quiltings some score yards of flannel appeared to be engulfed; while her petticoats were short enough to discover a pair of most substantial legs, cased in blue cotton stockings with yellow clocks, and terminating in stout lacquered shoes with gilt buckles.--There was nothing modern about her, except two or three black patches, which being then the reigning mode, and of trifling expense, had been applied to as many pimples upon her cheeks. Though antiquated, however, in fashion, her clothes were scrupulously clean, and apparently quite as good as when they were first purchased. There was nothing shabby in her attire, nothing starved or pinched in her appearance; nor would any one have suspected her miserly disposition, unless he had happened to notice the eager twinkling of her eyes whenever it by chance encountered a piece of money, however trifling its amount.

"Ik ben verheuyd u te zien, Myn Heer Jocelyn," cried the same wheezing voice he had previously heard--" hae is het met u ?"

"Your mother understands English," said Sir *John, "though she prefers speaking Dutch."

I care not how little we exchange of either, thought Jocelyn to himself, as he started in utter amazement at his father's most inexplicable choice. The Vrouw, however, lost no time in making sad complaints of her great disappointment, of their mutual poverty, of the difficulties she had encountered, and the troubles to which she was still daily expos

ed on account of "De Ridder Jan," winding up the whole with a declaration, that her own pecuniary claims were yet far from being satisfied, and endeavouring to make herself intelligible by a patois, containing Dutch, French, and English, in about equal proportions. "De Ridder Jan," she exclaimed, "dat is awe vader, gaat op de jagt goes à la chasse, he hunt :-he is een groote drinker, comme un poisson he tipple :-zingen een drinklied, chanson à boire to sing, dat is zyn liefhebbery, his plus grand plaisir :-hij zal niet rijk worden, he shall come rich jamais :-meer verteert dan hij inkomen heeft-he debourse more dan his income. Wat mij aangaat, ik leef zuinig: ik ben spaarzaam — pour moi, I am cheap to live voor Geld genoeg, vrienden genoeg, and Geen pijp, geen dans; point d'amis sans argent; who zal dance must pay de pipe."

"Well, well, my lady, or mevrouw, whichever you like best," cried Sir John, after she had continued a little longer in this strain; " prythee, sputter and spit no more Dutch in our faces, but see and get us a good feast, not a fast; for though Jocelyn be no prodigal son, we 'll treat him as such for once and away. And harkye, Juffrouw Weegs

-I mean my lady, as much swipes and waterzootje as you like for yourself, but a solid joint and a flask of claret for me and my boy; for the devil may have our share of all your wishy-washy dabs and slip-slops."

"Saar Jan! Saar Jan !" cried her ladyship, shaking her head-"Eene groote lantaren en weinig licht, vous avez une grande lanterne, but little light in your head. Het is bette to spaar in het、 beginnen dan op het einde. Eilaas! mijn heer Jocelyn, uwe vader ziet niet verdor dan zijn neus lang is he see no furder dan is nose long is. Hij is mijn bedorf geweest-he is my ruin-Och laaci ! Och laaci!"

Again shaking her head mournfully as she uttered this interjection, she walked slowly away to perform the unwelcome office of providing a better dinner than usual, while Sir John, upon the prudent principle, that the least said is the soonest mended, diverted the conversation as soon as she had turned her back, and forbore the smallest allusion to his marriage, or the merits of the step-mother whom he had provided, so entirely out of consideration for Jocelyn's accommodation and comfort. Nor was the latter mindful to express a becoming gratitude for so signal a favour, an omission which seemed to excite little surprise in his father, and for which it is therefore hoped the reader will not too rigorously judge him. Following Sir John's example, he did not even mention the name of her ladyship, partly because he could hardly apply that title to her without laughing, and partly because he thought it much better to reconcile himself to an evil that was now inevitable, than wound his father's feelings by a single expression of surprise or regret.

After having chatted together for some time, recall-ing former scenes, and arranging future plans, he left Sir John, that he might ramble over the old moated house before he prepared himself for dinner. In executing this purpose, he had occasion to pass by the end of the little, low, arched hall, in peeping into which he had a fresh opportunity of observing how completely the dæmon of avarice had taken possession of his step-mother. An aged rustic had come to pay a trifle of rent, which he wished to deliver into the hands of Sir John himself, but upon being assured that he was too much disabled by the gout to see any body, or to sign a receipt, which must accordingly be done by herself, the farmer produced a greasy leather bag, and emptied its contents upon the table. Her ladyship's eyes were instantly fixed upon the treasure with a gloating delight that animated the whole surface of her broad sluggish countenance, while the fingers of both hands involuntarily opened and shut, as if she could hardly repress her desire to clutch it instantly. At one moment the rustic talked of calling another day, when he could see Sir John, at which intimation she was obviously preparing to grapple his bag by force, and her features declared, that the struggle for its recovery must be desperate to be successful. But the tenant altered his mind, took his receipt, and departed; while her ladyship, whose eyes actually seemed to glisten with a tear of joy, thrust the greasy bag deep into her bosom, and waddled

briskly away upon her toes, so as to make as little noise as possible in her retreat.

The painful reflections excited by this occurrence were somewhat alleviated by his encountering Serjeant Whittaker, whom he greeted with great cordiality, and who was not less delighted at renewing acquaintance with his young master. "Could n't leave Sir John in his troubles," said the veteran, "especially in the greatest misfortune of all, this cursed marriage, (ask pardon, Mr. Jocelyn ;) so I came here to be jack-of-all-trades; and if it wasn't for Sir John, damn me if Jack Whittaker would drink swipes, or stay another hour in pinchbelly house, for so we all call it. Of all the cursed griping, grinding, starvation, dry-throated, skinflint, stingy, niggardly-but Lord! I forget she is your mother, Mr. Jocelyn; though when you come to know her as well as we do, and to have the stomach-ach as often as we have, you will confess that Sir John could n't have done better than take my advice, and give her a certain choice." "That will depend upon the nature of it," said Jocelyn.

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Why, I merely recommended him to let me give her a fair start with the cat-o'-nine-tails, when she might have a choice of either leaping over the moat and trudging off, or of falling into it and being drowned, though I must say I should like the last the best, for dead work is sure work."