then about nine or ten it began to moderate; at twelve it was quite mild, and here all the rest of the night I have been so hot as not to bear a blanket on the bed.—Holla! Aggy,—merry Christmas, Aggy—I say, do you hear me, you biack dog! there's a dollar for you; and if the gentlemen get up before I come back, do you come out and let me know. I would'nt have 'duke get the start of me for the worth of your head."
The black caught the money from the snow, and promising a due degree of watchfulness, he gave the dollar a whirl in the air of twenty feet, and catching it as it fell, in the palm of his hand, he withdrew to the kitchen, to exhibit his present, with a heart as light as his face was happy in its expression.
"Oh, rest easy, my dear coz," said the young lady; "I took a look in at my father, who is likely to sleep an hour; and by using due vigilance you will secure all the honours of the season."
"Why, 'duke is your father, Elizabeth, but 'duke is a man who likes to be foremost, even in trifles. Now, as for myself, I care for no such things, except in the way of competition; for a thing which is of no moment in itself, may be made of importance in the way of competition. So it is with your father, he loves to be first; but 1 only struggle with him as a competitor, like."
"Oh! it's all very clear, sir," said Elizabeth; "you would not care a fig for distinction, if there were no one in the world but yourself; but as there happen to be a great many others, why you must struggle with them all—in the way of competition."
"Exactly so; I see you are a clever girl, Bess, and one who docs credit to her masters. It was my plan to send you to that school; for when
