'But the niece,' I hear you cry, 'Not a single glimpse of her, I suppose?' 'Yes, Sir Walter Boyer, I have seen her.' 'Seen her! Why, I thought----.' Psha! what can a Baronet have to do with thought? Mark'd you her eye of heavenly blue! Mark'd you her cheek of roseate hue! Do you still doubt? Then shall I proceed, and fire your imagination with the graces of my goddess. _All enchanting! nothing wanting!_ for I have gazed my fill--yes--on her picture.--Why look you so, Walter?--Am I not her predestined lover, and has she not 6000l. per annum? 'Pray, Madam, by what artist was this portrait done?' said I, to Mrs. Valmont, while the 'Squire and Earl were gone to visit the nymph of the south wing, with my imagination stealing after them on tiptoe. 'Not by any artist, Sir,' replied the lady. 'It was the performance of Clement Montgomery. It is drawn for my niece--.' 'Then she must have the honour greatly to resemble you, Madam. Upon my soul the likeness is astonishing.' Up rose Mrs. Valmont. 'Why indeed, Lord Filmar, though I never observed it before, there is something of me in the turn of these features; but indisposition, Sir, the cruel hand of sickness, has made sad havock with my face.'--And she pushed a little backward the hood which had almost hid her remnant of beauty. In short, dear Walter, I dined at the castle. My father saw the lady and I saw her picture. My father says, and so says the picture, that she is very handsome. By the answers to a few questions artfully arranged to Mrs. Valmont, but more certainly from the result of Griffiths' steady enquiries among the household, I learn that she is a mere savage, and loves her fellow savage Clement as she ought only to love me. Loves her fellow savage Clement! you exclaim. Not less strange than true, Walter; and, if you would know more, listen as I did to the aforementioned housekeeper. 'Of all the youths my eyes ever beheld,' said Mrs. Luxmere, 'I think Master Clement Montgomery was the handsomest; and so affable, my Lord!--He used to steal into my room once or twice every day to eat sweetmeats, when Miss Valmont or his tutor did not watch him.' 'But who does this Master Clement Montgomery belong to?' said I. 'To Mr. Valmont, my Lord. I'll tell you exactly how it was. Nobody, as far as I know, had ever heard of this young gentleman till just after the 'Squire's niece came to the castle; and then the 'Squire took a journey, and brought home with him a fine handsome boy. And he gave a great entertainment; all the rooms were filled with company; and after dinner he led in Clement Montgomery, and bade every body look on him as his adopted son. Some people think, indeed, that he is the 'Squire's ----.' Mrs. Luxmere affected to titter. 'You are of that opinion?' said I.--