We think it not impossible or unlikely that many a young gentleman, ambitious of fame as a public speaker, has heard with comparative contempt the efforts of others, and has anticipated with what greater eloquence he himself will speak when it shall come to his turn; and yet when it has come to his turn, he has made sad work of it, and has forgotten his rhetoric and mislaid his figures, and has turned his metaphors the wrong end upwards. It is very certain that Mr Darnley found himself disappointed. Yet his disappointment was not altogether of an unpleasant nature; for, though he felt upon reflection a greater degree of regret than he had anticipated, he also experienced in the mode of his reception at Smatterton a greater pleasure than he had expected. The more powerful emotions of the first meeting soon subsided, and they were succeeded by miscellaneous talk of divers kinds; but the more prominent topic was the elopement of Miss Glossop. The rumour of course had soon been spread through the village of Smatterton, and as Mr Pringle had now no longer need of secresy, he had also talked with Mr Primrose concerning the information received from Zephaniah the critic. And they were all amazed at the wickedness of Lord Spoonbill. When also Mr Darnley understood from the narration which he had received from his son, the pains which Lord Spoonbill had taken to withdraw the affections of Penelope from him on whom they had been so worthily fixed, he could not refrain from strong expressions of indignation and contempt. And though Mr Darnley had been in the first instance disappointed in the expression and utterance of all that he would have said, he could not but take an opportunity of apologizing to Miss Primrose for having ever suspected her of an attachment to a person of such principles, or want of principle, as Lord Spoonbill. Penelope very readily replied; “I must not hear anything from you, sir, like apology. It was not at all surprizing, considering all the circumstances, that you should entertain an unfavorable opinion of me. And if that had been true, which appeared to be so, it was not to be expected that you should have acted otherwise.” Speeches of this nature were peculiarly agreeable and acceptable to Mr Darnley; and though he did love homage and compliment most fervently, yet he was always grateful for the incense, and he thoroughly and heartily enjoyed it. To throw away compliments and fine speeches upon those who do not regard and value them, is mortifying; but nothing of this kind was thrown away upon Mr Darnley, the rector of Neverden. So he began to see fresh beauties and hitherto undiscerned excellences in the mind of Penelope Primrose, and he repeated again and again the expression of his deep and sincere regret at the misunderstanding which had suspended his acquaintance with so worthy and excellent a person.