Venetia

ospitality it might offer; Dr. Masham was to be of the party, which was, indeed, one of those fanciful expeditions where the same companions, though

hough he affected to the last all the air of a conductor of a wild expedition of discovery, and laughingly impressed upon them the

ough he was to play the host, Cadurcis would not deprive himself of his usual visit to the hall; and he appeared there at an early hou

he party and go a-nutting with one of her fellow-servants and his lordship's valet. The good Doctor was rather late, but he arrived at last on his stout steed, in his accustomed cheerful mood. Here was a party of pleasure which all agreed

shelter of its verdant shade. The abbey looked most picturesque when they first burst upon it; the nearer and wooded hills, which formed its immediate background, just tinted by the golden pencil of autumn, while the meads of the

e of Venetia. He was just in time to receive her in his arms, where she found herself without the slightest embarrassment. The coolness of the cloisters was grateful after their ride, and they lingered and looked upon the old fountain, and felt the freshness of its fall with satisfaction which all

boy,' said Dr. Masham; 'but what has ca

feel that I am here once more with you all;

aga

an age in my existence, has made me resolve never to quit a society where I am persuade

your guar

t ca

tiful

ween us were formed onl

will be secured by

that?' inquir

tia, if she wi

you do n

ld ensure my happiness; and when I reflect, I cannot help being equally persuaded that it would secure

ul and the most gifted of God's creatures; I hope you may marry her; I wish you to ma

long as I have been able to form an opinion. How few are the men, my dear Doctor, who are so fortunate as to

ch you have never s

and although my lot either way could not have altered the nature of things, I might have been discontented, I might have sighed for a world which now I do not value. It is true I have not seen Venetia for five years, but I find her the same, or changed only by nature, and fulfilling al

tor; 'high as you may pitch your

should we

be perfectly acquainted with Venetia, you c

urcis in a tone of surprise,

re you; I give you every credit for a good heart and a sound head; but it is impossible, at your time of life

there is not a subject important to a human

hem all,' said the Doctor

you hope, that you wish, even that you believe that I shall marry Venetia; and yet you

ege for a t

enetia! I

in a dying stat

, my dear

, I am perfe

y marry som

'and though even friends can scarcely be trusted unde

t very pleasant,'

seldom is,' s

cation has not been less peculiar. Her mystic breeding pleases me. It is something to marry a wife so fair, so pure, so refined, so accomplished, who is, nevertheless, perfectly ignorant of the world. I have dreamt of such things; I have paced these old cloisters when a

said the Doctor, with a smile. 'Had I been c

at Eton for begging all their old manuscripts from boys when they left school, to crib from; but I have a heart,