more, Mrs Crane put on the look of a which repeated experience had as-
mother incensed-mild but awful— sured him to be as potent upon the
and scolded as mothers sometimes can female breast as the incantations or
scold. Jasper Losely began to be Carmina of the ancient sorcery. The
frightened at Mrs Crane's scoldings. following in particular :
And he had not that power over her, “ Had I a heart for falsehood framed,
which, though arrogated by a lover, I ne'er could injure you."
is denied to an adopted son. His
mind, relieved from the habitual dis- Another - generally to be applied,
traction
of the gambling-tablen for been interestingly

wild, and would, if

when confessicg that his career had which the resource was wantingsettled with redoubled ardour on

pity were denied him, be pathetically

short :
the image of Mrs Haughton. He had
called at her house several times since

( When he who adores thee has left but the fatal day on which he had met

the name there Colonel Morley, but Mrs

Of his faults and his follies behind.” Haughton was never at home. And Armed with these quotationsas when the answer was given to many a sentence from the Polite him by the footman, he had more Letter-Writer or the Elegant Exthan once, on crossing the street, tracts—and a quire of rose-edged seen herself through the window, it paper, Losely sate down to Ovidian was clear that his acquaintance was composition. But as he approached not courted. Jasper Losely, by habit, the close of Epistle the First, it ocwas the reverse of a pertinacious and curred to him that a signature and troublesome suitor — not, Heaven address were necessary. The address knows, from want of audacity, but not difficult. He could give Poole's from excess of self-love. Where a (hence his confidence to that genLovelace so superb condescended to tleman-Poole had a lodging in make overtures, a Clarissa so tasteless Bury Street, St James, a fashionable as to decline them deserved and ex- locality for single men. But the name perienced his contempt. Besides, required more consideration. There steadfast and prolonged pursuit of were insuperable objections against any object, however important and signing his own, to any person who attractive, was alien to the levity and might be in communication with Mr fickleness of his temper. But in this Darrell--a pity, for there was a good instance he had other motives than old family of the name of Losely. A those on the surface for unusual per- name of aristocratic sound might inseverance.

deed be readily borrowed from any A man like Jasper Losely never lordly proprietor thereof without reposes implicit confidence in any asking a formal consent. But this one. He is garrulous, indiscreet-, loan was exposed to danger. Mrs lets out much that Machiavel would Haughton might very naturally menhave advised him not to disclose; but tion such name, as borne by her he invariably has nooks and corners in husband's friend, to Colonel Morley, his mind which he keeps to himself. and Colonel Morley would most proJasper did not confide to his adopted bably know enough of the connections mother his designs upon his in- and relations of any peer so honourtended bride. But she knew them ed, to say " there is no such Greville, through Poole, to whom he was Cavendish, or Talbot.” But Jasper more frank; and when she saw him Losely was not without fertility of looking over her select and severe invention and readiness of resource. library--taking therefrom the Polite A grand idea, worthy of a master, and Letter-Writer and the Elegant Ex- proving that, if the man had not tracts, Mrs Crane divined at once been a rogue in grain, he could have that Jasper Losely was meditating been reared into a very clever politithe effect of epistolary seduction cian, flashed across him. He would upon the widow of Gloucester Place. sign himself“Smith.” Nobody could

Jasper did not write a bad love- say there is no such Smith ; nobody letter in the florid style. He had at could say that a Smith might not be a his command, in especial, certain most respectable, fashionable, highlypoetical quotations, the effect of connected man. There are Smiths

a

a

son.

who are millionaires-Smiths who of the provincial High Street—when are large-acred squires-substantial young officers had lounged to and baronets — peers of England, and fro the pavement, looking in at her pillars of the State-members even window-when ogles and notes had of the British Cabinet. You can no alike beset her, and the dark eyes of more question a man's right to be a the irresistible Charlie Haughton had Smith than his right to be a Briton; first taught her pulse to tremble. and wide as the diversity of rank, And in her hand lies the letter of lineage, virtue, and genius in Bri- Charlie Haughton's particular friend. tons, is the diversity in Smiths. But She breaks th seal. She reads-a still a name so generic often affects declaration ! a definitive precursor. Jasper signed Five letters in five days did Jasper himself“ J. COURTENAY SMITH.” write. In the course of those letters,

He called, and left Epistle the First he explains away the causes for suswith his own kid-gloved hand, in- picion which Colonel Morley had so quiring first if Mrs Haughton were ungenerously suggested.

He is no at home, and, responded to in the longer anonymous—he is J. Courtenegative, this time, he asked for her nay Smith. He alludes incidentally

"Her son was gone abroad with to the precocious age in which he had Colonel Morley." Jasper, though become “lord of himself, that herisorry to lose present hold over the tage of woe. This accounts for his boy, was consoled at learning that friendship with a man so much his the Colonel was off the ground. senior as the late Charlie. He conMore sanguine of success, he glanced fesses that, in the vortex of dissipaup at the window, and, sure that tion, his hereditary estates have disMrs Haughton was there, though he appeared; but he has still a genteel saw her not, lifted his hat with as independence; and with the woman of melancholy an expression of reproach his heart, &c., &c. He had never beas he could throw into his face. fore known what real love was, &c.

The villain could not have found a “Pleasure had fired his maddening moment in Mrs Haughton’s widowed soul ;" “but the heart — the heart life so propitious to his chance of suc- been lonely still.” He entreated only cess. In her lodging-house at Pim- a personal interview, even though to lico, the good lady had been too in- be rejected-scorned. Still, when cessantly occupied for that idle train “ he who adored her had left but of reverie, in which the poets assure the name," &c., &c. Alas! alas ! as us that Cupid finds leisure to whet Mrs Haughton put down Epistle the his arrows, and take his aim. Had Fifth, she hesitated; and the woman Lionel still been by her side-had who hesitates in such a case, is sure, even Colonel Morley been in town- at least-to write a civil answer. her affection for the one, her awe of Mrs Haughton wrote but three the other, would have been her safe- lines--still they were civil-and conguards. But alone in that fine new ceded an interview for the next day, house-no friends, no acquaintances though implying that it was but for as yet-no dear visiting circle on the purpose of assuring Mr J. Courwhich to expend the desire of talk tenay Smith in person, of her unand the zest for innocent excitement alterable fidelity to the shade of his that are natural to ladies of an lamented friend. active mind and a nervous tempera- In high glee Jasper showed Mrs ment, the sudden obtrusion of a Haughton's answer to Dolly Poole, suitor so respectfully ardent--oh, it and began seriously to speculate on is not to be denied that the tempta- the probable amount of the widow's tion was IMMENSE!

income, and the value of her movAnd when that note, so neatly ables in Gloucester Place. Thence he folded-so elegantly sealed-lay in repaired to Mrs Crane; and, emboldher irresolute hand, the widow could ened by the hope, for ever, to escape not but feel that she was still young, from her maternal tutelage, braved still pretty ; and her heart flew back her scoldings, and asked for a couple to the day when the linen-draper's of sovereigns. He was sure that fair daughter had been the cynosure he should be in luck that night. She gave to him the sum, and spared bravado of his manner, what had the scoldings. But, as soon as he really occurred, Mrs Crane put on was gone, conjecturing, from the her bonnet and went out.

CHAPTER XIII.

Unhappy is the man who puts his trust in-a woman. Late that evening a lady, in a ceived such a slap on its face. He black veil, knocked at No. * * Glou- was literally stunned. Mechanically cester Place, and asked to see Mrs he hastened to Arabella Crane; and Haughton on urgent business. She having no longer any object in conwas admitted. She remained but cealment, but, on the contrary, a five minutes.

most urgent craving for sympathy, The next day, when" gay as a he poured forth his indignation and bridegroom prancing to his bride," wrongs. No mother could be more Jasper Losely presented himself at consolatory than Mrs Crane. She the widow's door, the servant placed soothed, she flattered, she gave him in his hand a packet, and in- an excellent dinner; after which formed him bluftly that Mrs Haugh- she made him so comfortable—what ton had gone out of town. Jasper with an easy-chair and complimenwith difficulty suppressed his rage, tary converse, that, when Jasper rose opened the packet—his own letters late to return to his lodging, he returned, with these words, -"Sir, said: "After all, if I had been ugly your name is not Courtenay Smith. and stupid, and of a weakly constiIf you trouble me again I shall apply tution, I should have been of a very to the police.” Never from female domestic turn of mind.” hand had Jasper Losely's pride re

CHAPTER XIV.

a

No Author ever drew a character, consistent to human nature, but what he was forced

to ascribe to it many inconsistencies. Whether

moved by that pathetic - your forte is calculation — you speech of Jasper’s, or by some other were always very quick at that. I impulse not less feminine, Arabella have been fortunate enough to proCrane seemed suddenly to conceive cure you an easy piece of taskwork, the laudable and arduous design of for which you will be liberally rereforming that portentous sinner. munerated. A friend of mine wishes She had some distant relations in to submit these books to a regular London, whom she very rarely accountant; he suspects that a clerk troubled with a visit, and who, had has cheated' him, but he cannot tell she wanted anything from them, how or where. You know accounts would have shut their doors in her thoroughly-no one better and the face; but as, on the contrary, she pay will be ten guineas." was well off, single, and might leave Jasper, though his early life had her money to whom she pleased, rendered familiar and facile to him the distant relations were always the science of book-keeping and warm in manner, and prodigal in double-entry, made a grimace at the their offers of service. The next revolting idea of

any

honest labour, day she repaired to one of these however light and well paid. But kinsfolk -- a person in a large way ten guineas were an immense tempof business — and returned home tation, and in the evening Mrs with two great books in white Crane coaxed him into the task. sheepskin. And when Losely looked Neglecting no feminine art to make in to dine, she said, in the suavest the lawless nomad feel at home tones a tender mother can address under her roof, she had provided to an amiable truant, “ Jasper, you for his ease and comfort morocco have great abilities--at the gaming- slippers and a superb dressing-robe, table abilities are evidently useless in material rich, in colour becoming.

Men, single or marital, are accus. to be still better paid. He departs, tomed to connect the idea of home declaring that he will come the next with dressing-gown and slippers, day, earlier than usual-he volunespecially if, after dinner, they apply teers an eulogium upon work in

, (as Jasper Losely now applied to general-he vows that evenings so

) occupations in which the brain is happy he has not spent for years; he active, the form in repose. What leaves Mrs Crane so much impressed achievement, literary or scientific, by the hope of his improvement, was ever accomplished by a student that if a good clergyman had found strapped to unyielding boots, and her just at that moment, she might “cabined, cribbed, confined,” in a almost have been induced to pray. coat that fits him like wax ? As Butrobed in the cosy garinent which is “Heu quoties fidem consecrated to the sacred familiar

Mutatosque deos flebit !" Lares, the relaxing, handsome ruf- Jasper Losely returns not, neither fian sate in the quiet room, bending to Podden Place nor to his lodging his still regular profile over the in the neighbourhood. Days elapse; sheepskin books-the harmless pen still he comes not; even Poole does in that strong well-shaped hand, Mrs not know where he has gone ; even Crane watched him with a softening Poole has not seen him! But that countenance. To bear him company, latter worthy is now laid up with a she had actively taken herself to work rious rheumatic fever-confined to

the gold thimble dragged from his room and water gruel. And Jasits long repose--marking and hem- per Losely is not the man to intrude ming, with nimble artistic fingers, himself on the privacy of a sicknew cravats for the adopted son! chamber. Mrs Crane, more benevoStrange creature is Woman! Un- lent, visits Poole-cheers him upgrateful and perfidious as that sleek gets him a nurse- -writes to Uncle tiger before her had often proved Sam. Poole blesses her. He hopes himself—though no man could less that Uncle Sam, moved by the specdeserve one kindly sentiment in a tacle of his sick-bed, will say, female heart—though she knew that “Don't let your debts'fret you—1 he cared nothing for her, still it will pay them !” Whatever her diswas pleasing to know that he cared appointment or resentment at Jasfor nobody else— that he was sit- per's thankless and mysterious ting in the same room—and Ara- evasion, Arabella Crane is calmly bella Crane felt, that if that existence confident of his return. To her sercould continue, she could forget the vant, Bridgett Greggs, who was past, and look contented towards perhaps the sole person in the world the future. Again I say, strange who entertained affection for the creature is woman -- and in this lone gaunt woman, and who held instance, creature more strange, be- Jasper Losely in profound detestacause so grim ! But as her eyes tion, she said, with tranquil sternsoften, and her fingers work, and her ness, “That man has crossed my mind revolves schemes for making life, and darkened it. He passed that lawless wild beast an innocuous away, and left Night behind him. tame animal, who can help feeling He has dared to return. He shall for and with grim Arabella Crane ? never escape me again, till the grave

Poor woman ! And will not the yawn for one of us.' experiment succeed? Three even- “But, Lor love you, miss, you ings does Jasper Losely devote to would not put yourself in the power this sinless life and its peaceful oc- of such a black-hearted villing ?” cupation. He completes his task- “In his power! No, Bridgett; he receives the ten guineas. (How fear not, he must be in mine-sooner much of that fee came out of Mrs or later in mine hand and foot. Crane's privy purse ?) He detects Patience !" three mistakes, which justify sus- As she was thus speaking--a knock picion of the book-keeper's integrity at the door_" It is he-I told you so Set a thief to catch a thief! He is -quick!" praised for acuteness, and pro- But it was not Jasper Losely. It mised a still lighter employment, was Mr Rugge.

THE BELLS OF BOTREAUX.

A LEGEND.

THERE are spots and nooks in the shades fell darkly and wildly, the world, so wild and isolated, so set in vale-head, with its cluster of homecontrast by oddness of position with steads, was raised into sublimity. the general order and economy, that How often does nature thus clothe they seem accidents, freaks or after- the homeliness of man with its own thoughts of nature. Such is the beauty and grandeur ! how often, little harbour of Boscastle, on the again, does man invest its commonnorth coast of Cornwall. It was an places with a sacredness and a glory! after-thought. There the sea has This spot was, however, but the outmade for itself an inlet betwixt the skirt, the offset of the town, which bold headlands of the rocky shore, lay strewn on the face of the hill in where it tides, boils, and surges in a clumps and heaps of houses, massed little cove, surrounded by dark walls like boulders or tors along the side of cliff and jutting points, expend- of a steep and tortuous road, which ing its force against the small pier, led down towards the harbour. which forms a confined and partial On a Christmas Eve, some time shelter for the few ships trading in the beginning of this century thither. A deep narrow valley, when men still wore their singularithrough which a tiny streamlet runs ties and their individualism, and ere over à stony shelving bed, betwixt civilisation had reduced society to the sloping sides of grassy furze-clad one Procrustean standard-a group steeps, leads inland to a few strag- of men were assembled in the skittlegling houses, scattered along the foot alley of the village inn. It was a of the hills, and connected by a rude long thatched shed, open at the end bridge. Here were the few stores, and one side, and having benches all shops, and yards which the trade and around for the spectators. It was a traffic of the place required; here wild, strange group. There were were the houses of the wild seamen the hard-lined, weather-beaten faces, and fishers, who battled through life and strong, stalwart, toil-hardened with the storms and surfs, the perils forms pilots and fishermen, clad and difficulties of that rock-bound in the thick heavy boots, the large coast; and here the rude quarrymen woollen frocks hanging in folds from a neighbouring district laid round their waists, and the fur cap their heads, took their chance meals, or oilskin hat, which seems as pecutheir chance rests and recreations. liar to the class as his skin is to the Amid this hard-bred, hard-living, bear; of quarrymen, heavy, dull, and rough-tutored commonalty, moved a clay-stained, and of sturdy, homelysmall and well-graduated aristocracy looking yeomen. In the midst, with of craftsmen, shipwrights, clerks, and a sort of half-acknowledged authority merchants. The houses were simple and precedence, sat a large, stout, and commonplace enough, but the muscular man 'of herculean build, shadows of the overhanging hills, but whose giant proportions were now dark with cloud-gloom, now confused and lost by his loose mode rich and mellow with the bloom of of sitting: the face was broad and furze and heath, and the distant roar ruddy, the brow wide and open. of the surf and the glimpses of spray This was old John Truscott, a faand foam, gave to the place a wild pic- mous wrestler, who had not only turesqueness which toned well with carried off the hats, purses, and other the life of the people. At times, too, prizes at the neighbouring games, when the storms arose, whe hé but had actually gone foreign” to waves surged loudly and heavily show his prowess—that is, had gone against the shore, and the winds into the next county to meet the swept up the valley with a drear challenge of a man who claimed and sullen boom, and the storm- the championship of the kingdom;