mination of the affair; but, disgusted at a homage paid to his wealth which was withheld from his misfortunes, he took the arm of Mr. Ferguson, and, followed by Bouverie and the junior advocates, adjourned to Pool's hotel to dinner. Mr. Leslie's gratitude to his indefatigable defender was heartfelt and sincere. It did not, however, abound in words, but beamed on his intelligent countenance, and spoke in the tremor and agitation of his manly voice. "If any thanks are due for having discharged a professional duty," said the good-natured lawyer, " to my good friend here," pointing to Bouverie," they are solely due; since, during the proceedings of yesterday, when I began to despair of extracting truth from those whose character and even life depended on its suppression, Bouverie, suspecting, from the officiousness with which the draft was obtruded on the notice of the court, that it was a forgery, set himself to to examine and compare the signature with some specimens of the handwriting of your uncle lying on the table. In the progress of this investigation, he discovered the date of the water-mark, but, with the coolness of a veteran practitioner at the bar, suppressed his delight till the breaking up of the court. I would, on the following morning, have • at once terminated the proceedings; but I was desirous, from strictly cross-questioning the hoary brother of our trade, to render our triumph, and the infamy of our opponents, more complete and striking." Pained to listen to his own praises, Bouverie had left the room, and Mr. Ferguson continued-" I have now entered the autumn of my days, and know not how soon they may set in everlasting night. Should this worthy youth ever want a friend, remember, Leslie, the zeal he so successfully exerted in your cause, and be to him the guiding star in his struggles for professional pre-emi nence." Affected by his earnestness, Leslie solemnly pledged himself to watch over the fortunes of his youthful saviour, as he justly termed Bouverie, should cruel fate deprive him of his best and dearest friend. During dinner Mr. Ferguson remained silent and abstracted. He ate little, and complained of fatigue. He took leave of his friends at an unusually early hour, and having partaken of coffee with his family, retired, at his sister's solicitation, to court that repose of which he stood so much in need. Next morning, at breakfast, lady Frazer was greatly alarmed at her brother's altered appearance; but he smiled at her terrors, merely saying that he had got a severe cold, which he trusted would speedily subside. The chariot was ordered; but before it came round to the door, he found him self self unable to go abroad, and was forced to retire to bed. His medical friends flocked round him; and if anxiety or skill could have availed, Mr. Ferguson had still lived. After six weeks of the most agonizing suspense, the patient again left his bed; but though the fever with which he was at first affected had wholly subsided, he was so enfeebled as to afford but very slender hopes of recovery. During the violence of his complaint, Bouverie had never for a moment left his bedside. Stretched on a couch, without undressing, he occasionally snatched a few moments' repose; but so intense was his anxiety, that the slightest movement of the patient immediately aroused him from his slumber. The gentle, the affectionate Mary shared in his anxiety and his cares. No hireling nurse was suffered to intrude into the sick chamber. The hand of friendship and sisterly affection smooth ed ed the pillow and administered to the wants of the suffering invalid. Even William suppressed his tears, lest the violence of his grief should disturb his beloved uncle. The hope which illuminated the countenances of his attached friends, when he was again able to leave his bed for a short time, was painful to the heart of this benevolent man; for his internal feelings assured him that his complete recovery was an event not to be expected, СНАР |