CHAPTER XV.

The right knack of living resembles wrestling more than dancing; for here a man does not know his movement and his measures beforehand. No; he is obliged to stand strong against chance, and secure himself, as occasion shall offer.-MARCUS ANTONIUS.

THERE was something in the face of Smith which always promoted good-humour, and inspired hope. The cheerful, open expression of his ruddy features, and the constant sunshine which lighted them up, giving them a look of confirmed good temper, were an antidote to any feeling of sadness or dejection. It has been remarked that melancholy sentiments have so great a predominance over joyful ones, that a whole party of merry-makers would be chilled by the presence of one real mourner, and, in spite of themselves, acknowledge the influence of his grief. But, so genial was the humour of Smith-so thoroughly sociable his spirit, and bright his temper--that he was more

likely to bring a party of mourners to his mood than they to convert him to theirs. It was not that he wanted feeling—for he sympathized, in his way, with sorrow wherever he met with it; but it was, that he was gifted with a buoyant and happy temperament, which defied and repelled all depressing tendencies, and which was so innate and natural, that it communicated a portion of its exhilarating influence to others, as surely as fire warmed or wine cheered them.

His congratulations to Bellstar and Geraldine were warm and sincere. He treated their secret marriage as a pretty piece of comedy, laughed at Lord Glarvale's wrath, and vowed he would bring him into a conciliatory humour the first time he saw him. Half in jest and half in earnest, he protested: that Godfrey had got the start of him, as he had very serious thoughts of proposing to Geraldine himself. The truth is, Smith did admire her very much—a great deal more than any woman he knew; but when he considered that she could not possibly have a shilling, he found so many objections to marriage that he quite abandoned the idea.

He had just concluded his annual sheep sale, and had netted something over £9,000

for his Leicesters. There was a little stream ran through an estate he had just purchased, which he had contrived to enlarge so that it became answerable for the purposes of a manufacturer, who had taken a lease of some favourable ground at a high rental, and had erected on it mills and a whole town of cottages.

"A rather singular thing happened to me as I passed through London," he said. “You must know that, for my own use, I have been accustomed to make notes of my agricultural experience. During that week of sultry weather, when it was almost impossible to get out, I threw the notes together, and stopping at Markwell's in Albermarle street, close to Murray's, I called in there and left him my manuscript. He was delighted with it, wrote me a cheque for a thousand pounds on the spot for the copyright, and has begged me to write two or three articles for the Quarterly at a hundred guineas each. So, what have you to be afraid of, Godfrey, with your talents? My dear fellow, there is nothing easier in life than to make money. In this country you have but to hold out your hand, and gold drops into it."

"But, Mr. Smith!" exclaimed Geraldine, "I thought you were to be ruined when the corn-laws were repealed. At how many agricultural meetings did you take the chair? No one was louder in prophecies of ruin than yourself."

"To be sure. Prophecies make an impression at meetings, and no one cares to remember them afterwards. If you do take up a cause, you should throw your heart into it. My opinions haven't changed in the least. It was most iniquitous work. I know numbers of worthy people who have either sunk already under its operation or are fast sinking. As it happened, I was fortunately situated. My estates were unencumbered. I could do as I pleased with them, and I made great changes to suit the altered circumstances. I don't know that I shall lose any thing; perhaps I shall gain in the long run-I believe I shall. But it is absurd to suppose that others could act like me. You were broken down by the change, Godfrey, and thousands of others suffered in the same manner."

"That is what I cannot, for the life of me, understand," returned Bellstar. "Every thing seems to bring you good, and me bad

fortune. You began life with a property which seemed hopelessly encumbered; and people now talk of you as one of the greatest proprietors of the midland counties. I succeeded unexpectedly to a splendid rent-roll, with large funded property, and now have not a guinea I can call my own. How do you account for it ?"

"Gad! I don't know. People would say, I suppose, that I was thrifty and you were extravagant. Yet I never denied myself a pleasure I felt inclined to; while you have been continually tormented by desires you refused on principle to gratify. How is it, Damer?"

But Damer had left the room some moments before. He had descried a packet approaching, and had gone to the harbour, expecting news from the Continent.

"Are you, who are so fortunate, never afraid of the fate of Polycrates?" asked Geraldine. "I see you have a diamond on your finger. Let me persuade you to cast it into the sea."

"No, no! I am obliged to you," he replied quickly; "I am not at all afraid of losing my friends by being too prosperous. Besides, I never play tricks with fortune. She's too slip