The serpents bad their bread and milk, and performed their evolutions as they pleased, the only stipulation being that they should remain in Mr Alexander’s apartment, except when be occasionally - played Laoooon with them in the drawing room, for the public amusement ; the .ball-dog eat his weight in beefsteaks -twice a day ; and the parrot was allowed to indulge in a vocabulary that was more extensive than select, at any boar of the day or night, not even excepting Sundays. .Every donbfc of her brother-in-law’s being a wealthy msn had been swept away from her mind, if not from the moment when be bad presented her

with that precious example of Peruvian handiwork, at all events from that in which the Kirkdale jeweller, whom she consulted on the subject without delay, assured her that it was genuine gold. The reflection that she had judged rightly in this matter, while her husband had doubted, was also a sonrce of intense satisfaction to her, and although Mr* Eaebnrn was scarcely one of those persons who are said to be u verv agreeable when pleased,” her manners were modified by the circumstance, and at least presented a pleasing contrast to what they bad been before her guest’s arrival. Another source of congratulation with her was the importance that the family acquired in the neighbourhood from their possession of brother Alec, the report of whose nntold wealth spread far and wide, enriching the social soil as such news is

wont to do, so that acquaintanceships

sprang up where none had hitherto ex isted, and in some cases even yielded welcome frnit inthe form of “an increased legal connection.” Mr and Mrs Rae born had more invitations to dinner daring the next fire months—thanks to the companion they took with them— than they bad received daring the same number of years. This new-born popularity, however, had its draw-backs, in the necessity it entailed of a reci procity of hospitality ; and many a feast had the reluctant mistress of the Priory to provide in which her ginger-wine conld not play its thrifty part, and the feathered grasses that bad been wont to famish forth her frugal table were com pelled to give way to the foaming wine, for which brother Alec had expressed his decided preference. 