The ancient servant, on whom four years had passed lightly and favouringly, opened the door to Clarence, with his usual smile of greeting and familiar yet respectful salutation, and ushered our hero into a room, furnished with the usual fastidious and rather feminine luxury which characterized Talbot's tastes.

Sitting with his back turned to the light, in a large easy-chair, Clarence found the wreck of the once gallant, gay Lothario.
There was not much alteration in his countenance since we last saw him; the lines, it is true, were a little more decided, and the cheeks a little more sunken; but the dark eye beamed with all its wonted vivacity, and the delicate contour of the mouth preserved all its physiognomical characteristics of the inward man.

He rose with somewhat more difficulty than he was formerly wont to do, and his limbs had lost much of their symmetrical proportions; yet the kind clasp of his hand was as firm and warm as when it had pressed that of the boyish attache four years since; and the voice which expressed his salutation yet breathed its unconquered suavity and distinctness of modulation.

After the customary greetings and inquiries were given and returned, the young man drew his chair near to Talbot's, and said,-- "You sent for me, dear sir; have you anything more important than usual to impart to me ?--or--and I hope this is the case--have you at last thought of any commission, however trifling, in the execution of which I can be of use ?" "Yes, Clarence, I wish your judgment to select me some strawberries,--you know that I am a great epicure in fruit,--and get me the new work Dr.Johnson has just published.

There, are you contented?
And now, tell me all about your horse; does he step well?
Has he the true English head and shoulder?
Are his legs fine, yet strong?
Is he full of spirit and devoid of vice ?" "He is all this, sir, thanks to you for him." "Ah!" cried Talbot,-- "'Old as I am, for riding feats unfit, The shape of horses I remember yet'" "And now let us hear how you like Ranelagh; and above all how you liked the ball last night." And the vivacious old man listened with the profoundest appearance of interest to all the particulars of Clarence's animated detail.