but opposition was temporarily to be expected, and I tortured my ingenuity how to introduce, argue upon, and carry so delicate a subject. But when I joined her little work-table, and was preparing circuitously to lead to my wished-for topic, how was I taken a-back, when, with frankness, and the good sense, which I am ashamed to say I had little expected, she at once interrupted me, by saying, "I perfectly understand your present purpose; you are desirous to intercede here for Mr. Aylmour. In a word then, I do not now object to him; I am a weak woman, as you, my worthy friend, would often deem me, but for our old intimacy, and good will; and I have not risen in your estimation, perhaps, by my late conduct towards Maria. I know, however, more of these things than you or many, can do; and it would have been the worst of enmity lately, to Mr. Aylmour and my daughter, to have acted otherwise, I never would have forced her inclination

in Mr. Chillum's case, and some control was needful in the other; at all events, until the Lieutenant could support a wife. I shall now be most happy to see your young friend, whenever he wishes to renew his visits."

To close, then, a long business, and bring my tale to a blissful consummation, Mr. Aylmour, the next day, was duly installed in the happiness of an approved and an accepted admirer of the daughter. Frederick Alport arrived by dâk, a fine, handsome, dashing young fellow: the licence was applied for; the clergyman suminoned from Dinapore; and a more happy family circle could not exist than that of my friend, the Civil Surgeon; nor was the least happy among them, their old Fidus Achates, that busy-body, the BENGALEE.

A SCENE AT AUCTION.

And he himself seem'd made for merriment,

Merrily masking.

SPENSER.

No

It was a hot, steaming, most uncomfortable day, at the fag end of the rains. breeze was stirring, save every now and then the damp, heavy, clammy breathing of a vapoury air, which passed over Calcutta, from the eastward, and sluggishly bore along with it the too convincing evidence of its late sojourning amid the Sunderbunds and the swamps of the Salt-water lake. Miasmata, almost thick and substantial enough to be laid hold for analysis by the erudite lecturers at the New Medical College, were stealing away, over the Mahrattah Ditch,

laden on the wings of the dull vapour we have described, and leisurely proceeding through our metropolis, on their fearful and fever-breathing errands. The doctors' miniature carriages, long since familiarly known by the professional appellatives of pill-boxes, were taking the change' most woefully out of Hunter's and Cook's hack cattle, and fast turning round every gateway and every corner in Chowringhee. The Honorable Company's medical compounders and apothecaries at the Dispensary had been hard at it for days in incessant manufacture and distribution of ipecacuanha, calomel, alterative and blue pills, and in the unremitting decoction of innumerable senna mixtures. The several undertakers had looked lugubriously at so many fast-following funerals, that they really began to find it marvellously difficult to 'do' the melancholy any longer; at the very time, too, their business was increasing so merrily around them. All their stock on hand, their ready made

materials,-crapes, stud-nails and escutcheons ;-their black mourning coaches, and blacker mutes, with broadcloth inexpressibles and sable merino long coats, were enjoying the very fulness of profitable and exhilarating employment. In a word, it was a September's day in Calcutta, in its most steamy and sultry shape, when all wise denizens of this City of Palaces sedulously eschewed exposure; and the only people mad enough to run about it, were the few, who were too well fee'd for expediting other men's matters, to mind over much about their own; or possibly a few money making Liverpool agents, and custom-house clerks, and shippers of country goods, too much occupied, and too anxious to get through their business before the approaching Doorgah Poojah Holidays, to dream about dispepsia or diseased liver.

And yet, in spite of the weather, all Calcutta, of a certain most respectable class, that is, all men who had little to do, or had