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or nine and forty years of age; she some fix years younger. In childhood they had been much together; and old Sir Ralf Claydon faw with a glad heart that their early affections ripened prudently and fincerely; for on both sides it was a first and only love (fancies which do not always last). On the marriage, which he helped, Sir Ralf had said that the whole of his estates should pass to Elizabeth, his only child; and Master Torney, the family lawyer, had much haraffed the old gentleman with questions touching "fines " and "recoveries," "vouchers and double vouchers," "barrings of entails," and "remainders over," "limitations," and fuch like.

"Bar me no bar!" he was wont to fay when over wearied. "If't not all for Befs? For Tom and Befs! and my grandchild ́and theirs! No limitation, Master Torney; no limitation, fir."

And fo the fettlements were drawn-voluminous enough truly; and they were read on the eve of the wedding, and they were handed over to the happy bridegroom, who put them in a cheft, which to this day has remained unopened in his private room. And the marriage "took effect," as the lawyers fay; and an heir was born, and was baptized

William; and the grandfather used to dandle him on his knee; and the old knight (who had seen the Field of the Cloth of Gold) fet his grandchild on a pony, and shewed him how they tilted in the olden time, making him daggers of lath and frail spears of elderwood. But William went to School and to College, and Sir Ralf was gathered to his fathers.

Of very different temperament—indeed of different orders of mind-Sir Thomas and his wife were at one in those opinions and defires which enable people to work together happily through life. Riches rendered neither of them felfish; nor did rank rob them of pity for the poor and humble. And thus the duties of life were to both an object in common. The knight among his copyholders and tenants, neighbours, and farm-fervants; the lady at her alms'-house or schoolroom. The eye that faw them blessed them; and the ear that heard them bear witness.

When they met they had each fomething to tell that would please the other. But to-day was no common occafion. William, their only fon, was coming home; and the glad parents embraced heartily.

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T was high noon of the second day when our travellers from Cambridge came within fight of

Steeple Claydon. To young Cheney each

rifing and falling of the ground, the grove of chestnut, the oak copfe, the great beech foreft, the bufy little streams, the idle ponds, brought many joyous affociations. And Effex caught fomething of home feeling which he had never known before.

"Methinks I would change my life for yours."

"What, Robin! to be a fimple country juftice o' the peace, with only the Vicar for a comrade?"

"No-not exactly that. You have a father; and may guide yourself under his hand, till it shall be easy enough for you to walk alone. I must e'en walk alone already; and, if I reach beyond my hold, or stagger, fall!

"Oh, I understand you! But I don't fee why you should go to court at all! Why not stay at Chartley—or here, dear Effex?"

As he faid this, the young men preffed each other's hands. They remained filent for a while.

"All seems so innocent and peaceful here."

"And fo villainous about the court. Eh?"

"So I fuppofe."

"Well! I conceive 'tis not fo. If there be more Vice there, there may be more Virtue too. If more Peace here, more Laziness alfo. I trow these matters be pretty evenly balanced. And though I choose the Country, 'tis not for the virtue or for the idlenefs' fake, but because I am bred to it. And, if your lot be the Court, I fee no reason but you may carry your peace to court, too."

"An one might stand upright there, Will.”

"Oh yes! and fo you shall, dear Essex.”

66 Yet, alas!"

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And here they were met by a crowd of horsemen, the neighbouring gentry and yeomanry, anxious to welcome Master William home. For the days had been when men made their Teftaments ere they fet out on these long journeys; and it seemed a special mercy when one reached his destination uninjured in life or property. Many a cordial shake of the hand there was; and much doffing of hats and "making of legs" to the noble stranger. Great talk of all that had been done at Chenies lately; and not a few questions of the news at Cambridge.

Then they heard the joybells of Steeple Claydon; and the vicar with all the Claydon tenantry turned out to do their humble duties. Squire Haugh did homage to the young heir for a tenement on the border of the estate. Kneeling in the causeway he offered, as was an immemorial cuftom, a riding-rod, which William took with ill-affumed folemnity.

As they rode on the cavalcade increased. At every turn they met fome ftout farmer, who, according to his ability, executed a rude welcome, and fell in behind. At length they entered the Park of Chenies. The causeway had hitherto been a miserably paved and broken up track; and,

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