them, while Emily and myself were consequently thrown very much together, and a simple friendship imperceptibly ripened into an ardent affection.

Our parents naturally took but little notice of this circumstance; we were both very young, and even if the idea of an union between us did occur to either of them, which it is more than probable it never did, it might not have seemed very preposterous, as we were of the same rank, and, with the exception of my poverty, even in a worldly point of view, by no means unsuited for each other. Time thus glided insensibly on, until I was nineteen, when my father began to think of sending me to Oxford. My sister (for I had learned to call Emily by that endearing epithet) and I looked forward to separation with the deepest sorrow; and although we had never talked of love, nor indeed hardly knew what the tender passion meant, in the common acceptation of the term, we each felt a link which bound us to one another, and which made the prospect of an early separation indeed bitter. It wanted only a week to my intended departure, when on repairing to their house as usual, I found the breakfast-room entirely deserted, with the exception of the old nurse, who was running about with the most extraordinary expression of amazement and joy depicted on her countenance, Before I had time to demand from her the reason of her unwonted state of excitement, Emily herself hurriedly entered, and immediately informed me that by the death of a distant relation, who had died childless, and without making a will, her father had inherited the bulk of a large property in the South of Ireland. I felt my heart sink as I reflected that this sudden acquisition of wealth would most likely lead to our separation for a much longer time than I had anticipated; but endeavouring to stifle my emotion, I offered my hearty congratulations to her father, and attempted to take a part in the general rejoicing, though my spirits again fell when I heard that the old man contemplated leaving his present sequestered abode, and bringing his beautiful daughter into the society and position which nature had so well qualified her to adorn.

Torn by conflicting emotions, the day passed heavily away; my father had been summoned by his friend on the reception of the tidings of his unexpected good fortune, and it was with feelings of great relief that, on the departure of Emily to the drawing-room, I was favoured with a hint to follow as speedily as possible,-a mandate which I joyfully obeyed, and leaving those whom I fancied to be the future arbiters of my destiny, to discuss the weighty events of the day in uninterrupted quiet, I sought Emily, in the hope of ascertaining from her own lips the sentiments with which this sudden accession of fortune had inspired her, and rejoicing that chance had thus afforded

me an opportunity which I had vainly endeavoured to obtain throughout the day. She was not in the drawing-room when I entered, and on being informed by the old servant, that her young lady had gone out, I followed, and joined her in a distant part of the grounds. We both felt rather awkward, and walked on for some time in silence, till at length the strong impulses of affection which were working in my breast, got complete mastery, and seating myself on a fallen tree, I gently drew Emily towards me, and in a voice broken with emotion, faltered forth all my hitherto-undeclared love, and my fears that the change which must so inevitably take place in our relative conditions of life would separate us for ever.

What she would have answered I know not, for I was suddenly interrupted by the stern voice of my father, who in a tone more terrible than any I had ever heard, even in his most fitful moods, commanded me instantly to follow him, I mechanically obeyed, and accompanied him to the gate, but though I had tried to nerve myself to bear the coming trial, I was totally unprepared for the ebullition, the torrent of indignation, which he poured upon me when we had left the grounds. Finding all attempt at explanation useless, I listened in respectful silence though feeling the torments of despair: I was accused by my excited parent of being the seducer of Emily's affections, and of having compromised him by my treachery. It was now my turn to be indignant. But before I had time to utter a word, either by menace or deprecation, he ordered me from his presence, finishing by stating, that my conduct would frustrate all his plans for my future advancemeat, and that a commission should be instantly procured for me to join the expedition then on the point of setting sail for Walcheren. On the seventh day from that memorable interview, without having been able to obtain a single meeting with Emily, and with a constitution impaired alike by mental and physical suffering, I was on the seas.

(To be continued,)

THE QUEEN'S HIGHROAD,-ITS USES AND ABUSES. DEAR MR. Editor,

A FEELING of incapability has, for some time, deterred me from attempting an article in your pages. Sensibility has ever proved a stumbling-block to the suggestions of vanity which goaded me to authorship, and even now (that I have in some degree triumphed over my weakness and repugnance to literary reputation) a chilling feeling of desperation paralyzes my intellect, and forces me to shudder at this my unusua temerity! But, sir, I am convinced-and this conviction fortifies my sinking courage, and urges me to sacrifice to the public weal a diffident and retiring disposition-that unless some such article as the one I offer

be admitted to your pages, some similar exposition made, atrocities of the wildest nature will be committed, and those evils which are now, fortunately, in their infancy, will become, in time, ungovernable, mocking the combined efforts of the Haileybury Observer and the Hertford magistracy to suppress them!

The Hoddesdon road! How silvery the sound! Yes, Mr. Editor, I feel that you, and all your readers, will sympathize in the exclamation; for who so sunk in idiocy that he is unacquainted with, or depreciates, its beauties?-beauties that extend gracefully for miles on either side, and acquire fresh charms with the changes of the year. In spring, the purity and freshness of each blade of grass delights us: in summer, flowing corn or shady woods: in the present season-in autumn-the peaceful stile, on which we may recline for hours, gazing with rapture at the interminable grandeur that surrounds us, till awful night shuts out the view-the Hoddesdon road!

the

But the beneficent spirit of this paradisiacal high-road (if I may coin the word) has, at length withdrawn her cheery influence. The repulsive demon of "Your money or your life" exults! stretching abroad his bargee hand to annihilate our institution! These are the realities, Mr. Editor, that call loudly upon us for exertion, and suggest to us the necessity of adopting the most firm and decisive measures for remedying the evil; but, Sir, to impress the more fully upon your mind, and the minds of those who may, perchance, cast their eyes over these pages, the reality of those evils which have prompted me to this step, I shall briefly lay before your notice some startling circumstances that will, as it were by magic, dissipate your incredulity, and thrust upon your astonished senses a conviction of the dangers with which we are at this moment threatened.

It was only a few days after his return to this Institution, that your very humble servant was retracing his wearied steps from the beforementioned town of Hoddesdon, whither a "constitutional" had attracted him, in order to be present at the devotions of the evening. The night was dark, and a drizzling rain fell from the threatening clouds. No sound broke upon the ear, save the monotonous and distant tones of the chapel-bell; while the whole scene was calculated to strike terror into a bolder breast than mine. But I pursued my way with a tolerably undaunted step, holding firmly in my hands an ashen stick, the thickness of which could only be equalled by a bargee's head.

On arriving at that portion of the road that lies between Haileybury and Hailey-lane, I was immensely struck with the wild grandeur of the scenery, the towering eminence of the College contrasting awfully with the gaping ditch which yawns as though willing to swallow up the county at once, stamped the place in my mind as the "rendezvous" of

thieves. The great bell uttered its last solemn toll, and, thankful that I had but a trifling distance to walk, I prepared to leave the spot.

A man, or rather ruffian, at this moment turned out of the lane and passed me. Collecting all my courage, I proceeded manfully on my way, but, either from agitation or some other cause, dropped the ashen stick which I was holding! Imagine, Sir, my agony, when the rascal, picking it up, ran after me with these words,

"You've dropt your stick, Sir."

Now, Mr. Editor, I beseech you to mark well these words,-"You've dropt your stick;" who, I ask, but a murderer of the most sanguinary and implacable disposition could have uttered such words? who, I demand, but a being panting for the purse and life of a fellow-creature could have conceived them,-" You've dropt your stick." It was as much, Sir, as to say, "You've put yourself into my power, my fine fellow. Your stick was your only hope,-you've dropt it,-now, what do you intend to do?"

My spirits sank considerably, but with an intense effort, and wonderful presence of mind I concealed my agony, and muttered, Give it to me." Perhaps the firmness which I exhibited somewhat cowed him,or, perhaps, one of those pangs of conscience which we are told occasionally affect the most abandoned-influenced him; but he most certainly obeyed me. Seizing it, I turned hastily to depart, when my attention was arrested by the following speech.

"I should like to drink your honour's health, to-night, if you've got a bob about you."

Mr. Editor,-I really thought I should have sunk beneath the eartha more sanguinary and horrid sentence I never in the whole course of my experience remember to have heard or read, nor could I have conceived a human being capable of entertaining so diabolical an idea. To you and I, Mr. Editor, the wretch's meaning is as plain as sunshine"Like to drink your health," that is to say, "I should like to imbibe your heart's blood!" blood and health being very much the same thing. "If you've got a bob about you"-without the "bob" or purse he might not, perhaps, take the trouble, but what he, of course, meant to imply was this "I should very much like to kill you if you have got any money about you;" in other words, " your money or your life!!"

With a cry of horror-for my resolution had, as you may easily conceive, evaporated-I fled wildly from the accursed spot; nor did I rest until I arrived opposite the College. Venturing to steal a look behind, I perceived that the wretch was at a considerable distance, and walking quietly away. My blood once more boiled. I could have faced the Evil One himself. Snatching up two stones, I hurled them one after the other at the retiring rascal; then rushing down the avenue, fainted in the porter's arms.

These, Mr. Editor, are the circumstances that occurred to me; others, I am told, have met with adventures equally harrowing and tremendous -the panic which they occasion being indescribable.

For the first time since that memorable evening 1 ventured out last night with sword in hand, but as it grew dusk shortly afterwards, and I perceived at some distance a suspicious-looking boy with a basket on his arm, I, of course, very prudently returned.

Hoddesdon boasts one paralytic, though strong-minded constable. I sincerely hope his efforts to detect these marauders will be attended with success. Meanwhile it is our duty to bear up against this visitation with becoming fortitude.-I remain, Mr. Editor, with all respect, your most humble servant, CORNEY CARENOUGHT.

THE ROMANCE OF FIRE-LIGHT.

"O magic sleep !"-KEATS.

GENTLE READERS, -Have ye not, one and all, heard of that Patlander of renown, who set up for an "exhibiting" somnambulist, a Morphean lusus naturæ ; and that, simply because he, the unfortunate half of the joint body of self and wife, sported a latch key, and found himself most wide awake when his spouse was wrapped in the mantle of sleep. On an expedition of a like somnambulatory character, my mind, or rather its flighty faculty, imagination, went forth sauntering along in the fields of mazy conjecture, &c., while the baser part, the body, was encased in a "Douro," and the happy owner of the aforesaid mind and body was locked up in the cage of Morpheus for the night. We, yes we, O dear reader, were that happy sleeping individual. Unlike, however, the talented and dreaming tinker (far from us be any disrespect to thy venerable occupation, O Bunyan; my corns twinge at the very thought of insult towards the "great one of the family"), unlike, we say, the visions of Bunyan, ours did not assume that wonderful clearness and voluminous detail, which characterise the nocturnal reveries of the sleeping artizan. About us flitted in menacing attitudes, with all the embodiment of the theatrical brigand-strut of Drury, the bravos of Italian story. With awe did we gaze (with our mind's eye; our physical optics, be it remembered, were incapable of exercising their usual power of vision) on what appeared to our excited brain a dark and mysterious alcove, which methought might well be the scene of midnight murder, and the assassin's tool. The castle of Udolpho rose before us in all its native horrors, and the dire fate of Spalletti, of Naples (any person the least conversant with the apocryphal arcana of Neapolitan romance,