he did not think it prudent to avow his resentment, he chew'd the cud of discontent, in silence—and mentally term'd Philip " A monstrous savage, 'pon honor!" CHAPTER VI. So dear to heav'n is saintly Chastity, MILTON. TRAVERS had been an inmate at Oakendale Hall, four years, without any particular circumstance occurring, save what has been already noticed. Sir James employ'd his time, as usual, in succouring the distress'd, and righting the injured; he lived but to serve his fellow creatures. Caroline Stanhope, still, nourish'd a hopeless, but an ardent, passion for Philip, which, like the canker-worm, seem'd to prey upon her spirits, and sap her constitution; while he and Rachel were as blest as the enjoyment of mutual affection (and what can be more delicious?) could render them. Nor were these the only persons, at Oakendale, with whose hearts Cupid was making free.-Miss Rebecca Oldham sigh'd before the altar of the urchin, and paid her adoration, with all the enthusiasm of eighteen; and, yet, this love-sick damsel had past her forty-fifth year in a state of celibacy! Not that she wanted inclination to change that state-far from it—the truth is, her virgin-fruit had wither'd on the tree, because no one had thought it worth the plucking. She had been in Sir James's fa mily seven years, (in quality of governess to his ward) and when Philip was first introduced there, she consider'd him, merely, as a very fine boy: but, when the down of manhood began to spread itself over his chin, and the lad grew up, into a fine-looking fellow, near six feet high, Miss Rebecca began to regard him as a conquest well worthy her attempting. Had not her vanity been in it's dotage, she might have seen the impossibility of her engaging a heart, that the beautiful and accomplish'd Caroline Stan hope wish'd to make her own. But, Love is truly stated to be a blind deity: at least, he completely hoodwinks his disciples; and, surely, nothing else could excuse the folly of Miss Oldham's attempt. Often did she throw out hints to the object of her tender passion, that she could not deny a youth, like him, any thing;-but, he did not, or would not, comprehend her meaning. Nevertheless, she persisted, time after time, though in vain; consoling herself, like a veteran general, with the ideathat, thongh she had been defeated, to-day, Fortune might deign to smile to-morrow--and that nought can be achieved, without patience and perseverance. She watch'd him in his evening rambles, (which he continued constantly to take with Rachel) as a hawk would a sparrow, and, generally, found means to pounce upon him in his way home; on which occasions she never fail'd to intimate that she was an heiress, (she had five hundred pounds in the three per cents.) and so well-born, that she endeavour'd to prove herself fifteenth cousin to a Scotch baron; or, at least, enter tain'd him with some tale, whereof she was the heroine. But, unfortunately, some occurrence, usually, took place, in the midst of her egotistic panegyric, to lower her pride, and make her appear very ridiculous. One evening, in particular, when she had arm'd herself, cap-a-pie, for conquest, and thought he must, infallibly, yield to the powers of her personal and eloquent charms, she was most cruelly humbled--the circumstances of which were as follow. "Bless my soul! Mr. Travers!" said she, affecting surprise, at sight of him-" this is an unexpected pleasure. You are returning home, I take it; and, as I have extended my walk beyond what I design'd, with your permission, I will avail myself of the opportunity of accompanying you." Philip bow'd, and coldly replied: you please, madam.” "If "How charming the face of the country appears," observed she.-"Such is the season our poets celebrate, when they sing of swains and nymphs, blest in the joys of mu |