may as well be unhappy too, because my farm at Ravenscroft cannot be like Felix Hall."

"Lady Grandborough, then, visits Felix Hall?"

"Why, yes; once in two or three years, just before election time; for you see, our 'Squire always supports my Lord's friend."

"Upon my word," said I, "I wish many great people, or those who think themselves so, would take the lesson you give; for which I for one am greatly obliged But may we not know who it is (we had now come to the village) that has made the last mile so pleasant?"

to you.

"Farmer Bigg," said he, "at your service," and he touched his hat; then turning in at a gate which led through a lane to a cheerful farm-house, he thanked us for letting him keep company so far, and soon disappeared.

"This is the best lesson I have heard for a long while," said I to poor Fawknor, on whom, though he had not opened his lips, it was by no means thrown away. I saw it in many turns of his countenance, though he did what he could to disguise it, and was rather annoyed at my reiterated praise of the observing yeoman's good sense; and when I pushed the matter with him, he said with some spleen, that he did not think I could be so taken with mere commonplace, and that I reminded him of what Ben Johnson once said of a farmer who had been sharp upon him, that he had never been so pricked by a hob-nail before. Nevertheless, I could plainly perceive that farmer Bigg's sermon had had some effect upon my friend,-who from having been chatty and disposed to be amused before we met him, fell into musing, which, hoping it might possibly give a turn to his sickly mind, I was careful not to disturb.

SECTION XVII.

"Gods! what lies I have heard,

Our courtiers say all's savage but at court;
Experience, O! thou disprov'st report."

CYMBELINE.

A FEW miles' ride prepared him better for our visit to Blythfield, whom I had apprised of our intention the day before, and in sight of whose house we were now arrived. It was situated, as he had described, very near the road; which Fawknor declared was a solecism in good taste; quite agreeing with Lady Grandborough, that it was an absolute vulgarity.

"But from your account," added he, "he must be a man of general low tastes; and with his connexions and pretensions to mix with high and elegant society, to bury himself like a hog in his straw, I should think he was as unwilling as unable to enjoy anything better. With submission, indeed, I should guess he was one of that numerous tribe of enviers of the higher orders, who affect to neglect, because they are not noticed by them."

"He gave me no such idea," said I; "and do not let us judge him without trial. His undoubted birth and original breeding gives him the fullest right to be enrolled in the ranks of fashion, if he please."

"We shall see," said Fawknor, and we dismounted at the house-door. This was really what I have called it-a door, for it was not a gateway, nor was there a court-yard. It opened almost at once upon a public walk of lymes and sycamores, from which it was only separated by a low paling. But the house had an ample range of many windows, showing good rooms commanding the walk, with gardens behind and at each

end. This, and an immense brass knocker kept very bright, effectually did away the notion of a prouder lord-of-manor mansion, in the midst of inclosures which hide it from the profane. I saw Fawknor's thought of it, by the toss of his chin when he alighted. We were conducted, however, through a tolerably spacious hall, into a long drawing-room, set out with old fashioned, high-backed, but well-stuffed chairs, covered with needle-work of very bright worsted, at least a century old. It was lined with an ample white wainscot, which might have looked cold, but that it was clothed all over with most respectable family pictures; for, as I have said, Blythfield was of no mean descent. At the upper end was one by Sir Joshua, purporting to be the Lady Matilda Blythfield, daughter of the Earl of Grandborough, 1770. This was Blythfield's mother; and her lace lappets, ruffles, and cloak, with many diamonds and rubies on her fingers, gave an additional lustre to the richness of the colouring. It altogether bespoke a portrait of nobility. As we went further back in point of time, other Grandboroughs and many Blythfields challenged our notice; the dresses changing with the age, till we got from the velvet coats and swords of Hudson, through the flowing draperies of Sir Godfrey, to the mantles, close vests, and ruffs, and wide-mouthed, untanned boots of Vandyck.

"There is something in this," said I to my companion, as we were left alone till the master should appear.

"Certainly not so Hottentot as I imagined," answered he: "it is something to be so well descended;" and I thought he gave a sort of sigh as he said this. "It only, however, moves one's wonder, that a man of such family, and so presentable every where, should shut himself up in such a place, and take to such a way of life as this."

"Come," said I, "the place is no such bad place; and, as to the life, let every man judge for himself. It would be hard if no man could be happy out of a drawing room, or nowhere but at Windsor or St. James's."

"It would so," returned he, crossing his arms with a

significant motion of his head; but further discussion was interrupted by the entrance of the master, who welcomed us to Welbourne.

Immediately, however, pulling out his watch, he observed, that we should have barely time to dress for dinner, "which," said he, "old bachelor like, I never allow to wait for any body, not even for two gentlemen, who, I know, are the pink of the mode."

"Both commonplace and ungracious this," said Fawknor, "when we were shown to our rooms: "yet I suppose he prides himself on this bluntness, as he despises the pink of the mode."

"Try him a little further," said I, "before you condemn him."

"This at least is not bad," observed Fawknor, pointing to a really rich toilette covered with the finest japan and filigree plate, a superb mirror, and a bed of the richest crimson damask; "no doubt," continued Fawknor, "not his own taste, but probably his mother's; and she, you know, was a Grandborough."

At these words I left him to dress with as little delay as possible; and, in effect, we got into the dining-room almost in company with the dinner itself. Our domestics were but two,-all, he said, that he could manage,—indeed, all that were necessary for so small a party. They were in blue coats, and long-flapped waistcoats, both trimmed with white and yellow livery lace, which gave them a most respectable and even rich appearance. We also ate off plate, and there were huge embossed tankards and waiters on the sideboard, which had a costly effect, not at all lost upon Fawknor.

A venerable old Spaniard of a pointer had walked into the room with us, and took up his dignified rest (for such it was,) at his master's right hand-receiving what was now and then offered him with tranquil gravity, but not at all incommoding any body with importunity.

"I allow this gentleman," said Blythfield, "to be my companion, to teach me manners, in case I should forget them. You see he has all the dignity of his coun

try; not at all the coxcombry of a petit maître poodle, but, by nature as well as name, a Spanish Don."

Fawknor, to be polite, said he believed he might have a worse companion; but unfortunately he added, "especially in a place so distant from all resort of the good company you have been used to:"-and he wound up with a compliment really meant, upon the resources he must have within himself, to guard against ennui.

"Mr. Fawknor," returned my landlord, "I am obliged to you for what you no doubt intend as a civility; I could expect no less from one of your breeding; but, if you please, I will not accept of a compliment at the expense of my honest neighbours, who are all as good, and enjoy their lives quite as well as myself."

As he said this in perfect good-humour, in order to draw him out a little, I observed, "but you must allow with all this, that you live out of the world."

"How obscure is that word!" returned he; "and if we asked its real meaning, who would be found to agree in any particular definition of it? There is the fashionable world, which, I suppose, is yours, but not mine; there is the common world, which is mine, and not yours; there is the political world, which is neither yours nor mine; there is the sporting world, the musical, the commercial, the learned world, et cætera, et cætera. Now, though all of these have inhabitants, none will allow that any but themselves live in the world. By the way, I wish our late companion Willoughby, whom we parted with at Marlborough, had come with you. I do love that fellow, and he would give us some knowledge of what the world is; for, from his wandering life, no one has seen more of it."

"You," said I, rather amused, and looking through an immense window close to the road, "at least see a great deal of the world."

"Yes! all the stage coaches, certainly," replied he, "and all other vehicles proceeding to and from Bath; though I am afraid (looking at Fawknor, who seemed to sit in silent resignation), this gentleman may think, with his friend Lady Grandborough, that is but vulgar amusement."