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vigorous constitution, and the young Master became gradually conscious of his situation. It was to him a delightful feeling to find himself tended by the one whom he loved best, and though weak and emaciated, never had he experienced so much calm bliss as during the days of his convalescence. "For such a nurse," he said "it is worth being unwell. And, O Martha! when I am fairly better, my first care will be to make you mine for ever. You fear my

father; but he is too deeply interested in me, to stand in the way of my happiness, and were it otherwise, he must now know your excellence, and be proud to call you his daughter."

It was after a week or two had elapsed, and Patrick was so far recovered as to be able to walk about, although he still confined him~ self to the house, that the Baron Elphinston requested a private interview with Dr Macclutch. "I have sent for you, good doctor,"

he said, "in order to express my satisfaction at the attention you have paid poor Patrick during his severe illness, and the fidelity with which you have otherwise conducted yourself. This is but a poor recompense for your services," he added, placing a purse in the doctor's hand. "Nay, put it up. It was not on that account alone, that 1 sent for you. What I wished to consult you about was another matter. During the height of Patrick's fever, he repeatedly made use of expressions by which I could discern that he was deeply attached to the daughter of Mrs Menzies, and indeed he has himself this morning stated so to me, and implored my sanction to their union. At another time, and under other circumstances, I might have strongly objected to such a union; but Patrick's happiness, I see, so much depends on its accomplishment, that I cannot refuse his request, especially now that Heaven has so mercifully restored him to me. Resides, I have had occasion to admire the conduct of the young lady during his long illness, and if she may not be, in point of lineage, a proper match to the young Master of Elphinston, she is in every other respect all that I could wish. Even in lineage, she is not altogether deficient, for, as you may be aware, she is well connected by the female side, and-what perhaps you may think of more consequence, in these troublous times, to the younger son of a poor baron --she is possessed, I am given to understand, of a very handsome dowry."

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My lord," said the doctor, "it gives me great satisfaction to know that you are inclined to sanction the espousals of Master Patrick and Mrs Martha; for a more worthy and deserving young lady is not to be found in the kingdom; and as you well remark, she has a heavy tocher of her own-a pretty penny, believe me.

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"Good Master John Knox," interrupted the baron, "has been exerting himself stoutly with the Regent to procure pardons for many

of the Queen's friends. By his intercession, the Hamiltons have been reprieved from the death of traitors, and to his kindness I owe a manumission which I received yesterday of Patrick's attainder, in consideration, as it stated, of his youth and of his father's services in the right cause. Patrick is therefore now at liberty; and I have been thinking that, in the event of his marriage, he might take possession of the small estate of Polmadie, which his mother by will has left him. As to the young lady's mother, I have not yet consulted with her on the matter, but I doubt she will be very unwilling to part with her daughter, seeing that none other of the family remains."

"She will indeed be very lonely, my lord," said the doctor, "and of that I have been led to speak with her very frequently in private, when I observed the attachment of Master Patrick and Mrs Martha."

"So-so," said the baron, smiling, "you have been already condoling with the widow on the subject, and you could not do less surely, doctor, than offer to cherish and comfort her in her apprehended loneliness, by taking her to wife.

"I will not deny, my lord, that some such understanding may exist between us," said the doctor, blushing as deeply as a bachelor of fifty could blush.

"Then all is well,-and we shall make two weddings of it at once, my old buck!" said the baron, poking the sides of the confused doctor with humorous glee.

The marriages, however, did not take place at the same time. The young Master and the fair Martha were first espoused, and great was the rejoicing of the whole barony; for, in addition to the usual excitement of a marriage, the people were delighted at the restoration of their favourite, whom they had accounted lost, and at his union with one of their own native children. But great as was the rejoicing on this occasion, it did not equal the uproar which took place, six weeks afterwards, when worthy Dr Macclutch was united to widow Menzies. Every fire-arm was then in requisition to welcome the auspicious morn; mummeries, in which the cutlers played a distinguished part, were enacted on the streets; and the walls of the Boar's Head shook with dancing and revelry for three successive nights.

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* The original French of this fine piece is by Victor Hugo. For the English version we are indebted to the Foreign Quarterly Review.

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THE THREE WESTMINSTER BOYS.*

BY MRS JOHNSTONE.

THE Magic Lantern, which belonged to Mr Dodsley, was elegantly and ingeniously formed. He chose to exhibit its wonders himself; and story, and picture, aiding and illustrating each other, agreeably Occupied several NIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE.

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Peep, and tell us what you see, Charles," said the reverend showman to our old friend Charles Herbert." An old building, forms, desks, a lofty large room, many boys and youths, and three apart and prominent."—"Let me look," cried Sophia,- -"Westminster school, I declare! and those three boys!-one very noble and graceful; the next dark, thoughtful, resolute, with keen eyes, and compressed lips; and the third-O! how gently, yet brightly he smiles, dear bashful boy, as his dark, bold companion extends his arm, haranguing and pointing forward to some high distant object! A picture is it, a figure in state robes?—or is it to the insignia blazoned on that desk?—Nay, I daresay he wishes to be head-master.”

"Have you all seen the three school-fellows?" asked Mr Dodsley; "look at them well, for here they part on the path of life, never to meet again. Presto! change:-What see you now, Sophia ?""Still the dark stern youth, and the gentle timid one :-they are older now, but I know them well. The noble-looking boy has disappeared. The scene seems chambers in the temple. Through an open window I have a glimpse of gardens: piles of huge books are lying on tables, floors, and shelves. The dark resolute youth pores on a black letter folio, and makes as it were notes or extracts. The other leans by the window, gazing over the gardens, a small open volume fluttering in his relaxed hand. Ha! I read on it 'Thomson's Seasons." "Yes, Sophia, your gentle law-student is an idle rogue; he has been seduced into the 'primrose paths of poesy' let us see the result;-meanwhile here is another picture.""Beautiful! beautiful!" cried the admiring girl, "A large ship!" "An outward-bound Indiaman," said Mr Dodsley. "All her sails set," continued Sophia. "How proudly, how statelily she

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• From "Nights of the Round Table," the First Series. This piece has also appeared in a cheap and excellent periodical conducted at Edinburgh by the husband of the authoress, and entitled, The Schoolmaster, and Edinburgh Weekly Magazine." At present we are indebted for our extract to 'The Schoolmaster,' but in justice to the work in which it originally appeared, we may state that we had marked the story off for insertion in 'The Republic' long before The Schoolmaster' commenced his meritorious labours.

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