Venetia

rform divine service at Cherbury. It was a subject of deep regret to Lady Annabel that herself and her family were debarred from the advantage of more frequent

und it more convenient to attend the church of the contiguous parish than to repair to the hall chapel, where the household and the dwellers in the few cottages scattered about the park and woods always assembled. The Lady Annabel, whose lot it had been in life to find her best consolation in religion, and who was influenced by not only a sincere but even a severe piety, had no other alternative, therefore, but eng

enth century; with a large cauliflower wig, shovel-hat, and huge knee-buckles, barely covered by his top-boots; learned, jovial, humorous, and somewhat courtly; truly pious, but not enthusiastic; not forgetful of his tith

highly bred, and, above all, so pious, had won his regard. He was not a little proud, too, that he was the only person in the county who had the honour of her acquaintance, and yet was disinterested enough to regret that he led so secluded a life, and often lamen

lchra, fili

ite and favourite quotation aft

little charge, on whose chair she just leaned with an air of condescending devotion. The butler stood behind his lady, and two other servants watched the Doctor; rural bodies all, but decked on this day in gorgeous livery coats of blue and silver, which had been made originally for men of very different size and bearing. Simple as was the usual diet at Cherbury the cook was permitted on Sunday full play to her art, which, in the eighteenth century, indulged in the production of dishes more numerous and substantial than our refined tastes could at present tolerate. The Doctor appreciated a good dinner, and his countenance glistened with approbation as he surveyed the ample tureen of potage royal, with a boned duck swimming in its centre. Before him still scowled in death the grim countenance of a huge roast pike, flanked on one side by a leg of mutton à-

were the dishes that ever escaped him. The demon dyspepsia had not waved its fell wings over the eighteenth century, and w

nd, I trust my fair readers will not be frightened from proceeding with this history, a servant brought him his pi

lady, you have got

xclaimed La

tor from too quickly satisfying her natural curio

e old abbey has at

ant, D

ant in the world:

rise me. When d

ve paid them a visit. Mrs. Cadurcis has come

’ said Lady Annabel; ‘and w

ash of his pipe with his tobacco-stopper of chased silver, ‘th

abel bow

gdom of heaven for all that, left all his property to his unlawful children, with the exception of this estate entailed on the titl

rcis?’ inquire

since she was a widow, has lived in strict seclusion with her little boy, as you may, my dear lady, with your dear little girl. But I am afraid,’ said the Doctor, shaking his head, ‘she has not been in the habit of dining so well as we have today. A very limited income, my dear ma

and not without a sigh. ‘I trus

had listened to it very attentively. At length she said,

ear,’ said Lady Anna

and then replied, ‘Pray,

asham, ‘go and give that beautifu

le with Venetia, and took a turn in the park,

or, ‘it would be but an act of Christi

ave told me of her history and fortunes. We have some woes in common; I hope

ld,’ said the Doctor: ‘but duties, my dear lady, duties; there are such things as du

tia on her head, as she ran up from a little distance, with an eager countenance, to receive her accustomed blessing. Then mounting his stout mare, he once mo