SMOOTHING OVER.

329

Ned Walford was naturally soft-hearted. It was more his misfortune than his fault that, under the blighting curse of gold, all those thoughts and feelings, which should have been so turned as to flow warm and gushingly towards those around, had been made to circle in narrow eddies back upon himself; still, when these baneful causes did not operate - whenever no great effort of self-denial was required, and Ned's heart enjoyed fair play, his sentiments were good and generous. Only, with men of this character, you must ever strike the iron while it is hot. Call them at once to action while they are in the humour; otherwise their virtue, no longer patted on the back, grows chill and cautious-the head is too prudential for the heart, and their generosity cannot fight in cold blood.

"But you have not let me see my muchinjured lady, Mrs. Winter. Really, that is hard. After all your lengthened indictment of high crimes and misdemeanours, the least you can do is to let me ask the lady's pardon, and to make some little amends."

This request was naturally accompanied with words, complimentary to Mrs. Winter's charity and forbearance. He said, he was sure that her soft heart never yet repented a kind action—that

as to loss of custom, where Mrs. Winter was, there all the wealth and the fashion of the country must come, too. The result was, that, added to the luxury of a good listener and free course for Mrs. Winter's own self-importance, the appeal was irresistible, and the good woman, though she still went on talking one way, proceeded forthwith to act the other; and poor Alice, looking very pale and pitiful, was called to take her seat on one end of the dimitycovered cushions in the bow-window of the Stag."

It was not to the first call that the pale and trembling Alice-sick at heart as she was with hope delayed, and worn by one life-long struggle against the petty insolence of petty people- - could sufficiently command her feelings to respond.

cr

"Alice! Alice!-is the child deaf?" exclaimed Mrs. Winter. Come, this is a pretty 'make-believe!'-as if Mr. Walford had come at last, and you not know he was in the house! Well-I-never

!"

But when Alice did come, the less she had the power to speak, the more Mrs. Winter found words for her when, suddenly, "Coming!" she exclaimed, though no one called, and casting a good-natured look behind, she had disap

:

NEVER TOO OLD FOR MATCH-MAKING. 331

peared in a moment, and left the young couple alone.

What Mrs. Winter's exact intention was, in this strange proceeding, it is hard to say. Those who trace every action to sordid interest, and make out human nature to be little better than a living Ready Reckoner, reducing things of all denominations into pounds, shillings, and pence - they, of course, would argue that all Mrs. Winter wanted was to get the poor girl off her hands; and took the most likely course to do so. But a more attentive study of womankind has taught us that they have one neverfailing source of amusement to their dying day, namely, match-making; and that, just as a superannuated hunter in a paddock pricks up his ears at the music of the hounds, even so does an ancient lady snatch a pleasure from the past whenever she is conscious of aiding and abetting in what is pre-eminently called an "interesting affair.'

If pity is akin to love-if the sense that one fond heart has for weeks and months been set upon himself, has any power to move a man not insensible to generous emotions, Ned Walford was just now in danger's way. The age of chivalry is not so far past - the position of Alice, tied and bound in the galling bonds

of servitude, and threatened by Woodstock boors, was not so far unlike the romantic position of a captive maiden in ancient song—that our hero should feel no spirit of generous emulation or wild adventure. How delightful the resolve to be the happy man to dry her tears and soothe her throbbing heart, and to hear her acknowledge her joyous deliverance as his proud act alone!

We say not of how many visits, stolen or allowed, such feelings were the growth. Had Alice been less virtuous, the result might have been different. There is a certain awe and reverence, far, indeed, removed from the idea of an easy conquest, which, if once it seizes on the heart of youth, holds him spell-bound, entranced, and captive.

From this moment two things are worthy of attentive consideration.-The first, that Edward Walford felt irresistibly attracted to Alice Hengen. The second, that the same Edward Walford had never yet learnt to weigh the present with the future, nor to obey any other law than his own impetuous will.

CHAPTER XXIII.

SOMETHING SEEMS LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

Ir men were always in their sober senses, there are a great many foolish as well as wicked things in this mortal world which would remain undone. But there is a deal of "temporary insanity" -a deal of suicidal madness, as regards either body or estate, besides that-of which alone we are accustomed to hear that falls under the cognisance of "crowners' quests."

We see this truth in the case of the gamester, when the dice have gone against him, who, exasperated to the highest pitch of frensy, stakes every acre upon a single throw!

We see it in the failing merchant, whose last acts, bordering on insolvency, run counter to all the prudence to all the clear views and penetration that have characterised his life.

We see it often in the reputed murderer, who