he thought Lucy would not. find it in her heart to refuse him.

Sir George Hamilton Treherne was one of those men who, having used another as a stepping-stone to any object, was very likely to kick that stone away. Slimy Coil had

served his turn, but he was not at all inclined to serve Slimy Coil. Nay, when first Slimy unfolded his wishes and his schemes, Sir George Hamilton Treherne burst into a loud, irrepressible, but most aggravating fit of laughter.

"What!" he said, "Slimy, at your age, and with your hop-o'-my-thumb of a person marry that pretty Lucy Blair, or rather offer to her, for I'm certain the girl would laugh you to scorn. I know she has a perfect horror of you. And, indeed, Slimy, I don't think, if you look in the glass, you can wonder that your little marmoset face and form should appear very ridiculous to such a lovely girl as that. She's a sweet-tempered

girl, and she never says an ill-natured thing; but I really did hear her one day say, 'I wish I could prevent that grinning marmoset, Mr. Slimy Coil, from coming into the school

"I did, indeed, Slimy; and I assure you I think that the title you so covet, would make you a thousand times more ridiculous in her eyes, and in those of all the world."

"That is your opinion, Sir George," said Slimy, growing ghastly pale, and in a hideous grin revealing those large bluish porcelain teeth, the misfit adapted to his monkey jaw by, and cheapened from, a Jew dentist.

It must be the opinion of every one, Slimy."

"And you positively refuse to help me to obtain the object of my ambition and my love ?"

"I swear to you, Slimy, by all I hold sacred, that I will make no effort to get you

laughed at as a knight, or rejected by Miss Blair."

"And I swear, in return, Sir George, that your black and heartless conduct shall meet with a signal punishment. You shall curse yourself, and your base ingratitude to one who has been to you a friend and benefactor; and when public disgrace and exposure are your portion,—when the law lays its iron gripe on your shoulder, and every tongue cries shame on you,-remember you owe your downfall to a hop-o'-my-thumb; a marmoset! id est, to Slimy Coil."

VOL. III.

Y

CHAPTER XIX.

THE BEQUEST, OR AN OLD MAN'S LOVE.

It was about half-past eight in the evening, when Lucy, sitting down to write a note, her eye fell on the Times just arrived, and an advertisement, the first in the paper, caught her view; it was headed LUCY BLAIR.

Lucy seized the paper, while all the blood in her body seemed to rush to her head and face, and panting, read:

"LUCY BLAIR.-Should this advertisement meet the eye of Mrs. or Miss Blair, who in August, 185—, were residing at Bonvivant House,

Hastings, they are requested at once to communicate with Messrs. Flint and Steel, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, Solicitors to the late Samuel Stockton, Esq., from whom Miss Blair will hear something to her advantage."

Mrs. Blair, coming in at this moment, found Lucy with distended eyes still gazing at the paper.

Lucy pointed to the advertisement.

Her

mother read it with a succession of cries of mingled pity and delight! "Late! Ah, then he's dead! poor dear! I'm so sorry! of course he's left you something very handsome! kind old fellow, I'm so glad! and now I think of it, Lucy, I have no doubt the dear old man has left you the greatest part of his fortune. Lucy," said the sanguine Mrs. Blair, "send an excuse to Belgrave Square, and to the Blissful Retreat, and come with me to to Lincoln's-Inn-Fields at once; but first let us go and tell dear Mrs. Green Brown of this stroke of good fortune!"