354 The Speculaiw. [Oct. 



only throw forth one at a time. To form this wonderous death-dealing 

 machine it was necessary to erect a temporary forge, and employ some 

 London gun-smiths, and between them and the miners the place was 

 converted into a den of Cyclops. Every one you met had a dingy face 

 and dirty hands ; and I fancied that the fair complexion of his fair 

 young wife looked darker and darker still, in the atmosphere which 

 o-athered round her. One morning at breakfast, Mrs. Ryland, in her 

 usual gentle tone, inquired " how the mine was getting on, and if any 

 of the ore had yet been disposed of .^" 



" Why, not yet, my love," was the reply, " we have not worked the 

 profitable portion of the vein yet ; in fact, the overseer says, that the 

 richest part is right in the centre of the lake." 



" Indeed, my dear !" responded his wife, " and what will it cost you 

 to get there ?" 



" It is impossible to say." 



" My dear Ryland, the servants have been complaining of getting 

 nothing but rabbits to eat, five days out of the seven." 



" The rascals !— that rabbit-meat stands me in fifteen-pence a pound 

 —every farthing of it." 



" My love, we could get beef and mutton for half the sum." 

 " My dearest Lizy, allow me to know best." 



" Certainly, my dear. Did James tell you that the incurable mare 

 which you cured of the spavins, is dead }" 



" IMy God ! no — all owing to that d — d fellow's stupidity — he did 



not fodder her properly. The animal was as sound as a rock canteloupe 

 melon— as well as you or I !" 



" James says that the disease only moved from one portion of the 

 body to another." 



" James is a fool ! — and you— my love— I beg your pardon ; — but 

 you ought really to exert a httle common sense. I'Jl prove to you that 

 I can cure not only spavins but glanders — ay, and in their worst state, 

 too— I'll buy up all the diseased horses in the county — I'll send an 

 advertisement to that effect to The County Chronicle— and I'll bet a 

 thousand pounds to a penny that they shall leave me, sound in wind and 

 limb ! That beautiful mare !— Such a neat, light, well-formed head !— 

 Such a fiat, broad forehead !— She had Arabian blood in her veins— 

 of that I'm certain !" ,, . ,. 



And away went Ryland, to rate the groom, and actually give direc- 

 tions for the purchase of diseased horses, that he might prove his 

 knowledge, in the face of the county ! , . , , ^ , , , , , 



]Mrs. Ryland looked after him, and sighed — I echoed both the 

 si<Th and the sentiment, and resolved to have one more conversation 

 on the old subject, with Ryland, before I left him, as I found that I 

 could not remain much longer absent from town. I found him, in the 

 afternoon, amongst the American trees, whose desu-uction he had 

 formerly meditated, snipping and chipping, and smelling at the bark, 

 evidently intent on some new project. I led the conversation, and to do 

 him justice, it is only right to add, that he always rephed to my doubts 

 with good humour, if not with good argument. 



" 'I'he fortune you must spend," I said, at last, hastily — 



" Make, you mean," he responded. 



« That is not by any means certain," I contmued; " besides, where 



