history, and something so prepossessing in his looks, that whenever he came to purchase such things as he needed for his school, several sentimental milliners never failed of appearing at their doors, to smile on him as he passed. And one day he was seen speaking to Emma Ingledew in her father's carriage; and on another occasion, Lord Wildman was observed to bow to him; and then it was, that twenty caps were at once set at the village schoolmaster. But we must again glance at Gregory Gruff.

CHAPTER VII.

HOW GREGORY GRUFF CAME TO THINK WIDOW CLARKSON A VERY NICE WOMAN; AND HOW WIDOW CLARKSON CAME TO THINK GREGORY GRUFF A VERY NICE MAN: WITH A GLANCE AT GODFREY;-THE SUBSCRIBERS TOWARDS HIS POEMS, ETC.

GREGORY GRUFF's horoscope, like a thermometer, once more stood at change; and he had again taken fresh lodgings; and this time it was his lot, to fall in with a very widow; one, who had in fact, buried three husbands, and still looked as young, round, and plump, as if she had never known an hour's sorrow. She knew that Gruff was wealthy; and from the first, had made, what is termed in sporting parlance, a dead set' at him. Thus whatever hobby he mounted, she went with him; never on any account thwarting him, but in many things even anticipating his wishes, until at length Gregory confessed to the clergyman, that the widow's company was, at times endurable. Nay, she went so far as to take a dislike to animal food, and declared that she had never before felt so well in her life: she also confessed her belief in nativities; and said that Mr. Gruff was the most sensible and gentlemanly man she had ever met with. Gregory, in return, said that the woman was not given to gossiping like the rest of her sex; that she possessed some discrimination; and was really deserving of a good lodger. All this, widow Clarkson heard again; and she redoubled her energies, hoping soon to become Mrs. Gruff.

When Gregory returned home on an evening, he found his slippers ready aired before the fire, and his old coat thrown over a chair back; even his very chair placed in his favourite spot, and the little footstool within an inch of where he himself would have fixed it. Then she had

of

so many tender inquiries to make. She fancied Mr. Gruff looked a shade paler thau common; she had heard him cough slightly in the night, and was afraid he had taken cold; observed that he had not made so hearty a breakfast as usual; that she was afraid he fatigued himself too much with looking after the school; thought that a little gruel, with a glass of brandy in it, would do him no harm; and that it would be a great pleasure to her, to make him something warm and nourishing before he went to bed. Gruff told the clergyman, that she was the most feeling woman he had ever met with; and that nothing seemed a trouble to her. She soon advanced another step, and (to say nothing of what she took in the interim) seldom sat down to her meals until Gruff came home. It was such a pleasure, she said, to have his company, and to listen to the conversation of such an agreeable man; she had never before seemed lonely at meal-time, until Mr. Gruff came; no, although she had had several gentlemanly lodgers, she did not know how it was. Then Gregory was fond of a peculiar kind of pudding, made eggs, bread soaked in milk, &c.; and widow Clarkson declared she had never eaten any thing like it in her life, it was quite delightful, and for her part she should never have known how to have made it, had it not been for the kindness of Mr. Gruff. She also took to liking green tea, which before was to her an abomination. And, oh! her garden! it had never been properly managed until Mr. Gruff was so kind as to attend to it; now it looked quite neat and beautiful. True he had dug up and destroyed many of her favourite plants, and cut down some of her choicest trees, but she felt assured that in the end it would all be for the best. Gregory said there was some pleasure in doing any thing for such a woman, for she always seemed thankful, and never grumbled. She then, all at once, became fond of crusts; for she soon found that Gruff had bad teeth, while her own, although now forty, were beautifully white and even. Then she knew how to make her seeming censure sound like praise. True, Mr. Gruff was at times a little hasty, but then it was so soon over; he had a few strange ways with him, but who had not? and after all, they did nobody any harm and for her part she could only see his good qualities, and they must be blind indeed who could not. The sun, she had heard, had its specks, but she could never see them. Then Godfrey Malvern was such a nice young man, and so great a favourite with Mr. Gruff, although they did not always agree about teaching the children. She really did not know how it was, but she could not feel more for the young gentleman if he was her own son; but she had never been blessed with a child that

lived long. And Parson Preedom, and his niece, and the young lady, Miss Emma Ingledew,-oh! they were all heavenly creatures; and she had to thank kind Mr. Gruff for her acquaintance with such amiable persons, Gregory said she was very grateful, and very modest, and that these were qualities seldom found in women now-a-days. Then one night she felt such a strange sensation about her neck-did not Mr. Gruff think it was slightly swollen? Gregory looked, and, holding the candle very near, thought it was. She bid him feel if it was not rather hard; he felt, and pressed the place slightly with the tip of his fore-finger, then took a huge pinch of snuff. The widow had a very beautiful neck; it was white and well-formed. Gruff confessed next day to the clergyman, that Mrs. Clarkson was a very fine woman; and for two nights Gregory kicked and tossed about in his bed, took an extra ounce of snuff, and wondered what the devil ailed him. Then in the morning the widow saw by his eyes that he had not slept well, took hold of his hand, and said it felt hot; persuaded him not to go out without putting on an under-waistcoat; begged he would not stay late at the parsonage, as the evenings were growing chilly; hoped if he felt no better he would allow her to make him a little gruel, and also to air his bed.

Gruff, at the end of the month, presented her with a sovereign more than her demand, declaring that her kindness merited four times the sum. But she refused to accept it; her only pleasure was to see Mr. Gruff happy and contented; that he already paid like a prince, and that her home had never before afforded her so much comfort as it had since Mr. Gruff became her lodger,-no, not even when poor dear Clarkson was alive, for he was at times very unsocial when he took a little too much drink. Gregory said that she was really a very amiable and considerate woman, and had less selfishness in her nature, than any one he had heretofore met with.

So matters progressed; and it was observed by many that Gregory had become less surly of late; that he spoke of women with more reverence; owned that although generally they were a race of artful gypsies, there were still a few disinterested persons like widow Clarkson in the world; and that after all, bad as they were, men would be but poorly off without them. Such remarks as these caused him to undergo sundry quizzings from the parson's niece, and the squire's daughter. But Gruff consoled himself with the thought that they were but mere girls; that no woman was capable of feeling real, true, and lasting affection until she had reached the age of forty; and that no