"Oh leave that to me, another Cyclopædia. He is now engaged on voyage in prospect is a mighty sharp- the words "stratum" and "shell" ener of the wits. Before three days for the same compilation, and has are over, your uncle will be very happy, made poor Frouny as ludicrous as himI've a notion, to get quit of his bar- self-that accounts for the cart-load of gain, and Frouny, poor dear; what a spades and pickaxes they carry about nice girl she used to be the last time I was with them." home on sick leave, before she had got her fortune, or had her head turned by Dr. Bubb!-How we danced at all the balls!" "And how do you manage to converse with such learned personages?" "No need of conversation; they won't let one speak. I make a point of always agreeing with the lady, and hugging some words like tertiary," 'granatic,' or 'stalactitic,' into whatever I say. It makes very pretty mosaic work of my plain prose, and I think it pleases very much. But as I see you are fidgetty, I'll tell you our plans in a single moment. In the first place we will" But as no man is worth a farthing who can't keep a secret, we intend to have more discretion than the gallant captain, and pass on to the next chapter without telling the reader any more of their conversation. CHAPTER III. Poor Mr. Wallop, with his mouth stuffed with ham, and his waistcoat copiously bedewed by an oblation of coffee which he had offered to the infernal deities on perceiving the second regiment of sight-seers effect an entrance into his grounds, rushed from one secluded nook of his beautiful domain to another, but found them all peopled. Parasols were as plentiful as leaves, and spread a shade over the whole dell, giving more umbrage to the proprietor of the soil than the maker of the foresaid parasols had contracted for. But a fiery old gentleman, growling horrible imprecations from amid the mass of ham and muffin which he had yet had no time to swallow, dispelled in a great measure the romance of the scene; and one after another the groups folded up their books and pencils and retired to some other portion of the property, wondering at the insolence of the ill-natured individual who denied to the universe at large free access to every square yard of his estate. The Hermit's Grotto was emptied of the giggling young gentlemen and misses who had been carving their initials on the stonetable and crucifix, the Naiad's Well, into which a pure spring rushed down from a cleft in the rock, had been delivered from the pic-nic party who had already taken the precaution of depositing sundry bottles in the water,obscure giggles were heard in all directions as the various retreating intruders expressed their indignation or surprise, or amusement, as the case might be, at the behaviour of Mr. Wallop; and that worthy gentleman having at last emptied his mouth, was beginning to fancy he had cleared the premises of all interlopers, when-oh! earth, oh sky! what do his eyes behold? In the very heart of the little flowergarden at the foot of the cliff, whose little bed shaped in all sorts of ways had been so carefully filled with the choicest plants and flowers by his former favourite Jane Lorimer, where he and Charles and Jane had with their own hands reared, on a pedestal of turf, an exact copy of the Warwick Vase, which with equal taste and ingenuity they had taught a vine to clamber round the sides of, and shake its real clusters just over the brim,— there in that hallowed spot, we say, which was dear to the old man's heart, "And pray, Madam," he cried, go. ing up to the young lady, "what possi ble right have you to commit this devastation?" as it had reminded him of his nephew succeeded in boring a great hole; and all the time he was from home, and as the weight was increased every recalled the days when Jane was "the time by the additional depth the bar fair spirit for his minister," which only had to fall to, the progress became the demon of lime and mortar, ground- more rapid as the operation went on. rents, and front elevations had had In the mean time, Mr. Wallop looked power to expel ;—there, we again round in search of the gardener, the repeat, in the fairy land of his heart, groom, or any of the domestics; what which his soul had consecrated for a would he not have given for Charles in temple to memory and romance-he this moment of anger to have assisted in perceived a gigantic cart-wheel fixed burying the experimenter in the hole he on a wooden stage, and zealously turn- had made in the prettiest flower-bed in ed round and round by a little plump the garden! gentleman with very bandy legs, while its gyrations were carefully watched by a lady in a bright green pelisse, who was standing in the very midst of a bed of lilies of the valley. The plump little gentleman, who was dressed in a suit of sober black, had laid aside his hat, and by way of keeping it from the ground, had hung it as on a peg, on the beautiful handle of the Warwick Vase-his face reddened to a preternatural depth of scarlet by his exertion, and his spectacles fallen forward on the very point of his flat broad nose, he could find no time to answer the harangue of Mr. Wallop, but kept on twisting the great wheel with the same impetuosity as before. "Hallo!-stop, you infernal villain. Who sent you here-what the devil are you doing?" "Sir," said the young lady, in reply to these thundering exclamations "you are interrupting a philosophical experiment of the highest value; go on, dear Dr. Bubb-what stratum are you in now?" "Not yet come to the chalk formation, miss, simple alluvial-three feet four." The lady wrote with her.pencil in a little green bound book, "alluvial, three feet four." "Do you hear, sir ?" ag in exclaimed Mr. Wallop, "who sent you here? I'll prosecute you for a trespass." But the doctor and the young lady were too deep in the operation before them to take notice of what was said. A great cart-rope was twisted round the wheel, and kept in place on the iron by a ledge of wood nailed all round, and at the end of the rope was a huge iron bar which the philosopher raised up by the turning of the wheel, and then let it fall with the whole impetus of the height, by letting the wheel go. This operation, constantly repeated, "Don't trouble yourself, dear sir, about it,-I know very well by whose authority we act. Where now, Dr. Bubb?" she added, turning to her friend. "Marle, and imperfectly consolidated limestone, but it seems a very irregular formation; we shall come to the chalk in two or three more turns.” "There, sir, you hear what the doctor says he seems a little tired with his exertions; you will perhaps relieve him at the wheel." "No, madam, not at the stake!— What the deuce! would you have me help the ruffian to destroy my own ground?" The philosopher now paused in his labour, and adjusting his spectacles and coughing to clear his throat, said, "All objections to the march of science proceed from ignorance and prejudice. I will therefore in few words explain to this old gentleman the order of formation, so far as the beds are already ascertained, and he will I feel certain no longer refuse us his assistance till the return of our friend and fellowlabourer, Captain Slap. You know what a stratum is?" "I neither care for straitum nor crookum," replied Mr. Wallop; "what business have you here?" "I conclude you are Mr. Wallop?" inquired the Doctor. "I am-but that's no business of yours; but who told you you might bring all those concerns here, eh?” "It is indeed as we were told" said the philosopher to his fair companion, aside; "we must soothe him till the Captain comes. You will be pleased to observe Sir the progress we have already made. This simple process is borrowed from the system em ployed in the digging of the Artesian wells. With this I undertake to bore any thing." "Or any body, you may add," said Mr. Wallop, whom surprise at the effrontery of the stranger made apparent ly calm and resigned; "Who are you, sir? give me your name." "My name is Doctor Bubb-you have probably heard of me before." "Never, sir." Dr. Bubb and the lady here looked at each other, and shrugged their shoulders in amazement at such profundity of ignorance. The lady, however by way of turning the conversation, addressed the old gentlemen again "I shall turn this whole estate into a mineralogical museum." "Oh, you will, will you?" "With the Artesian process of Dr. Bubb nothing can be so easy as to go down to the very centre. Before I have been here a month I shall have hot baths from the springs immediately above the internal fire. But perhaps you are not a Plutonian." "Perhaps not," said Mr. Wallop, who knew nothing of what she was saying, except that she intended to dig great holes all over his estate. "A Neptunian then, perhaps?" interposed Dr. Bubb; "I shall be happy to explain both the theories to you. Werner in Germany, and Hutton in Scotland, are the rival Demiurges in the mythology of modern science. The question to be resolved is this Is water or fire the potentia genetrix, the vehicle, the organ, the substratum of all things? A few words will explain the conflicting statements of the different schools." "Who cares about schools or colleges either! Here you have made a trespass on my land, you have raised a scaffolding on my property without asking my leave-you have dug a huge hole in my garden and now you talk about fire and water. I'll have you properly trounced, you chattering impertinent coxc “Mr. Wallop!”—interrupted the lady, horror-struck at such profanation; แ we feel for you-deeply, and sincerely feel for you-but such language is not to be borne; you speak to Dr. Bubb." woman, unless you give a good account of yourself, I'll commit you to the treadmill for six weeks. What the devil! is there no law in England—am I to be robbed and ruined in this way?" "Robbed sir?"--said Dr. Bubb, soothingly-"we have taken nothing; excepting, indeed, your cart-wheel, and the legs of your sideboard to erect our platform on." 66 My sideboard legs!-by Heavens, and so you have-my beautiful carved oak sideboard! I would not have destroyed it for a hundred pounds; but I'm glad of it-very glad of it-it's a hanging matter now; and I shall have you both on the gallows yet." The looks of mutual understanding, which he had formerly observed, were again exchanged been the lady and gentleman.. "Poor old man," whispered the lady "Captain Slap was rightly informed but luckily Mr. Martin, his nephew, has full power over him. He shouldn't have taken off the waistcoat though. Yet he seems harmless enough." Dr. Bubb made no reply, but again mounted the platform, and was preparing to set the wheel once more in motion; but the patience of Mr. Wallap could stand this no longer. He took him by the arm. "Stir from this spot, and I will break every bone in your body." "Sir-remember the respect due to science"-began the philosopher, in huge alarm.. "Unhand. him, old man," said the young lady-"I tell you to do so, and I have some right to command. here." "He stirs not from this spot, nor you either, till the constable takes you to jail. Depend on that young WOman." These words were said so sternly and calmly, that the lady also became frightened. "If there is any mistake here," said Dr. Bubb, "a few words will explain every thing. A search for fossilized shells, and a desire to trace the layers of the different strata constituting the romantic scenery of this neighbourhood, have been the guiding principle of all our proceedings. As this young lady also is so soon to be proprietor of this soil" A slap on the back, bestowed with hearty good will, hindered Mr. Wal pher. "Pon my honour-I don't exactlywhat family did you say?-old Mr. Wallop knows more about such matters than I can do." lop from listening to a syllable more. young lady of the military philoso"That's my calling-card, old boy," said the individual who had thus saluted him; "Captain Slap of the copper-coloured Snapdragons. You don't know me, I suppose-but I'm a sworn friend of your nephew's. Never mind this old fellow, Dr. Bubb, but go on with your experiments," he added, turning to the philosopher. "But he shall mind me, sir-and you shall mind me, sir; and you too, madam; by Heaven! if there's a pillory in England, I'll have every soul of you on it, if I die for it." The curses, the threats, the denunciations of Mr. Wallop were of no avail --and in a silence, such as he had never maintained in his life, he listened to the conversation of the three scientific inquirers in into the mysteries of na ture. Round went the wheel, and down fell the iron bar. "Have you come to the chalk yet?" inquired the young lady, taking out her note-book once more. 66 Nearly-and then we shall see if the organic remains contained in it confirm the commonly received Mosaic theory or not." "Moses!"-exclaimed the young lady, with a sneer; "he was not a Dr. Bubb. What remains have been discovered in this layer?" "Of the perfect animals, my dear young lady," replied the Doctor, pausing in his labour, and quoting apparently, one of his lectures-"very few; some specimens of vertebral fish-the teeth of a species of shark, allied to the squalus galeus, and two varieties of the grinding palatal bones of some genera unknown, vertebræ and scales. But of the testaceous molluscæ, the order of multilocular univalves has left many genera imbedded in this formation. Ammonites; Scaphites and Belemnites; Serpulæ also, and spirorbes are common. But our gallant friend, Captain Slap, has made researches into several classes of the multivalves." "Oh, yes-granitic, of course, tertiary and supermedial"-blustered out the captain, who knew as much of what the learned lecturer had been saying as of Hebrew. "Is not the important family of Echinites numerous here?" inquired the "The Echinites"-she repeated, appealing to the still furibund old man. "No family of that name heresome people in one of the lodging. houses, perhaps." "The members of that family differ very much from each other," continued Dr. Bubb, ex cathedrà,-" some are heart shaped, spatangus for instance; and others conical." "They must be a rum-looking set of customers as they go to church of a Sunday"-said the captain-while Mr. Wallop felt more and more persuaded that the whole party were mad. "But I hope," continued the philosopher, "you will go on with your researches, my dear Miss Haggers baggie-this is quite the spot for them." "I most certainly shall. Indeed my great object in my projected change is to be enabled to pursue my geological studies." Mr. Wallop started on hearing the name-but before he had time to say any thing Captain Slap had nudged him with his elbow. "I say, old boy, there'll be rare work with this Artemisian well-digging when she becomes your neice and rules the roast up in the hall there." "The first thing I shall do," pursued Sophronia-"is to make a section of the face of that cliff. It seems to me very like simple conglomente." "We can easily try," answered Dr. Bubb, "for the vase on which my hat is hung is of the same material-I will chip off the handle and ascertain the fact in a moment." "The deuce you will!"-cried Mr. Wallop "I tell you you shall do no such thing-here comes old John Bammel, and I'll have you all in the lock-up house forthwith." As he spoke, our old friend the fisherman came up to the scene of action; and after touching his hat to Mr. Wallop, addressed himself to Dr. Bubb. "Iv'e got it all ready, sir-spade and mattock-to dig half a foot down with; you'll easily find them in the Cove on the shore and can carry them home at leisure." 1 1 "What's all this?" inquired the captain, as if he had scarcely heard what Bammel had said. "A few curiosities," said Dr. Bubb, "which this intelligent pefson has procured for me, and hidden in a spot known only to myself. They are of inestimable value, and in great quantities two casks are filled with them. For fear of other students of the noble science getting possession of the specimens, I have had to adopt all these precautions; and to-day, at one o'clock, when all the population of the village will be at dinner, I will go and take possession." "And Captain Slap and I will go on with the well," said Sophronia. "I'll be hanged if you do!" exclaimed Mr. Wallop-" John! I command you to seize those people." "Can't, sir indeed that there young lady is young master's intended," said Bammel, hurrying away. "Yes," continued Captain Slap "as the property is hers." "Hers? who made it hers?-tis mine, I tell you.' "I told you how it was, Miss Frouny," said the captain to his compan ion, "the poor old man very often talks in this way. His nephew humours him a great deal too much." "Ha!" exclaimed Dr. Bubb"tis near the time. I must go. Perhaps you had better delay farther proceedings till I return. In the meantime, go into the house, as Captain Slap has kindly invited us, and order luncheon. I will join you as soon as I have deposited my two puncheons of fossils in a place of safety." Saying this the Doctor put on his hat, and again adjusting his spectacles, pursued his way at a rapid pace from the garden, while Captain Slap, offering his arm to Sophronia, marched majestically towards the house. 66 Well, of all the infernal rascals I ever saw of all the vain, conceited, insolent, intolerable gipsies I ever heard of, these men and this woman are the worst.-Marry her!-I'll write a note this moment to Mrs. Lorimer, and ask her and Jane to stay for a-week." Such were the reflections of Mr. Wallop, as with melancholy steps and slow, he followed the pair of intruders into his own hall. CHAPTER IV. Over a sea, splendidior vitro-more intensely beautifully blue than the eyes of young ladies, or the stockings of middle-aged ones, glided a light boat, propelled by a gentle wind, that only sufficed to send her on her way. without causing a ripple in the water, Under the wild headlands and great chalky promontories that rose in perpendicular ascent many hundred feet from the dark and deep waveless expanse at their feet, the little "Fairy" slipt noiselessly along, scarcely disturbing the sea-mews that were resting half way up the cliff, or looking at it from the rocks that studded the shore; and it is equally certain that its motion, beautiful as it was, and the gleaming of its white sail, picturesque as it appeared to any one who may have looked at it from the land, attracted no notice whatever from the two persons whom it contained. In fact, they seemed to be so occupied with each other, that it is to this hour a marvel and a mystery how Charles Martin managed to steer clear of the numerous rocks that blocked up the passage or how above all he contrived with such skill and dexterity to shoot round the west point of land, and glide into the open bay that formed the landing-place on his uncle's estate. In this effort of seamanship he obtained no assistance from Jane Lorimer, who sat beside him; and old Bammel, the owner of the boat, had made his way by land, and had left Master Charles to bring the "Fairy" round when his visit to Shepherd's Cove should be concluded. Jane it appeared had required to run over to her late residence to arrange some exchange of plants in the conservatory, and nothing could be more natural than for her to accept Charles's offer of a conveyance in the boat. What the conversation might have been we have no means of judg ing, except that it must have been very satisfactory, for two handsomer faces more filled with happiness are seldom to be met with than those of the two navigators as they sprang on the sand. Winding their way slowly along the steep road that led upwards from the bay, they were surprised |