an individual being: but now, having neither firmness,
resolution to carry out a good purpose, nor self-respect, he is a
miserable and wretched cipher, whose whole value depends on the
figure that is next him. Yes, I know--I feel--he will recall me to his
councils."

At length the hour of half-past eleven arrived, and in Sir Thomas
Gourlay's drawing-room were assembled all those who had been asked to be
present, or to take the usual part in the marriage ceremony. Dr. Sombre,
the clergyman of the parish, had just arrived, and, having entered the
drawing-room, made a bow that would not have disgraced a bishop. He was
pretty well advanced in years, excessively stupid, and possessed so vile
a memory for faces, that he was seldom able to recognize his own guests,
if he happened to meet them in the streets on the following day. He was
an expectant for preferment in the church, and if the gift of a good
appetite were a successful recommendation for a mitre, as that of a
strong head has been before now, no man was better entitled to wear it.
Be this as it may, the good man, who expected to partake of an excellent
_dejuner_, felt that it was a portion of his duty to give a word or two
of advice to the young couple upon the solemn and important duties into
the discharge of which they were about to enter. Accordingly, looking
round the room, he saw Mr. Roberts and Lady Emily engaged, at a window,
in what appeared to him to be such a conversation as might naturally
take place between parties about to be united. Lucy had not yet made her
appearance, but Dunroe was present, and on seeing the Rev. Doctor join
them, was not at all sorry at the interruption. This word of advice,
by the way, was a stereotyped commodity with the Doctor, who had not
married a couple for the last thirty years, without palming it on
them as an extempore piece of admonition arising from that particular
occasion. The worthy man was, indeed, the better qualified to give it,
having never been married himself, and might, therefore, be considered
as perfectly free from prejudices affecting either party upon the
subject.

"You, my dear children, are the parties about to be united?" said he,
addressing Roberts and Lady Emily, with a bow that had in it a strong
professional innuendo, but of what nature was yet to be learned.

"Yes, sir," replied Roberts, who at once perceived the good man's
mistake, and was determined to carry out whatever jest might arise from
it