ished beyond measure at the barber's torrent of griefs; while the rest of the company by their looks testified a similar feeling, not however unmixed with some alarm, from which we must except the stranger, who maintained a strict silencé.

"Very strange," continued the barber, not minding the interrogations put by the sexton, "that after staying so many years in the country, he should think of going to London. 'Tis very extraordinary! something's the matter, I'll be bound-plague on't! I wish the Jenny creature had her throat cut ere she told me such unpleasant news! but it's like the women-they are the first to communicate bad tidings."

"To London!-who is going?-what d'ye mean?" demanded the other three, in tones of anxious and distressed eager

ness.

"The fact is, friends," replied the barber, "that the folks of the great house

intend to quit us within a short time for town, where, 'tis averred, they are determined to reside in future, or, at least, for a sufficient space of time to create a vast deal of mischief among us. I'm sure I shall not stay long after them-my trade is broken up here, that's certain."

"The folks of the great house going to London !!!" exclaimed the company, whose surprise and regret can with difficulty be described; and, as if by common consent, the whole of them remained silent for many minutes, including the landlord, who had as much cause to lament at this unhappy stroke of fate as any of the rest.

The pause was first broken by Ballard picking up the pipe he let fall to the ground upon the receipt of the unwelcome tidings, he exclaimed, "Dang it! this is unlucky in truth's name.What will my dame do now, I wonder? She will be obliged to go all the way to the nearest market town-a good thirteen

miles-to sell her poultry, eggs, butter, cream, and the like: and, dang it! the pony only died last week. A murrain to the accident that's the cause of this trouble! we shall miss them heavily!— and pretty miss Julia and miss Mariahow we shall grieve for their absence ! How, likewise, will all the poor folks get on without the young ladies ?-they are so kind and good, that whenever they hear of any one being unwell, away they go, to perform what they can; and never did they enter a sick house without bringing with them a basket full of nice things. Ah! we shall lose two kind hearts-bless the sweet creatures!"

"And I," said Ounce, sighing piteously, "shall lose nearly one hundred and fifty pounds per annum by their departure; and as if plagues followed upon one another, it was only this day that I dispatched an order to my London correspondent to send me a supply of sugar and ribands, shot, powder, and muslins,

for Miss Julia and the servant damsels

of the great house."

"You do not infer that Miss Julia and her servants were in the habit of using powder and shot? I should think these articles were attended with too much danger to make them the favourite companions of the fair sex." This question was asked by the stranger, who permitted a faint smile to play upon his lips for the short space of a second.

"Oh, no, sir,” replied Mr. Ounce, they had printed callicoes of me in large quantities, for Miss Julia made it a particular point to administer to the wants of the poor people, to whom she gave clothes and food; and her maids were continually in want of new ribands for themselves. It was Squire Charles, sir, that had the powder and shot sent by me to the mansion, which he never paid for, nevertheless, being a forgetful, rakish sort of gentleman. Miss Julia used to settle with me privately on

his account; and, like a kind young lady as she is, always told me to send enough for her brother's use at those times when he came down in the shooting season. 'Twill be a sad piece of business for us, and Heaven grant the family may wish themselves back in the country."

"Pray inform me of some particulars respecting this family, provided the request is neither troublesome nor inconvenient; but first see that your glass is filled. Landlord, be good enough to attend to Mr. Simon." These words were addressed by the stranger to the barber,. who had been busily canvassing the unpleasant news with the sexton and farmer, adding, as may well be supposed, his own lamentations to theirs. On receiving the invitation to communicate his knowledge of the great folks," our barber hastened to meet the stranger's wish, commencing in the following strain :