brought me into the outskirts of the town, the scenery became more and more striking. I found the house, a quaint mansion, pleasantly seated in its own grounds, high upon the hill-side, and commanding a fine view of the bold hills on the opposite side of the valley. Entering by the front gate, I walked through the garden, up to the door, and rang the bell. When the servant came, I inquired if Mr. B was at home. She replied that he was not, but that he was expected in three-quarters of an hour; and then she held the door, and gazed, as if waiting to see whether I had anything more to say. I thought it strange; and, after a minute's pause, I said that I was expected to tea there that evening. 'Oh, indeed!' replied she, with an air of surprise, letting go the door. 'Step in, sir!' said she. Whereupon I walked in; and when I had hung up my hat, and deposited my stick in the stand, she opened a side door in the lobby, and pointing into the room, she said, ‘Take a seat, sir, please.' I entered; she closed the door behind me, and I was alone. "It was a quaint apartment, richly and tastefully furnished. The walls were hung with pictures by famous artists, and costly books lay strewn upon the tables. I took up one of these. It was an illustrated copy of Froissart's 'Chronicles;' and, seating myself upon a sofa, I was beginning to lose myself in the Middle Ages, when-Tap, tap, tap!' The door opened, and the servant looked in. 'Would you be kind enough to send your name, sir, please?' I gave her my name, and once more she disappeared. It seemed queer that they didn't know about it. Perhaps he has forgotten to tell them, thought I. And then, easy-hearted, I was relapsing into old Froissart again, when another tap came to the door. It was the servant again. 'Will you step this way, sir, please?' I rose, and walked to the door. 'Take a seat in that room, sir, please,' said she, pointing to an open door on the opposite side of the lobby. I went in. It was a room very like the one I had just left. Costly books, and pictures, and furniture; with a cosy charm pervading the whole-a quaint nest of rich and tasteful homeliness. And then, in this case, a cheerful fire tinged the shady light with a genial glow. Mrs. B will be down in a few minutes,' said the servant, as she closed the door behind her. I was examining a fine oil painting by Sam Bough, when a silken rustle in the lobby announced the approach of the lady of the house. She entered; and, with quiet courtesy bidding me 'Good evening!' she sat down to crochet, saying that she expected her husband every minute. So we chatted quietly about the weather, and about the books which lay upon the table. In a little while the front door of the house was heard opening, 'He's here!' said she; and, rising from her seat, she went out and closed the door after her. There seemed to be a dead silence on all around for the next two or three minutes, and then Mr. Bhimself entered the room, and, with a twinkle of quiet humour in his eye, he shook me by the hand, and bade me welcome. His face was new to me, but I liked it. And now, thinks I, 'all's right!' and I began to feel thoroughly at home; and I began to chatter, as is my wont, now and then, when the fit is on me,-about this and that,— books, politics, pictures, music, antiquities, and the scenery around us; and the genuine, though undemonstrative, geniality of his manner soon made me feel as if we had been 'as thick as inkle-weavers' all our lives. And then he began to bring out rare books,— first one, then another, some of them the most costly existing illustrated works upon botany, in which science I thought that he seemed to feel an especial interest. After a pleasant, discursive chat, he offered me a cigar, and proposed a stroll in the grounds belonging to the house, until tea was laid out. And away we went, followed by his little terrier. It was a lovely evening. The bold outline of the opposite hills stood in grand relief against the sky; and as the dreamy glamour of twilight sank upon the scene the landscape looked finer than before. As we sauntered about, I found that he was well acquainted with the historic associations of the scene. After a pleasant stroll, we went to tea, at which we were joined by his wife, and his little daughter. Nearly an hour passed away in pleasant talk over the evening meal; and then, after a chirruping cup, we walked to town together, he to preside over the evening's entertainment, and I to take my share in the performance. "The affair went off in a satisfactory way; and, when it was over, he walked with me to the station to catch the returning train. Just before I took my seat in the carriage, he shook hands with me. 'Good bye!' said he, -'somebody of my name has invited you to tea this evening, but, mind, it was not me!' For a minute or so I was stunned; and then I made all sorts of blundering apologies. 'Oh, don't say a word about it,' replied he; 'I have enjoyed the whole thing; and I |