ing his suite, and was accompanied as far as the Escorial by the king, the whole of the royal family, and the principal grandees of the court. The cortége was preceded by a guard of archers, under the command of Don Melchior del Alcazar, and comprised a long train of carriages and horse-litters, with a troop of seven hundred wellmounted and superbly arrayed horsemen. At the Escorial Charles remained for two days, where he was entertained with regal hospitality by Philip, and shown all the wonders of the mighty convent-palace. On the third day, the whole party proceeded, at an early hour, to the Fresnada, a royal hunting-seat, situated in a wood on the side of the Guadarrama, about a league from the Escorial. In this wood a stag was chased and killed, after which a banquet was spread beneath the trees. The parting hour had now arrived. Charles tenderly embraced the king; took leave of the queen and the two princes; and bade a last adieu to the Infanta. A last adieu, we say, for he never beheld her more. A little marble column reared in the wood marks the spot where this parting occurred. Shortly after the separation at the Fresnada, two troops might be seen moving in opposite directions; one descending towards the Escorial, the other climbing the rugged sides of the Guadarrama. Charles found the fleet awaiting him at Santander.. On embarking on the Prince Royal, he observed to the Earl of Rutland, who received him, and congratulated him on his safe arrival, "It was great weakness and folly in Olivarez to let me go so easily, after treating me so badly." Buckingham took care that the Spanish Match should be broken off, but he quickly made up another, and fulfilled his promise by finding Charles a consort in Henriette Marie. Would the prince have been happier if he had wedded the Infanta? END OF THE "HOUSE OF SEVEN CHIMNEYS." THE CHASE OF THE HEIRESS. A YACHTSMAN'S YARN. CHAPTER I. A BACHELOR OF THE ALBANY AND HIS MISERIES. As I entered his luxuriously-furnished bachelor rooms in the Albany, he rose from a piano, from which his fingers had been eliciting some melancholy notes, and, with the air of a man pretty well used up, pointed to the sofa, and sank into an arm-chair opposite me. "What's the matter?" I asked, observing his pale cheek and lacklustre eye. for "That the world has become stale, flat, and unprofitable, and that, except to enjoy an occasional cigar, there is little in it worth living for. Try one." Pushing, as he spoke, a box of Havannahs across the table, and lighting one himself, he leaned back as if overcome with the exertion. "Try falling in love," I said. "Stale," he answered, with a look of ineffable disgust. "I've tried that." "Scientific pursuits!" I suggested, in a no very confident tone. "You have a mind." "Flat-flat. Don't speak of such an idea," was his reply. "Politics. Plunge into the excitement of a contested election!" Unprofitable-most unprofitable, and decidedly fatiguing. No man in his senses ever touches politics, in my opinion; which accounts for the idiotic way things are managed," he answered, languidly. "Travel!" "What! be bored on the day of starting, and every successive day, and know that the farther one gets from home the longer must be the duration of the horrible process. How can you, my dear Frothyton, suggest so cruel an expedient!" he exclaimed, leaning slightly forward, and then falling slowly back again. I saw, however, that I had stirred him up a little, and a bright idea having that moment occurred to me, that I might mature it I threw myself back after my friend's example, and allowed a wreath of smoke from the fragrant weed which I held in my hand to curl upwards, and find its way through the open window. Smokers especially yachtsmen smokers-are, I have remarked, fond of dwelling on an idea when one has been caught, not allowing it to escape before the arrival of another as pleasing. Therein is wisdom. It is not given to all men to conceive bright ideas with rapidity. It is impossible to predict when another may occur. Also the experience of yachtsmen teaches them never to let a rope go with one hand till the other has got a firm hold. While ruminating on my idea, I may let it be known that my VOL. LVIII. Z a host was Sir Griffith Edgell, a young, good-looking baronet, with very limited income, though the nominal owner of a remarkably fine but terribly encumbered estate. "Well, Frothy, what is it?" he at length asked, turning his halfshut eyes towards me. "This is my advice"-I spoke deliberately-" don't fall in love on any account. But-seek out a wealthy heiress with many suitors, win her in spite of them, and marry. This will afford you ample excitement for months to come." As I said this he opened his eyes wide and rose to his feet, standing on the rug with his coat-tails to the empty grate. a "Frothyton, I thought that you knew me better than to propose such a thing!" he exclaimed, lifting up his arm unconsciously. "The man who sells himself for money is a base ba hound; he who sacrifices woman's happiness, which he does if he marries her without affection, for his own selfish purposes, is no better; and, rather than do either, I would start on an exploring expedition to the centre of Africa, join the next foreign legion to serve the Kaiser, the Pope, or some band of South American revolutionists, or I would go up in a balloon; but really, my dear fellow, you must have fatigued yourself in conceiving such an idea, as you have me by mentioning it. I'll order sherry and seltzer-water for our mutual benefit." And, ringing the bell, he sank back into his chair. "You could not have been in earnest." "No, indeed, honestly I was not," I answered. "I wished to rouse you out of your lethargy, and, now I see of what exertion you are capable, I must insist on your coming down with me to-morrow to join Harry Willoughby on board his yacht, the Wave, at Southampton, where she will come to receive us. He commissioned me not to leave you till you had accepted his invitation, and had promised to put your house in order to render your return for some months unnecessary." "A bachelor has little trouble on that latter point," he answered, glancing round the room. "Should I not come back, my cousin Dick will be duly thankful, and will walk in here and live as I have done. Thank Willoughby. I agree. I'll order Snell to pack my portman teau." CHAPTER II. THE BACHELOR DISCOVERS HOW YACHTSMEN LIVE. WILLOUGHBY's cutter, the Wave, of a hundred and ten tons, lay a little way down the Southampton Water, in sight of the town. Edgell was faithful to his engagement, and at the pier we found the Wave's gig ready to take us off to her, with his valet and three if not more portmanteaus, besides carpet-bags, a dressing-case, and writing-desk, which the latter had considered it necessary to bring for his master. Willoughby, with whom I had been cruising for some weeks past, was a very good fellow, with a comfortable ten thousand or more a year, but so impressed had he been by his lady-mother, I fancy, with the high value set on wealth, and so little with his own personal attractions, that, convinced if he made up to a girl without fortune she would marry him for his, he was on the look-out for one with money. This was a pity, as he was just the style of fellow many a girl would have married had he been only a subaltern in a marching regiment, and he might really have selected from among the best and choicest of England's daughters. We had been cruising in the North Seas, and had lately come back for the regattas, undecided in what direction we should next turn the vessel's head. Willoughby was delighted to see Edgell, who was, he knew, notwithstanding his assumed affectation, sterling at the core-the soul of honour. Sir Griffith's eye brightened as he looked round on the exquisitely clean deck, the brightly-polished brasswork, the delicatelypainted bulwarks, the carved tiller, the large skylights, the snowwhite canvas and taunt mast, and, more than all, at the crew, a dozen broad-shouldered, whiskered fellows, in their white trousers and shoes, worked shirts, with the yacht's name on their hats, any one of them a prize on board a man-of-war; and then the master, Willis, in his gold-laced cap and anchor buttons, proud of the yacht, proud of the club to which she belonged, and prouder still of himself and his own seamanship. Still more pleased was Sir Griffith when he got below, with the handsome main cabin, its swing mahogany tables and lamps, its luxurious sofas and chairs, its contrivances of all sorts, and the comfortable sleeping-berths, fitted with every convenience the most fastidious could require, the commodious pantry, and then the kitchen, shining with burnished copper, clean as a lady's boudoir-Soyer would have approved of it. "You yachting men do live luxuriously," observed the young baronet, as he sank on a sofa, which for comfort his own club could scarcely match. "I had no idea of the sort of thing. Why, Frothy, didn't you suggest yachting to me?" "Because I might as well have suggested oyster-dredging. I wished you to try it first," I answered. "Wait till you have seen more of it." After an exquisite luncheon, we got under weigh and ran across to Cowes. With regard to the cuisine, if Willoughby was not up to the matter, I flatter myself that I was so. I took care to have everything perfect, I having for this purpose secured the services of a well-trained cook, possessed of a high sense of the importance of his art, and laid in a store of every delicacy which Fortnum and Mason could supply; so I need say no more on that subject, except that it met with Sir Griffith's unqualified approbation on all occasions. He was still more pleased when we were under weigh, the sun shining, the blue water glittering, a fresh breeze filling our sails, vessels of all sizes and rigs gliding here and there, and we passing everything we came near. "By Jove! she does walk the water like a thing of life," he exclaimed, as he paced the deck with more animation that I ever before saw him express. Bright and glorious broke the morning of the chief day of the regatta. There was a strong gathering of the squadron, and a good number of yachts from Ireland, the West of England, and the Thames, had assembled, and now lay surrounding us with loosened sails, and different coloured burgees flying from their mastheads. A steamer or two, a few large merchantmen in the Roads, a man-of-war off Osborne, and the starting vessel dressed with flags, increased the gaiety of the scene. "Frothy, I had no idea of it," said Sir Griffith, coming on deck in his dressing-gown, and inhaling the salt breeze with evident satisfaction. During several subsequent days he frequently repeated the expression, as fresh experiences of yachting life came upon him. Now all was bustle, the racing yachts were taking up their berths, boats were pulling to and fro, the smaller craft were getting under weigh and standing out from among the crowd. The first gun is fired, the gaily-dressed club-house is crowded with wealthy and noble spectators, the esplanade and quays are thronged with a less wealthy and more vociferous multitude, as are the vessels in the harbour and the decks of several steamers, spluttering and buzzing about like bluebottle flies in the sunshine. The second gun is fired, and like magie the racers are covered with a cloud of snow-white canvas, round go their heads, and off they dart for the Nab. We followed under all sail, and as the Wave did not go round the buoys, Sir Griffith had the opportunity of seeing the whole race. "Beats horse-racing, which, by-the-by, never interested me much," he remarked; "lasts longer-more science-more thought-more healthy for mind and body-less risk of being cheated, and then one can take an active part in it." CHAPTER III. A COWES BALL, AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE. In those days I used to go to balls, so did Willoughby, and without difficulty we induced Edgell, who declared himself up to anything, even, he really believed, to such an operation as dancing, to accompany us on the following evening to the club ball. It was a capital one. Many of the élite of London society graced it, and what with a few strangers from other parts, all the island belles, young ladies, some terrestrial, and others aquatic, in their habits, there was a good sprinkling of pretty girls. I was talking with Willoughby and another man between the windows, not far from the orchestra, soon after we entered, when we observed Edgell (who was standing a little apart from us with his arms folded, not in the remotest degree aware that he looked sentimental or affected) direct a glance of no little interest across the room. "By Jove! she is lovely," he exclaimed, in a tone of unusual earnestness, speaking rather to himself than to us. "Who can she be?" "Do you mean one of those two girls with the old gentleman, who have just come in?" asked Willoughby, directing his glances the way our friend was looking. "Of course; the sweet young creature who leans on the right arm of that fine old man near the door," answered the baronet, in a tone which showed that he was rather annoyed at the expression of his feelings having been overheard. |