"Oh! what a pity such a fine day! I wanted so to ride with Julian."

"My dear Augusta, what have all your rides with Julian done for you?... Now don't be silly; come and be as amiable as you can to-day-make a conquest of the old earl-if you do not accept him, it will bring Julian to the point, perhaps; but I own in your place, having certainly great reason to be displeased with Julian, I would astonish him by telling him I was affianced to an earl-besides, he will then perhaps in time turn to Ellen; I am sure she likes him, and I doubt whether she will ever get any one else, for the elder Dashington's visits must be on your account: Ellen never speaks to him. Oh! leave Julian to time and Ellen, and surprise the world by dawning on it in a coronet! Oh, that I had my time over again! as Madame Roland says, women know not the value of their beauty till they have lost it.' Oh, why has not age the attraction of youth, or youth the discretion of age!"

"Indeed, my dear mamma, I do not think

it very discreet to notice that old fellow so much. You know we were not formally introduced to him, and I can see that he thinks a vast deal more of himself and his title than we do, and actually appears to consider it a condescension to notice us. The glances, half of admiration, half of protection, which he gives me, almost compel me to laugh in his face. He has the impertinence, too, to squeeze my hand. I am much mistaken in him if he is not an antiquated mixture of the coxcomb, the knave, and the fool."

Well, then, accept Sir Peter; he is none of the three."

No," said Augusta, sighing, and after a pause, "if I do sacrifice the warm impulses of my heart, if I do sell myself, it shall be for a coronet. I think Sir Peter somewhat vulgar and decidely plebeian. No, I prefer old Gripeall. By the by, mamma, Sir Valentine Dashington asked Ellen yesterday in the gardens, if we should be at home to-day. Now he can have but one object; I think he must mean to come forward. Perhaps he

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would be a better match; he has five thousand a year, and is not more than five and thirty." Well, let Ellen receive him. His anxiety will only be increased by your absence; but now, turn all your thoughts to bringing old Gripeall to the point. Remember, 'Too many lovers will puzzle a maid.' And now, go and put on your new paille de riz, with the crimson-tipped feathers; dress your hair in ringlets, they dazzle old eyes, and be in high spirits and excellent humour."

"Julian does deserve to lose me," said Augusta to herself, with a sigh, as the glass reflected her triumphant countenance.

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Yes,

a coronet would become a brow like mine! A title is all I want, but that old, forward, conceited earl! Alas! alas!"

Lord Gripeall was not quite ready when our plotters drove to the door, and when he did appear, Augusta was particularly struck with a certain bold and assuming manner and a freedom of address for which she would have liked to bid the footmen thrash him with their long sticks.

His very puckered face was literally covered with a network of red veins; his thin lips announced the narrow-hearted miser; and a cheap, but redundant auburn wig, with some very ill-made false teeth, proved at once the wish to shine, and the fear to spend-the economical dandy, a rare, but yet existing character. His eyes were of a whitish blue, watchful, except when fixed on women, and then they attempted a tender expression, but, however, only achieved a look of idiocy. He was tall and bent, fond of gay colours, and cheap jewellery. Around his long and crooked neck was a cambric-muslin stock, of a gay, light plaid; his coat was a grass-green cut-away, with yellow basket buttons. Yet, spite of nature and of art, there was a something distinguished about him, and, vulgarly as he was dressed, no one could for a moment doubt that he was an aristocrat.

Mrs. Lindsay was delighted with his lordship, but Augusta did not half like the air which he said, " And how are you to-day, my pretty maid?" nor his having entirely forgotten that they were going to Hampton Court.

Several remarks he made, by which it was very easy to see that he did not consider them of the same class with himself, offended the proud Augusta, and it required all her mother's glances, nudges, and frowns to prevent her from giving his lordship some very severe replies and tart rebukes.

"Have you seen anything of either of my boys lately?" he asked, pushing himself much closer to Augusta than she found agreeable, and looking at her with a ludicrous impertinence which, while it provoked, compelled her to a smile, which he took for encouragement. "I hear they're always dancing attendance on you or Miss Cheshire."

"Pray, do not couple me with a Miss Cheshire."

"Why not, lady fair?"

"I leave that to your lordship's discernment."

"Why then, confound me,-I beg your pardon- if I know why. I believe she's a very respectable young woman, and though a son of mine ought to look higher, to be sure,