April had just commenced with its alternate smiles and tears, and the long twilight was shedding a mist, balmy with the blossoms of the fruit-trees, around the old and large mansion. Though not cold enough to require it, a clear fire enlivened the drawing-room, and, as no one seemed to think it necessary, candles had not yet been ordered. This large room is occupied, in the first place, by the stately and still very beautiful Lady Astell, and Miss Matilda Bacuissart, looking very lady-like, very pretty, and extremely delicate. The other female was Miss Rebecca, our sad old Commodore's daughter, behaving with a great deal of propriety, as this was the period in which she benefited much by the control and the example of her aunt Astell. The fourth person was a gentleman, our quiet and intelligent friend, Mr. Underdown, whom we left in ill health at Rio Janeiro, but who, not having had to chase a flying squadron, had arrived in England perfectly recovered, about a fortnight before.

Lady Astell' had only arrived to dinner, full of the intelligence of the anchoring at Spithead of the Commodore's flying squadron, and in a violent trepidation between joy and fear, expecting every moment to hear the clattering of horses' hoofs, and the riot of chariot-wheels, bearing her brother and her only son to her arms. She had travelled post with Mr. Underdown to Trestletree Hall to meet them.

Five months had now elapsed since the titles and estates of her husband's family had devolved upon her son Augustus. She fondly hoped to be the first person to communicate to him this news, the first to hail him as the Earl of Osmondale, which natural wish the wilful Miss Rebecca had most wickedly resolved to defeat, even if by so doing she were trampled under the horses' feet.

Altogether, it was an hour of great excitement. Every one was restless, and hardly reasonable, if we except Mr. Underdown, who, every now and then, they all thought illnaturedly, and for him most ill-naturedly,

threw in very unpalatable doubts as to the arrival of the expected uncle and his nephew that evening. He did not much regard Miss Matilda when she said that he was unreasonable, and only laughed when Rebecca called him cross, and threatened to purloin his book; but, upon his saying with a studious carelessness, that they had better give up all hopes of the truants that night, Lady Astell threw upon him a look so reproachful, that he felt it to the heart, and immediately commenced talking of the fête that had been long in preparation, to welcome the young lord to his tenantry and the family estates.

They were soon again on the long-disputed point as to whether Augustus should be drawn in a triumphal car through his park by twenty young farmers, who had requested to be allowed thus to show their respect, but upon the propriety of which exhibition his mother had some doubts, as savouring too much of vain pageantry on the one hand, and debasement on the other. Miss Rebecca was strongly for the car and the

young peasants, as she secretly promised herself a place beside him. Matilda was also of her opinion, whilst Mr. Underdown allowed the car, but disallowed the men harnessed to it ;he recommended four white ponies, and as many young men as chose to walk beside them, whilst his mother really cared little about how he entered his future home, provided only that he

came.

"I'm sure it can't be any debasement to the men," said Rebecca, tossing back her clustering ringlets with the prettiest little disdain imaginable; " for Gusty-I should say the Earl of Osmondale-has very often drawn me about in the garden-chair, and I have seen the Earl himself make a back for half an hour together, for the village lads at fly-foot, and get his dear back well thumped too with their huge brown fists, as they went striddle-straddle over him."

"Striddle-straddle! my dear Becky," said the gentle Matilda; "I think the word is astride, and even that word is not very pretty on the lips of a lady.”

"Fiddle-de-dee, aunty! what am I to say

when I see a parcel of young men open

"Turn your head on one side and say nothing at all-both leap-frog and fly-foot are very vulgar games—I wonder that the young scions of the aristocracy condescend to demean themselves by playing at it. Don't you think, dear Mr. Underdown, that such games are excessively vulgar ?"

"Almost as vulgar as eating and drinking," said the gentleman, with a quiet smile.

"There, I told you so," said Miss Matilda; your own favourite is against you."

"Never, never!" said Rebecca, jumping up, and giving him a smacking kiss, that might have been heard at the lodge.

"I am excessively shocked! O fie! Miss Rebecca Bacuissart, you never saw me jump up and kiss Mr. Underdown in that outrageous

manner."

"In what manner then would

"In no manner at all, miss.

you do it ?"

And besides,