a disappointed man-and a poor devil. Well, well! I'll make you, good reader, my confidant. Expect little from the sympathies of the world, and you will not be much disappointed. Its conscience, too, is very like that of BAILLIE MACWHEEBLE'S-a very quiet one, that never did him any harm. The community's sympathy is not a thing in common: it is reserved entirely for itself. I remember reading the Mountain Decameron, and although it is a good many years ago, I am able to quote a sentence in support of what I have just said. It is this:-"As little as feels the bloody hyena's heart for this heart of mine, feels the general heart of a proud, pretending, highly-civilized community for any particular heart that ever bled or broke, is bleeding or is breaking."

See, Mr. Editor, what your artist, with his selection, is answerable for! "Old Grey" would never have groaned, and gossiped, and galloped over such a course, if it hadn't been for that stricken deer and its damnable suggestiveness.

STRONG MEN AND STRONG DRINK.

Stopping the other day at the Chesterfield station, chances directed my steps to the nearest house, which happened to be a humble-looking place with a mighty big name, called the "Midland Hotel." The host of "mine inn"-one of the finest men I ever saw in my lifein the course of a chat I had with him while my refreshment was being got ready-confessed that he had no taste for strong drink, seldom indeed drinking anything but one cup of coffee for breakfast and one cup at tea-time. He held that drink was the bane of condition, and that water-of which, he said, (and he said so in earnest) he never in his life drank but one glass when a lad, and that made him ill-was even more injurious to him, to his health, than beer and spirits, or tea and coffee, all of which he thought bad for everybody, if more than a very little indeed of them was taken. His notion seemed to be, as far as I could gather, that any quantity of any liquid whatever exceeding a pint a-day, divided into two equal parts, was at variance with health, whether in or out of training. He was shy of saying that he had ever been a pugilist; but I learned that he had made a very good figure both with and without the gloves at Sheffield, where he formerly resided. He is a quiet, shrewd man, not addicted at all to either joking or romancing; and I have no more doubt of the man's veracity about the very small quantity of liquid imbibed by him, than I have of any other respectable man's word. His authority, therefore, must be taken for what it is worth. Here is an innkeeper, a Boniface, a seller of strong drinks, no teetotaler, but who is a type of temperance. This is curious enough perhaps. But the thing to be noted is, that we have in this man of only two go-downs a-day a laurel-crowned hero, an athlete, always, as he says, and looks too, in the highest condition, and always rigidly abstaining, in a most remarkable degree, from all liquid, from every kind of beverage, not taking generally more than a pint of anything a-day. The fellow is as strong as a horse, and does not drink in a month much more than a Newmarket nag in training drinks in a day or two, little as it is.

"Oh-aye," said he, neither wishing to appear surprised, or still less to permit his domestics to suppose their lady had done anything contrary to his wishes. The result, however, of what he saw was an immediate wish to ascertain to what these preparations tended, or at least to what extent; for that an assemblage of persons of no ordinary number was anticipated, was clearly evident.

Mrs. Meredith had shown considerable tact in avoiding an interview with her liege lord prior to the arrival of the guests; for she knew Jack to be far too well bred to evince the slightest disapprobation of her conduct before them, and she also knew his generous and hospitable feelings would conduce to the same result. If she did apprehend any manifestation of his displeasure on the morrow, she felt the éclat of the neighbourhood would more than compensate for any little émeute that might result from it. She little knew the value of the heart she thus trifled with far less did she know the inflexible and sturdy determination of its owner, in a rightful cause.

Jack, on finishing his toilet for the evening, strolled into the reception-rooms, to see the preparations made by his lady's orders. He entered an ante-room that on all ordinary occasions was used as a drawing-room. Certain minor embellishments to its usual appears ance created little surprise, from seeing an unusual assemblage was expected. He walked to the door leading into the principal drawingroom: he found it locked. On demanding the key, he was told it was in the possession of his lady. Jack made no remark; but on the servants retiring, an energetic thrust of his foot burst it open, when, to his unfeigned astonishment, he found the really magnificent room enlarged by a temporarily-constructed apartment, fitted-up as an eastern tent, to be entered from a large window that opened on the lawn. Two extra chandeliers had been put up, in additiou to the one in the drawing-room, and one of gigantic dimensions destined to illumine the tent in an equal blaze of light. The library had been converted into a dinner-room for the day; and in the large diningroom he found tables being decorated and covers laid for at least a hundred; and, judging from the first coup d'œil of the uncompleted arrangements, they were intended to display, in common phrase, 66 every delicacy of the season." From that moment, Jack made up his mind as to his future intentions; and a carriage coming round the sweep, he hastened to receive his guests. Mrs. Melville entering at the same moment, Jack showed nothing in his conduct or manner that could tend to any conclusion but that they had passed the morning as usual. The dinner for twelve, Jack had ordered prior to leaving home: it was, consequently, in character with the habits and

position in society of the donor; and his conduct and general demeanour were precisely what they would have been had the intended party beeu given with his entire approbation and consent. A peculiarity, however, in the manner of his lady did not escape his penetrating eye. There was a distracted air at times about her that plainly showed some apprehension as to the consequences of the bold step she had ventured on; and at others an over-officious attention to her guests, evidently entered into to avoid addressing her husband more frequently than absolutely necessary. All, however, passed off well. Jack never appeared in better spirits, nor did the honours of his table with more cordial and refined courtesy; so much so, that ere the ladies retired Mrs. Meredith had recovered her usual confidence and serenity. Jack, for many reasons, pressed his friends to sit over their wine longer than he usually did; and it was not till after he had heard the arrival of many equipages, that he assented to the proposal of joining the ladies. He found, as if done by magic during dinner, vestibule and staircase lined with exotics. Coloured lamps hung where lamps had never hung before; and on entering the ante-room door, that apartment, the drawing-room, and Grecian tent elicited a blaze of light that, it was evident, took his friends by surprise. The Grecian tent, with its rich silk lining and draperies, looked really magnificent; and, hurt and angry as Jack naturally felt, he could not but allow to himself that his wife, whose colour was a little heightened by excitement, was certainly the most beautiful woman in the room. An involuntary sigh escaped him, as the fear struck on his mind that so beautiful a casket did not contain the treasure of such a heart as he wished the chosen of his own to possess. He shook off, however, the corroding thought, and during the evening was the gayest of the gay, receiving the compliments paid to Mrs. Meredith's taste in her arrangements with well-acted signs of satisfaction and pleasure. Mrs. Meredith now fancied her triumph complete; and her spirits rose as the idea strengthened that any displeasure on the part of her husband had given way in contemplation. of the éclat of the entertainment. She little, however, knew the command that husband had over any outward display of his feelings: still less dreamed she of the sweeping measures he could take when he found such necessary.

On retiring for the night, Jack made no allusion to the party. His lady, however, somewhat timidly remarked that she hoped he thought the little surprise she had planned for him had gone off well. "Nothing could be better arranged," said Jack. He then dropped the subject, and also dropped, or pretended to have dropped, asleep.

The next two days were occupied in restoring things to their usual state. Jack made no remarks, unless addressed, on the subject, and then made his replies without any manifestation of displeasure or reproach. The only alteration perceivable in his usual conduct was his being the greatest part of the day employed in writing, and his then starting for London, but without assigning any reason for so doing, either on going or on his return, which occurred on the third day of his absence.

The next morning, at breakfast, Jack remarked to his lady, "You

have never seen Ap Swilly, or Wales itself, I believe. I intend spending this spring there, instead of in London.'

"What," replied the lady, "bury yourself in such a place during the height of the London season!

"If you call it being buried, residing in really a very beautiful. locality during the finest part of the year, I certainly do mean our interment to take place," most imperturbably replied Jack.

"Interment, indeed!" exclaimed his lady. not expect that I shall consent to go there?"

"You, of course, do

"From your tone, Mrs. Meredith, I shall certainly school my hopes so as not to form so wild an expectation; but there we go."

66 I suppose, Mr. Meredith, "if I consent to go there for a few days, I can then go to town, and you can come up when you please to quit your Welsh Elysium for your town-house."

Perhaps," said Jack, "you will not think your plan so feasible, when I tell you I have now no town-house."

"Good heavens!" cried the lady, you surely have not let it?" "I have not," said Jack: "I have sold it."

"Sold it!" absolutely screeched the lady: "you can never find another I shall like half as well; and after the trouble that was taken in new-furnishing it on our marriage, and arranging that to so perfectly correspond with the house, it will never look to the same advantage in another."

"I was quite aware of that," coolly replied Jack;" so I sold it

as it stood.

"Have we, then, no house to go to ?" gasped Mrs. Meredith. "Not in town, certainly," said Jack; nor do I intend to have one again. Perhaps, under such circumstances, you may not feel so disinclined to visit Ap Swilly?"?

"Oh, the horrid little hole !" cried Mrs. Meredith--" I could not exist a week there."

66

"You did, however," replied Jack, with some little asperity in his manner, continue to breathe in Heathfield Cottage, and, I trust, will do so at Ap Swilly: at all events, you will make the attempt." "Will, sir?""

"Yes-will," said Jack.

"As, Mr. Meredith," said his lady, "without in any shape consulting my wishes, you sold my town-house, I shall take the liberty of consulting my own now, by remaining here."

"I think not," said Jack.

"And why, pray, may I ask?"

"Simply," replied Jack, "because this house is let for a term of seven years, just as it stands."

"Heavens, Mr. Meredith!" cried the lady, "what do I hear! Has anything happened? Have you lost your fortune, or your

wits?"

"Neither," replied Jack; "but had we gone on as we have done the last year, I certainly should in time have lost the one, and then, possibly, the other. To prevent either catastrophe taking place, we go to Ap Swilly."

"And pray, may I ask," said Mrs. Meredith, "where can you put the establishment in your Welsh mousetrap?"

"Perhaps," said Jack, smiling, "you may also consider it a ladytrap. But I will dispel your uneasiness regarding the establishment, by informing you that I shall take no more with me than the mousetrap can accommodate, which will be three maid-servants, two men, and a lad."

A shriek and paroxysm of rage and tears combined followed this information, when Jack, rising leisurely, said, "I fear you may bring on hysterics by your present excitement ;" and, ringing the bell, he desired Mrs. Meredith's maid to be sent up, and then left the

room.

All the arrangement of departure Jack took upon himself, and on again seeing his lady, informed her they should commence their journey on the fourth day from the one on which he had communicated his intentions.

"You mentioned," said Mrs. Meredith, "three female servants as being the number you intended to retain. I conclude, then, you have engaged some Welsh ones; and of course Bennett, Justine, and Leroux are those you intend taking with you."

"I must have stated my intentions enigmatically, I conclude," said Jack; for I meant to be understood that three would comprise the number we should want. Justine is by far too fine a lady for a place where her talents would be uncalled for; and a French cook would not be required to cook mere mutton, fish, and game. Bennett I should advise you to take, as I know she will not object to add the duties of lady's-maid to those of housekeeper."

"Justine I cannot-will not part with," said Mrs. Meredith: "I cannot dispense with her services."

"You will, at all events, make the attempt," coolly replied Jack ; "and permit me to recommend your personally dismissing her, to avoid yourself the mortification of my doing so. My reasons for insisting on this are such, that nothing can alter my fixed determination."

Baffled and really alarmed by the cool but determined manner of her husband, Mrs. Meredith found her only resource was submission; for she could bring no charge of unkindness against him, had she called in the mediation of friends.

Jack was perfectly correct in his suspicions of the intrigues of the insidious foreigner, Justine. In her last situation, she had served a woman of rank, who ruled a weak-minded husband with despotic sway. She had, by imperceptible degrees, instilled into the mind of Mrs. Meredith the idea that she had only to exert her prerogative of wife, to bend her husband to her wishes in all matters where that prerogative could be supposed to exist, which, in Mademoiselle Justine's calculation, embraced the management not only of a husband, but of all his affairs and expenditure. She it was who put the memorable party in her mistress's head; the Grecian tent was her suggestion; and, having been accustomed to witness such display, her taste and talent were, to do her justice, in such cases first-rate. The results, however, of her consultations with her present mistress, as it is seen, were not exactly the same as they had been in the family of the old Count; and finding, to her cost, that such was the case, "brute" and "monstre" were the softest terms in which she men