"An' it please you I would rather a cup of small ale,” replied Mabel, at which the lady and her tirewoman laughed very pleasantly.

fit.

"Small ale, dear heart!" exclaimed Lady Com

"Such drink is never for ladies-'tis fit only for serving men, and such low persons.'

"Then perchance, a draught of spring water might be had readily ?" asked her companion, at which the other two laughed more pleasantly than before.

"Water!" cried the lady at last. "I'faith I should be much to blame were I to let thee swallow such unwholesome stuff. Here is wine for thee, and plenty-the choicest withal that ever came of the grape."

"But I am monstrous thirsty," observed Mabel, "and wine is of too great a strength for one so unused to it as am I, to quench their thirst with."

"Tush, my sweet creature,” replied Lady Comfit; "this wine is not so strong as small ale, be assured of it. Is it Abigail ?" asked she of her attendant.

""Tis made expressly for ladies' drinking, an' it please you, my lady," answered Abigail, very readily. "A child might drink a bottle of it with as much innocence as though it was mere water.”

"Without doubt," added her mistress, taking one of the bottles and pouring part of its rich contents into a silver goblet. "I will myself shew thee how

harmless a beverage it is." So saying she raised the brimming vessel to her lips and swallowed it at a draught. Assured by this that there could be no harm in it, the unsuspicious Mabel allowed herself to take a moderate draught, seeing which her companions looked at each other with a peculiar smile, and presently, as she found the spicy nature of what she had eat so plentifully, made her mouth hot and dry, after the same pressing entreaties and earnest assurances, she repeated it. At last finding the simple girl could not be persuaded to eat or drink a mouthful more, the attendant cleared away the things, and Mabel was left alone with the lady.

Directly they were alone the latter drew her chair close to that of her young companion, and with an irresistable air of sincerity and friendliness, took one of the poor foundling's hands in her own.

"What a happy woman thou art!" exclaimed Lady Comfit, with wonderful emphasis, and observing Mabel looked as though she could not comprehend what should make her so very happy, added with increasing earnestness, "What a proud woman thou art!" This exclamation appeared to be less understood than the preceding. "At least thou shouldst be," added the lady, in a marked manner. "I doubt not there are thousands of women would give all they are worth in the world to have thy good fortune."

"Indeed !” cried Mabel, in a famous astonish

ment.

“Ay, that would they, my sweet creature,” cried her companion, pressing her hand very affectionately. "But who of them all hath thy desert? Art thou not formed to be loved as no woman was ever loved before ?" At hearing this the poor foundling appeared to marvel too greatly to say anything.

"O' my word, thou art like to become the envy of all women," continued Lady Comfit. "Methinks 'twould be a most pitiful shame to allow of such perfections as thou hast, to be shut up in an obscure place where they can be seen of none who would hold them in proper appreciation, whilst the powerfullest noble in the land is sighing of his heart away with a sweet hoping so fair a creature might be esteemed of him, cherished by him, and caressed by him in such fashion as she is most worthy of. But I will wager my life on't thou hast too noble a spirit to be of such poor commodity; and art of too kindly a disposedness to let a princely gentleman, anxious to gratify thy every wish, linger out his days in hopeless misery, for lack of that happiness thou alone art capable of bestowing."

"I?" exclaimed Mabel, incredulously. "Believe me, I know of no such person-have seen no such person. Surely there is some huge mistake in this."

"Never did truer thing occur," replied the lady.

VOL. II.

D

"It matters not that thou shouldst never have beheld him-be assured he hath seen thee, and, as it could not help being, at the first sight of so much ravishing beauty, his noble heart was taken close prisoner, and he hath ever since been in a passionate phrenzy of impatience for the gaining of thy dear love."

"Methinks 'tis a strange way of shewing such, to tear me from my friends," observed the poor foundling.

""Tis the way of these great ones, sweetest," answered her companion. "But 'tis done out of no disrespect, be assured; for he hath ordered thou shalt be treated with as much honour as though thou wert a crowned queen."

"'Tis exceeding strange!" said Mabel, marvelling the more, the more she heard.

"Thou wilt see him anon," added the other. "And doubt not he will love thee with so deep a fondness, he will leave thee no cause for one moment's disquietude. Thou wilt be made happy straight-and such happiness shalt thou enjoy as thou hast never had experience of. All that divinest love and boundless magnificence can effect, shall crown thy wishes-never ending pleasures shall entice thy inclinations the whole day long-the splendid pageantries of state-the homage bestowed on absolute power-the observances and ceremonials of highest rank shall be for thy particular

honour on all occasions; and wherever thou art inclined to turn thy steps, thou shalt meet with some new delight of infinite exquisiteness provided for no other end than to assist in making perpetual thy inconceivable felicity."

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"Indeed I know not what to say on such a matter," observed her young companion, somewhat bewildered at so magnificent a perspective. am so very humble a person, I cannot think myself fit to be raised to so proud a station; and in all sincerity I say it, I would rather back to my friends, to give place to some one more worthy."

"I will never allow of thy doing so foolish a thing," exclaimed Lady Comfit, in some seeming astonishment. "Thou must needs be the worst possible judge of the matter that exists; and I am thy friend, sweetest, and therefore the very properest to advise thee in such a case." And thereupon the lady squeezed the foundling's hand, and gazed on her more affectionately than ever.

"I should feel extremely bounden to you, would you counsel me what to do," said the simple girl. "In very truth, my humbleness seemeth to me utterly inconsistent with such grandeur as you have spoken of."

"Nay, 'tis thy modesty maketh thee think so," replied the other. "None can be so fit as thou art. Didst not note how famously thou didst become these costly vestments? Just so admirably wilt thou