of her eternal displeasure if he followed her one step, she took her leave.

He was wrapt in wonder,-follow her he dared not, and yet to lose sight of her without knowing who she was, was insupportable. Mrs. Racket's party now drew near, and Flutter, a light whimsical good-humoured coxcomb, came up to Doricourt, and begged him to join them," Harkee, Flutter, tell me for heaven's sake who is the charming creature who passed through that door, just as you entered-do you know her?"

"That lady-that-oh yes-I know her very well -she is as you say a charming creature-very charming indeed-she's-kept by Lord George Jennet !"

Doricourt started back; kept!-a kept mistress? his heart turned sick at the bare idea. Old Hardy heard this impertinent assertion of Flutter, who would have said the same thing of his mother rather than appear ignorant of any body, from a chimney sweeper to an emperor, and now hastened to Doricourt, to glad him with the joyful news-that the lady, he was in love with, was his own Letty-but Doricourt supposing this was meant as a sort of indirect reproof for his neglect, in not inquiring whether she was to be at the masquerade, or making an offer of his services to protect her, angrily told him, it was rather too soon to play the fatherin-law yet, and left him in the midst of his entreaties to stay and hear him.

The old man, provoked at Doricourt's pettishness, declared that now he would plot with Letty, and not against her ; and if he was not revenged on my gentleman for his snubbing-say his name was not Hardy.

Doricourt instantly left the masquerade, and hastened home: his mind was bewildered; this bewitching creature had taken firm possession of his soul;

yet so exalted were the sentiments she had inspired, that he could not wish to possess her on any thing less than honourable terms; and the idea of her being a woman of dissolute morals made him shudder. He resolved not to fulfil the contract of marriage with Miss Hardy-the estate he would willingly forfeit but marry her, he would not-could not: he then consulted his friend Saville, but first inquired whether he knew the mistress of Lord George Jennet; and his description so exactly corresponded with the fascinating creature who had bewitched him, that he could not admit a shadow of doubt as to the truth of Flutter's story. All his wish was now to get rid of Hardy and his daughter, and quit England immediately. Mr. Saville admired the mad scheme, if he could but go through with it; and Flutter being just then announced, he begged him to give a touch of madness, as he would set the report afloat, like lightning: the moment he entered, Doricourt seized him, and furiously exclaimed, "Look-look, this is he-who has sent my poor soul without coat or breeches, to be tossed in the air like a duck feather -Villain give me my soul again."

Upon my soul I have not got it"-replied the terrified Flutter, endeavouring to release himself

from the powerful grasp of the pretended maniacSaville drew him away, and getting him quietly seated on the sofa, told Flutter a piteous tale of his nsanity; an Italian princess at the masquerade had given him a drug which affected him every full of the moon.-At mention of the moon, Doricourt broke into a raving fit; and when Flutter could make his escape, he hastened away breathless, with the news of Doricourt's madness-which was spread half over the town in less than an hour.

The delighted Letitia was so happy, she seemed to tread on air,—and longed for the moment of discovery yet though she longed, it was an event she dreaded. She found her father very angry with Doricourt, for his rudeness at the masquerade ;"Zounds, Letty, (said he), why the fellow whipped round upon his heel, and snapped me as short, as if I had been a beggar woman with six children, and he overseer of the parish ;-I have laid awake the whole night thinking of plans to plague him, and all to no use, the one drives the other out of my head."

Mrs. Racket, who loved a jest, and who owed Doricourt a little grudge for his hint at her coquetry, and that he could allow for a lady's painting," was willing to adopt some plan to tease him a little ; and it was at length agreed that Hardy should feign himself ill, pretend to be dying, and urge the immediate marriage of Doricourt with Letitia, under the impression of her gawky character; he was sent for, and came to the house-madness and all; but the arch and quick-sighted Mrs. Racket soon discovered the cheat, and turned him into ridicule ;-—at first he was enraged; but finding he had not any chance of escape, owned that his madness was assumed, in order to avoid a marriage with Miss Hardy, whom he did not love; nay more-that he was attached to another woman. While speaking, he was summoned to the chamber of death; his

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spirits were greatly affected at the sight of old Hardy, the friend, the parent of his early years; and not able to resist his pathetic appeals, the united persuasions and entreaties of Sir George Touchwood, Mr. Saville, and the rest, he agreed to marry Letitia, who stood near, wrapped up in a large dressing-gown and nightcap: the licence, and clergyman were all ready, the ceremony was performed, and Doricourt, coldly kissing his wife-left the room, followed by the various visitors assembled to witness the marriage. He wandered and down the saloon almost in a state of distraction; at length he inquired for his wife and as he spoke the word, it seemed almost to stick in his throat!!

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At that moment Mr. Saville informed Doricourt that a lady desired to speak to him; he started, it was the incognita who had so bewitched him at the masquerade she addressed him in a solemn tone, and manner," I told you-you should see me in an hour, when you least expected me; and I have kept my word!"

Some one present informing her that Mr. Doricourt was just married; the lady expressed her indignation at his perfidy, having but a few hours before (as she said) sworn eternal fidelity to her: Doricourt, at length recovering from the surprise into which this unexpected visit had thrown him, reproached her with cruelty in thus intruding upon him, knowing her own degraded situation; declaring that had she been worthy to become his wife, he would not have pledged himself to another to save the lives of half mankind!

"I cannot understand you, Sir (replied the lady), to what situation do you allude ?"

“I must blush, Madam, to repeat it in presence of this good company, but I am not ignorant, that you are the companion of Lord George Jennet." "Ridiculous pretence,-no, sir, know to your confu

sion, my name, my honour, are unspotted as hers you have married-my fortune is large-my birth equal to your own-my hand and fortune were at your command-but it is now past-farewell!"

Stay, I implore you-I entreat you stay"-exclaimed Doricourt, in a piteous accent; then glancing round the room, seized Flutter by the collar, who terrified at the mischief he had occasioned, exclaimed "it was all a mistake; that he did not mean that lady-he had never seen her in his life before."

Doricourt, almost exasperated to madness, shook him so violently, that it was with difficulty he could be got out of his clutches; at that moment Hardy in his dressing gown and nightcap-rushed into the room, and inquired how he dared make so much fuss about another woman when he was just married to his daughter ?"-begged Mrs. Racket to wipe the powder from his face, and told Doricourt laughing that his illness was all a fetch, to make him marry Letty!

Dericourt was disgusted at this mean subterfuge; and informed him, that as his name and fortune were all either his daughter or himself aimed at, they might take them; but, that he should quit his native land, never, never to return: then addressing the stranger, he implored her to grant him a sight of her face, that the remembrance might be the consolation of his solitude, and the companion of his exile!

The lady now became extremely agitated; her bosom heaved, and the tears traced their way below her mask. All were silent; and Doricourt stood in trembling anxiety-after a short pause she spoke"Oh Doricout (she cried) the slight action of taking off my mask, stamps me the most blessed, or miserable of women! !"

"Oh ! keep me not in this dreadful suspense !— let me behold your face!"