is
now in the act of rebelling against Mowbray, whom he both hates and
fears--the least backing from a knowing hand like you, and the bird
becomes your own, feathers and all.--Moreover,

----'by my life,
This Bingo hath a mighty pretty wife.'

A lovely woman, Harry--rather plump, and above the middle
size--quite your taste--A Juno in beauty, looking with such scorn on
her husband, whom she despises and hates, and seeming, as if she
_could_ look so differently on any one whom she might like better,
that, on my faith, 'twere sin not to give her occasion. If you
please to venture your luck, either with the knight or the lady, you
shall have fair play, and no interference--that is, provided you
appear upon this summons; for, otherwise, I may be so placed, that
the affairs of the knight and the lady may fall under my own
immediate cognizance. And so, Harry, if you wish to profit by these
hints, you had best make haste, as well for your own concerns, as to
assist me in mine.--Yours, Harry, as you behave yourself,

"ETHERINGTON."

Having finished this eloquent and instructive epistle, the young Earl
demanded the attendance of his own valet Solmes, whom he charged to put
it into the post-office without delay, and with his own hand.

AUTHOR'S NOTES.

Note I., p. 14.--BUILDING-FEUS IN SCOTLAND.

In Scotland a village is erected upon a species of landright, very
different from the copyhold so frequent in England. Every alienation or
sale of landed property must be made in the shape of a feudal
conveyance, and the party who acquires it holds thereby an absolute and
perfect right of property in the fief, while he discharges the
stipulations of the vassal, and, above all, pays the feu-duties. The
vassal or tenant of the site of the smallest cottage holds his
possession as absolutely as the proprietor, of whose large estate it is
perhaps scarce a perceptible portion. By dint of excellent laws, the
sasines, or deeds of delivery of such fiefs, are placed on record in
such order, that every burden affecting the property can be seen for
payment of a very moderate fee; so that a person proposing to lend money
upon it, knows exactly the nature and extent of his security.

From the nature of these landrights being so explicit and secure, the
Scottish people have been led to entertain a jealousy of
building-leases, of however long duration. Not