or, in a bantering strain, affected to disbelieve his protestations. "See how attentive I have been to your interests," he exclaimed, taking a paper from his pocket-" I have procured a carte blanche from your commanding officer, allowing you to come to London every day, so that you will be enabled to prosecute your addresses to a quick and successful issue."

"I feel infinitely obliged, but I can assure your Lordship

"Lose no time, lose no time," interposed the Peer-" it is the only way in which your fortune can be made. It is my wish that this matter should be quickly accomplished. Upon this, indeed, my favour entirely depends, and recollect, Captain Colyton, that the King's favour depends upon mine.”—After this speech, which was uttered in a whisper, he thrust the paper into Walter's hand, and declaring that he had not a moment to lose, hurried off, and disappeared in the crowd.

CHAPTER VI.

Sure she has a garrison of devils in her tongue, she uttereth such balls of wild fire. She has so nettled the King that all the doctors in the country will scarce cure him.

PHILASTER.

SEEING nothing more of Seagrave, Walter withdrew from the Court, not a little gratified by his colloquy with the monarch, but equally embarrassed by the few parting words he had exchanged with Lord Sunderland, which had produced a sharp mental contest between pride and prudence. The implied menace of the minister's speech, now that he had time to reflect upon it, fired him with indignation, making him regret that he had not in the first instance

been more resolute and explicit, so as to have saved himself from a dictatorial demeanour and language, which he could hardly help considering an insult. His Lordship had acquired no right to prescribe his course of action, even in the most insignificant particular, still less in such an all-important step as the choice of a wife; it was due to Mrs. Audley, as well as to himself and the Peer, that his intentions should be placed beyond all possibility of doubt; and since the latter refused to listen to his oral disclamations, he resolved to write him a letter, declaring, that as he had no present views of marriage, he should decline the honour of repeating his visit to Mrs. Audley, and therefore returned the leave of absence from camp that had been procured for him. Why the noble Secretary should so wilfully and pertinaciously misapprehend him, he could not surmise; but whatever were his motives for such inexplicable conduct, it was high time to leave him no excuse for continuing it.

Thus far the arguments of pride were unan

swerable; but, on the other hand, prudence whispered that he ought not to run the risk of offending so powerful a person by any rash or inconsiderate measure. At present Fortune smiled benignantly upon him, and every thing seemed auspicious for his enrichment and promotion. He was in the high road to favour, and yet he could not help feeling that he might irrecoverably lose his way by a single false step. Sunderland, as Seagrave had repeatedly warned him, was captious, obstinate, and implacable, when thwarted, and his significant declaration that the royal favour depended upon his own, was probably no empty threat. Where would be all his fine prospects, where his chance of being enabled to marry Hetty, should he make Sunderland his enemy, and find the King's ear poisoned against him? Of ever rising under such disadvantages there was not a possibility, and it would be better to quit the army at once than to remain in it under the disheartening circumstances that he had anticipated. These were weighty considerations; either way the

dilemma seemed embarrassing, until an expedient occurred, which, as it offered a sort of compromise between his conflicting feelings, he determined to adopt. Instead of writing to his Lordship, whose testy and punctilious humour might take offence at such a measure, he would call in the course of the present evening upon Mrs. Audley, and seize an opportunity of mentioning to her that his affections were engaged, when her feminine delicacy would lead her to abandon all thought of continuing their acquaintance, she would naturally apprise Sunderland that she wished not to see any more of his friend; and thus the frustration of his Lordship's scheme would emanate from the lady, not from Walter, and no umbrage could be taken by either party.

Just as he had arranged this notable plan, he discovered, upon looking around him, that he had unconsciously wandered within sight of the Countess of Dorchester's mansion in St. James's Square, and not knowing when he might again be in London, especially if he should return