envy might urge on that topic. Indeed, although the Civil War had divided families much, and in many various ways, yet when it seemed ended by the triumph of the republicans, the rage of political hatred began to relent, and the ancient ties of kindred and friendship regained at least a part of their former influence. Many reunions were formed; and those who, like Everard, adhered to the conquering party, often exerted themselves for the protection of their deserted relatives.

As these things rushed through his mind, accompanied with the prospect of a renewed intercourse with Alice Lee, by means of which he might be at hand to protect her against every chance, either of injury or insult, he held out his hand to the supposed Scottish page, saying at the same time, « That, for his part, he was very ready to forget the cause of quarrel, or rather, to consider it as arising out of a misapprehension, and to offer Master Kerneguy such friendship as might exist between honourable men, who had embraced different sides in politics.»

Unable to overcome the feeling of personal dignity, which prudence recommended to him to forget, Louis Kerneguy in return bowed low, but without accepting Everard's proffered hand.

« He had no occasion," he said, «to make any exertions to forget the cause of quarrel,

for he had never been able to comprehend it; but as he had not shunned the gentleman's resentment, so he was now willing to embrace and return any degree of his favour, with which he might be pleased to honour him.»

Everard withdrew his hand with a smile, and bowed in return to the salutation of the page, whose stiff reception of his advances he imputed to the proud pettish disposition of a Scotch boy, trained up in ideas of family consequence and personal importance, which his acquaintance with the world had not yet been sufficient to dispel.

Sir Henry Lee, delighted with the termination of the quarrel, which he supposed to be in deep deference to his own authority, and not displeased with the opportunity of renewing some acquaintance with his nephew, who had, notwithstanding his political demerits, a warmer interest in his affections than he was, perhaps, himself aware of, said, in a tone of consolation, « Never be mortified, young gentlemen. I protest it went to my heart to part you, when I saw you stretching yourselves so handsomely, and in fair love of honour, without any malicious or blood-thirsty thoughts. I promise you, had it not been for my duty as Ranger here, and sworn to the office, I would rather have been your umpire than your hindrance. But a finished quarrel is a forgotten quarrel; and your tilting should have no fur

ther consequence excepting the appetite it have given you.”

may

So saying, he mounted his pony, and moved forward in triumph towards the Lodge by the nearest alley. His feet almost touching the ground, the ball of his toe just resting in the stirrup, the fore part of the thigh brought round to the saddle,-the heels turned outwards, and sunk as much as possible, his body precisely erect,—the reins properly and systematically divided in his left hand, his right holding a riding-rod diagonally pointed towards the horse's left ear, he seemed a champion of the menage, fit to have reined Bucephalus himself. His youthful companions, who attended on either hand like equerries, could scarce suppress a smile at the completely adjusted and systematic posture of the rider, contrasted with the wild and diminutive appearance of the pony, with its shaggy coat, and long tail and mane, and its keen eyes sparkling like red coals from amongst the mass of hair which fell over its small countenance. If the reader has the Duke of Newcastle's book on horsemanship, (splendida moles!) he may have some idea of the figure of the good knight, if he can conceive such a figure as one of the cavaliers there represented, seated, in all the graces of his art, on a Welch or Exmoor pony, in its native savage state, without grooming or discipline of any kind; the ridicule being

greatly enhanced by the disproportion of size betwixt the animal and its rider.

Perhaps the knight saw their wonder, for the first words he said after they left the ground were, « Pixie, though small, is mettlesome, gentlemen," (here he contrived that Pixie should himself corroborate the assertion, by executing a gambade,)—« he is diminutive, but full of spirit;—indeed, save that I am somewhat too large for an elfin horseman,» (the knight was upwards of six feet high,) « I should remind myself, when I mount him, of the Fairy King, as described by Mike Drayton :—

'Himself he on an earwig set,

Yet scarce upon his back could get,
So oft and high he did curvet,

Ere he himself did settle.

He made him stop, and turn, and bound,
To gallop, and to trot the round,

He scarce could stand on any ground,

He was so full of mettle.'»

My old friend, Pixie," said Everard, stroking the pony's neck, « I am glad that he has survived all these bustling days-Pixie must be above twenty years old, Sir Henry?»

« Above twenty years, certainly. Yes, nephew Markham, war is a whirlwind in a plantation, which only spares what is least worth leaving. Old Pixie and his old master have survived many a tall fellow, and many a great horse-neither of them good for much them

selves.

Yet, as Will says, an old man can do somewhat. So Pixie and I still survive." So saying, he again contrived that Pixie should show some remnants of activity.

« Still survive! >> said the young Scot, completing the sentence which the good knight had left unfinished-«ay, still survive,

To witch the world with noble horsemanship.'»

Everard coloured, for he felt the irony; but not so his uncle, whose simple vanity never permitted him to doubt the sincerity of the compliment.

« Are you advised of that?" he said. «< In King James's time, indeed, I have appeared in the tilt-yard, and there you might have said

'You saw young Harry with his beaver up.'

As to seeing old Harry, why»--Here the knight paused, and looked as a bashful man in labour of a pun-« As to old Harry—why, you might as well see the devil. You take me, Master Kerneguy—the devil, you know, is my namesake-ha-ha-ha!-Cousin Everard, I hope your precision is not startled by an innocent jest?>>

He was so delighted with the applause of both his companions, that he recited the whole of the celebrated passage referred to, and concluded with defying the present age, bundle all its wits, Donne, Cowley, Waller, and the