perfumer's shop, a peripatetic pouncet-box--walked off
in the direction indicated, with an air of habitual submission, which
showed pretty plainly that, whether as proprietor of the unlucky
britschka, or from his own force of character, William was considered as
the principal director of the present expedition.

Having sent his comrade off, William Howe, leaving his steeds quietly
browsing by the wayside, bent his steps towards home. Susan advanced
rapidly to meet him; and in a few seconds the brother and sister were in
each other's arms; and, after most affectionate greetings, they sat
down by mutual consent upon a piece of felled timber which lay upon the
bank--the lane on one side being bounded by an old coppice--and began to
ask each other the thousand questions so interesting to the children of
one house who have been long parted.

Seldom surely has the rough and rugged bark of an unhewed elm had
the honour of supporting so perfect an exquisite. Jem Hathaway, the
exciseman, had in nothing exaggerated the magnificence of our young
Londoner. From shoes which looked as if they had come from Paris in the
ambassador's bag, to the curled head and the whiskered and mustachio'd
countenance, (for the hat which should have been the crown of the finery
was wanting--probably in consequence of the recent overturn,) from top
to toe he looked fit for a ball at Almack's, or a fete at Bridgewater
House; and, oh! how unseated to the old-fashioned homestead at
Rutherford West! His lower appointments, hose and trousers, were of the
finest woven silk; his coat was claret colour, of the latest cut; his
waistcoat--talk of the great peacock, _he_ would have seemed dingy
and dusky beside such a splendour of colour!--his waistcoat literally
dazzled poor Susan's eyes; and his rings, and chains, and studs, and
brooches, seemed to the wondering girl almost sufficient to stock a
jeweller's shop.

In spite of all this nonsense, it was clear to her from every look and
word that she was not mistaken in believing William unchanged in mind
and disposition, and that there was a warm and a kind heart beating
under the finery. Moreover, she felt that if the unseemly magnificence
could once be thrown aside, the whiskers and mustachios cleared away,
and his fine manly person reinstated in the rustic costume in which she
had been accustomed to see him, her brother would _then_ appear
greatly improved in face and figure, taller, more vigorous, and with