ing so much o' the talk to myself, which is o'er like the parsons, too-what I say is, let every man do what he ought, and believe what he can, and leave the rest to God Almighty. Here's to you, sir! and I hope you'll give me your company for another glass at my expense; for it isn't every day as I meets with such a convarsable, intelligible gen'leman to crack an evening with."

We are sorry that Mr. Gregory's profession of faith did not happen to be more orthodox; but that is his affair, not ours.

CHAPTER XXIV.

"G. What fellow's this?

L. No fellow, but a very honest man.

G. Beshrew me, but his looks belie him, then."
OLD PLAY.

AT the exact moment that Mr. Gregory had brought his discourse to the crisis, with which we closed the last chapter, and before he had time to call for the proposed glass of brandy and water, the door opened, and a stranger entered the room, who, without speaking, took his seat at the table. He was a man apparently about eight-and-twenty, of a somewhat wild and evil aspect, with a great deal of red hair about his face, and dressed exactly like William, in a blue frock, and a fur cap. Immediately afterwards, the girl brought in some bread and cheese and beer, which she placed.

before him, to which he silently applied himself, keeping his eyes directed to the food he was devouring with an eager appetite, and never once raising them to the faces of the company he had fallen amongst.

Whether his taciturnity was contagious, or whether there was something about him that inspired caution, certain it is, that the flow of Mr. Gregory's volubility seemed to have received a decided shock; neither did William himself feel by any means the same sense of security, nor so much at his ease, as he had done before his entrance; and although there was nothing remarkable in the similarity of attire, it being the costume of many of the peasants he had seen thereabouts, still he disliked it, and felt a presentiment of evil from the circumstance.

However, the brandy and water was called for and drank, accompanied by various attempts at conversation, which, notwithstanding their efforts, hung fire so exceedingly, that when the glass was finished, Mr. Gregory, who had come a long way that day, and meant to be up early on the following morning, began to feel sleepy, and declared his intention of retiring to bed; in pursuance of which design, he

shortly afterwards arose, and bidding William "good night!" left the room, carrying his goods with him; but as he passed the bar, his purpose was arrested by a friendly invitation. from Mrs. Riddle, to step in and have a chat, as she was then at leisure, and just sitting down to a comfortable bit of supper, which she recommended him to partake of. This, however, he declined, but although he declared he had had enough already, the offer of a "glass of something hot" was not so easily evaded; more especially as the hospitable hostess enforced it with the remark that Mr. Gregory was like Christmas, "as comed but once a-year."

It is perhaps unnecessary to remark, that Mr. Gregory was not exempt from that weakness which he had so profanely attributed to the clergy-namely, that he was fond of hearing himself talk; and with respect to brandy and water, although he was by no means a man given to excesses, still he had a notion that a social glass sharpened the wits and considerably heightened the zest of conversation. Thus the seductions of Mrs. Riddle, who was an exceedingly jolly person, were too much for his resolution; and shaking off his somnolency, he drew his chair to the table, and fell into

what he called a crack; which, turning first upon the prices of calicoes and cotton prints, the fluctuations of trade, and so forth, led to his observing that, "for his part, he had nothing to complain of, for he had had a very pretty sale lately, and had been doing uncommon well." At which intelligence the hostess expressed her satisfaction, hinting, at the same time, that she had no doubt her guest had by this time made a comfortable bit of money, and would soon be in a condition to retire upon his fortune; an insinuation which Mr. Gregory modestly disclaimed; but by some concatenation of ideas, the observation seemed to bring to his mind the unwelcome stranger, whose inauspicious intrusion had broken up his colloquy with William; whereupon, he abruptly asked if she knew the man who had come in just now, and called for bread and cheese, an inquiry which she answered by saying that she had not observed him.

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For," said he, "I can't say as I altogether liked his appearance; and I shouldn't be o'er willing to double up with him."

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Oh, no fears, Mr. Gregory!" replied the hostess, "nobody never comes here but what's

respectable; our house is too well known for