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niece and only relative than a sure house over her head, and Netty’s uncle should have seen to the renewal in time, owing to the peculiar custom of forfeiture by the dropping of the last life before the new fine was paid ; for the squire was very anxious to get hold of the house and land; and every Sunday when the old man came into the charch and passed the equire’a pew, the squire would say, ‘A little weaker in his knees, a little crookeder in his back—and the readmittance not applied for, ha! ha! I shall be able to make a complete clearing of that corner of the manor some day !"

“'Twas extraordinary, now we look back upon it, that old Sargent should have been so dilatory; yet some people are like it, and he put off calling at the equire’s agent's office with the fine week after week, saying to himself, ‘I shall have more time next market-day than I have now.’ One unfortunate hinderance was that he didn’t very well like Jasper Cliff, and as Jasper kept urging Netty, and Netty on that account kept urging her uncle, the old man was inclined to postpone the relivemg as long as he could, to spite the selfish young lover. At last old Mr. Sargent fell ill, and then Jasper could bear it no Jonger: he produced the fine money himself, and handed it to Netty, and spoke to her plainly.

“'You and your uncle ought to know better. You should press him more, There's the money. If you let the house and ground slip between ye, I won’t marry; hang me if I will! For folks won't deserve a husband that can do such things.’

“The worried girl took the money and went home, and told her anole that it was no house no husband for her. Old Mr. Sargent pooh-poohed the money, for the amount was not worth consideration, but he did now bestir himself, for he saw she was bent apon mat-