y
explanation in a few concise sentences, and with a heart beating with
disappointment, took my leave. The bishop shook hands with me as I
quitted the room, and wished me better success at my next application.

I went home almost in despair. Timothy consoled me as well as he could,
and advised me to go as much as possible into society, as the most
likely chance of obtaining my wish, not that he considered there was any
chance, but he thought that amusement would restore me to my usual
spirits. "I will go and visit little Fleta," replied I, "for a few
days; the sight of her will do me more good than anything else." And
the next day I set off for the town of --, where I found the dear little
girl, much grown, and much improved. I remained with her for a week,
walking with her in the country, amusing her, and amused myself with our
conversation. At the close of the week I bade her farewell, and
returned to the major's lodgings.

I was astonished to find him in deep mourning. "My dear Carbonnell,"
said I, inquiringly, "I hope no severe loss?"

"Nay, my dear Newland, I should be a hypocrite if I said so; for there
never was a more merry mourner, and that's the truth of it. Mr M--,
who, you know, stood between me and the peerage, has been drowned in the
Rhone; I now have a squeak for it. His wife has one daughter, and is
_enceinte_. Should the child prove a boy, I am done for, but if a girl,
I must then come into the barony, and fifteen thousand pounds per annum.
However, I've hedged pretty handsomely."

"How do you mean?"

"Why they say that when a woman commences with girls, she generally goes
on, and the odds are two to one that Mrs M-- has a girl. I have taken
the odds at the clubs to the amount of fifteen thousand pounds; so if it
be a girl I shall have to pay that out of my fifteen thousand pounds per
annum, as soon as I fall into it; if it be a boy, and I am floored, I
shall pocket thirty thousand pounds by way of consolation for the
disappointment. They are all good men."

"Yes, but they know you never pay."

"They know I never do now, because I have no money; but they know I will
pay if I come into the estate; and so I will, most honourably, besides a
few more thousands that I have in my book."

"I congratulate you, with all my heart, major. How old is the present
Lord B--?"

"I have just been examining the peerage--he is sixty-two; but he is very
fresh and hearty, and may live a long while ye