throes it cost him were only added to the sad account he had to combat with; he cramped the haughty spirit pent in such humble clay; he had dared to love, but there his daring left him, he dared no more. Silent to the last, he kept the 'vantage ground she, in her fondness, had given him; and, in the pride of having once gained her love, it was easier to curb down all hope, all fear, all care, everything, but stand her scrutiny. - I will not close the chapter without saying, that never did any one show more discernment, more innate tact, more real knowledge of the world, than John Bracken by this decision. His, however, was a natural instinct. "The hind that would be mated by the lion And better to die a thousand, thousand times, than live to suffer that love's contumely. CHAPTER IX. Timothy.-I love our nation, and all men in it so well, that I wish they had given you less entertainment; it had been more for their honour and credit. Philautus.-That is somewhat enviously said; I hope you will give people leave to keep the best company. MR. HOBBE's State of Nature. My care is loss of care, by old care done; MRS. STRICKLAND's care was the old story. She had lately suspected that gambling, in a fair trade way, such as sitting in drawingrooms, and playing short whist, and ruinous French points, was making its frais against the well-doing of her husband. The inclination had come on very gradually; but, as was the case with him in everything, that inclination was unscrupulously followed, and again his impulse for excelling broke forth, for he must do it neater and better than anybody. She now saw her best purse taken, on which the steel beads were rusting for want of use, as his card purse, and bills were drawn and exchanged for gold to put in it. She saw the purse go forth; but she never saw it, on its return, for her husband was growing more close than ever in his affairs. She would, with fear, discover an absent look in the eye, when he did chance to join them at dinner; for, since his new accomplishment, he seemed, to her tortured mind, to be invited out more than ever. The children, also, fancied he spoke cross to them, at times, when their ideas upon the subject told them they did not deserve it. Mr. Bracken had, also, his complaints to make; for Mr. Strickland would come upon him for both morning and evening sermons, without one word beforehand that he required them. Money, also, that Mrs. Strickland could occasionally persuade out of him, in driblets though it had been, was now never forthcoming; she was put off eternally with the same answer,-when he had it she should have it. "But when ?" Oh, his tithes would soon be paid, and then it was only for her to let him know what she did require; women were so full of wants (growing angry as he spoke), that, to satisfy them was out of the nature of things; but, when he had it, she should have it. This would put her off for a time, and anxiously she would await the pay day to come; making others wait with her, patiently and contentedly, by one word of the honest and persuasive accents that flowed from her anxious lips. And the day did come; and Mr. Strickland was as well prepared for it as herself. "Yes, I did say, my dear, I would give you money;" and here he had recourse to his extenuating whine," and so you shall have it, if you like to take it; but I candidly tell you," warming, as he proceeded, "that I have to meet a bill of fifty pounds to that rascally coal-merchant, which will otherwise be returned: so if you could wait a little," here he talked like her own Mr. Strickland, " I should really, “I my life, be very thankful." Thus it was wait wait wait and sick : at heart, and sorry to have misled others, the perplexed wife could only cramp her children's dinner, and sit herself down to hard work; assuring herself by good words from good books, that the righteous were never forsaken. But the chill was curdling at her heart: she saw the storm approaching — black and spreading — and she knew not what course to - take; for like one really puzzled by the warring of the elements, she feared any decisive step of hers might only help to attract the light |