Much of her time is passed in reading novels, of which she has a most extensive library, and has a constant supply from the publishers in town.  Her erudition in this line of literature is immense:  she has kept pace with the press for half a century.  Her mind is stuffed with love-tales of all kinds, from the stately amours of the old books of Chivalry, down to the last blue-covered romance, reeking from the press:  though she evidently gives the preference to those that came out in the days of her youth, and when she was first in love.  She maintains that there are no novels written now-a-days equal to Pamela and Sir Charles Grandison; and she places the Castle of Otranto at the head of all romances.

[Illustration:  A Sage Adviser]

She does a vast deal of good in her neighbourhood, and is imposed upon by every beggar in the county.  She is the benefactress of a village adjoining to her estate, and takes a special interest in all its love affairs.  She knows of every courtship that is going on; every love-lorn damsel is sure to find a patient listener and sage adviser in her ladyship.  She takes great pains to reconcile all love quarrels, and should any faithless swain persist in his inconstancy, he is sure to draw on himself the good lady’s violent indignation.

[Illustration:  Master Simon over the Accounts]

I have learned these particulars partly from Frank Bracebridge, and partly from Master Simon.  I am now able to account for the assiduous attention of the latter to her ladyship.  Her house is one of his favourite resorts, where he is a very important personage.  He makes her a visit of business once a year, when he looks into all her affairs; which, as she is no manager, are apt to get into confusion.  He examines the books of the overseer, and shoots about the estate, which, he says, is well stocked with game, notwithstanding that it is poached by all the vagabonds in the neighbourhood.

It is thought, as I before hinted, that the captain will inherit the greater part of her property, having always been her chief favourite; for, in fact, she is partial to a red coat.  She has now come to the Hall to be present at his nuptials, having a great disposition to interest herself in all matters of love and matrimony.

[Illustration:  The Lovers]

The lovers.

Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in the land.

     Song of Solomon.

To a man who is a little of a philosopher, and a bachelor to boot; and who, by dint of some experience in the follies of life, begins to look with a learned eye upon the ways of man, and eke of woman; to such a man, I say, there is something very entertaining in noticing the conduct of a pair of young lovers.  It may not be as grave and scientific a study as the loves of the plants, but it is certainly as interesting.