the rail to sich coachmen and guards as is sometimes forced to go by it, but a outrage and a insult? And as to the ingein-a nasty wheezin', creakin', gaspin', puffin,' bustin' monster, always out o' breath, vith a shiny green and gold back, like a unpleasant beetle in that ere gas magnifier. As to the ingein, as is always a pourin' out red hot coals at night, and black smoke in the day; the sensiblest thing it does, in my opinion, is, ven there's somethin' in the vay, and it sets up that 'ere frightful scream, vich seems to say, 'Now, here's two hundred and forty passengers in the wery greatest extremity o' danger, and here's their two hundred and forty screams in vun.' Ought I not to crave my readers, to grant a thousand pardons, for having thus so long, left the beaten track; particularly when every one agrees in considering, that nothing is so tiresome in a novel, as digressions. All must approve of the rail-road fashion in writing, if not in travelling: a novelist ought therefore to go straight on, without making any unnecessary stoppages, or deviating from the regular line of road. To make up for lost time, my narrative shall proceed without any further delay. CHAPTER XXII “The stately Homes of England, How beautiful they stand! Amidst their tall, ancestral trees, O'er all the pleasant land. The deer across their green sward bound, Through shade and sunny gleam; And the swan glides past them with the sound It was on the evening of the third day, that the admiring and happy trio, found themselves fast approaching the splendid domain of Lord Elmsdale. It was situated in one of the most picturesque parts of the country. As they descended a hill of considerable steepness and length, a prospect of extraordinary beauty burst upon their view. A winding river pursued its silver-tracked way. In the background, rose the grand, majestic mountains, bold and rugged in their splendour; and at their base were woods and dales, and ever and anon a bright spot of cultivation-a spire-a hamlet! The curling smoke, sending up its shadowy form from the lonely cot, relieved the scene, from the sterner grandeur of some of its features. Lord Elmsdale bade the drivers stop, that he might, with a heart swelling with pride and pleasure, introduce this fair scene to her, upon whom with such delight he bestowed it; and as, with the young wife he so fondly loved, he gazed upon this magnificent prospect, and could say, "All this is thine," his emotions. were sweet-were overpowering. And again, when his eye caught a glimpse of his own fine, old, castellated mansion, what a train of by-gone, but ever returning, feelings, gushed upon his He memory!-In one quick thought, it darted back to childhood, "singing of boyhood back-the voices of his home." And then rapidly it flew on to his present moment of happiness. had returned to his cherished home, prosperous -full of joy, and not as formerly—alone! and this conviction made every object appear to shine forth with greater lustre; all nature seemed to look even more beautiful-more green the verdure, brighter the leafy foliage of the woods; never had he so proudly valued his princely possessions. With those we love, a desert may be robbed of its gloom; then can it be wondered, as Lord Elmsdale looked on all that surrounded him, that, with Nina at his side, it did indeed seem a Paradise? And she gazed, and almost wept, with that mixed feeling which will always thrust itself between our perfect joy. With ecstacy she contemplated all that was before her, and she could have wept to think that she was so soon |