when I came into the service of the Duke, if his Grace had other company, I should have to ride post, which I should find very disagreeable."

Instead of the Butler delivering my message as I desired and expected, he told the Duke all that I had said. The consequence was, his Grace was offended, and never looked pleasantly on me again : neither could I reconcile him by all the arts I could use.

When I found things in this state, I gave notice of my intention to leave altogether. I also desired my wife to do the same, and to write to her mother, who lived at Woodhall, near Sheffield, and thereby, if possible, secure us a comfortable retreat.

The Duke being inexorable, I left accordingly; and my wife and myself bade, as we thought, a final adieu to high life; and as we turned our backs on splendid mansions, and Dukes, and Princes, we formed no bad picture of Milton's first human pair on their taking leave of the scenes of all their delights:

"Some natural tears we dropt, but wiped them soon. The world was all before us, where to choose

Our place of rest, and Providence our guide."

CHAP. XVI.

SETTLEMENT with Wife's Mother at Woodhall.-Resolve to be a Gentleman.-The way in which I spent my time.-Letter to old fellow servants at Gordon Castle. -Duchess reads the letter.-My uneasiness and ennui. -Resolve to enter into business.-My Wife's dream. -Interpretation thereof.-An eleven miles race.— Again enter the service of the Duchess of Gordon.

"Why, how now, Dromio? where runs't thou so fast ?" "Do you know me, Sir? Am I your man? Am I Dromio ?" COMEDY OF ERRORS.

WHEN we arrived at Woodhall I found my wife's mother, who was a widow, very nicely fixed in a neat, comfortable cottage, which, with a little expense and trouble, was capable of being made doubly so. The old woman was exceedingly glad to receive us, and we found ourselves happy in each other's society. As I had been in a state of servitude about eighteen years, I had saved a little money. In fact, I was at the time worth £600. We mutually agreed that I should not, for the present, turn my hand to any thing, but that after such a long period of serving others I was entitled for a time to serve myself exclusively.

son.

The first thing we did was to provide a little extra furtniture and of provisions we laid in a most liberal store. We had a garden, attached to the cottage, which I intended to cultivate in its seaEach of these circumstances, my readers must observe, were very much in unison with my preconceived opinions of what would constitute a really happy life. For the first few weeks I spent my time exclusively at home, repairing, providing, and arranging. In short, I promised myself all the comforts which the readers of Robinson Crusoe may have imagined that hero to have enjoyed when in full possession of his isolated domain, without his peculiar and dreadful drawback of loneliness.

The advantages of rural life and occupation have been celebrated from time immemorial. The poets are all, from the Bard of Mantua to him of Olney, loud and long in their praises of country scenes and employments. And truly the portion of the country where it was my fortune to fix, was calculated to inspire sentiments of admiration if any thing could. The "sweet interchange of hill and dale" which there delightfully abounds, has its beauty much augmented by the neighbouring mansions belonging to several noble families of high distinction, and whose parks and pleasure grounds adorn the prospects from the various elevated grounds.

When had got most of our little matters fixed, I took a trip over to the neighbouring town of Sheffield, which proved to be an excursion of important results; for I had not only the pleasure derived from the short journey, but also that of seeing and en

joying the company of some friends with whom I had already become acquainted, and I may add, of making new ones, who continue such to this day.

On my leaving the family of the Duke of Gordon, I had made a promise to one of the ladies' maids, that, after a few weeks had elapsed, I would let them know, by letter, where and how I had got fixed in the world. Accordingly when the proper time. arrived, I wrote, and sent by post the following letter:

"DEAR M.-I write according to promise to inform you where I have got settled, and how we are leading our lives. You must know, then, that my wife and I are living with her Mother, at a village called Woodhall, about eleven miles from Sheffield. Our house stands near the road, and consists of four rooms. We ascend to bed every night by means of a ladder; and I think I have become so accustomed to this way of ascending, and withal so pleased with it, that were I again to come to Gordon Castle, I should be in imminent danger, upon your splendid staircases, of breaking my neck.

We have, attached to our cottage, a pretty little garden: I wish you could see it. I have already spent many days in rendering it more complete and pleasant than it was when we arrived. I have planted my cabbages and furnished it with several other necessary appendages, all of which I hope will be useful in their season. Within doors, if you saw us, you would say we were like bees, when the summer is over. We have laid up as much corn as will serve us a year. We have pro

vided a famous stock of butter, and salt in abundance. Our coal heap is like a little mountain; so that if a snow was to fall between now and Christmas which should half cover our house, we have only to open our door and melt a portion of it, and we have all necessaries. We are in excellent health, but not in spirits, for we have neither brandy, rum, gin, nor whisky, and we are too far from your neighbours the smugglers :-(by the bye, if her Grace knew my wants, don't you think she would send me a keg of whisky ?)-Stay, stay, we have a barrel of ale untapped, I beg your pardon M—, I will go and tap it this moment.

*

Now, then, I have tapped our ale-barrel, and here I have some of it foaming in a glass "Here's to ye, M-!"But I must not forget to tell you that we have in our stye, two swine, and they are powerful ones: one is black, and the other is white. I have a mind this moment to go and saddle my black swine, and also to hang two swill tubs, one on each side, for the animal's refreshment upon the road, and away we will come to Gordon Castle. Nay, I even now imagine that I see myself coming at full speed down the hill where the castle first appears in sight. You have got a sight of me! you are all crowding to the door! I hear your loud laughter,—I am warm with your congratulations.

do

But, M—, was I really to come to Gordon Castle, you think her Grace would afford me entertainment, and a night's lodging?-And why not? we did not part on bad terms.-Oh! but I must