He was absolute and paramount over Titmouse, and could always secure his instant submission, by virtue of the fearful and mysterious talisman which he ever and anon flashed before his startled eyes. He had acquired great influence, also, over the Earl of Dreddlington-an influence which was constantly on the increase; and had seen come to pass an event which he judged to be of great importance to him—namely, the engagement between Titmouse and the Lady Cecilia. Yet was there one object which he had proposed to himself as incalculably valuable and supremely desirable-as the consummation of all his designs and wishes; -I mean the obtaining the hand of Miss Aubrey-and in which he had yet a fearful misgiving of failure. But he was a man whose courage rose with every obstacle; and he fixedly resolved within himself to succeed, at any cost. 'Twas not alone his exquisite appreciation of her personal beauty her grace, her accomplishments, her lovely temper, her lofty spirit, her high birth-objects all of them dazzling enough to a man of such a powerful and ambitious mind, and placed in such circumstances in life as Gammon. There were certain other considerations, intimately involved in all his calculations, which rendered success in this affair a matter of capital importance-nay indispensable. Knowing, as I do, what had passed, at different times, between that proud and determined girl, and her constant and enthusiastic lover, Mr Delamere, I am as certain as a man can be of any thing that has not actually happened, that, though she may possibly not be fated to become Mrs Delamere, she will certainly NEVER become-Mrs Gammon. Loving Kate as I do, and being thoroughly acquainted with Gammon, I feel deep interest in his movements, and am watching them with great apprehension:-she, lovely, innocent, unsuspicious; he, subtle, selfish, unscrupulous, desperate! And he has great power in his hands: is he not silently surrounding his destined prey with unperceived but inevitable

meshes? God guard thee, my Kate, and reward thy noble devotion to thy brother and his fallen fortunes! Do we chide thee for clinging to them with fond tenacity in their extremity, when thou art daily importuned to enter into that station which thou wouldst so adorn?

Gammon's reception by the Aubreys, in Vivian Street-kind and courteous though it had surely been-had ever since rankled in his heart. Their abstaining from a request to him to prolong his stay, or to renew his visit, he had noted at the time, and had ever since reflected upon with pique and discouragement. Nevertheless he was resolved, at all hazards, to become at least an occasional visiter in Vivian Street. When a fortnight had elapsed without any further intimation to Mr Aubrey concerning the dreaded balance due to the firm, Gammon ventured to call in, for the purpose of assuring Mr Aubrey that it was no mere temporary lull; that he might divest his mind of all uneasiness on the subject; and of asking whether he (Gammon) had not told Mr Aubrey truly that he both could, and would restrain the hand of Mr Quirk. Could Mr Aubrey be otherwise than grateful for such active and manifestly disinterested kindness? Again Gammon made his appearance at Mrs Aubrey's tea-table-and was again received with all the sweetness and frankness of manner which he had formerly experienced from her and Miss Aubrey. Again he called, on some adroit pretext or another—and once heard Miss Aubrey's rich voice and exquisite performance on the piano. He became subject to emotions and impulses of a sort that he had never before experienced: yet, whenever he retired from their fascinating society, he felt an aching void, as it were, within-he perceived the absence of all sympathy towards him ; he felt indignant-but that did not quench the ardour of his aspirations. 'Tis hardly necessary to say, that on every occasion Gammon effectually concealed the profound and agitating feelings which the sight of Miss Aubrey called forth in him; and what a tax was this upon his powers of concealment and self-control! How he laid himself out to amuse and interest them all! With what racy humour would he describe the vulgar absurdi