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confident that neither was the composition of the letter, nor the idea of sending it, his; besides, he has really shown on every occasion a straightforward and disinterested"

wiping her eyes-" they know that you have almost beggared yourself to pay off by far the greater part of their abominable bill; and that you are slaving day and night to enable you to "here her agitation was so excessive as to prevent her uttering another word.

"I must write and tell them," said Aubrey calmly, but with a countenance laden with gloom-"it is all I can dobut if they will have patience with me, I will pay them all."

"Oh, they'll put you in prison, Charles, directly," said Kate passionately; and rising, she threw herself into his arms, and kissed him with a sort of frantic energy. "We're very miserable, Charles-are not we? It's very hard to bear indeed,"-she continued, gazing with agonizing intensity on his troubled features. Mrs Aubrey wept in silence.

"Are you giving way, my brave Kate, with this sudden and momentary gust on the midnight sea of our trouble?" enquired her brother, proudly but kindly gazing at her, and with his hand gently pushing from her pale cheeks her disordered hair.

"Human nature, Charles, must not be tried too far,-look at Agnes, the darling little loves"

"I am not likely to consult their interests, Kate, by yielding to unmanly emotion,-am I, sweet Agnes?" She made him no reply, but shook her head, sobbing bitterly.

"Pray what do you think, Charles, of your friend Mr Gammon, now?” enquired Kate, suddenly and scornfully. "Oh, the smooth-tongued villain! I've always hated him!"

"I must say there's something about his eye that is any thing but pleasing," said Mrs Aubrey; "and so I thought when I saw him at York for a moment."

"He's a hypocrite, Charles-depend upon it; and in this letter he has thrown off the mask"-interrupted Kate.

"Is it his letter? How do we know that he has had any thing to do with it?" enquired her brother, calmly "It is much more probable that it is the production of old Mr Quirk alone, for whom Mr Gammon has, I know, a profound contempt. The handwriting is Mr Quirk's; the style is assuredly not Mr Gammon's, and the whole tone of the letter is such as makes me VOL, XLIX. NO. CCCIII.

"Oh, Charles, it is very weak of you to be so taken with such a man ; he's a horrid fellow-I can't bear to think of him! One of these days, Charles, you'll be of my opinion!"whilst she thus spoke, and whilst Mrs Aubrey was, with a trembling hand, preparing tea, a double knock was heard at the street door.

"Gracious, Charles! who can that possibly be, and at this time of night?" exclaimed Kate, with alarmed energy.

"I really cannot conjecture,"-replied Mr Aubrey, with no little agitation of manner, which he found it impossible to conceal,-"we've certainly but very few visiters, and so late." The servant in a few minutes terminated their suspense, and occasioned them nearly equal alarm and amazement, by laying down on the table a card bearing the name of MRGAMMON.

"Mr Gammon !" exclaimed all three in a breath, looking apprehensively at each other-" Is he alone ?" enquired Mr Aubrey, with forced calmness.

"Yes, sir."

"Show him into the parlour, then," replied Mr Aubrey," and say I will be with him in a few moments' time."

"Dear Charles, don't, dearest, think of going down," said his wife and sister, with excessive alarm and agitation; "desire him to send up his message.'

"No, I shall go and see him, and at once," replied Mr Aubrey, taking one of the candles.

"For heaven's sake, Charles, mind what you say to the man; he will watch every word you utter. And, dearest, don't stay long; consider what tortures we shall be in!" said poor Mrs Aubrey, accompanying him to the door.

"Rely on my prudence, and also that I shall not stop long," he replied; and descending the stairs, he entered the study. In a chair near the little book-strewn table sat his dreaded visiter, who instantly, on seeing Mr Aubrey, rose, with distress and agitation visible in his countenance and deportment. Mr Aubrey, with calmness and dignity, begged him to resume his seat; and when he had done so, sat

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may feel disposed to take, I shall take no steps whatever of the kind you mention. At the same time, it is utterly impossible for me to pay". "Mr Aubrey!" interrupted Gammon, imploringly.

"And what you intend to do, for Heaven's sake, sir, do quickly, and do not keep me in suspense."

down opposite to him, with a sternly inquisitive look, awaiting his visiter's errand, who did not keep him long in suspense, For" Oh, Mr Aubrey!" commenced Mr Gammon, with a somewhat tremulous voice, "I perceive, from your manner, that my fears are justified, and that I am an intruder a dishonourable and hypocritical one I must indeed appear; but, as one gentleman with another, I request you to hear me. This visit appears indeed unseasonable; but, late this afternoon, I made a discovery which has shocked me severely, nay, I may say, disgusted me beyond expression, Am I right, Mr Aubrey, in supposing that this evening you have received a letter from Mr Quirk, and about the balance due on our account?"

"Yes, sir," replied Mr Aubrey, coldly.

"I thought as much," muttered Gammon, with suppressed vehemence "execrable, heartless, sordid old -And he knew," continued Gammon, addressing Mr Aubrey in an indignant tone," that my word was pledged to you that it should be long before you were troubled about the business."

"I have nothing to complain of, sir," said Mr Aubrey, eyeing his agitated companion (who felt that he was) searchingly.

"But I have, Mr Aubrey," said Gammon, haughtily. My senior partner has broken faith with me. Sir, you have already paid more than will cover what is justly due to us; and I recommend you, after this, to have the bill taxed. I do, sir, and thereby you will get rid of every farthing of the balance now demanded." Notwithstanding the air of sincerity with which this was uttered, a cold thrill of apprehension and suspicion passed through Mr Aubrey's heart, and he felt confident that some subtle and dangerous manœuvre was being practised upon him some hostile step urged upon him, for instance-which would be un. successful, and yet afford a pretext to Messrs Quirk, Gammon, and Snap to treat him as one guilty of a breach of faith, and warrant them in proceeding to extremities.

"I have no intention, sir, to do any thing of the kind," said he-" the original agreement between us was, that your bill should not be taxed. I adhere to it; and whatever course you

"I perceive, Mr Aubrey, that I am distrusted," said Gammon, with a somewhat proud and peremptory tone and manner. "I excuse it; you are justly irritated, and have been insulted: so have I, too, sir; and I choose to tell you, upon my sacred word of honour as a gentleman, that I entirely disown and scout this whole procedure; that I never knew any thing about it till, accidentally, I discovered lying on Mr Quirk's desk, after his departure this evening from the office, a rough draft of a letter which I presumed you had received, especially as, on a strict enquiry of the clerks, I found that a letter had been put into the post, addressed to you. Nay, more; Mr Quirk, whose rapacity increases-I am shocked to own-inversely with his years-has been for many weeks harassing me about this detestable business, and urging me to consent, but in vain, to such an application as he has now meanly made behind my back, regardless of the injury it was calculated to do my feelings, and, indeed, the doubt it must throw over my sincerity and honour. Only a fortnight ago, he solemnly pledged himself never to mention the matter to either me or you again, for at least a couple of years, unless something extraordinary should intervene. the letter you have received is a transcript of the rough draft which I have read, it is a vulgar, unfeeling letter, and contains two or three wilfully false statements. I therefore feel it due to myself to disavow all participation in this truly unworthy affair; and if you still distrust me, I can only regret it, but shall not presume to find fault with you for it. I am half disposed, on account of this, and one or two other things which have happened, to close my connexion with Mr Quirk from this day-for ever. and I have nothing in common; and the kind of business which he prefers is perfectly odious to me. But if I should continue in the firm, I will undertake to supply you with one

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pretty conclusive evidence of my sincerity and truth in what I have been saying to you-namely, that on the faith and honour of a gentleman, you may depend upon hearing no more on this matter from any member of our firm. Let the event, Mr Aubrey, speak for itself." While Gammon was speaking, with great earnestness and fervour, he had felt Mr Aubrey's eye fixed on him with an expression of stern incredulity-which, however, he at length perceived, with infinite inward relief and pleasure, to be giving way as he went on.

"Certainly, Mr Gammon"-said Mr Aubrey, when Gammon had ceased "the letter you have mentioned, has occasioned me-and my family very great distress: for it is utterly out of my power to comply with its requisitions: and if it be intended to be really acted on, and followed up"he paused, and successfully concealed his emotion," all my little plans are for ever frustrated-and I am at your mercy to go to prison, if you choose, and there end my days."-He paused his lip trembled, and his eyes were for a moment obscured with starting tears. So also was it with Mr Gammon. "But,❞—resumed Mr Aubrey,-"after the explicit and voluntary assurance which you have given me, I feel it impossible not to believe you entirely. I can imagine no motive for what would be otherwise such elaborate deception."

"Motive, Mr Aubrey? The only motive I am conscious of is, one rest ing on profound sympathy for your misfortunes-admiration of your character and aiming at your speedy extrication from your very serious embarrassment. I am in the habit, Mr Aubrey," he continued, in a lower tone, "of concealing and checking my feelings but there are occasions" he paused, and added with a somewhat faltering voice-" Mr Aubrey, it pains me inexpressibly to observe that your anxieties your severe exertions-I trust in God I may not rightly add, your privations-are telling on your appearance. You are certainly much thinner." It was impossible any longer to distrust the sincerity of Mr Gam mon-to withstand the arts of this consummate actor. Mr Aubrey held out long, but at length surrendered entirely, and yielded implicit credence to all that Gammon had said-enter

taining, moreover, commensurate feelings of gratitude towards one who had done so much to protect him from rapacious avarice, and the ruin into which it would have precipitated him; and of respect for one who had evinced such an anxious, scrupulous, and sensitive jealousy for his own honour and reputation, and resolute determination to vindicate it against suspicion. Subsequent conversation served to strengthen his favourable disposition towards Gammon, and the same effect was also produced when he adverted to his previous and unwarrantable distrust and disbelief of that gentleman. He looked fatigued and harassed; it was growing late; he had come on his errand of courtesy and kindness, a great distance: why should not Mr Aubrey ask him up stairs, to join them at tea? To be sure, Mr Aubrey had hitherto felt a disinclination-he scarce knew why-to have any more than mere business intercourse with Mr Gammon, a member of such a firm as Quirk, Gammon, and Snap-and, moreover, Mr Runnington had more than once let fall expressions indicative of vehement distrust of Mr Gammon; so had the Attorney-General but what had Gammon's conduct been? Had it not practically given the lie to such insinuations and distrust, unless Mr Aubrey was to own himself incapable of forming a judgment on a man's line of conduct which had been so closely watched as that of Gammon by himself, Aubrey? Then Miss Aubrey had ever, and especially that very evening-expressed a vehement dislike of Mr Gammon-avowed, also, her early and uniform distrust-'twould be extremely embarrassing to her suddenly to introduce into her presence such an individual as Gammon: again, he had promised to return quickly, in order to relieve their anxiety: why should he not have the inexpressible gratification of letting Mr Gammon. himself, in his own pointed and impressive manner, dispel all their fears? He would, probably, not stay long.

"Mr Gammon," said he, having balanced for some minutes these conflicting considerations in his mind"there are only Mrs Aubrey and my sister up stairs. I am sure they will be happy to see me return to them in time for tea, accompanied by the bearer of such agreeable tidings as yours. For Mr Quirk's letter, to be

frank, reached me when in their presence, and we all read it together, and were dreadfully disturbed at its contents." After a faint show of reluctance to trespass on the ladies so suddenly, and at so late an hour, Mr Gammon slipped off his great-coat, and, with secret but suppressed feelings of exultation at the success of his scheme, followed Mr Aubrey up stairs. He felt not a little fluttered on entering the room and catching a first glimpse of the two lovely women-and one of them Miss Aubrey-sitting in it, their faces turned with eager interest and anxiety towards the door as he made his appearance. He observed that both of them started, and turned excessively pale.

"Let me introduce to you," said Mr Aubrey, quickly, and with a bright assuring smile, "a gentleman who has kindly called to relieve us all from great anxiety-Mr Gammon : Mr Gammon, Mrs Aubrey-Miss Aubrey." He bowed with an air of deep deference, but easy self-possession; his soul thrilling within him at the sight of her whose image had never been from before his eyes since they had first seen her.

"I shall trespass on you for only a few minutes, ladies," said he, approaching the chair towards which he was motioned. "I could not resist the opportunity so politely afforded me by Mr Aubrey of paying my compliments here, and personally assuring you of my utter abhorrence of the mercenary and oppressive conduct of a gentleman with whom, alas! I am closely connected in business, and whose letter to you of this evening I only casually became acquainted with a few moments before starting off hither. Forget it ladies; I pledge my honour that it shall never be acted on!" This he said with a fervour of manner that could not but make an impression on those whom he addressed.

"I'm sure we're happy to see you, Mr Gammon, and very much obliged to you, indeed," said Mrs Aubrey, with a sweet smile, and a face from which alarm was vanishing fast. Miss Aubrey said nothing: her brilliant eyes glanced with piercing anxiety, now at her brother, then at his companion. Gammon felt that he was distrusted. Nothing could be more prepossessing-more bland and insi

nuating, without a trace of fulsomeness, than Mr Gammon's manner and address, as he took his seat between Mrs Aubrey and Miss Aubrey, whose paleness rather suddenly gave way to a vivid and beautiful flush; and her eyes presently sparkled with delighted surprise on perceiving the relieved air of her brother, and the apparent cordiality and sincerity of Mr Gammon. When she reflected, moreover, on her expressions of harshness and severity concerning him that very evening, and of which he now appeared so undeserving, it threw into her manner towards him a sort of delicate and charming embarrassment. Her ear drank in eagerly every word he uttered-so pointed, so significant, so full of earnest good-will towards her brother. His manner was that of a gentleman, his countenance and conversation that of a man of intellect; -was this the keen and cruel pettifoger whom she had learned at once to dread and to despise? They and he were, in a word, completely at their ease with one another, within a few minutes after he had taken his seat at the tea-table. Miss Aubrey's beauty shone that evening with even unwonted lustre, and appeared as if it had not been in the least impaired by the anguish of mind which she had so long suffered. 'Tis quite impossible for me to do justice to the expression of her full beaming blue eyes-an expression of mingled passion and intellect-of blended softness and spirit, that, especially in conjunction with the rich tones of her voice, shed something like madness into the breast of Gammon. She, as well as her lovely sister-in-law, was dressed in mourning, which infinitely set off her dazzling complexion, and, simple and ele gant in its drapery, displayed her exquisite proportions to the greatest possible advantage. "Oh, my God!" thought Gammon, with a momentary thrill of disgust and horror; "and this is the transcendant creature of whom that little miscreant, Titmouse, spoke to me in terms of such presumptuous and revolting li cense!" What would he not have given to kiss the fair and delicate white hand that passed to him his tea-cup! Then Gammon's thoughts turned for a moment inward-why, what a scoun drel was he ! At that instant he was, as it were, reeking with his recent lie.

He was there on cruel, false pretences, which alone had secured him access into that little drawing-room, and brought him into contiguity with the dazzling beauty beside him-pure and innocent as beautiful ;-he was a fiend beside an angel. What an execrable hypocrite was he! He caught, on that memorable occasion, a sudden glimpse even of his own infernal SELFISHNESS-a sight that gave him a cold shudder. Then, was he not in the presence of his victims ?-of those whom he was fast pressing on to the verge of destruction-to whom he was, at that moment, meditating profound and subtle schemes of mischief! At length they all got into animated conversation. He was infinitely struck and charmed by the unaffected simplicity and frankness of their manners, yet he felt a sad and painful consciousness of not having made the least way with them; though physically near to them, he seemed yet really at an unapproachable distance from them, and particularly from Miss Aubrey. He felt that the courtesy bestowed upon him was accidental, the result merely of his present position, and of the intelligence which he had come to communicate; it was not personal-'twas nothing to Gammon himself; it would never be renewed, unless he should renew his device. There was not the faintest semblance of sympathy between them and him. Fallen as they were into a lower sphere, they had yet about them, so to speak, a certain atmosphere of conscious personal consequence, derived from high birth and breeding-from superior feelings and associations from a native frankness and dignity of character, which was indestructible and inalienable, which chilled and checked undue advances of any sort. They were still the Aubreys of Yatton, and he, in their presence, still Mr Gammon of the firm of Quirk, Gammon, and Snap, of Saffron Hill-and all this on the part of the Aubreys without the least effort, the least intention, or consciousness. No, there had not been exhibited towards him the faintest indication of hauteur. On the contrary, he had been treated with perfect cordiality and frankness. Yet, dissatisfaction and vexation were, he scarce knew at the moment why, completely flooding him. Had he accurately analysed his own feelings, he would have discovered the real cause

to have been-his own unreasonable, unjustifiable wishes and intentions. They talked of Titmouse, and his mode of life and conduct-of his expected alliance with the Lady Cecilia, at the mention of which Gammon's quick eye detected a passing smile of scorn on Miss Aubrey's countenance, that was death to all his own fond and ambitious hopes. After he had been sitting with them for scarcely an hour, he detected Miss Aubrey stealthily glancing at her watch, and at once arose to take his departure, with a very easy and graceful air, expressing an apprehension that he had trespassed upon their kindness. He was cordially assured to the contrary, but invited, neither to prolong his stay, nor renew his visit. Miss Aubrey made him, he thought, as he inclined towards her, rather a formal curtsy; and the tone of voice-soft and silvery-in which she said "good-night, Mr Gammon," fell on his eager ear, and sunk into his vexed heart, like music. On quitting the house, a deep sigh of disappointment escaped him. As he gazed for a moment with longing eyes at the windows of the room in which Miss Aubrey was sitting, he felt profound depression of spirit; he had altogether failed; and he had a sort of cursed consciousness that he deserved to fail, on every account. Her image was before his mind's eye every moment while he was threading his way back to his chambers at Thavies' Inn; he sat for an hour or two before the remnant of his fire, lost in a reverie; and sleep came not to his eyes till a late hour in the morning. Just as his tortuous mind was loosing hold of its sinister purposes in sleep, Mr Aubrey might have been seen taking his seat in his little study, having spent a restless night. 'Twas little more than half-past four o'clock when he entered, candle in hand, the scene of his early and cheerful labours, and took his seat before his table covered with loose manucripts and books. His face was certainly overcast with anxiety, but his soul was calm and resolute. Having lit his fire, he placed his candle on the table, and leaning back for a moment in his chair, while the flickering increasing light of his crackling fire and candle, revealed to him, with a sense of snugness, his shelves crammed with books, and the window covered with

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