fox-hunting squire, a true specimen of young John Bull. I saw how the game would go, John Bull returned her affection; he is a real type of his class. Rich, obstinate, and impetuous, he was resolved to marry the pretty rustic; she was equally determined; her brother befriended him; the thing was to be, so I arranged my hand accordingly. There is in the family a _belle cousine_--such a splendid creature, _Alphonse!_ beautiful as an angel, the _contour_ of a Juno, the port of an empress. She has tact and talent; a soul of fire beneath an exterior of ice; she is poor and ambitious. I could not have hoped to find one better suited to my purpose. She shall marry Crane; his purse will be in her hands; he will become her slave; and, _Alphonse_, she shall be mine! Do you doubt my success, _mon ami?_ Bah! the game is as simple as child’s play. She is young, ardent; she will marry an old man to satisfy her ambition--she will despise him. Her heart will pine for an object on which to lavish its tenderness; I shall present myself, become her friend, her counsellor--and the result? Oh, you cannot doubt it. So I have pulled the strings, and my _marionnettes_ have danced, and are dancing. My _millionaire_ offered--the little rustic refused him. While he was smarting from this insult, I suggested to him that _la belle cousine_ pined for love of him; praised her wit and beauty; and advised him to revenge himself by transferring his attentions to her. The bait took; I worked out all the minor incidents admirably; the young fox-hunter has married the pretty rustic, and taken her out of my way yesterday. The lovely Kate, playing her own game, labours indefatigably for my interest also. My friend Crane is delighted, and shows his gratitude by _urging_ me to borrow money of him--(I have mortgaged my farm in Brittany to him for six times its value; when the three prior claims upon it are satisfied, and he brings forward his, this fact will surprise him, and teach him prudence for the future)--I avail myself of his liberality with caution, for I must not cut up my golden goose too quickly. But it is well to have more than one resource to rely upon; so if your rich young German countess should resolve on visiting England, send me timely notice. I feel that my star is in the ascendant. _Cher Alphonse_, wish your friend the success which should reward talent, in the use of which you have so well instructed your devoted, “Horace.” CHAPTER XVIII.--ALICE’S FIRST INTRODUCTION TO HER HUSBAND’S “QUIET MANNER.”