"I cannot fathom the mystery," said Ridly, in a perplexed tone; "I cannot make the remotest guess at what has brought about this sudden change."

"But the money!" interrupted Alice-" the money! with which he appears so well supplied-where does it come from?" "Oh, guardy!" exclaimed Emma, "isn't it wonderful?" "It is all very puzzling," returned he.

"He was such a gloomy, grumbling being," added Emma, "who made everybody about him discontented with their lot in life, and now see how good-tempered he is."

"Good-tempered!" echoed Ridly; "nay, more than goodtempered, he is generous and joyful. Bless my heart! the thing is incomprehensible."

"Let us drink his health," said Alice.

"With all my heart," replied Ridly, laughing. "Craggsbridge," added he, raising the wine-glass, "Here's wishing you very good health, and ourselves a speedy solution of this enigmatical conduct of yours."

"Thank you, Ridly."

"The rest of the wine, sir," said Dottles, speaking thickly. "Well! what of it?"

"Am I to uncork it all ?"

"How the deuce is it to be drunk unless you uncork it?" asked Craggsbridge.

"True, sir," said Dottles, hesitatingly; "you couldn't poss -possibly make a truer observation." "Proceed, then."

"Certainly, I'll proceed," said Dottles, swallowing the contents of another tea-cup filled to the brim with sherry. "Most happy to proceed at-at-at all times, and particparticularly delighted on this occasion to proceed. Bravo, Craggsbridge!" continued he, growing familiar; "I agree with you, old boy: life, when you've lots of wine to drinkmind, I say when you've lots of wine to drink, isn't quarter long enough!"

"Bravo, old fellow!" said Craggsbridge jocosely. "I've a great favour-to-ask," hiccoughed Dottles. "Speak out then like a man, and don't grunt like a hog." "I have too much respect for my superiors to so far forget myself, and I shall particlar-particlar-larly avoid making a beast of myself."

"A very sensible determination, Dottles," said Craggs

bridge. "Now, touching the favour."

"I wish my old woman to drink your blessed health,"

replied he, speaking very indistinctly.

1

"By Jupiter! and so she shall. Send your son home with a couple of bottles."

" Full ones, sir?" inquired Dottles, eagerly.

"Ay, verily, full as thyself."

"Gracious and generous as a prince!" exclaimed the clown, refilling his tea-cup.

"Stop, Dottles!" cried Ridly, with difficulty restraining his laughter; "you are getting intoxicated."

"Nothing of the kind, sir," replied he; "I'm getting jolly-jolly as a brick."

"That's right!" said Craggsbridge; "I'll make you all jolly; so, drink away."

"I must say nay to that mode of jollity which is likely to interfere with business," observed the manager.

"Business be hanged!" said the clown; "give me a pinch of snuff! somebody give-give me a pinch of snuff!"

"I must insist upon no more wine being tasted," said Ridly sternly; "remember to-night's performance."

"Sudden indisposition of the whole company! No performance!" cried Craggsbridge. "We'll have a grand dinner on the stage at the fashionable hour at which the great folks dine; we'll have the band, and make them play: I'll pay for all-by Jupiter! I can do so! I can buy the booth a thousand times over."

At this moment the woman who acted as door-keeper to the booth rushed up to Craggsbridge, and, with a mysterious air, placed a card in his hand.

"He wants to see you, sir," said the woman, pointing to the card; "he called you Sir -"

"Hush!" whispered Craggsbridge; then turning to the manager, he said, "Ridly, will you permit my lawyer to join us?"

"Your what?" exclaimed Ridly, starting up in bewilder"My lawyer, who is staying at the King's Hotel," quietly responded Craggsbridge.

"Show the gentleman in, Mrs. Mullen!" said the manager, addressing the door-keeper. "I suppose,” added he, "we shall now come at the root of this mystery."

Mrs. Mullen re-appeared, with a little man, who, to judge by his looks, seemed to regard his position somewhat mirthfully.

"My dear Duncan," said Craggsbridge, addressing the stranger, "your visit is most opportune: Mr. Ridly and you must become friends."

"Any friend of yours, my dear Sir John, I shall be delighted to call mine," replied the lawyer. "Sir John!" echoed a dozen voices.

Sir John Craggsbridge," said Craggsbridge, taking off his hat and waving it over his head triumphantly.

"Mr. Duncan," said Ridly, addressing the lawyer, "I look to you to explain this most perplexing riddle."

"First, I must inform you, sir, that John Craggsbridge is now Sir John Craggsbridge, Baronet," said the lawyer, "and heir to twenty thousand pounds a year."

There was a loud buzz of voices, and in an instant everybody in the booth surrounded Craggsbridge, and endeavoured to shake hands with him.

"Proceed," said Mr. Ridly.

"From his uncle, who recently died in Calcutta, he inherits immense wealth as well as his title."

"We never could have guessed at such a freak of fortune," said Mr. Ridly: "he has been in this booth many years."

"I know he has," returned Mr. Duncan; "I have had my eye upon him for upwards of fifteen years. I knew him to be eccentric, so contented myself with keeping him in view till the hour arrived when he would be wanted. I arrived here last night-did not sleep till I had had an interview with my client, and had broken to him the glad news of which I was the fortunate bearer. I need not inform you, ladies and gentlemen," continued the little attorney, bowing to the company, "that my worthy client's first thoughts were for his friends here, with whom-to use his own expressive words he has roughed life so many years. I supplied him with what cash he required, and promised to look in upon vou all, in order to satisfactorily elucidate

matters; which task, ladies and gentlemen, I have performed simply, and in as few words as possible."

A hearty burst of applause followed the lawyer's address; then three cheers were given for Sir John Craggsbridge.

CHAPTER V.

On that evening there was no performance in the booth; and Sir John Craggsbridge invited all the company to a dinner, tastefully laid out on the stage, at one end of which was placed the state-chair used in "Macbeth," "Hamlet," or in whatever piece a throne-chair was required. Over this seat of dignity were disposed several banners, covered with divers mysterious mottoes and devices: this was intended for Ridly, the manager.

The dinner went off splendidly. The host was mirthful and happy: gold had worked wonders, for it had opened in this man's heart an overflowing spring of generosity and affection; it had rooted up all prejudice and discontent, and in their stead developed the growth of great charity and love.

There were many members of the company who had large families and small means: to these Sir John behaved most liberally, for he paid their debts, replenished their wardrobes, and gave them the means of procuring many comforts to which they had hitherto been strangers.

Days passed by, and Sir John still hung about the booth, as if loth to part from it. In vain Mr. Duncan pointed out to him the necessity of going to London, and of at once entering the world and taking possession of his estates. Sir John replied that there would be time enough by and by to do what his lawyer required, but there would be no time like the present for doing what he himself required. The lawyer continued to urge his point; but he soon discovered that an heir of forty years of age was a very different being to manage from one who had just attained his majority; for the former was obstinate and absolute in his will, with singular ideas regarding the way in which a man of wealth should spend his money; while the young heir, on the contrary,

had seldom a fixed idea regarding anything, and therefore, recklessly plunged into the stream of extravagance and pleasure: as other brainless fools had acted so acted he. But dissimilar from all the world was the lawyer's new client. He had been a wanderer for many years, estranged from his family and connexions, mixed up with itinerant players, tumblers, and rope-dancers; yet, mid all, he had preserved an untarnished name and reputation, a clear conscience, warm impulses, and a good heart.

Some may consider my picture of Craggsbridge exaggerated. Let him who doubts the reality of such a character, ramble, as I have rambled, with no resting-place of his own that he can call home. Let him draw closely to all those amongst whom Fate flings him, and learn mankind from his own actual observation. Let him act thus, and experience will instruct him how to judge of the true colouring of life's pictures; he then will pronounce mine pale and weak, for I have worked with a timid hand, fearing to paint too boldly.

"There!" exclaimed Emma Chipperton, one night as she came off the stage and flung herself upon a bench behind the scenes. "Thank goodness for a little rest,--I don't go on again till the third act!"

"You are very cold in that thin dress, Miss Chipperton," said a familiar voice behind her.

"Yes;" answered Emma, "the evenings are very severe; but I am used to cold."

"True,” resumed the speaker; "in this profession we are accustomed to much that is hard to bear."

"Yes, Sir John."

"For Heaven's sake, don't Sir John me! I hate the title from your lips!"

"What must I call you? I cannot address you as Mr. Craggsbridge now."

" I would rather you called me Jack, than anything else," stammered Sir John.

"Jack!" exclaimed she. "Good gracious, Sir John! I feel that I am blushing at the bare thought of such a freedom on my part."