ty; a spot chanced upon in a summer's ramble, and bought at once with that zest which leads a rich man to secure the gem that has captivated his fancy. It stood on a little rocky platform that proj

the red-berried ash-trees drooped gracefully, and the dark copper beeches threw their bronzed shadows. Deep woods clothed the mo

It was a show place. It had been the scene of some romantic attachment, some half-remembered Abelard and Heloise, whose pictures yet survived, and of whom there were traditions of rustic benches where they used to sit; of trees whereon their initials w

ions of "Cicerone" which elevated him in the eyes of his fellows. If his love-story was not as affecting as Paul and Virginia, it had its realisms that compensated for some pathos. He could show the dairy where Chloe

ons as to your tastes and dispositions from the titles of the volumes on your table, and the names of your newspapers-to feel that, as the clock strikes a certain hour on a certain morning, all the cherished privacy which constitutes what we call home, is fled, and that your hall is a public street, and your drawing-room a piazza, so that you are driven to hide yourself in your own house, at the peri

," but of whose actual torments when you do come to suppress, no one has ever given the measure. They heard that the former owner usually set an hour or two apart on a Wednesday or a Thursday to gratify tourist curiosity; in fact, the cel

for about six or eight weeks of every year. It was Georgina Courtenay who resisted the custom as a most "unwarrantable intrusion, a practical impertinence," as she called it, which "reduced a family either to the condition of the cracked china

ld the tourists themselves, who had carried their romantic sympathies hundreds of miles by land or sea, agree to put up with a glance at the cottage chimneys by telescope, or a peep through the iron gate at the trim avenue, whose abrupt turning shut out all further inspection? If no splashed and booted aides-de-camps rode in to tell with trembling accents that popular sentiment had taken the menacing form of a silent and brooding anger, at least there were voices to declare that at "The Goat" the visitors were highly indignant, and that one of the strangers at the "Watkin's Arms" had despatched a copy of the manifesto, with a commentary, to the Times. Indeed, it was in the public room of this latter establishment that public indignation found its chief exponent. Visitors from far-off lands, a traveller from Ireland, a gentleman from the Uni

nk, with his head out of a hole." Whether from some lurking jealousy of the stranger, or some ungenerous disbelief in his address, the company did not accept his offer, or at least show such eagerness in the acceptance as they might, but broke up into twos and threes, discussing the

he going?" asked on

ndon, the family law-agent,

with a high complexion, and short grey hair, without whis

nmistakably Scotch-"the bit of fish, and the leg of a cold turkey-

d-six, Sir," said

f a right good meal up in town, and not served on a coarse tableclo

servant drank

ake no objection to his excess. Are these gentlemen wait

tion for us all-the far-famed cottage of Dinasllyn. We have learned, however, to our infinite disappointment, that, by a whim, a mere caprice-for it is impossible it could be more-of the persons' who are the present occupants, the travellers, the to

Your friends up yonder ain't content to have God's gifts all their own, but they won't even let a man look at them. Tha

for some few seconds Mr. M'Kinlay had turned to the l

e for Thomas, Mr. Pugh; and remember that your driver

e, with an energy that actually made the other

, having no acquaintance with you

know the length of my boot before he put his foot on my corns. You'll have to take them pa

ur messenger, Sir," said M'Ki

s how it is! And, as sure as my name is Dodge!-Herodotus Manning Dodge!-you'd better give an accoun

voice with a very distinctive accent, "and a man

sit," cried out

or Clorinda's grotto,"

nitory poke of his umbrella set his driver off at full

that smacked of the bush and the hickory-tree-a vague foreshadowing of Lynch law, or no law-that overpowered him. Such a man, within a reasonable distance of Scotland Yard, for instance, might not have proved so terrible; but here he was in the heart of the Welsh

tient mood was it that he sat outside the padlocked portal till a messenger went up to the house

actually met a deposed Prince on a Margate steamer. In the changeful fortunes of life the "price current" was the only test of anything. Railroads, and mines, and telegraphic companies rose and fell with the fluctuations of the market, and marriageable ladies might come one day to figure in the share list! Miss Georgina, however ungallant the confession, represented a security at a discount. She had gone down year by year, and at last ceased to be quoted. And yet "it was a good thing." She had, none knew it better-very few so well-she had eighteen thousand pounds, besides expectations, the latter very reasonable and promising in their way. Her connexions were admirable-high enough to give him a very considerable lift socially, and yet not so elevated as to make his rise that of a mere "parvenu." Professionally, the advantage would be great, and lead

he to the stout butler, who bowed

nlay-and, indeed, you

ds, that a little rest won't remedy

ms they mentioned were quite appalling. "Her Ladyship's not down yet, but Miss Georgina i

ost emphatic manner, Mr. M'Kinlay; but she only turned her head round, and, with a weak smile, said, "Oh, Mr. M'

val, Miss Conrtenay," said he, not altogether mastering the an

a letter; but I suppose it is an oversight you have never committed

areless of men. All about m

tedly aware of some favourable trait in his character. "Who would have thought it! It

inlay; "at least, if it be the town she sto

What's the

ich, after a brief search, he read, "Mademoiselle Heinzleman's addr

she, in a sort of soliloquy. "If there were no

s should have rendered you a servic

ows you are here," said she

ust have told her," s

ot; he is getting

so emphasized, for Rickards was o

and I'd not guess him a

as that atrocious activity which displays itself with certain middle-aged people by a quick, short

iled too, but he feared the cat

ther here, but he's away; he is cruisin

him, and only diverged at Crewe to come over here,

ith a sort of surprise that sent the bloo

est the sea; but Sir Gervais wants my advic

at of you, Mr. M'Kinlay, not to sanction this. None

the mischie

u mean by b

the agreement ratified, and everythi

s. You legal people needn't be told how to raise obstacles. A

h I ha

ster this distressing news. I don't know how she'll bear it! By the way," added she, as

ady Vyner, if she will accord m

ee you," cried she,

otally changed? Was it thus that they met last? He knew that she always had a certain flippant manner, and that she was eminently what the French call inconséquent; but she was

'Take a nonsuit.' Yes, most men would; but I'll do nothing rashly!" And with this wise resolve he took up a book and began to read; but still the hours roll