walloping, pinch-penny skin-flints; but I don't think they're so bad in their own country. I have been trying to patch up a truce, but we can't agree even about that. We are like the folks in the ballad

• Come then let's have peace, says Nell:
No, no, but we won't, says Nic:
But I say we will, says fiery-faced Phil
We will and we won't, says Dick.'

"Truly it's no laughing or singing matter, but sad and melancholy work, to be mewed up as I am in the moated house, with gouty feet, and a wife that threatens to starve me till I am as lank as a greyhound. Devil a guinea do I finger now-a-days; and I suppose I shall be ultimately reduced to tipple swipes, like a ditcher or a swine-herd. Prythee, my dear boy, settle matters with the Court, come over, and see what thou canst do for me. I have got a bottle of claret to-day, in which I am now drinking your health; but I have no heart to write any more, for I have just finished the last

glass so God bless you, my dear, choleric, illstarred, peppery, passionate, noble-hearted, own

-own-own Jocelyn!

tionate father,

These from your affec

JOHN COMPTON."

In a few days after this, he received also a letter from Tracy, stating that Bagot was still living, though considered to be in continual danger; and that, as it was now understood that Jocelyn had made his escape to Holland, the ardour of pursuit had relaxed, and the subject ceased to be much talked of at Court. In this despatch was an inclosure, which he perused with no little pride. It was an autograph letter of a few lines from the Queen, indited in French, and written on yellow paper, stamped with the royal arms of Portugal, bidding him be of good cheer, since she would not fail to use her exertions for his re-appointment when the proper moment arrived, and signed-" Your friend-Katharine." This act of condescension Jocelyn mentioned with a justifiable vanity to

his host's family, and even showed the communication to some visitants who happened to be dining at the Burgomaster's on the day that he received it.

Our hero had now abundant opportunity for observing the numerous virtues, and appreciating the exalted character, of Constantia. Cut off by an utter discrepancy of tastes, habits, and pursuits from all intimacy of communion with the boozing boors and smoking moneygetters that occupied the upper sphere of society in the mercantile town of Rotterdam, her sympathies found a vent in the exercise of an almost unbounded charity towards the lower and more necessitous classes. To these pious offices she was impelled, not less by her religious convictions and a deep sense of duty, than by the naturally overflowing and enthusiastic kindness of her disposition. In founding schools for the young, infirmaries for the sick, and alms-houses for the old and helpless, she had already expended thirty or forty thousand ducats of the

Burgomaster's money, who never grudged the supplies, when the poor formed the objects of his bounty, and Constantia was his almoner.

To

the grievous discomfort of Miss Vanspaacken, that lady was always doomed to be the companion of her charitable visits to the abodes of wretchedness. In vain did she turn up her nose, assume a still sourer and more distasteful expression than usual, and exclaim about the dangers of infection: in vain did she declare that it was horribly ungenteel, not to say indecorous, for two young ladies to be seen coming out of such disreputable-looking hovels :-actuated by a high impression of duty, alike unsolicitous of human applause, and indifferent to invidious misconstruction, Constantia continued her course undaunted, dispensing happiness wherever she moved, and almost worshiped as a ministering angel by the numerous objects of her benevolence.

The charms of female friendship had been added to the gratifications derived from charity;

for Jocelyn had often heard her mention, in terms of fervent and unbounded attachment, a young English woman, called Julia Strickland, who had for some time resided at Rotterdam with her parents, though circumstances had since compelled them to take up their abode in the Austrian Netherlands. As to the fire of love, however, she had been hitherto ignorant of its existence, because it had wanted an object on which to fix; but, though dormant, it was not extinct. Jocelyn supplied that object; and when the spark was once awakened, the natural enthusiasm of her temperament soon kindled it into a flame. He was the first noble specimen of human nature that she had ever contemplated; for as to the baser beings with whom she had been hitherto surrounded, she would no more dignify them with the name of men, than would Miranda have bestowed that appellation upon Caliban. Virtually, he was to her what Ferdinand had been to the solitary islandnymph; and her attachment, like that of Pros