AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



I rang again louder yet and a step came hastily over 

 the oaken floor. The old porter at last approached, cau- 

 tiously affixed the chain, opened a few inches of the door, and 

 raised his candle suspiciously to examine the late visiter. 

 Instantly recollecting me, he uttered a suppressive exclama- 

 tion of astonishment, removed the fastenings, and muttered, 

 "Thank God, it is himself!" and, as he admitted me, 

 whispered that my uncle was not expected to survive till mid- 

 night. 



In silence I was conducted to a back drawing-room, where, 

 on a large, old-fashioned sofa the dying man was laid. The 

 porter advanced before, and in a low voice notified my arrival. 

 The news appeared to gratify the invalid ; he turned his dim 

 eyes to the spot where I stood waiting for permission to 

 advance. "Are you there, Frank!" he said in a feeble voice 

 "Ha, ha, ha! it was touch and go with you!" and he 

 uttered a weak and sarcastic laugh. " Call Doctor Dodwell 

 and the lawyer desire them to bring the other will and tell 

 Moore and Hubert to attend to witness it." While he gave 

 these orders, I gazed on the wasted features of the dying 

 miser, and there was a strange expression of stern satisfaction 

 visible on his countenance, as his cold glance rested fixedly on 

 me. Immediately the doctor, solicitor, and witnesses entered 

 the room. " Raise me up," he said to the ancient domestic, 

 his personal attendant. It was done, and he motioned to the 

 solicitor to unfold the parchment. Carefully he passed his 

 eye over the surface to assure himself that the document was 

 the one he required, and having ascertained the fact, he 

 pointed to a pen. With difficulty he placed it in his trem- 

 bling fingers, and with a painful exertion, affixed his signature 

 to the deed then looking at the witnesses as they annexed 

 their names " This is my last will and testament," he said 

 v.ith a feeble emphasis, " and thus do I revoke all others !" 

 then turning to me, while a ghastly smile overspread his face, 

 " Half an hour later would have served hospitals and alms- 

 houses, Francis:" he leaned himself back and expired without 

 a struggle. 



For a few moments we were not aware that he was dead ; 

 the strength with which his last remark was uttered led us 

 at first to believe that he had reclined in consequence of the 

 exertion. In a few minutes the physician took his hand and 

 sought for a pulse, but in vain; he raised the eyelid and 



