it is. Montfort is the kindest, most late Lady Montfort was very kind to tractable being that ever was, ex- her. So were we all— took her up cept where he takes a dislike. He pretty woman pretty manners dislikes two or three people very worldly - oh, very!-"I don't like much."

worldly people. Well, but all of a “True ; how he did dislike poor sudden, a dreadful thing happened. Mrs Lyndsay !” said one of the The heir-at-law disputed the jointure, listeners, smiling

denied that Lyndsay had any right “ Mrs Lyndsay, yes-dear Lady to make settlements on the Scotch Montfort's mother. I can't say I property-very complicated business. pitied her, though I was sorry for But, luckily for her, Vipont Crooke's Lady Montfort. How Mrs Lyndsay daughter, her cousin and intimate ever took in Montfort for Caroline I friend, had married Darrell—the facan't conceive! How she had the mous Darrell—who was then at the face to think of it! He, a mere bar. It is very useful to have cousins youth at the time! Kept secret from married to clever people. He was inall his family—even from his grand- terested in her case, took it up. I bemother-the darkest transaction. I lieve it did not come on in the courts don't wonder that he neverforgave it.” in which Darrell practised. But he ar

First LISTENER.-“Caroline has ranged all the evidence, inspected the beauty enough to

brief's, spent a great deal of his own LADY SELINA (interrupting). - money in getting up the case--and, “ Beauty, of course—no one can deny in fact, he gained her cause, though that. But not at all suited to such he could not be her counsel. People a position, not brought up to the did say that she was so grateful that sort of thing. Poor Montfort ! he after his wife's death she had set her should have married a different kind heart on becoming Mrs Darrell the of woman altogether—a woman like second. But Darrell was then quite his grandmother, the last Lady Mont- wrapt up in politics—the last man to fort. Caroline does nothing for the fall in love-and only looked bored House-nothing-has not even a child when women fell in love with him, -most unfortunate affair.”

which a good many did. Grand-lookSECOND LISTENER.—“Mrs Lynd- ing creature, my dear, and quite the say was very poor, was not she? Caro- rage for a year or two. However, line, I suppose, had no opportunity Mrs Lyndsay all of a sudden went of forming those tastes and habits off to Paris, and there Montfort saw which are necessary for--for-” Caroline, and was caught. Mrs Lynd

LADY SELINA (helping the listener). say, no doubt, calculated on living -“For such a position and such a with her daughter, having the run of fortune. You are quite right, my Montfort House in town and Montfort dear. People brought up in one way Court in the country. But Montfort cannot accommodate themselves to is deeper than people think for. No, another; and it is odd, but I have he never forgave her. She was never observed that people brought up poor asked here-took it to heart, went can accommodate themselves less to to Rome, and died.”. being very rich than people brought At this moment the door opened, up rich to accommodate themselves to and George Morley, now the Rev. being very poor. As Carr says, in George Morley, entered, just arrived his pointed way, 'it is easier to stoop to join his cousins. than to climb.' Yes ; Mrs Lyndsay Some knew him, some did not. was, you know,a daughter of Seymour Lady Selina, who made it a point Vipont, who was for so many years in to know all the cousins, rose grathe administration, with a fair in- ciously, put aside the slippers, and come from his salary, and nothing gave him two fingers. She was out of it. She married one of the astonished to find him not nearly so Scotch Lyndsays-good family, of shy as he used to be-wonderfully course- - with a very moderate pro- improved ; at his ease, cheerful

, perty. She was left a widow young, animated. The man now was in his with an only child, Caroline. Came right place, and following hope on to town, with a small jointure. The the bent of inclination. Few men are

shy when in their right places. He entered, to say that Lady Montasked after Lady Montfort. She was fort would be very happy to see Mr in her own small sitting-room, writing Morley. George followed the servant letters-letters that Carr Vipont had into that unpretending sitting-room, entreated her to write-correspon- with its simple chintzes and quiet dence useful to the House of Vipont. book-shelves--room that would not Before long, however, a servant have been too fine for a cottage.

CHAPTER X.

In every life, go it fast, go it slow, there are critical pausing-places. When the journey

is renowed, the face of the country is changed.

.

How well she suited that simple cured, at least sufficiently to remove room--herself so simply dressed- your noble scruples. You did not her marvellous beauty so exquisitely say how. Your uncle tells me by subdued. She looked at honie there, patient will, and resolute practice." as if all of home that the house could “Under good guidance. But I am give were there collected.

going to confide to you a secret, if She had finished and sealed the you will promise to keep it.” momentous letters, and had come, “Oh, you may trust me; I have no with a sense of relief, from the tablé female friends.' at the farther end of the room, on The clergyman smiled, and spoke which those letters, ceremonious and at once of the lessons he had received conventional, had been written — from the basket-maker. come to the window, which, though “I have his permission," he said, in mid-winter, was open, and the red- conclusion, to confide the service breast, with whom she had made he rendered me, the intimacy that friends, hopped boldly almost with has sprung up between us, but to you in reach, looking at her with bright alone-not a word to your guests. eyes, and head curiously aslant. By When you have once seen him, you the window a single chair and a will understand why an eccentric small reading-desk, with the book man, who has known better days, lying open. The short day was not would shrink from the impertinent far from its close, but there was curiosity of idle customers. Contentample light still in the skies, and a ed with his humble livelihood, he serene if chilly stillness in the air asks but liberty and repose.” without.

“That I already comprehend," said Though expecting the relation she Lady Montfort, half sighing, half had just summoned to her presence, smiling: “But my curiosity shall I fear she had half forgotten him. not molest him, and when I visit the She was standing by the window village, I will pass by his cottage.” deep in reverie as he entered, so deep "Nay, my dear Lady Montfort, that she started when his voice that would be to refuse the favour I struck her ear and he stood before am about to ask, which is that you her. She recovered herself quickly, would come with me to that very cothowever, and said with even more tage. It would so please him.' than her ordinary kindliness of tone "Please hin--why?" and manner towards the scholar- Because this poor man has a “I am so glad to see and congratulate young female grandchild, and he you."

is so anxious that you should see "And I so glad to receive your con- and be kind to her, and because, too, gratulations, answered the scho- he seems most tenacious to remain in lar, in smooth, slow voice, without his present residence. The cottage, a stutter.

of course, belongs to Lord Montfort, But, George, how is this?” asked and is let to him by the bailiff, and Lady Montfort.“ Bring that chair, if you deign to feel interest in him, sit down here, and tell me all about his tenure is safe.” it. You wrote me word you were Lady Montfort looked down, and

66

66

66

coloured. She thought, perhaps, how solemn affectation of the shocked false a security her protection, and schoolmaster. Lady Montfort noted how slight an influence her interest with no unnatural surprise the purity would be, but she did not say so. of idiom and of accent with which George went on; and so eloquently this singular basket-maker was unand so touchingly did he describe consciously displaying his perfect both grandsire and grandchild, so knowledge of a language which the skilfully did he intimate the mystery best-educated English gentleman of which hung over them, that Lady that generation, nay, even of this, Montfort ne uch moved by rarely speaks with accuracy and his narrative, and willingly promised elegance. But her attention was to accompany him across the park diverted immediately from the teacher to the basket-maker's cottage the to the face of the sweet pupil. Wofirst opportunity. But when one men have a quick appreciation of has sixty guests in one's house, one beauty in their own sex-and women, has to wait for an opportunity to who are themselves beautiful, not escape from them unremarked. And the least. Irresistibly Lady Montfort the opportunity, in fact, did not felt attracted towards that innocent come for many days --- not till the countenance, so lively in its mirth, party broke up - save one or two and yet so softly gay. Sir Isaac, dowager she-cousins who “gave no who had hitherto lain perdu, watchtrouble,” and one or two bachelor ing the movements of a thrush he-cousins whom my lord retained amidst a holly-bush, now started to consummate the slaughter of up with a bark. Waife rose- Sophy pheasants, and play at billiards in turned half in flight. The visitors the dreary intervals between sunset approached. and dinner-dinner and bed-time. Here, slowly, lingeringly, let fall

Then one cheerful frosty noon the curtain. In the frank license of George Morley and his fair cousin narrative, years will have rolled away walked boldly, en evidence, before the ere the curtain rise again. Events prying ghostly windows, across the that may influence a life often date broad gravel-walks-gained the se- from moments the most serene, from cluded shrubbery, the solitary deeps things that appear as trivial and unof parkland-skirted the wide sheet noticeable as the great lady's visit to of water-and passing through a pri- the basket-maker's cottage.

Which vate wicket in the paling, suddenly of those lives will that visit influence came upon the patch of osier-ground hereafter-the woman's, the child's, and humble garden, which were the vagrant's ? Whose? Probably backed by the basket-maker's cot- little that passes now would aid contage.

jecture, or be a visible link in the As they entered those lowly pre- chain of destiny. A few desultory

. cincts a child's laugh was borne to questions—a few guarded answerstheir ears--a child's silvery, musical, look or so, a musical syllable or two mirthful laugh ; it was long since the exchanged between the lady and the great lady had heard a laugh like child--a basket bought, or a promise that—a happy child's natural laugh. to call again. Nothing worth the

. She paused and listened with a telling. Be it then untold. View strange pleasure. “Yes,” whispered only the scene itself as the curtain George Morley, “stop—and hush! drops reluctantly. The rustic cottage, there they are.

its garden-door open, and open its Waife was seated on the stump of old-fashioned lattice casements. You a tree, materials for his handicraft can see how neat and cleanly, how lying beside, neglected. Sophy was eloquent of healthful poverty, how standing before him-he, raising his remote from squalid" penury, the finger as in reproof, and striving hard whitewashed walls, the homely furto frown. As the intruders listened, niture within. Creepers lately trained they overheard that he was striving around the doorway. Christmas to teach her the rudiments of French holly, with berries red against the dialogue, and she was laughing mer- window-panes; the bee-hive yonder; rily at her own blunders and at the a starling, too, outside the threshold,

in its wicker cage. In the back- gical sense—"WHAT WILL HE DO WITH ground (all the rest of the neighbour- IT ?”. Do with what? The all that ing hamlet out of sight), the church remains to him—the all he holds ! spire tapering away into the clear the all which man himself, betwixt blue wintry sky.

Áll has an air of free-will and pre-decree is permitted repose-of safety. Close beside you is to do. Ask not-the vagrant alonethe Presence of HOME—that ineffable, ask each of the four there assembled sheltering, loving Presence-which, on that flying bridge called the Moamidst solitude, murmurs “not soli- ment. Tíme before thee-what wilt tary ;” a Presence unvouchsafed to thou do with it? Ask thyself -ask the great lady in the palace she has the wisest! Out of effort to answer left. And the lady herself? She is that question, what dream-schools resting on the rude gnarled root- have risen, never wholly to perish ! stump from which the

vagrant had The science of seers on the Chaldee's risen; she has drawn Sophy towards Pur - Tor, or in the rock-caves of her ; she has taken the child's hand; Delphi, gasped after and grasped at she is speaking now—now listening; by horn-handed mechanics to-day in and on her face kindness looks like their lanes and alleys. To the heart happiness. Perhaps she is happy at of the populace sink down the that moment. And Waife ? he is turn- blurred relics of what once was the ing aside his weatherbeaten, mobile lore of the secretest sages-hierocountenance, with his hand anxiously glyphical tatters which the credulous trembling upon the young scholar's vulgar attempt to interpret-“WHAT arm. The scholar whispers, “ Are WILL HE DO WITA IT?” Ask Merle you satisfied with me?” and Waife and his Crystal ! But the curtain answers in a voice as low but more descends ! Yet a moment, there they broken, “God reward you ! Oh, age and childhood - poverty, joy!-if my pretty one has found at wealth, station, vagabondage; the last a woman friend!” Poor vaga- preacher's sacred learning and august bond, he has now a calm asylum-a ambition ; fancies of dawning reason; fixed' humble livelihood—more than —hopes of intellect matured ;-methat, he has just achieved an object mories of existence wrecked ; housefondly cherished. His past life hold sorrows—untold regrets- elegy alas ! what has he done with it? and epic in low, close, human sighs, His actual life-broken fragment to which Poetry never yet gave voice though it be—is at rest now. But -all for the moment personified still the everlasting question-mock- there before you-a glimpse for the ing, terrible question—with its phras- guess-no more. Lower and lower ing of farce and its enigmas of tra- falls the curtain ! All is blank !

are

ZANZIBAR; AND TWO MONTHS IN EAST AFRICA.

PART II.

CHAPTER IV-DEPARTURE FROM MOMBAS.

“ The sweeping sword of time
Has sung its death-dirge o'er the ruined fanes."- Queen Mab.

A REPORT prevalent in Mombas- Not a head of game, not a hippoeven a Sawahili sometimes

speaks the potamus, was to be found near Momtruth-and the march of an armed bas. We finished our geographical party from the town which denoted inquiries, shook hands with divers acbelief in their own words, induced my quaintances, returned to the “Riami,” companions and myself to hasten up and on the 24th of January departed once more to the Rabai Hills, expect, with gladdened hearts. The acciing to find the mission-house invested dents of voyage turned in our favour; by savages. The danger had been there was a bright fresh breeze, and exaggerated, but the inmates strongly a current running southward thirty advised to take temporary shelter in or thirty-five miles a-day. After six the

town. Left Kisulodiny on the 22d hours of drowsy morning sailing, of January 1857. Some nights after- “Ras Tewy,” a picturesque point, wards, fires were observed upon the hove in sight, and two hours more neighbouring hills, and Wanika scouts brought the "Riami" to anchorin Gasy returned with a report that the Masai Bay. This coast has more coralline were in rapid advance. The wise reefs than harbours; mariners dare few fled at once to the Kaza, or hid- not traverse the seas by night, and in den and barricaded stronghold, which the open roads they are ill defended these people prepare for extreme from the strong north-eastern gales. danger. The foolish many said, “To- Gasy is a village of wattled huts, morrow morning we will drive our chiefly inhabited by remnants of the flocks and herds to safety.". But ere proud Mazrui, still exiled from Momthat morning dawned upon the world, has : the land belongs to the Wadigo a dense mass of wild spearmen, sweep- savages, and is fertile enough to repay ing with shout and yell and clashing plantation. The settlement lies at arms by the mission-house, which some distance from the shore, deep they either saw not or they feared to bosomed in trees behind a tall screen enter, dashed upon the scattered vil- of verdure; only the coco nodding lage in the vale below, and left the over the dense underwood betrays its ground strewed with the corpses of position from the sea.

Our crew hapless fugitives. Thence they rushed armed themselves to accompany my down to the sea, driving their plun- companion on shore : he was civilly der, and found a body of Belochies received, with sundry refreshments and Arabs, Sawahilis and slaves, of coco-nut water and rasped pulp posted with matchlocks to oppose made into cakes with rice flour. The progress. The robbers fled at the footprints of a small lion appeared first volley. Like true Orientals, the upon the sand, but we were too old soldiers at once dispersed to secure sportsmen to undertake the fruitless the cattle; when the Masai, rallying, toil of tracking him. Ensued a cool fell upon them, drove them away in breezy night on board the “Riami.” ignominious flight, and slew twenty- Our gallant captain, a notable melanfive of their number. They presently cholist, sat up till dawn chatting with retired to the hill-ranges, amused Said bin Salim, who trembled at the themselves with exterminating as sounds of scattered washes and the many Wanika as they could catch, wind moaning round the small coraland, full of blood and beef, returned line island, which here breaks the triumphant to their homes.

swell of the Indian Ocean.