1831.] The Speculator. 351 



valley, girded by a succession of little hills, he actually erected seven 

 curious but comfortable dwellings, and speedily found occupants for 

 them, amongst " the lame, the halt, and the blind," whom he purposed 

 curing after his own fashion of their several disorders. Although the 

 blind still remained insensible to the beauties and glories of nature, 

 though the cripple still leaned on his crutch for support, and made the 

 pavement of his little court-yard echo with the sound that tells of human 

 infirmity, and though an old woman most obstinately persisted in dying, 

 at the very moment her speculating physician pronounced her cured, 

 yet I have no hesitation in aifirming, that the time Ryland spent in his 

 labours for " the poor and friendless," were the happiest of his life : 

 the natural benevolence of his heart was gratified, and his disappoint- 

 ments softened by the real good he effected, and the solid blessings he 

 bestowed. At this time too, he fell most unaccountably in love. It is 

 not at all improbable that the father of the girl who attracted his atten- 

 tion was perfectly aware of the rank and station of Sir Peter Ryland's 

 successor, and consequently affected an interest, it was almost impossible 

 for any but a speculator to feel in the issue of his vmdertakings ; but I 

 believe that Lizy Armstrong was too proud, and too amiable, to enter 

 into any system of manceuvering, although she made the first impression 

 on ray friend's heart, from the admirable skill she manifested in the 

 composition of a salve which he applied to a cut finger — cut, while he 

 was proving, or endeavouring to prove, that the blade of a table knife 

 fresh from the steel, could be so instantaneously blunted by the applica- 

 tion of a particular acid, as to turn at the touch of the softest substance ; 

 unlike most experimentalizers he practised on himself, and the result 

 proved the absurdity of his theory, and the excellence of Lizy's plaster. 



A rich man's wooing need seldom be a long one ; and nothing parti- 

 cular occurred, except that the carriage-springs (of his own construction) 

 gave way, as they were returning from church, and the bride, white 

 satin, blonde, and orange-blossoms, were consigned to a hillock by the 

 road-side, fortunately without any injury, save a great fright, and a great 

 derangement. After they returned from an excursion which, during our 

 continental wars, was limited to the Scottish or English lakes, I was 

 invited by a note, which I preserved as a cui-iosity, to join the new-mar- 

 ried pair : 



" Mv" DEAR Tom, 

 " Come to us, and make arrangements to stay as long as you possibly 

 can. I have made a great discovery — I cannot tell you what it is — but 

 come — come — I also want you to know Lizy — I will not say any thing 

 about her, cither. Only come. " Yours, as ever." 



" P. S. Pray look at the wax with which this letter is sealed, is it not 

 beautiful ? If more important discoveries did not call my attention, I 

 could make a fortune by making sealing-wax." 



Tlie ruling passion, thought I, as I turned to examine the envelope. 

 I could discover nothing particular in the wax, except that it was of a 

 very deep red ; but as I did not wish to be " deeper read" in my friend's 

 follies, I had half a mind not to go to Ryland Hall. However, a great 

 deal of curiosity, and I hope some good feeling, or c;dl it perhaps 

 vanity, which leads us to believe that we can effect what no one else can 

 — that feeling which persuades many a pretty woman to marry a con- 



