tions of her friend, who was a handsome, as well as a very accomplished woman,

When she heard of her brother's recent losses, she became more earnest than ever for the accomplishment of her plan; she saw that his affairs would gradually go into confusion, from the extreme indolence of his temper, and dreaded that he might be precipitated into more expeditious ruin by gaming: she thought those evils would be prevented, and her brother secured in all the happiness of which he was susceptible, by his marriage with a woman of Miss Lewis's admirable good sense and prudence. It must be confessed that Mrs. Temple on this occasion shewed more solicitude for her brother's happiness than for her friend's; but perhaps she had a more favourable opinion of his character than the reader entertains.

She imparted her scheme to her husband, and prevailed on him to assist her in the accomplishing it.

The day after the husband and wife had formed this treaty, Mr. Barnet dined with them; there was a dish of stewed carp on the table, which Mrs. Temple had taken

care to have dressed exactly to her bro ther's taste; he eat heartily of it, and commended it very much.

"Ah! sister," said he, "how infinitely better dressed this is than what we once had at my table!" referring to that formerly mentioned, which brought his deceased grandmother so pathetically to his recollection.

"I acknowledge it, brother," replied Mrs. Temple, and could, if I pleased, explain the reason of it."-She then turned to other subjects, addressing her discourse to Miss Lewis.

This was a point of too much importance with Mr. Barnet, as his sister well knew, for him to let slip without investigation. The same afternoon he put her in mind of her promise, begging she would inform him how she came by so important an improvement?

"Really, brother," answered she, " I must confess that I am obliged to Miss Lewis for the greatest improvements I ever made."

66

Say you so?" cried Barnet, with sur

prise; "I had no idea that she had so good a notion of cookery."

There are very few things of importance of which she has not a good notion,” resumed Mrs. Temple.

"Miss Lewis is certainly a very accomplished woman," added her husband.

"She must be an accomplished woman indeed," said Barnet;-" it was without exception a dish of the best stewed carp I ever tasted."

Mrs. Temple observed with satisfaction, after this conversation, "that her brother paid much more attention to Miss Lewis than he had ever done before."

Having a mare to run at Epsom, he thought himself obliged to attend the races there; but he seemed to leave Mr. Temple's with regret, and acknowledge that, "were he to indulge his own taste, he would rather have staid.”

CHAPTER XI.

L'orgueil a plus de part que la bonté aux remonstrances que nous faisons à ceux qui commettent des fautes.

ROCHEFOUCAULT.

WHEN the races were over, Mr. Barnet returned to the house of his brother-in-law with Mr. Wormwood, whom he had met at Epsom. This gentleman was his near relation, a bachelor, who followed no profession, but lived on the interest of his money, which produced a moderate annual sum, that he had no great desire of increasing. He was one of those men who are apt to give their advice before it is asked, and who testify their good-will to their friends by informing them of their failings. Mr. Wormwood was a man of knowledge and sense; but as he imagined that he possessed a greater share of both than he did in reality, and was of a satirical turn, the liberality with which he bestowed advice was thought to proceed fully as much from pride, or indulgence of his own vein,

as from benevolence. He had made a large collection of prudential maxims respecting the conduct of life, in the use of which he could not be accused of selfishness, as he distributed them freely among his friends and acquaintance, without deriving much benefit from them himself. A man of this character, it will readily be believed, frequently disobliged those he affected to serve, and sometimes lost the friend he intended to warn.

Mr. Barnet had a partiality, however, for his cousin Wormwood, and at this particular time that partiality was stronger in his favour than usual; for a favourite mare of Mr. Barnet having been distanced at the races, by which he lost a considerable sum, he was in very bad humour; but as the owner of the victorious horse was a man of whom Mr. Wormwood had an ill opinion, he had gratified his friend by abusing this man all the way as they returned together from Epsom.

Mr. Barnet and Wormwood passed some days at Mr. Temple's; during this time the former paid unusual attention to Miss