Neville. Mr. A. and myself make it a rule to have all the children round us every day after dinner-some people don't like it, but I hope and trust we shall never be so fashionable as that comes to."

Miss Neville was about to rejoin something very laudatory, touching infantine attraction and maternal affection, when a considerable uproar and squalling was heard in the hall, and the parlour door flying open, Dawes made her appearance, attended by seven fine healthy creatures, varying in their height from four feet two to two feet four, and in their ages from ten to three years. Chairs were ranged round the table for the young fry, who were extremely orderly and well behaved for a short time, and in the first instance taken to the colonel to be praised: the old gentleman, who was not particularly fond of nestlings at any time, but whose whole heart and soul were at the present moment occupied in the affairs of his prodigal nephew, kissed one and patted the other, and "blessed the little heart" of this one, and "pretty deared" that one, until the ceremony of inspection and approbation having been fully gone through, the whole party was turned over to Louisa, to undergo a second similar operation; after this, they were placed upon the chairs assigned to them, Dawes retired, and the conversation was resumed.

"And pray now," said the colonel," what is your real opinion, Mr. Abberly, of the state of poor George's pecuniary affairs?"

"Sir," said Abberly, "I really think, if you wish me to speak candidly- -Maria, my dear,

look at Georgina,-she is spilling all the sugar over the table."

"Georgina," said Mrs. Abberly, emphatically, "keep still, child; Sophy, help your sister to some sugar."

"I really believe," continued Mr. Abberly, "that Mr. George Arden- -Sophy, put down that knife, Maria, that child will cut her finger off, how can you let her do so-I wonder at you -upon my word, Sophy, I am quite ashamed of you.'

66 Sophy, you naughty girl," cried her mamma, "put down that knife directly, or I'll send you up stairs."

"I was only cutting the cake, ma," said Sophy.

"Don't do it again, then, and sit still," exclaimed the mother, and turning to Louisa, added in an undertone, "Pretty dears, it is so difficult to keep them quiet at that age."

"Well, sir," again said the colonel, "but let me beg you to tell me seriously what you advise then to be done in the first instance."

"Why, there is but one course," answered the lawyer, who was a man of first rate talent; "you know, sir, there are different modes of treating different cases, but in this instance the course, I think, is clear and evident-Tom, you naughty child, you'll be down; get off the back of Colonel Arden's chair directly."

"What a funny pigtail," exclaimed somebody, in reference to a minute article of that sort worn by the colonel. Sophy laughed, and slapped her brother's shoulder.

"Hush, William," exclaimed Mrs. Abberly, holding up her hand in a menacing posture.

"And that course,' ," continued the master of the house," if there be a chance yet left of preserving the young man, it will be absolutely necessary to pursue."

"Tell me, then, for God's sake," said the colonel, deeply interested, and highly agitated, "what you propose should be our first measure.'

"George, my love," exclaimed Mrs. Abberly to her husband, "will you be good enough to speak to Robert, he won't leave Sophy alone, and he don't mind me the least in the world."

"Robert, be quiet," thundered out his father in an awful tone.

"She won't give me any cherries, pa," said Robert.

"That's a story, now, Robert," cried the eldest girl, who was nearly ten years old, and was screwed in, and poked out, to look like a woman; with curls, and a necklace, and a dress exactly like her mother's, who was forty.

"I'm sure you have had more than Sophy,only you are such a rude boy."

"Bless my heart!" said the colonel, half aside, and warming a little with the events, "I beg your pardon, what did you say you would advise, Mr. Abberly?”

Dr.

"Decidedly this," said Abberly, "I" "My love," interrupted Mrs. Abberly, once more, "is that port or claret near you? Mango says Maria is to have half a glass of port wine every day after dinner, this hot weather,half a glass-thank you-there-not more-that

will do, dear;"-here Mr. Abberly had concluded the operation of pouring out. "Tom," said mama, 66 go and fetch the wine for your sister, there's a dear love."

Tom did as he was bid, tripped his toe over a corner of the rug in passing round the table, and deposited the major part of the port wine in the lap of Miss Louisa Neville, who was habited in an apple green silk pelisse (which she had not taken off since her arrival), that was by no means improved in its appearance by the accidental reception of the contents of Miss Maria's glass.

"Good God! Tom," exclaimed Mrs. Abberly, "what an awkward child you are!-dear Miss Neville,-what shall we do?-ring the bell, Sophy, send for Simmons, or send for Miss Neville's maid.-Miss Neville, pray take off your pelisse."

"Oh, I assure you it is not of the slightest consequence," said Louisa, with one of her sweetest smiles, at the same moment wishing Tom had been at the bottom of the Red Sea before he had given her the benefit of his gaucherie; a stain upon a silk dress being, as every body knows, at all times and seasons a feminine aggravation of the first class.

Tóm, anticipating a beating from some quarter, but which he did not stop to calculate, set up a most mellifluous howling; this awakened from its peaceful slumbers a fat poodle, who had been reposing, after a hearty dinner, beneath the table, and who forthwith commenced a most terrific barking.

"Be quiet, Tom," said Mr. Abberly,-"Maria, my angel, do keep the children still."

"Ma," exclaimed Maria junior, "I'm not to lose my wine,-am I, pa?"

"No, my love, to be sure," said Abberly; 66 come here and fetch it yourself, my darling." "She had better drink it there, Mr. A.," said the prudent mother.

And accordingly, under the surveillance of his wife, who kept watching him as to the exact quan. tity, periodically cautioning him with-There, my love-there, my dear-that will do—no more, my love, &c. Mr. A., as she Bloomsburily called him, poured out another half glass of port wine, as prescribed by Dr. Mango, for his daughter.

Old Arden, whose patience was nearly exhausted, and who thought that Mrs. Abberly was, like Lady Cock's chairs upon state occasions, screwed to her place, sought what he considered a favourable" lull," as the sailors call it, to endeavour to ascertain what Abberly's plan for the redemption of his nephew actually was, and had just wound himself into an interrogative shape, when Mrs. Abberly called his attention, by observing, "that a certain little lady," looking very archly at Miss Maria, "wanted very much to let him hear how well she could repeat a little poem without book."

Mrs. Abberly had prepared Louisa for this, by whispering to her, that such exhibitions created emulation in the nursery; and that Dawes was a very superior person, and with Miss Gubbins (who was quite invaluable) brought them on de lightfully.

"I shall be charmed, ma'am," said the colonel, heaving a sigh. And accordingly, the child stood up at his side, and began that beautiful bit of