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THE LITTLE BLACK PORTER. 143

her, in order that she should not hold any communication with a young gentleman of respectable family, who was well known in the neighbourhood: now, you leave her with a stranger of the most suspicious appearance, who boldly tells you that he has private business with her, which she refuses to hear even in your presence ! But of course, Miss Plympton acquainted you with the purport of his visit.”

“No, George, I declare she did not,” said the Doctor with great humility.

“What, sir! did she refuse when you insisted?“

“I did not insist,” replied Dr. Plympton; “I did not insist, for she told me beforehand that she would answer no questions till the morning or something to that effect.”

“ You astonish me!”

“I confess that I was staggered myself: -but what could I do? She has grown out of her girlhood like a dream; and for the first time in her life, to my apprehension, my child stood as a woman before me. Her look, her tone, her posture, and above all, the expression of her eyebrow, reminded me so strongly of her majestic mother, that all my energies were suspended: the dead seemed to be raised from the grave, and I was awed before her. But a truce to this; it will not occur again. I was taken by surprise; and, by the bye, George, on reflection, I feel compelled to observe, that it is impossible that I should submit to the dictatorial air which you thought fit to assume a few moments since. Remember, sir, who you are and what I am; or rather perhaps, what I was; for truly, I feel that I am not the man I recollect myself to have been: -that, however, is no excuse for you.”

“On the contrary, sir,” said George, affectionately taking the old man's hand,” it adds to my offence.”

“ You do not mean to convey, that you are conscious of any visible symptoms of my being unequal to my former self do you? “ “ By no means, sir; but-“

Let

“Well, well! once more, enough of this. us think of our respectable guest, to whom I owe a thousand apologies, and order supper. Let us postpone all that's unpleasant until the morning; when I have no doubt, this affair will prove to be a little farce, at which we shall all heartily laugh. The gentleman of colour, is, doubtless, an itinerant vender of some of those numberless absurdities for the toilet or the work box, which run away with a great portion of every girl's pocketmoney. The idea did not strike me before, but I am almost persuaded that I am correct in my supposition; and doubtless, Isabel, piqued at your warmth which, really almost electrified medetermined to punish you, by affecting to be serious and making a mystery of the affair. Retaliate, George, by sleeping soundly to night, and looking blithe and debonair, as the young Apollo newly sprung from his celestial couch, to morrow morning.”

In spite of the Doctor's occasional attempts to infuse some portion of gaiety into the conversation that ensued, a deep gloom reigned in his little parlour during the remainder of the evening. Very shortly after the removal of the cloth from the supper table, the old attorney, much to the satisfaction of the Doctor and George, retired to his bed room, and they immediately followed his example.

Isabel appeared at the breakfast table the next morning; but her usual gaiety had vanished: she looked pale and thoughtful, and when addressed, she replied only in monosyllables. George Wharton was sullen, and the Doctor could not avoid betraying his uneasiness: he several times made such observations as he thought would infallibly force Isabel into an elucidation of the mysteries of the preceding evening; but she was proof against them all, and maintained an obstinate silence on the subject. Under the pretence of showing the beauties of his pleasure ground, Dr. Plympton drew the attorney, who was breakfasting with the most perfect professional non chalance, from his chocolate and egg, to one of the windows; and there briefly, but pathetically laid open the state of his mind.” I declare,” said he,” I am nearly deprived of my reasoning faculties with amazement, at the conduct of Bell and the son of your respected client. So complete a metamorphosis has never occurred since the cessation of miracles. Each of them is an altered being, sir; they are the antipodes of what they were; and I assure you, it alarms it unnerves me. George, who used to be as bland as Zephyr, and obedient as a gentle child, either sits morose, or blusters, as you saw him last night, like a bully. And Bell, who indulged almost to an excess, in the innocent gaieties of girlhood, is turned into marble: no one would believe, to look at her now, that she had ever smiled. She has lost her laugh, which used to pour gladness into my old heart, and is quite as dignified and almost as silent as some old Greek statue. How do you account for this? “

“Sir, replied Burdock, whose chocolate was cooling; “ make yourself quite easy: such changes are no novelties to me; they must be attributed to the business of the day: -the execution of a deed of settlement, in contemplation of a speedy marriage, is an awful event to those who have never gone through the ceremony before. I have witnessed hysterics at a pure love match, even when it was seasoned with money in profusion on both sides.”

The attorney now strode back to his seat, and began his capital story relative to the great cause of Dukes and Driver. The Doctor reluctantly returned to the table, and seemed to listen to his guest; but his mind was occupied on a different subject; and when the cloth was removed, and the attorney's tale concluded, he was scarcely conscious that he had breakfasted, and knew no more of the merits of the case, than Beaufidel, who sat on a footstool, looking ruefully at his mistress, and evidently disappointed at not having been favoured with his usual portion of smiles and toast.

Immediately after breakfast, Burdock produced, from the recesses of his bag, the marriage