bursting into tears, he confessed his exceeding love for Jenny O'Dell, and his jealousy of me. "Ah! give hur up, James," he piteously whined, and looking in my face with an imploring expression-" give hur up! and I'll do anything in this wide world for you tell hur you hate her, and I'll ask no more!" I hesitated, considering what answer I should make to him; and he, fancying that I was wavering, took advantage of the pause to ply me home. "Arrah! can't ye marry the cook!" cried he, changing from the whine to a brisk tone of persuasion,-"she 's a fine girl, has thirty pounds down, and dotes alive on you." "She has horrid thick ankles!" quoth I. "She's the better match for you, Tom," I urged, in return. "Ah! but I like Jenny better!" "And so I, Tom. I am head, neck, shoulders in love with her-just as bad as yourself." Words could not convey an adequate notion VOL. II. L of the dismay visible in the poor fellow's countenance at this declaration! I found that he had fancied that all the love was on her side, and that he only feared I might be brought to like her in return. He sank his huge black head upon his breast in powerless despondency; and, as I gazed on him, he gave me such a picture of a slob of a fellow giving up everything for love-a helpless dupe-to a woman! that I inwardly vowed never to let passion so master me, if I could prevent it. After a long silence, and with a mighty effort, he once more raised his head and spoke. "Well," cried he, with a groan, "my doom is sealed! I may as well quit at once." "Because I could not bear to stay to see Jenny marred to you." I. I burst into laughter. "Marred!" echoed "Arrah, Tom asthore! what put that into yer head? Such a notion never entered my brains-nor ever will." "No ?" "No-please the fates." He started to his feet, let a shout as if he were after the hounds, seized my hands, and almost pulled my arms out of their sockets. In short, Tom and I were then, and ever after, the best of friends and boon companions. But, in his joy, he could not forbear repeating all I had said to Jenny in the morning. And if I gained a friend, I also found a foe; for, from that moment, she became my bitter enemy; and, in the end, she was the cause of my leaving the house. No one, but one situated as I was, can know what a vindictive toad a refused woman is! In fact, during the subsequent six months, I experienced so many of her bad offices, I became really unhappy, and I considered I might as well go first as last, as I could not stay in the house with credit. Some one should move, and I thought I had the best right to resign my situation, since I was, however innocently, the undoubted cause of all the disturbance. My master and mistress did all in their power to retain me; and the servants came in a body even the ingrate Jenny-to entreat me to stay, and put out my full time. But it was all in vain. I would go; and I went, bearing with me a most ex - cellent discharge from Mr. Reynolds; and, I hope, the regard and good wishes of every one in the house. The last person I saw was the cook, standing at the avenue-gate. One hand held her apron to her eyes, and with the other she flung an old shoe after me, for-" Luck!" CHAPTER VIII. I was now adrift once more, and whither was I to steer? Onward!-onward !-towards the Capital. "Sail on, sail on, my faithful bark, Wherever drives the welcome wind; I did not repeat these lines at the time, nor did I know them then; but they come in so well here, I cannot refrain from inserting them. The first day's journey, after leaving Mr. Reynolds, presented nothing new or interesting. The country about was very like my native place, bare and flat; and I walked on without stopping to look about me. At nightfall, I set up my staff at a little public house. by the way-side; an uninviting spot, indeed, but I had no choice. There was no other to be had nearer than the next village, which I |