“HORT LODGE, BERKS.

“DEAR HENRY—­By this time twelve month I hope it will be my turn to communicate to you a similar event in my family to that which your letter announces to me.  As a preliminary step, I am just about to march into quarters for life with a young woman, daughter to my steward.  She is healthy, good-humoured, and of course vulgar, since she is no connoisseur in china, and never spoke to a pug-dog in her life.

“Your allowance will be remitted regularly from my Banker until the day of my death; you will then succeed to ten thousand pounds, secured to your children, which is all you have to expect from me.  If, after this, you think it worth your while, you are very welcome to give your son the name of yours faithfully, WILLIAM CAMERON.”

Henry’s consternation at the contents of this epistle was almost equalled by Juliana’s indignation.  “The daughter of a steward!—­Heavens! it made her sick to think of it.  It was too shocking!  The man ought to be shut up.  Henry ought to prevent him from disgracing his connexions in such a manner.  There ought to be a law against old men marrying-”

“And young ones too,” groaned Douglas, as he thought of the debts he had contracted on the faith and credit of being the General’s heir; for with all the sanguine presumption of thoughtless youth and buoyant spirits, Henry had no sooner found his fault forgiven than he immediately fancied it forgotten, and himself completely restored to favour.  His friends and the world were of the same opinion; and, as the future possessor of immense wealth, he found nothing so easy as to borrow money and contract debts, which he now saw the impossibility of ever discharging.  Still he flattered himself the General might only mean to frighten him; or he might relent; or the marriage might go off; or he might not have any children; and, with these mighty hopes, things went on as usual for some time longer.  Lady Juliana, who, to do her justice, was not of a more desponding character than her husband, had also her stock of hopes and expectations always ready to act upon.  She was quite sure that if papa ever came to his senses (for he had remained in a state of stupefaction since the apoplectic stroke) he would forgive her, and take her to live with him, now that that vile Lady Lindore was gone, or, if he should never recover, she was equally sure of benefiting by his death; for though he had said he was not to leave her a shilling, she did not believe it.  She was sure papa would never do anything so cruel; and at any rate, if he did, Lindore was so generous, he would do something very handsome for her; and so forth.

At length the bubbles burst.  The same paper that stated the marriage of General William Cameron to Judith Broadcast, Spinster, announced, in all the dignity of woe, the death of that most revered noble man and eminent statesman, Augustus, Earl of Courtland.