expected; and for the name, there is a something in it so irresistibly euphonious, that I accuse Miss Jones of having had some share in its invention. Guess, guess, guess?"

"I am the worst hand in the world a riddle-me-ree, so take pity on my femenine curiosity, and tell me the name of this new Louis le desiré."

"It was in very pity that I withheld it, seeing the fearful effect it has produced on two of my friends; but, since you will tempt the danger, the risk be on your own head. Allow me to introduce you, nominally, to the Hon. Reginald Fitzgerald de Roos, only son of Baron Fitzallan, of Fitzallan Castle, in the county of Northumberland. And now tell me what effect this talismanic name has produced?"

"As much surprise and wonderment as you could have anticipated. What can induce Mr. de Reos to settle himself in the country, before the shooting or hunting season; but I suppose he only intends remaining a few days?"

"Oh yes, he is to remain six months at least!" exclaimed the young ladies at the same moment; and then Miss Carleton, in her usually flighty manner, detailed all she had heard concerning the new-comer.

"Mr. Wheeble has lent him the house for a twelvemonth, and his horses and servants are come down, and he is expected himself to-day or to-morrow; and he is very handsome, and very elegant, and very rich, and all the ladies are in love with him; but they say he is very particular, and that his wife must be perfect; and they say too, he is very lively, and a beautiful waltzer; and that he will make the place quite gay, for he is very fond of female society, and will give lots of parties. I am so glad, for it is very dull and stupid!"

"But what is his inducement for coming here at all?" again inquired Helen.

"I understand," replied Miss Jones, in a sentimental tone, "he says he is weary of the gaude and glare of pomp and pride, and heartless nothings of the great world; and that he has long sighed to wander amid the sylvan scenes, or recline beneath some umbrageous oak, the giant of the forest, listening to the gentle murmur of streams, the bleating of the fleecy flocks, or the delicious warbling of the nightingale."

"Indeed!" said Helen, laughing incredulously, "a most marvellously simple taste for an admired young man about town, heir to a title. It is to be a second edition of Arcadia, I see; so I conclude we must all sport croaoks, and transform ourselves into Phillises and Damarises of those innocent times.

Permit me, young ladies, to offer you the choice of all my flocks, and I will speak to the steward to have a sheepwashing for the occasion. But amongst your enumeration of his accomplishments, you forgot to mention his singing Moore's most tender ditties to perfection."

"Does he? Then you know him?" "Only by report."

"What did you hear of him?"

"Just what a missy flirty girl of seventeen, who had had no mother to guide her, might be expected to say of a handsome, lively, and elegant young man of six-and-twenty, heir to a title, and universally admired; and who, above all, had said and looked more than one specious flattery about the languishing lustre of her dark eyes."

"Ah, Miss St. Maur!" said Miss Jones sentimentally, "you are laughing at us; but though you have hitherto been allsufficient to yourself, the time may yet come when you will feel the exquisite delight and enchantment of meeting with a sympathetic soul."

"All in due time," said Helen, laughing; though it might be that a thought of Dormer made that laugh a little less light than usual. "But who comes here with his britzcha and four? Your neighbourhood is become gay indeed. Louis le desiré himself, perhaps?"

All eyes were directed to the approaching carriage, and Helen repented having in her gaiety started the supposition, when she saw that the Misses Carleton and Jones were determined nothing should escape their observation. The hill, up which the young ladies were walking, was long and tedious rather than steep, bounded by high green banks on either side; and from the nature of its material and the late dry weather, was almost ankle-deep in dust, except just at the edge, where there was a narrow green path. The bank was too steep to attempt to climb it, without its having the appearance of romping; and aware of Miss Carleton's inclination to turn the appearance into a reality, Helen forbore to make the attempt, and made up her mind to bear the infliction with all the philosophy she could summon, though every movement of the rapidly approaching britzcha raised such clouds of dust, that they endured the horrors of smothering by anticipation. Still she regretted she had not her parasol to protect her from the dust and the stare of the traveller, should he be inclined to return the prying looks of her two companions. But nothing seemed further from the traveller's mind than any act in the slightest

degree discourteous. When the britzcha had approached near enough for Miss Carleton to decide, in far too loud a tone to please Helen, that its sole occupant was quite an Adonis; the traveller leant forward and gave the postillions particular orders to walk their horses past the ladies, and be careful not to dust them. The orders were strictly obeyed, and the look and slight inclination of the head, not amounting to a bow, as he came opposite to them, spoke so much of courtesy and respectful admiration, that the most critical must have approved.

""Tis he, 'tis he!" almost screamed Miss Carleton, in her delight. "I saw the coronet on his carriage. I see he has just stopped your servant to ask who we are.

66

Pray be a little more quiet, and not speak so loud," said Helen, reprovingly, and trying to prevent the young lady from looking back.

"Nonsense!" replied Miss Carleton, pertly, "no one likes shy people; and for my part, I think they are always very stupid.'

"There is a great difference between shyness and propriety."

66

Oh, you are so very demure! If I had your fortune I would do any thing. I wonder what he said to the servant, and what he thought of us?"

"Neither can be very material to your peace of mind;" returned Helen, fearful she might question the domestics.

"I don't care; I should like to know. I am sure it was very polite in him to walk the horses, and he is very handsome; such eyes! and such hair! and such a beautiful eyeglass! I hope papa will call upon him."

"The air of graceful command with which he issued his orders, and the sympathy for human suffering which the silver tones of his clear and liquid voice exhibited, are proofs of his high descent, and delicate and enlightened mind. Then his chivalrous motto, 'D'Amour et Loyauté.' Oh, I am sure he adores Byron, and Moore, and is full of sympathetic feeling and gentle sensibility.",

"Of that there can be no doubt. With such a motto! and such an air! and such a voice! and such a pair of eyes! and such an eye-glass! he must be the epitome of romance and perfection!" said Miss Mahon, with much gravity, in answer to Miss Jones's rhapsody, whilst Helen with difficulty repressed her laughter, as she added,

VOL. I.

"And I warn you in the words of some old ballad :

Now I forbid ye ladies a',
That wear goud in your hair,
To come or gang by Carter Ha'a,
For young Tam Lane is there.'

and if report speak true, the Hon. Reginald Fitzgerald de Roos is one,

Who bends his knee at every shrine,
And leaves his heart at none.""

"Thank you for the warning. I can keep my own any day," replied the flippant Miss Carleton, drawing herself up, and placing her enormous sleeves so as to make them look still more enormous. "Perhaps you speak from experience; I am sure Mr. de Roos will be ten times as agreeable as that Mr. Dormer people made such a fuss about, with his proud looks, as if we were only fit to be his slaves; and his voice, that was only heard once in an hour, like a church-clock. I am sure I think there will be no comparison between them."

"I should imagine not," replied our heroine, without noticing her ill nature; "if Mr. Dormer spoke but once in the hour, like the church-clock, like that also his face and his words always conveyed valuable information."

At this moment they were joined by Mr. John Carleton, and almost before he had concluded his devoirs to the other young ladies, his sister began,-" Oh, John! you must call on Mr. de Roos. We have just met him, and he is so polite, and so agreeable, and so handsome, you can't think. We must cause papa to ask him on Friday."

“I think I shall call upon him," replied her brother, as he arranged his shirt collar, and then glanced at his well-booted leg, "for Johnson tells me he has got a horse very like my Conqueror, that won at Newmarket. It cannot be as handsome though, I am sure. Now I think of it, Miss St. Maur, you have never seen my horse Conqueror; an uncommon fine animal, I assure you! Come now, and I will show him to you."

Again the temptation to laugh was almost irresistible; for she had seen the horse about twenty times, each invitation prefaced by the same speech. It had been his last question two years since; it was his first now. With some difficulty she suppressed the risible propensity, and having reached the top of the hill, and the gate to Mansford, she took her leave,

accompanied by the two young ladies, whom she had offered to set down on her way home.

CHAPTER XII.

Whate'er he did was done with so much ease,

In him alone 'twas natural to please;

His motions all accompanied with grace,
And paradise was opened in his face.

Oh, wad some pow'r the giftie gie us,
To see oursels as others see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
And foolish notion :

What airs in dress a'n gait wad lea'e us.

DRYDEN.

BURNS.

TIME has passed; and, behold! the day of Mrs. Carleton's grand dinner has arrived, and our heroine is on her way to attend it; but before she can reach Mansford, we must claim the old-fashioned privilege of introducing the place and its inhabitants. No sooner was the lodge gate passed, than an acute observer might have understood the character of the person who held the chief control over the grounds and buildings. There were rows of pales thrown down at opposite extremities of a long range, that it would have taken double the number of workmen employed to put up in time to prevent the intrusion of sundry lean cows and half-starved ponies, which deserted the well-fed lanes and hedge rows for the more luxurious pasturage of the park, as an inclosure of forty acres was called. There were old trees marked for destruction, and some of their tops and lops encumbering the road, whilst young ones were withering to be planted, and scorching at the idea of such an unseasonable removal. There was a dab of mortar here, a pile of bricks there, a chimney begun, a garden wall in embryo, a stable half pulled down, and a coachhouse in ruins. Who could be an hour in the society of Mrs. Carleton, and doubt that she held rule over the building and unbuilding, planting in and cutting down, paling, gravelling, and what not? She must have been descended from Thalaba the Destroyer. When first married, her means had been con