courteous Spithover, as also Piale, will supply you with the latest reading.

In the region which lies between La Trinita del Monte and the Corso you may also meet with some score of old and young ladies of high and low degree, not perhaps with reason considering themselves low, even low church, as it is not the fashion in Rome. The young ladies are for the most part dressed in the most fashionable and elegant style, with ravishing hats and feathers of all colours, and the neatest Balmoral boots.

Both the Roaster and I were wont to tell Mrs. Piggy, when returning from an afternoon ramble, that we considered the sight of these young ladies, both English and American, far superior to the churches, the catacombs, the pope or the cardinals, in which good folks are wont to pass hours, nay days, and, for a sight of whom, people starve and fatigue themselves.

Were I a rich man, I do believe I should pass at least a month each spring-time in Rome, if only to admire the society of these charming spinsters, ride with them on the Campagna, and go with them a hunting and a flirting. In fact, there is no place abroad where a travelling Englishman can make himself more thoroughly at home than in Rome, if so be he is well tempered and well bred. Piggy admires it, so now, having walked on the Pincio, seen the pope in flannel and purple, followed some of the neat Balmorals up and down La Trinita to see if the ankles match the chaussure, we will go home to dinner at the table d'hôte of the Angleterre and prepare for the events of the

morrow.

AT HOME OR

ABROAD?

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY H. WEEkes.

And Master Crafty himself would scarcely seem able to answer the query, as, no doubt, when impletur veteris Bacchi pinquisque ferino -that is, when well primed with 'bacca, old beer, and fat bacon, he has stopped many a good fox in before now. The terriers have clearly been very busy, and the mongrel hound proclaims him at home--so far as this may be trusted-at the top of his voice.

But those "crafty earth-stoppers," like sub-editors and journeymen bakers, lead a hard life of it, though so long as the world gets its morning paper and hot rolls by breakfast time, with a flying fox well found afterwards, what cares it whether its "fellow creatures" ever go to bed or not. So we will not be too captious, and if Reynard should be abroad there looks to be a bit of nice open country before him when he sees the oak sported at home.

368

BY SYDENHAM DIXON.

"Have I any personal objection to you? certainly not, my dear Travers; in fact, I know no one to whom I would sooner entrust my daughter."

66 Then, sir, why-"

"One moment : I am not anxious that Pauline should marry a rich man, as, happily, she will have no need of money; but her husband-I know you will pardon my treading on such delicate ground-must be free from embarrassments of every description."

"But, sir, my debts are not heavy, and I think I could manage to—" "No. I daresay my notions are old-fashioned: but on this point my mind is made up, and I can only say that when you give me your word of honour that you do not owe a penny to anyone you will have my hearty consent to your marriage with Pauline," and saying this, Squire Emmerson effectually closed the conversation by leaving the room.

Philip Travers walked slowly to the library-window, under the influence of a strange mixture of feelings. He had not expected opposition from the Squire; but he was both surprised and delighted at the warmth and good feeling he had exhibited towards him in their late interview. On the other hand, he was not aware that the old man was cognizant of his debts, nor was he prepared for such a fixed determination with respect to them. Of the strength of Pauline's affection he had no doubt; but he knew she was too devoted to her father to dream of opposing him on such a serious matter. Three thousand pounds, the amount required to pay off the unfortunate debts in question, is not such a very appalling sum in itself, but it seemed quite beyond Captain Travers' reach. The eldest son of a clergyman of good family, whose quiver was far too small for the very numerous arrows with which he was blessed, he obtained his commission by the influence of a rich uncle, who, very naturally, thought that he had done a good part by him when gave him this start in life. The worthy old gentleman did not reflect that it was hardly a kindness to place a lad in a crack cavalry regiment, and expect him to live on his pay, eked out by the infinitesimal allowance that his father-with what pinching none but himself knew-was able to make him. The result was only what might have been expected. Philip Travers, though a thoroughly good fellow in every respect, was not more careful of his money than the generality of young men, and when, at the end of six years, again assisted by his uncle's influence, he obtained his company, he had a balance of three thousand on the wrong side of his books. Indeed, remembering that he was in a regiment which had always been celebrated for its recherché mess, its magnificent balls, and its splendid hospitality and general extravagance, the only wonder is that he did not owe twice that amount. However, the debts pressed very heavily on Philip at this moment, and when he caught sight of his particular friend, Ralph Harding, crossing the lawn and strolling towards the stables, he hastened to join him, and, in his usual

confiding manner, to tell him the melancholy story, and talk over a scheme that was beginning to work in his brain, by which the money was to be obtained at one bold stroke.

Ralph heard of the obstacle in the "course of true love," with a curious, and not altogether pleasant smile; but when Philip began to unfold his grand plan for winning his bride, he became suddenly grave, and listened with fixed attention.

"You know, Ralph, I've not used Fair Star as a charger half-a-dozen times in the last two years, and she has never run in public but once, and then she won the Garrison Stakes at Dover in a canter. I know she has a fine turn of speed, and you have seen her fencing powers, with the Quorn and the Pytchley. She's almost fit to run, and I think of entering her for the big steeplechase at our annual meeting next month, when I might back her to win three or four thousand pounds at a very small outlay."

"What meeting do you mean?"

"Oh! I forgot that this is your first visit to Heatherley Grange. It's a little affair, or rather was when the Squire started it ten or eleven years ago, that takes place about the third week in January, near Carleton, and it has gradually increased in importance, till it's now one of the most popular steeplechase fixtures in Yorkshire, or, indeed, in the north."

"But you will never be able to back the mare to win as much as you want at an insignificant meeting of this sort."

"Don't I tell you that it's anything but insignificant now, and besides, partly because it comes off in the dead season, several prominent members of Tattersall's and the Victoria always make a point of attending, so there will be no difficulty on that score, and the only thing is to have the Star' fit and well on the day, and well in the handicap." By this time they had reached the stables, and, as might have been expected, went at once to inspect the subject of their conversation. She certainly was a grand looking mare, and her appearance gave promise that Philip had not over-rated her good qualities. She was a bright chesnut, standing about fifteen three; her game-looking intelligent head was well set on to a lean neck and excellent shoulders; she was rather short in the croup, with broad hips, and a good back, while she stood short on the leg, with knees and hocks well let down. Altogether Ralph Harding's experienced eye failed to find any fault in her, except that her back ribs were a trifle light; and he was forced to admit that if she got into the "Carleton Cup, gentlemen riders," at anything under 11 st., she must be very bad to beat. While the two men were still standing in the loose-box Travers caught sight of Pauline, passing through the yard on her way to visit one of her numerous protégées in the village, and, with a hasty apology to Harding, ran out to join her. The latter remained gazing abstractedly at Fair Star, but he was evidently lost in thought, and his face grew very gloomy. He could not suppress the conviction that Philip's scheme of paying his debts, quixotic as it seemed at first, was not unlikely to succeed, and if so, the only bar to his marriage with Miss Emmerson would be removed. Travers had first met Harding, a few months previously, at the quarters of a mutual acquaintance, and having taken a great fancy to him had, in his impulsive way, at once made

him a bosom friend, and never seemed able to do without him. No one seemed exactly to know who he was, but as he had plenty of money no one cared to inquire too closely. It was rumoured, and on this occasion rumour was more correct than usual, that his grandfather was engaged in the tea trade; for a wonder the old merchant's son, when his turn came, did not spend the money faster than it had been put together, so Ralph succeeded to a fortune very little the worse for wear, and one that was not likely to grow less in his hands. When Philip, according to his annual custom, came to spend Christmas at Heatherly Grange, he obtained leave to bring Harding with him, and before he had been there a week the latter was as deeply in love with Pauline as a man of his base and treacherous nature could be. It was nothing to him that she was engaged to a friend to whom he professed the greatest attachment, and who had always treated him with unvarying kindness. He had never been accustomed to allow paltry considerations of friendship or honour to influence him when his inclinations or passions were concerned. From the moment that he had been fascinated by Pauline's beauty he had determined, in spite of every obstacle, to make her his wife; and certainly the difficulties in his way were sufficient to daunt the most determined man. In the first place her father had evidently taken a dislike to him, and, though no one else could perceive it, Harding felt that his advances were quietly repelled. Then she herself had never shown the slightest predilection for his society; and last, but by no means least, she was already engaged. Still he did not despair, and the delight with which he heard the account of Philip's interview with the Squire may well be imagined. His pleasure was considerably damped by the further revelation of the daring, yet possibly successful, scheme by which Travers hoped to win his bride, and he felt that at all hazards his success in the steeplechase must be prevented. As two packs of hounds usually met within reach of the Grange, several of the visitors had brought their horses with them, and Harding, who was a really fine horseman, was accompanied by The Monk, the "crack" of his small stud. He was a big black horse, considerably over sixteen hands in height, with immense power; but, though a clever fencer, he just lacked the requisite dash of speed to make him a first-class steeplechaser. Notwithstanding this, however, he had on several occasions performed successfully across country, but never in very good company.

A fortnight passed, the Christmas festivities were over, and Fair Star, who had taken regular gallops under the watchful eye of Adam White, Philip's old groom, only required just the finishing touches to make her a picture of condition. The Monk also looked very fit, Harding having taken full advantage of the open weather, and rattled him along in his work. The entries for the Carleton Cup had been sent in, and the weights were to appear on the following day. The Monk's name was down, but Harding did not want to start him, and make a hopeless breach between himself and Travers, unless he were sure of achieving his object and defeating Fair Star. Accordingly, he proposed that they should run a trial over the course, before the weights were published, to see, as he said, if the mare was in form. Travers willingly acceded to this, so the horses were sent over to Carleton one