daughter of Miles Million, esquire, banker, of the city of London.

Miss Million was so wrapped up in a calash and cloak, that Sophonisba, at first, did not recognize her; but the dress of Tempest announced him to be a naval officer.

The road was extremely narrow; and the broken-down chaise of the lieutenant obstructed the passage.

"Chaise, ahoy!" called captain Tempest. "Holloa!" said Mr. Echo.

"I wish," rejoined Tempest," you would not block up the gangway in this manner. It is worse than the Straits of Baffleman, where you cannot square your yards for monkeys."

"We are clearing the wreck," cried Echo.

"Dear me !" exclaimed Miss Million, "it is Mr. Echo! And, bless me! I now see Sophonisba. Cousin! Oh! I am so glad to meet you! How do you do, child?" And so saying, she skipped out of the chaise to embrace Sophonisba.

"Heavens ! "exclaimed Sophonisba, "My cousin Amelia ! Where are you going?"

Amelia hung down her head.

Going!" cried Tempest; "arrah! she is going to the altar before the wind.-She is going to get her marriage-tacks on board."

"If that's the case, sir," said the young lieutenant, "you might as well help us to a passage on board of you. My vessel, you see, is a mere wreck upon the water."

"Come on board," said Tempest. "Let us stow close. My bride, I presume, has no objection to close stowage." Amelia hung down her head.

"I hope," cried Tempest, "before tomorrow night, to be riding the gale out in a white-limed chamber. Driver! make sail!"

Here the postilion of the discomfited chaise, accosting the young lieutenant, said mournfully, "I hope, and please your honour, you will not forget the driver. These be hard times, and I have a wife and no less than six children."

"There's money for you, shipmate," cried lieutenant Echo. "When the masts went

by the board, 'twas not your fault. You crowded sail by my orders."

"There is another half-crown for you," said the captain.

"God bless both your honours!" resumed the driver. "May you both be as happy in the marriage state as I be!"

Here the other postilion whispered the party, that Stephen made it a practice to thresh his wife, for her quarrelsome conduct, once every day.

They all laughed heartily in concert.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Bring him instantly.

TWELFTH NIGHT.

JOYOUSLY did our amorous group now jig it away for the temple of Hymen; nor did the lovers forbear either glance or toy with their fair and willing mistresses.

At length they arrive at Carlisle ; and now they are within one stage of GretnaHall. Fresh horses are ordered, and Echo beheld the structure of Gretna rise to his view with not less transport than the mariner descries land. Their errand was divined by the country people on the road; and they scarcely passed a human face that did not display a broad grin.

The snorting steeds stop at the door of Gretna-Hall. They knew well the place; they had conveyed many a couple thither before. A curly, red-headed, Scotch boy opens the door of the carriage; the heroes leap out, they take their brides by the

hand, and lead them, blushing, but nothing loth, to the chamber of wedlock.

66

You boy!" vociferated Tempest.

"Sir!"

"Pass the word for the chaplain !"
"Chaplain, sir?”

Aye! the parson. Tell him to bear a hand here. We want him to read a page out of Hamilton Moore to us. We want him to splice us! Tol de rol! tol de rol!"

A blush burned in the cheek of Amelia; and the eyes of Sophonisba now sought and now declined the encounter of the young lieutenant's.

While the boy was gone for the blacksmith, the party amused themselves with reading the inscriptions on the wainscot of the room; inscriptions which sentimental minds would have perused with rapture, but which served only to call forth a loud laugh from the lungs of Tempest.

"I wonder," said the young lieutenant to the captain, "if it will be long before the parson heaves in sight."

"Here he comes," replied the captain.