his early love. He rose and bowed low to Lady Astell, and she seemed to gather comfort from his sweet and melancholy smile. He then, addressing himself respectfully to the Commodore, said, “I am sure, Sir Octavius, that you mean everything for the best; and nothing is more foreign from your thoughts than the idea of distressing Lady Astell.”

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Surely, it is all for her good as well as the boy's; he must go to sea.”

"But she thinks that this good is the greatest evil that can befal to her, and to her son also. But have we not forgotten, Sir Octavius, to consult the person most interested? What says Augustus himself to the proposition?”

The lad was still standing before his uncle, and his cousin was with one arm over his shoulder, hanging fondly upon him; at this question she stood on tiptoe, thus bringing her glowing cheek against his. It is true she was but thirteen, but it was making the odds heavy against the Commodore; so Augustus, not

choosing to meet the stern eye of his uncle, turned towards his mother. They exchanged but a single glance; it was enough.

"I have never yet," said the son firmly, 'wilfully or knowingly disobeyed my mother in aught, and I never will.”

A kiss from Rebecca, and a "God reward you, my son!" from Lady Astell, were his rewards, but something not so sweet was reserved for him. Mr. Underdown began to get nervous and fidgetty, and Miss Matilda to sidle out, unobserved, from the room, unquestionable evidence that the Commodore was getting into a passion; but it was made the more certain from the singular sympathy that existed between the father and daughter, for invariably as his rage arose, her opposition and violence rose also. They seemed, with different motives and for different ends, always to be operated upon by the same feelings. She no longer stood half behind her cousin for protection; but stood face to face with her father, and beside her playmate

VOL. I.

E

as his supporter. Sir Octavius was troubled with no gout that evening, but from the deep purple hue of his face it might be supposed that a fit of apoplexy was supervening, as he slowly rose from his chair and stood erect in the full height of his commanding stature. The storm burst thus, by his saying with an unnatural and forced calmness, "Sister Matilda, let me request you to resume your chair. Mr. Underdown, you will particularly oblige me by shooting the bolt of the door; for, sir," his voice rising rapidly, "when a family of glorious descent and hitherto unstained honour are about to disgrace themselves, let them be spared, sir, the humiliation of having menials witnesses of their degradation. Now listen to me, one and all, for one and all have set themselves in array against the head of the family, and intend to make the first act of their rebellion an act of dastardly disobedience;-ay, wince, young sir, I said dastardly! Do you hear it? Do you feel the full bitterness of the term? Now the loath

some reproach is clinging to your heart, do you feel that you can stand as erect as you did an

hour ago? Can you, dare you, look upon the war-mutilated form and face of your mother's brother, after having refused to follow him in the defence of a country that has now, God help it! nothing to depend upon but the bravery of her sons?"

Spare me-spare my mother!"

Know, degenerate sir, that I, as your sole guardian, could force you on board with me; but life or death at sea is, either of them, too noble for a coward."

"Pa," shrieked out Rebecca, her face all fire, and her eyes all lightning, “Gus is no coward-do you hear that ?"

The Commodore, not the least offended at her rudeness, patted her fondly on the head, and merely said, "Wilful and mistaken child, would that your cousin had some portion of your spirit. Woe to the country, when the sons of her gentry are girls in heart."

Augustus turned to Lady Astell imploringly, and a mortal paleness was upon his countenance," Mother, mother, speak for me I am sorely tried; you know that I am no coward."

The mother, thus appealed to, rose from her chair, and, little regarding the sternness of her brother's brow, laid her right hand familiarly on his shoulder, and took his only hand in her left.

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Come, my brother," said she, with a sickly smile, "You know that we never quarrelled yet, that neither brother nor sister came between us, that we were little babes together, and that you hardly ceased to drain our dear mother's bosom, ere I, your little sister, took your place you can't forget this; nor how one bed held us, nor for how long, one set of playthings served us both. These are but fooleries to remember; but oh! how happy they made us!"

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They did, indeed," said the old man, his eyes glistening.