to me that he came all corresponded to satisfy me of that. But had François reported correctly of his wealth? That to me was a point of no small interest, for more reasons than one. As soon as I had dispatched breakfast, and turned the matter over a little in my mind, I sent for Mungo, and having still further strengthened my conviction, sent him up stairs to his master with my compliments, and an intimation of a visit. "Good morning, sir," said he, with that alacrity with which an idle person receives a break in upon his ennui, but at the same time with a phthsicky kind of cough, which I afterwards discovered was a mere trick. "Good morning, sir; it must be very cold to-day, for do what I can, it is impossible to get the thermometer above 65°; and I have a strong suspicion that I have took some calomel in the draught. Mungo, some wood, there! do put it straight-you know the only way to make a fire is two bits below, and one above.' "Yes, massa, every ting tree in dis country-glorious tree days-tree kings at one time before old one died-tree parties in de state-king shot at tree times if not more-" "Hold your tongue, sir! Mr. Dumps, I hope you feel in tolerable health this variable weather," said he, throwing as much artificial anxiety into his face as he could; but I was too much awake to this customary ruse of invalids, real or imaginary, to let it have its usual sequel, "Mr. La Fleur," said I, "I am come for the sole purpose, at this somewhat early hour, of entering upon a conversation, which our short acquaintance might, perhaps, at first sight, hardly appear to justify; but I am sure that when once you know my motives, you will also pardon the intrusion." With a perturbed countenance, between nervous apprehension and curiosity, he began to shuffle about on his chair. "Nothing wrong, I hope, about the medical gentleman who attends me?" "Massa always tinking of poison," muttered Mungo. "May I take the liberty of asking," I continued, "whether you are son of the late Colonel La Fleur?" "I am," he replied, apparently much relieved to find that Esculapius was "all right." "I am; and it was the intelligence of my father's death that induced me to undertake the long, fatiguing, and unwholesome voyage, from the effects of which I am only slowly recovering. I have a surviving parent and a sister, who was born after I left Europe, and whom I have consequently never seen, but of whose endowment and character the most favourable reports have reached me. It is my anxious desire to join them, as soon as the very precarious state of my health will admit of a voyage of discovery into the provinces, where I understood they were to establish themselves." It here became my painful duty to inform him of the mistake under which he unhappily was with respect to his mother, and also of the altered circumstances of the family; of Madame La Fleur's death, and of the homeless, unprotected situation of his sister. He heard me with composure for some time, but at the end of a long conversation, which I summed up with as lively a picture as I could draw of Erminie's pecu liar circumstances and character, it was with much emotion that I saw him burst into tears. "Then all my wealth," said he, "is hers, and mine—” I thought this a good opportunity to leave him to his reflections, and took my leave. The next thing to be done was to convey to the parties most interested the discovery I had made. I naturally felt anxious about the effect of a sudden disclosure to Erminie, in the present state of her nerves her brother's unexpected arrival, and her own altered circumstances after so much recent distress, were matters to communicate with caution. I immediately walked to the Rue Louis le Grand, where I found Down hastily cleaning his teeth in the porter's lodge; but taking him by the arm, we commenced a reascent au quatrième, as I could not venture upon any communication on such a subject, until I had him out of sight. After stating the circumstances of my discovery, which agitated him until he trembled from head to foot, "Don't you think," said he, " that we had better begin by telling Miss La Fleur?" "That," I replied, "appears to me to be the point where we ought to end. Her old and faithful attendant, or your nephew, Gilbert, I think, will best be able to judge in what manner and to what extent, the altered circumstances in which she stands may with prudence be divulged to her." "Very well-just as you please," said Solomon, and he immediately fell into such a muddle and confusion of mind, with such fuss and perturbation of body as almost alarmed me. The whirling contents of the far-famed "wheel of Fortune," in the golden days of Messrs. Goodluck and Co., would have been nothing to it. Poising his large, grave person upon one heel, and elevating his left-hand with something between a whistle and a Jarvey's interjection to a frost-stiffened nag, he performed two or three circumvolutions with his coat-laps flying in the air. "India bonds-ten per cent.-happy dog-old woman best-go off like a squib-four coaches and four-favours-gold-lace, tags, and powder-shop, Scrubbs's-in Cheapside-save a penny a yard-Dugdale property old Gil's Uncle Solomon, Sol, Sol!" and round he went upon his heel, yet with considerable gravity of countenance, Alleging his own agitating interest in the case, I suggested whether I might not with propriety take his place in the announcement of the whole affair. "That is just what I was thinking; with your deliberation, Mr. Dumps-" But we were here saved the trouble of further discussion by the door opening, and George Gilbert being announced by the servant. Serious as the subject was upon which we were engaged, it was with difficulty that I could refrain from laughing at the figure Solomon made at this apparition. After standing a few seconds in the middle of the room, stuttering incoherent things instead of the usual morning salutation-twisting his thumbs, and every feature bearing thoughts too confused to find delivery-the very counterpart of the agonies of a night mare, he rushed towards the astonished youth, and seizing him as a bear would her cub, "George, my boy, your fortune's made!" cried he, and could get no further; until, after several vain attempts at utterance, in a transport of awkwardness he rushed out of the room. I then informed young Gilbert of all the circumstances of my interview with Mr. La Fleur, which he received with manliness, but deep emotion; and after I had remained about a quarter of an hour, left him with his uncle, who, by this time, had recovered a little the use of his faculties. In the evening I was surprised to receive a message from Mr. La Fleur, that he would wait upon me if convenient; and before I could almost have thought it possible that my reply had reached him, he stood before me. An evident alteration had already taken place even in his outward appearance. Like most people of morbid feelings, when once a transfer can be accomplished, he had suddenly and wholly changed the subject matter of all his thoughts, and the motives of all his actions. His best faculties and sensations had been roused into action-a new existence had been created for him in that of his lovely sister-his whole outward man was changed-his eye no longer grovelled in the languid expression of querulous sensuality, or selfish complaint-it was lighted up by a generous and almost fevered action of expanding thoughts his carriage was erect-his countenance beamed with the liberal schemes he had already devised-and this, with the alteration in his dress necessary to come down stairs, so completely metamorphosed the man, that I should hardly have recognised him. After detailing to me the manner in which the very large fortune had been bequeathed to him by his old patron and friend, and having taken further information about the abode and circumstances of his sister, he said, that the next morning would be the latest he could defer the pleasure of a personal interview with her. As I accompanied him to the door, where Mungo was waiting, I shall never forget the astonishment depicted in his sooty face at all that was going on. "Massa forgot four draughts, and sat down upon a box of pills," he whispered; and as he followed La Fleur up stairs, he turned round several times to me, uplifting the palms of his hands in amazement at his master's altered step. (To be continued.) WHO CAN THE DEAR ONE BE? BY J. H. HARTNOLL. MET him at the French bazaar! How all will pity me, Who know what love's emotions are Who can the dear one be? We met-one glance was quite enough, My heart beat fast against my muff— His form, his air, his heavenly face→ And then he moved with such a grace- Pa's carriage drove up to the door, A glance e'en sweeter than before- The carriage moved, and we were parted; For I was almost broken-hearted Who can the dear one be? A year has flown, but has not brought ll day, all night, my only thought- At least some lord, or lord's own son; Earth holds not such another one : My 'pa knows why I sorrow so, Who can the dear one be? My 'ma is very, very kind; I cannot banish from my mind, E'en shopping with her, never more I feel, as now I reach the door, Rich silks, or satins, ribbons, gloves, Touch not the heart that fondly loves: Hopeless I reach the counter's brink! Oh! Heavens! What's that I see? 'Ma-'ma-à chair-I faint-I sinkThat horrid shopman's he! |