He enters--in a moment more

Upon the landing-place stands he!

A light streams thro' the threshold's chinks,
And voices murmur low within it!

"The Twins not yet in bed!" he thinks,

66

Suppose I join them for a minute !"

This chamber--mind-the builder's art meant
The drawing-room, or best apartment;
Not made for Somnus and his

quorum--

This hint is to preserve decorum!

Well, Hodges enters, and descries--

O gods!--O night!-O unsnuffed candle! By which the astounded father eyes So singular a scene of scandal! That while by her soft hand the vile Deceiving young Lothario's caught her, His Cousin does the time beguile,

In kneeling to his blushing daughter.

The Father stares-fate no more killing
Sight on a father's eye bestows,
Than a young rogue without a shilling,
Courting his child before his nose!

Ah! at the view of such a lover,
What visions of lost guineas hover!

With what a muscular distortion

One sees the expected marriage portion.
The house set up the yearly cradle—
Mouths for which he must buy the ladle.
And oh !-those bitter-bitter pills,
Jack's schooling, and the butcher's bills!
Ah! who'd not rather, free from wife,
And children lounge a Cœleb's life,
Than pay for kisses, and for blisses,
Not one of which sweet luxuries his is?

Such were the thoughts which, swift and hot,
Through Hodge's cranium went full trot;
At sevens and sixes oddly pacing,
Like donkeys cudgelled into racing.
While he surveyed the lovers spitefully,
Enjoy themselves so damn'd delightfully!

"Hollo!" he cried, "what are you after ?" Up starts the youth-up starts the daughter.

The one remains erect, the other

Just strives one fearful shriek to smother,
Then sinks into her seat once more,

With both her hands her face concealing, And her mute shame appears to' implore

Your mercy for her wounded feeling. Which phrase, if less adroitly moulded, Means a dislike to being scolded.

"You base young man- -is this the

way, Sir, "My care, my kindness you repay, sir? "Seduce the affections so unwary "And artless, of my daughter Mary?

"Out of my house, Sir, not a word,
"Your chaff won't catch so old a bird!
"Out of my house, Sir-Oh! ungrateful,
"How often here you've had your plateful!
"How often-but-but 'tis no matter!
"Just look, thou base seducer, at her.
"Is that the lady you'd predestine
"To plunge into a match clandestine.
66 Sir, she's my only child, and I
"Can leave her rich, Sir, when I die;
with scarce a single sous,

"And you,

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My heiress thus presume to woo.

"I never heard such impudence, Sir,

"My home's my castle-budge-hence, trot Sir! "Zounds! it is odd indeed, in these

"Blest islands, free as their own waters,

"If we can't marry as we please

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"Our own confounded daughters!

Sir, I'm a freeman, and I fear

"No dun's address-no man's effrontery

I pay, Sir, forty pounds a year

"In rates and taxes to my country.

"Nor do I, Sir, one farthing care

"What man is called his grace; "No! I'm a Briton, and can look

"A lord, Sir, in the face; "And I intend, and can afford, Sir, "Her spouse himself shall be a lord, Sir ! "So, Mr. Laneham, march-retreat"She for your betters will be meat !"

Succinct and clear, thus Hodges said—
He ceased, and sternly shook his head,
His small eyes twinkled in their sockets-
He buttoned up his breeches pockets;
As if to say, "What these contain-them
"You'll never get, young Master Laneham.”
So stood he sour-austere-majestic!

"Oh! home-sweet home!”—O scene domestic!

Then Laneham with a look, where sorrow
Seemed something high from pride to borrow,
First glanced where just one pace apart,
His Mary in her shame was sobbing,
Then curbed his brow, and chid his heart
From its untimely throbbing;

And with calm gaze, nor daunted, eyed

The angry sire, and thus replied.
"We loved each other since our birth,

"An orphan I, had none beside

"To love upon the lonely earth;

"And she, save thee and me, saw none "To pour her full heart's love upon. "We loved-and when thou wert away "In other lands, for years to rove, "We saw each other, day by day, "And grew with every day our love! "No treachery mine! for well I knew "Her heart was like my own, "And that had wound itself unto

"One chord of life alone.

"To leave her-tho' to wealth-were worse

"To her than Want's severest curse;

"And I! in huts with her to live

"Were worth all wealth-all worlds could give!

"And if I claim her now-I crave

"No dowry save her love for me; ""Tis just that they who Fortune brave, "Should bear the wants that they foresee. "But not that thou shouldst doom thy child

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Through life in bitter thought to pine;

"If I-if I her peace beguil❜d,

"Oh! make the' atonement mine!

"And I, through every change will swear "To love, to cherish, to defend her;

"And recompense in love, whate'er

"Of wealth for love she

may

surrender."