NEW ACQUAINTANCES.

play with him, as well as to observe what
Martha was about.

Mr. Chester and the old lady began to
converse a little; and Mrs. Clavering told
him that she was just settled in a house.
about seven miles from Fairdown, which
belonged to her son, Mr. Clavering, Martha’s
father. Her son, she said, had lost his wife
two years ago; and had been travelling ever
since, while she had taken charge of Martha
at ler own house near London; but that
now Mr. Clavering had determined to turn
his mind to farming, and had taken a large
farm, called Ellesdown-place, and she and
Martha had come to live with him. She
went on to say, that she knew Mr. Chester
by sight, and that her son was going to call
at Fairdown-court to deliver a letter or a
message from Captain John Chester, whom
he had known at Malta. Mr. Chester
expressed much pleasure in the anticipation
of a visit from Mr. Clavering; and said that
the greatest want he felt in a country neigh-
bourhood, was the want of pleasant and profi-

58