ght on
his dry countenance, to welcome in his master. They had lived together
for so many years that they were grown like one another. Indeed, the
veteran valet prided himself on his happy adoption of his master's dress
and manner. A proud man, we ween, was that domestic, whenever he had
time and listeners for the indulgence of his honest loquacity; many an
ancient tale of his master's former glories was then poured from his
unburdening remembrance. With what a glow, with what a racy enjoyment,
did he expand upon the triumphs of the past; how eloquently did he
particularize the exact grace with which young Mr. Talbot was wont to
enter the room, in which he instantly became the cynosure of ladies'
eyes; how faithfully did he minute the courtly dress, the exquisite
choice of colour, the costly splendour of material, which were the envy
of gentles, and the despairing wonder of their valets; and then the zest
with which the good old man would cry, "I dressed the boy!" Even still,
this modern Scipio (Le Sage's Scipio, not Rome's) would not believe that
his master's sun was utterly set: he was only in a temporary retirement,
and would, one day or other, reappear and reastonish the London world.
"I would give my right arm," Jasper was wont to say, "to see Master at
court. How fond the King would be of him! Ah! well, well; I wish he
was not so melancholy-like with his books, but would go out like other
people!"

Poor Jasper! Time is, in general, a harsh wizard in his transformations;
but the change which thou didst lament so bitterly was happier for thy
master than all his former "palmy state" of admiration and homage. "Nous
avons recherche le plaisir," says Rousseau, in one of his own inimitable
antitheses, "et le bonheur a fui loin de nous." ["We have pursued
pleasure, and happiness has fled far from our reach."] But in the
pursuit of Pleasure we sometimes chance on Wisdom, and Wisdom leads us
to the right track, which, if it take us not so far as Happiness, is
sure at least of the shelter of Content.

Talbot leaned kindly upon Jasper's arm as he descended from the
carriage, and inquired into his servant's rheumatism with the anxiety
of a friend. The old housekeeper, waiting in the hall, next received his
attention; and in entering the drawing-room, with that consideration,
even to animals, which his worldly benevolence had taught him, he paused
to notice and caress a large gray cat which rubbed herself against his
legs. Do