IX THE TEST. MR. PEEBLES* STORY. 127 



mer life, I turned over in my mind u thousand 

 modes of alleviating my weariness of heart, but in 

 vain ; and then I began to lament most bitterly 

 the rash and inconsiderate purchase of a romantic 

 villa, the volumes on the corn laws, and the shorts 

 and gaiters. To crown all, I began to feel dis- 

 gusted with my own home-brewed beer. It is true 

 that I was sometimes cheered by visits from my 

 former friends, and neighl>ours, but when they 

 departed, I doubly felt my solitary and irksome 

 situation. At length, however, an idea was sug- 

 gested to me by the curate of the parish (for I 

 unfolded freely to him my unhappiness), which I 

 then hoped, and still hope, will remedy this evil, 

 and cause me to resume the study of the corn 

 laws, look favourably on my shorts and gaiters, 

 and again smack with former relish my potations of 

 home-brewed beer. * Peebles,' said the curate to 

 me (for we had now become intimate, and dropped 

 the Mister) ' why do you not marry.' The idea 

 rushed on my mind with all the force of its natural 

 brilliancy of conception. My dear friend/ said I, 

 ' I'll set about it immediately.' When he had left 

 me> I began seriously to reflect on his advice, and 

 to take into consideration the pros and cons. The 

 pros had it, such as fortune, good-temper, &c. But 

 there was one very forcible con which gave me 

 some uneasiness : I need hardly tell you who have 

 had so many opportunities of observing my features 



