Heart

d. They seemed to be in love with all the world, for every thing around them wore a lustre of deliciousness: and when the smoking posters left them at Salt hill, and that well-matched

and brotherly fellow John Dillaway, in trust for Maria Clements, should any possible reverse of fortune affect her father's or his own prosperity. Yes; and John had been so wise as to make the two hundred a

on: and "possession," I am sorry to declare, is a word used advisedly; for Mr. John required a largish floating capital to enable him to go to the desperate lengths he did at hazard and rouge-et-noir; and I am a

ver the full success of his nefarious plan, but also over this unexpected acquisition of poor Clem

one in the place whereto he went, had ever heard of a widow'd Countess of Lancing; and her ladyship's acres, if any where at all, were u

stupid, I said Diddli

it is needless to inquire: and then

wo hours when I found it all out, through a clever devil of a lawyer, who was hired by my father's son to look into incumbrances, and keep a sharp look-out for a mutual settlement; that old harridan of a ladyship is over head and ears in debt; and, it seems, I was to have

s ready lie had plenty of reasons in it

ve astonished us all: what on earth made you t

what?"-Sir Thomas

see; what a close old file it is! What letter? why, the le

what is it all?" The poor old

w you didn't leave a letter behind you here upon your table, bidding Maria marry in your absence to spare y

ticulate expression of ignorant ama

re married and off-

ns cut all short; and then in a voic

y married? how do you know it? ca

ad it under your hand to give the girl away myself instea

itten nothing-I know noth

nd were quite too many for me. Only listen: that fellow Clements, ay, and Miss Maria too (artful minx, I know her), must have

ey? what? I'

ther if she didn't see the letter-if they didn't marry upon it, and if that precious sister of mine doesn'

mooth-tongued Belial, could n

a joke, especially after his Yorkshire expedition, rushed up to Lady Dillaway; on he

true? are they married? is

only too glad, and I will ad

t? Madam, we're cheated, foo

myself, Thomas, your own h

what? that precious pair of rogues forged it! Now, m

is proved true! And how could she think it false? A letter contrived to expedite their marriage in the father's casual absence, which no one could have thought of writing but Sir Thomas hims

y'll get of me: and as for you, mum, give 'em money at your peril; stay, to make sure of it, Lady Dillaway, I shall stint you to whatever you choose to ask me for out of my own

poor Maria! indeed, she was deceive

marry a beggar! Well, ma'am, there's one comfort left; the fellow married her for money, and he's caught in his own trap; never a pe

ruth, the poor mother was staggered too, especially when her managing son set all the matter in what he stated to be the right light; for he had, the whole business through, whispered so separately to each, and had seemed to say so little openly (making

slippers and smelling-bottles, and write notes, and read newspapers, and make himself every thing by turns (he devoutly hoped it would be nothing long) to his poor dear parents, as became an only child! It was quite affecting-and both father and mother, softened in spite of themselves at the l

w will signed; earwigged the