subsided between them; and Mr. Strickland preferred waiting for the few hundreds his father could not take from him, than the subjecting himself to the impertinences, airs, and greases of his "mother of pearl," as he with more acrimony than he usually displayed, always delighted in calling her; and knowing so well his opinion, Mrs. Strickland was agreeably surprised to hear the "Yes, by all means," returned as readily to the question, whether she should write to him amongst his other friends, as it was to the rest of the names she had mentioned.

There was an excitement and an occupation more seasonable than any other she could have found at the moment in writing her letters: it was like getting ready the umbrellas to defend them from the dark storm impendover them; and there was that very hush in the house that there is in the atmosphere when the clouds are ready to burst; —a sup

pression of voices- a mystery of manner; and the children kissed their mother more than ever and narrowly watched her countenance. What poor creatures we seem, when the power of being independent is taken from us! and the cup of sorrow is bitter enough to drink without the gall and wormwood of self-condemnation !

It was sad to see the sulky mood in which the man of pleasure was reaping his reward;

it

the selfish heart still brooding over what was lost, instead of soothing and supporting her who had only to share his sorrow with him. But she wanted no support, save where she had always found it-in religion. "Prayer moves the hand that moves the universe! unlocked to her the blessings of the day, and locked up the apprehensions of the night; and though sometimes a heart-rush of fear would sweep away all her dependence, it was only for a moment; and she took shame to herself for her faithlessness.

The stiff neck must be bent, and the hard heart melted, the fostered folly must be disclosed, the weak pride of man chastened, the heart so lately filled with vain desires is brought low, and the manifold projects of his brain derided. Sweetly does the author speak, when he says, "We sometimes thank God for our success, but we know not how much we owe the Father of Mercies for our disappointments. We ought to bless the rod that he uses to subdue our pride and reconcile us to himself, whether it be peril or pain, loss or cross, plague, pestilence, or famine, the most overwhelming affliction is a mercy, if it bring us back to the Father of Mercies; the keenest scourge is kindness, if it convince us of sin; losses are gains, when they assist us in obtaining durable riches, and the greatest affliction the greatest mercy, if, through Divine grace, it be made the means of saving our souls."

CHAPTER X.

Who set my man i' the stocks?

I set him there, sir; but his own disorders
Deserved much less advancement.

Lear.

THERE was only one in the Rectory of Haveringham who did not feel all this,-and that,

-was the culprit. So far he had had the full arrangement of his own concerns, and his grief, his sullenness only seemed to rest upon their management being taken from him. He had been everybody's friend, he said; for the future, he would only be his own. It was reversing the saying, "lightly come, lightly go,” for in his affliction no one came near him. Bound to

society, as by a thousand ties, he yet seemed loth to give it up, and, even among the admonitions and remindings which adversity had given him, he seemed still more to regret what he ever classed under the title of his "little comforts," than any pain or trouble he had inflicted on his family.

How mysterious are the ways of the Most High! he taketh the strong and leaveth the weak and Mrs. Strickland stood like a rock in the midst of the foaming surf! The first thunder clap came, in the shape of a little attorney's clerk, neatly booted, and tied up with tape, not red, and spurs strapped over the instep. He came on particular business, —very particular to see Mr. Strickland, and he looked as mysterious as the rest, and walked a few steps forward, instead of back, when Mrs. Strickland said, her husband was unwell, and could not see him.

But Mr. Strickland knew better than this;