and which was invested in five per cent,
government securities; so that his income was
two thousand a-year. We lived during the
winter near Grosvenor Square: a house of
which my father bought the lease for twenty
years, and the summer we used to spend at
a little place in Berkshire, which he had
bought. It was only a good sized cottage,
and the land about it did not exceed three
acres. But it was a perfect gem of a residence,
and quite large enough for our family;
which consisted of my father and mother,
myself, and a sister who is a year and
a-half older than I am. I was at Harrow.
My father intended that I should go to
Oxford, and eventually be called to the bar.
My sister had a governess, a very clever and
accomplished girl, and the most amiable
creature that ever lived. We were not an
extravagant family, and saw very little company;
but we had every comfort that a reasonable
heart could desire, and I fancy that
we lived up to the two thousand pounds
a-year. You see the education of myself and
my sister was a heavy item. The governess
had a hundred pounds a year, and then there
was a singing master and a drawing master.
About two years ago my father died, and my
mother became almost imbecile from the
excess of her grief. She lost her memory;
and, for days together, knew not what she
was doing. Under my father's will she was
entitled to all that he died possessed of, and
was appointed his sole executrix. The
house in South Street was given up, the
unexpired portion of the lease disposed of,
and the little place in Berkshire became our
only home. My father's pension, of course,
expired when he died, and we, the family,
had now to live on the interest of the
government securities. My mother, who was as
ignorant as a child on all matters of business,
was recommended to sell her government
securities, and invest the proceeds in a
joint-stock bank which was paying, and for
more than a year did pay, eight per cent.
But, alas, one wretched day the bank failed,
and we were reduced suddenly from
comparative affluence to poverty. The cottage,
furniture, and all that my mother possessed,
was seized and sold. This happened only two
years ago. Fortunately for me, my school
education was pretty well completed; but, of
course, the idea of my going to Oxford, and
subsequently to the bar, was at once abandoned.
My sister was obliged to take a situation,
as governess, in the family of a
director of the East India Company; and,
through that gentleman's influence, I
obtained an ensigncy in the Native Infantry.
The loss of her fortune, the parting with
my sister (who is now on the Continent with the
director's family) and myself, had such an
effect upon my mother, that it was deemed
necessary to place her in an asylum; where,
at all events, she will be taken care of,
and treated with kindness. But I have
my plans!" exclaimed the young man who
had just escaped the jaws of death. "In
ten years I will save enough to take me
home to them; for, if I study hard—and
I will do so—I may get a staff appointment,
and——"

Here the bearers of my palkee informed
me that two other travellers were coming
down the road. They saw the light in the
distance, more than a mile off, and they—the
bearers—began to talk loudly, and argue that
it was impossible for me to hear what the
ensign was saying; and all attempts to
silence them were vain. They were discussing,
as they carried us along, whether they
would exchange burdens with the down-
coming bearers, insomuch as they were nearly
midway between the stages. This is very
often done by arrangement between them,
and thus, in such cases, they get back more
speedily to their homes. It was decided
that the exchange should take place, if the
other party were agreeable; for, on the
down-coming travellers nearing us, the bearers
of us—the up-going travellers—called a halt.
Forthwith the four palkees were gently
lowered till they rested on the ground. And
now the chattering of the bearers became
something awful. A native of Hindostan can
settle nothing without a noise; and, as each
palkee had twelve men attached to it besides
the torch-bearers and those who carried our
boxes, the number of voices, whooping, shouting,
asserting, contradicting, scolding and
soothing, exceeded sixty. I and my companion,
the ensign, shout to them to "go
on!" At length I got out of my palkee in
a rage, and not only screamed at, but shook
several of the black disputants. Whilst
thus engaged, the doors of one of the
downward palkees were opened, and a voice
that of a lady thus greeted me, very good
humouredly:

"My good sir, depend upon it that you are
retarding your own progress, and ours, by
attempting, so violently, to accelerate it. Pray
let them settle their little affair amongst
themselves."

"I believe you are quite right," I replied.

"Have you any idea of the hour? " she
asked.

"Yes. It is about a quarter to twelve,"
said I.

"I have lost the key of my watch. Perhaps
the key of yours would fit it."

I hastened to my palkee, brought forth,
from beneath the pillow, my watch and
chain; and, taking them to the door of the
lady's palkee, presented them through the
opening.

"Thanks," said the lady, after winding up
her watch, "thanks. It does very well," and
she returned the watch and chain. I saw, by
the light of the torch, not only her hand
which was very small and pretty but her
face, which was more bewitching still, being
lovely and young.