Augusta, doubtful whether to encourage or to discard him at once.

"I mean that I am at once the happiest and the most miserable of men, my charming girl."

"How so?"

66

Happy in the relenting kindness I read in that sweet face, in the affection I perceive in that tremblingly withdrawn hand, in the encouragement of those beaming eyes; and miserable that the vile distinctions of rank and station prevent me from doing as some happier and lowlier lover might, imploring that fair hand as the best boon this world could bestow. Yet listen, divine Augusta! If you love me, as I am vain enough to hope, although I cannot offer you a coronet, yet there are ties not less sacred than those of wedlock......”

"If you offered me a coronet, I would spurn it from the hand of so base a dotard!" said Augusta, her cheeks burning, her eyes flashing with uncontrollable indignation. “I am in every respect your superior, and were you not a madman, you would never presume to raise

If

your eyes to me, even though it were to make me a countess; being a madman, I do not choose to remain in this vehicle with you. you please to get out quietly, and make the best excuse you can, you will be spared a disagreeable exposure before my mother and the servants, but......"

"My sweet soul! you cannot be in earnest -listen to me," and he presumed to put his arm round her waist.

Augusta pulled the check-string. Never was there a more ludicrous scene; never did man, much less earl, cut so contemptible a figure.

"What is it, my lord?-what is it, love?" screamed Mrs. Lindsay.

"His lordship finds this place somewhat too close-too hot; he wishes to walk the remainder of the way home."

"The remainder of the way! Why, it is five miles. Is it possible, my lord ?" "Oh, yes, by all manner of means!"

Mrs. Lindsay looked at her daughter. Her excited and determined expression conveyed

to the mother a faint suspicion of the truth.

She dreaded a scene.

His lordship panted

to be free from the eagle-eyed and offended beauty.

"Are you, then, a great pedestrian, my

lord ?"

"Yes-yes-very," faltered his lordship, alighting on a pair of spindle-shanks.

"I am better now, so I will come into the carriage," said the mamma, full of alarm and curiosity.

"Drive on," cried Augusta, to the astonished servants. And his lordship was left in the middle of the road, and in a cloud of dust. Those interested in him will be glad to hear that, after the longest walk he had taken for years, he was at last conveyed, in an omnibus, minus sixpence, to within a few streets of his own lordly mansion. And Augusta, the excitement over, burst into tears of agonised shame; and it was long before her mother could gather, from her broken sobs, what had befallen her.

"And this," at length, she said "this

comes of the vile, degrading system of matchmaking of tuft-hunting. Mother, I have

done with it for ever. I am too proud to become great through such means! deep humiliation is a lesson for life!"

This

Mrs. Lindsay had nothing to say but "Poor dear!" to her daughter, and, "Vile old wretch! wicked old reprobate! impertinent old coxcomb!" of the late popular "love of a lord!" And then both ladies agreed that he must be insane, and consented to hush up the affair. But vanity is the true hydra; one head cut off, another forthwith springs up; and Augusta's hopes revived, and she almost forgot her late humiliation, when she found Sir Valentine Dashington in the drawingroom, where he had been for some time awaiting her. She was delighted to hear, too, that Lord Ogleton had requested a private interview with her uncle, and was at that moment closeted with him.

"I have only to choose, it seems," said Augusta, to herself, as, in passing through the suite of rooms, she refreshed her black ring

lets by a new twirl, and admired the bright flash of her eyes and flush of her cheeks. Mrs. Lindsay had proceeded in the carriage on an excursion to a cheap shop; she had not heard how important an interview awaited her daughter.

Sir Valentine was a silent, reserved, and very handsome man. Augusta had always felt some awe of him; but, as he stood, evidently pale with anxiety, and therefore very interesting to one lately so humbled in her own conceit, she rapidly resolved that he should be the man.

He was a person of very few words.

"I have been some time awaiting this honour," he said.

Augusta explained the cause, and apologized sweetly for the delay.

"Excuse what may seem abrupt- but my happiness is at stake."

Augusta blushed and smiled.

"Are you disposed in my favour?”

"Yes," faltered the lady.

"Then I am secure of

your

interest that

is a great point gained."