High blood and birth, poor lad—it works upon the brain-exalts the mind," said Simpson, in gentle extenuation; "but he has a good heart-it's the gift of all the Brandons."

66

Oh, let-us-go hence!" cried Edward. "That I should live to hear-to seeto feel! Better-yes-better anything than this?"

"But you are impatient," argued Knightly. "Hear, at least. "To call it a gift-an act of mercy!" cried Brandon, again. eats-into my soul.”

"The very thought

"Well; well. It is hard; but sit ye down. There, be yourself," said Knightly, and he dragged him to his seat,-himself adding, with more composure :—“ Now, gentlemen, let us know the proposal." The men of business regarded one another, doubtfully; but the solicitor was the first to speak.

"They offer you two hundred pounds, sir, to be paid-down.'

"Two hundred pounds," cried Knightly, all aghast; and Edward Brandon started from his seat, and laughed in utmost scorn.

"With a certain agreement and restrictions appended," added the lawyer, “to which the young gentleman must, without reservation, consent."

"I call it a noble offer," cried Simpson; but Brandon looked as upon a cur, which he would have kicked, but spared.

"Be cautious, Edward-be calm," cried Knightly. "Remember your promise." The heir of Woodbury, with admirable presence of mind, said, "Let us hear the terms, I beg, sir."

"That you shall write to your uncles, acknowledging your late misdemeanours, and your obligations to them."

"Ah-ah-ah! Upon my word," cried Brandon.

"Be patient," whispered Knightly. "Do be patient."

"That you shall resign all right to Woodbury and other estates; and Brandon laughed again, but his friend remarked, "that moderation always shewed the man of wisdom."

"That, in fact, sir," continued the negotiator, "you shall testify your belief and solemnly avow, that you not only have-not, but never had a right to any of this property, that you will no longer trouble them respecting it,—that you give-up all claim ;—and, sir, and—you must sign a document to this effect."

"Great God!" cried the young man: and, in the midst of his derisive laughter, his soul, unable to express itself, burst-through his eyes in floods of tears, unstayed, and not to be repressed :-he sunk-back upon his seat.

"Ridiculous!" said Knightly. "We must have two thousands pounds. Better terms than this, or none."

"Let me speak," said Mr. Simpson. "Come, my good friend, Knightly, a word," and they drew-aside, together.

4.4

"I can well imagine your disappointment, and pity your condition," remarked the lawyer, "but," and while he persisted in such discourse, the head-clerk was opening his views of the case to Knightly.

"Pardon me," said he, "you neither see your own interest, nor that of your late

master's son. As he has married the daughter, he is sure of Mr. Trevor's fortune, enough for him."

"But this is his own fortune," said Knightly. "No, I shall never consent to this." "As one man falls, another rises," said the sagacious Simpson. "We must all look to our own interests; and you to yours."

"What does this mean?" said Knightly.

"Of course you are intended to partake of the benefit."

"How, pray? Where?-When?"

"Sir Anthony Brandon and his brother want to get-rid of the annoyance, trouble, publicity of all this; in fact, they want peace, and are content to pay for it."

"A high price, seemingly; very."

"I think," said Simpson, "you know something of the property in dispute; and who was the real owner."

"I think so," said Knightly. "No man better."

"Can you be silent," said Simpson.

"No one more so; or, speak as suits me."

"Consider, my dear Knightly, money is-not made every day."

"I do consider-I know it."

"Well; between ourselves, my dear friend, suppose a thousand pounds were given." "Well. What then?" gasped Knightly.

"It is a good provision for one out of place."

"Or in," said Knightly.

"Given in the shape of annuity," suggested Mr. Simpson. "I have known many men do worse. This is offered to you."

"What for-for what."

"To give-up what papers you may hold-to be silent upon such information as you may possess."

"Indeed! upon my life!" said Knightly, with some vivacity.

"To let this young lad's nonsensical claim be heard-of no more. To induce him to go abroad. You can't do better."

"I don't know that I can," cried Knightly," than to give you a sound thrashing. Why, you infamous scoundrel, this is the second time," and before Edward Brandon could interfere, his fiery advocate had raised his cane, and was dealing his blows rather unceremoniously upon the surprised bank-clerk, while he leapt-about to the accompanying epithets of "you drudge.-You vile thing of all-work!" and whether or not such impulses are contagious, but, certain it is, that Edward Brandon, who had intended to propitiate, found-himself involved in a like struggle with the lawyer with whom, he was minus a considerable portion of his shirt-frill, with other delapidations of garment, consequent on the fray. But, as nothing rash is done, that has-not its hour of punishment or repentance, ere a few days were passed, the good Knightly was imprisoned for this assault upon the respectable person of Mr. Simpson, cashier of sir Anthony Brandon, and Co., and the young gentleman only spared by the solicitor, out of respect to his employers. But to Edward, the loss of his only friend was the severest misfortune that could have happened. The funds at home were

now sinking to the lowest ebb, and he looked-about-him, in vain.

At this time, they met, also, with another disappointment. The five-hundred pounds supposed to be at his young wife's disposal, on application to the trustees, was refused payment, on the grounds of her marriage interfering with this right; and other legal difficulties were introduced at the command of Mr. Trevor, and by the advice of sir Anthony Brandon.

It was now, that ruin and want were slowly appearing, and no help near; now, that Edward Brandon saw the nobler qualities of his Sophia, and loved her the more fondly; now, that his heart grew fuller, and more full of his wrongs, of the desire of some just vengeance on these inexorable men, and as we shall-not measure other's feelings by our own, neither shall we their injuries, till heaped upon us as remorselessly, and without hope of redress.

(To be concluded in the next Number.)

(Concluded from the number for October.)

CHAPTER IX.

Whoever has met-with reverses of fortune, must know that there is scarce a step from poverty to absolute want,-for one is as the shadow of the other ;-scarce is one seen, but the other, also, approaches. Suddenly, unawares, it stole-upon these young people; and though, in their ignorance, they believed much might yet be done, they did-not understand the methods of supporting life-of obtaining, what is called, a livelihood. They gave the world credit for much virtue, but charity has been discovered, long-since, to be more agreeable in precept than practice. Still, they went-about in search of friends, nor were they the first who sought and found none. Among their rich acquaintances, the falling-off was marvellous, their powers of forgetfulness,-how difficult recognition had become-how perfect the broad. stare of cool indifference; and, if souls must be insensible, to bear this, hearts must be, too, of iron.

Arguments, certainly, were-not necessary, to shew that Edward Brandon's conduct had been highly imprudent, daring, and more resembling the flights of inexpericenced youth, than the sober actions of matured reason. But as extreme cases urge to desperate remedies, as most human-beings prove the last hope false, ere they resignthemselves to despair,-as uncertainties are rejected to make-way for facts,-and positive evil ever preferred to the constant imagining of its approach, it must be allowed, that the weakness and strength,—the nature of the man, was only too strongly depicted in the youth, attended by such bold and resistless energy of temperament, as was more peculiarly his own. If there breathe one who will give-up his life into the assassin's hand without a struggle, such may reproach Edward Brandon. But to some high spirits, the loss of station, fortune, honor, is more than this, or aught else besides; and not to dispute such privileges, is, it would seem, to be more or less than mortal, though, to dispute them, wisely, is difficult-indeed.

Among the resources of the unfortunate, the talents of women are, sometimes, far more available than those of men; and as their little means totally ceased, these two ladies for ned romantic plans of support, to be procured through their own pretty handicraft, alone-needle-work, painting, the accomplishments of genteel life, which there was never yet any lady, in adversity, who did-not pay a heavy penalty for possessing. To be above-the-world, in mental or personal excellence, is to be in the position-not to be served by it; it is, too, beset with the instinct of self-love, to permit a contrary course. However, they went-forth upon the enterprise, and partially succeeded; that is, they obtained some slight employment; and having patiently endured the humiliation incident upon soliciting it, they had now only to contend-with the labor of living, where the lowness of price is exactly proportioned to the skill and nicety requisite in the workmanship.

Edward Brandon, on the other hand, encountered other difficulties which he had certainly never anticipated. He applied for a situation, at last, to some of his father's friends.

P-2-45.

Young gentleman," said an old merchant to him, it is -poor work for the weak to contend-with the strong; you, being so, it was your place to remain-quiet. Brought-up as you have been, for what are you fit? Totally unacquainted, sir, with the habits of business. However, if anything precisely adapted to you should occur, as under-clerk, or other inferior post, I will remember you; but I do-not think it probable."

"I thought, sir, that you were the man," said Edward Brandon," for whom my father stood-security for many thousand pounds, and for many years, too; and lent you money, as I have heard;" and there were flashing in his face all the thoughts that burned within his bosom.

"Yes, yes," the other returned, "your father did me some services, but the time is gone-by-times are changed. If five pounds will be of use to you," but young Brandon proudly turned and stalked away.

To others, he applied,-with no better success. "Who are you, sir ?" said one. The young gentleman, thereupon, diffidently named his connexions and pretensions:- "I am the son of Mr. Edward Brandon. The nephew of sir Anthony !"

"Why does le not serve you? Oh! Ah! Yes, discarded by him;" and any attempted explanation, generally produced other equally-unpleasant remarks. "You must be the same who are charged with setting-fire to Woodbury, the estate of that worthy man; one, too,—who, as I am told, has run-through a small fortune, exhausted his liberality,—and, now, are floating on the great town. A bad character, young sir, is-not so easily mended. Without prudence, what can you expect? But I will write to your uncle." And any application of this kind inevitably put-aperiod to any further expectation. Returning home, dispirited and exhausted, he ever found the ladies busily occupied; inspiring him with hope, though lost to themselves; until, one day, Sophia met him in tears, which were-not to be repressed. "How is this? he murmured; " my poor girl, you are fatigued with this drudgery. How is it that we should be brought to this?"

"My father has sold his house,-gone-abroad :—and oh, Edward, cruel unkindness,-hard-very-hard-indeed!"

"Why do you weep?" cried the young man, distractedly, but yet with indignation." What has he done but crush the fallen? If he had acted the part of a

man in this, all might have been well."

"I wrote to him," said she, with some difficulty, "I told him all."

This

"Did he not know, already, that the pride of his old age was working here;his daughter-my wife-toiling with more labor than any peasant's wife? he might, at least, have spared me.'

"I told him all-everything," she said, in that smothered tone, where the hysterical anguish is contending with firmer resolutions, “but, in vain."

"Affections! He has none," cried Brandon, "feelings, none; pity, none." But the young wife lifted her eyes to his, embracing him, and said, almost inaudibly (or did he imagine that she said it,) "But will he not pity me-ever hope-the child-the promised blessing! Dear-dearest Edward?" And he caught her

closer to his heart.