n a foundling hospital, and inherit
ten thousand a year. A landed estate, and no relations, comes nearer to
my ideas of Paradise than anything in Milton's poems."

"Here they come," cried Jack, as a merry group issued from the road,
and came joyously forward to meet them.

"Here's this good fellow Tom Cutbill come to spend some days with us,"
said Jack, as the girls advanced to greet him.

"Is n't it kind of him?" said Cutbill; "is n't it like that
disinterested good-nature that always marks him? Of course I'm heartily
welcome! how could it be otherwise? Miss Bramleigh, you do me proud.
Miss Julia, your slave. Ah, your reverence! let's have a shake of your
devout paw. Now I call this as pleasant a place for a man to go through
his sentence of transportation as need be. Do the ladies know what I'm
charged with?"

"They know nothing, they desire to know nothing," said Augustus. "When
we have dined and had our coffee, you shall make your own confession;
and that only if you like it, and wish to disburden your conscience."

"My conscience is pretty much like my balance at my banker's--it's a
mighty small matter, but somehow it never troubles me; and you 'll see
by-and-by that it does n't interfere with my appetite."

"You saw my sister at Naples, Mr. Cutbill," said Nelly; "how was she
looking?"

"Decidedly handsome; and as haughty as handsome; as an Irish friend who
was walking with me one day her carriage passed, observed, 'A bow from
her was the next thing to a black-eye.'"

"Marion's pride always became her," said Nelly, coldly.

"It must be a comfort to her to feel she has a great stock of what
suits her constitution."

"And the noble Viscount," asked Jack, "how was he looking?"

"As fresh as paint. The waxworks in the museum seemed faded and worn
after him. He was in an acute attack of youth, the day I dined with him
last, and I hope his system has not suffered for it."

"Stop her," muttered Jack, with a sly look at Cutbill; and to the
surprise of the others, that astute individual rejoined, "Stop her, it
is."

"We dine at four, I think?" said Bramleigh, "and there 's just time to
dress. Jack, take charge of Cutbill, and show him where he is to lodge."

"And is it white choker and a fiddle coat? Do you tell me you dress for
dinner?" asked Cutbill.

"Mr. Cutbill shall do exactly as he pleases," said Julia; "we only claim
a like privilege for ourselves."

"You've got it now, Tom Cutbill," said he, sor