have formed his household," said he," is not such an irreparable misfortune as to be bemoaned in the tone of Werter or St. Preux."

"We cannot judge of people till we are acquainted with their habitual manners," answered Julia, gravely. "Ah, Horatio! would not those be liable to strange errors who judged from outward appearances of us?"

In her own mind she found plenty of excuses for the apparent eccentricity of the amiable recluse. He might have had a disappointment, or he might be a laker, and fond of being solitary and sublime; yet, no his last words did not indicate that he was satisfied with his lot. However, one must not apply the same rules in judging of persons in the great world, or persons whose profession condemns them to retirement. It was very natural that a romantic country might give the inhabitant a tendency to romance.

Like most ladies who have never been

fifty miles from town, Julia had several floating prejudices, both in favour of, and against the country. Her imagination was particularly prepossessed on the subject of the North-the land of poets and pedlars, where bards sing in clusters like nightingales, by every bush, and where each mountain, stream, and tarn, invites to poetic inspiration.

These, and a thousand other considerations, induced her to judge the young pastor favourably; and she experienced a curiosity, not unmixed with inquietude, to develop the full cause of the point so irresistibly enforced by the language of his eloquent voice and eye-" Alone! alone!"

CHAP

CHAPTER III.

No place is so disagreeable and unimproving as a country town. I should like to divide my time between the town and country; in a lone house, with the business of farming and planting, where my mind might gain strength by solitary musing; and in a metropolis, to rub off the rust of thought, and polish the taste which the contemplation of nature had rendered just and correct. Letters on Norway.

JULIA and Horatio Somerville were born to the expectation of almost-boundless wealth; but as Horatio was one of that spirited class of beings who think every man should have some serious object of occupation, he had made choice of the profession of the law. An unexpected crash had reduced him from opulence to mediocrity, impaired his interest, and diminished the number of his friends; and a misfortune of a much more affecting nature

ture that succeeded gave him a temporary disgust to society; still he resolved to follow up his profession; and, as his prospects in London were not so flattering as they had been, he proposed to his sister the idea of practising for a year or two in the country.

Of this she highly approved; and Horatio proceeded to open his plan to her."The mart for talent, as well as wealth, seems at this moment overstocked," he said; "but the instant a favourable opening presents, 'tis easy to shift the scene. Meanwhile, what a much more important personage is a barrister practising in the country, surrounded by little attorneys (I beg pardon, solicitors) than a briefless young lawyer in London, eclipsed and lost amid the constellation of talents in Westminster Hall! Cæsar at the foot of the Alps, instead of the second man in Rome-hey, Julia? Better be envied than-but I had forgot, that's not your maxim." Observing the shade of pensiveness

siveness that gathered on her brow" So cheer up, my Julia! put on your gipsyhat, and look killing, for this is the hour for bishop Anselm's tomb."

This was an appointment with Mr. Lascelles, who was "a dab at antiquities," as Mrs. Mapletoft phrased it, to shew them a monument of curious Saxon architecture in his parish-church. After they had examined it, Adolphus persuadéd them to turn their steps towards the rectory to rest. Julia was never more agreeably surprised in her life. All the embellishments the Lodge should have had, were to be found at "Ivied Porch;" and the approach to it more resembled a gentleman's pleasure-ground than an humble parsonage. As they entered the house, a beautiful little girl, between two and three years old, tottered out to meet the rector, and saluted him with the endearing appellation of" papa!"

Ah, Celestina!" cried Lascelles, and darting forward, caught her in his arms.

Then