has passed shall be remembered, but not repeated. De Roos and I can never be friends; fire and water might rather mingle in the same stream. But I dare not lift my hand against a fellow-man, to redress a private wrong; and even he would scarcely seek my life, though he would blight my prospects and stain my character. If he only ridiculed my person and manners, I frankly forgive him ;" and he fixed a penetrating look on Helen.

She looked confused, remembering he had made heavier charges; but she rallied almost instantly, and met his gaze without shrinking.

Only very extraordinary circumstances can warrant the disclosure of a private conversation. I accept your pledge of silence, and believe me, will not see through the glass of another in return, you must not let what I am going to say pain you. Being on such terms with Mr. De Roos, it may be unpleasant to apply to him in any way. Alford is already your friend; and my cousin, Mr. Euston, will not be less so."

"Do not think me such a churl as to feel pain at your kindness, because it brings more fully home the desolation of my fate; but I have no words to thank you. What I seek from De Roos and his father is justice. If they prove my claim to be false, they are quit of me for ever, as I will receive no favour at their hands; should they allow it, I shall purchase a commission and win glory or death nor will I hesitate to avail myself of your kindness. Alford has al

ready offered his interest, and I am not too proud to accept those favours which a noble mind can offer, and a noble mind receive."

"Remember then," said Helen, much moved, "you are not destitute of friends under any circumstances, and I claim your acquaintance for my cousin."

He answered only by a look, a slight inclination, and then turned away abruptly. But it was such a look, that Alford who came up at the moment stared after him in wonder; and report says, Helen never forgot it.

"What magic wand do you possess, Helen?" asked Alford. "There are all the people in the room, save some old dowagers, to whom he resigned seats, vowing Elliott is a stupid ill-looking bear; but no sooner do you speak to him, than he looks like Etna in a playful mood; all brightness, and I had almost said all beauty. What did you say to him?"

"Promised him Robert's interest joined to yours."

"That is your own under the veil of Robert's name: well, even he will not be jealous of Elliott."

"Something like it certainly, but no need to furnish the gossips with tales. They can find or invent enough without my aid. Are you disengaged? Poor Miss Mason has been sitting still all the evening scarcely noticed by any."

"So you want me to take pity on her! What do you think of that, Elliott? Miss St. Maur expects me to dance with all the poor, plain, dowdies in the room, because no one else will!"

I

"Miss St. Maur asks nothing but what she does herself. wish my rank were such as to enable me to fulfil her kind intentions."

"After such a speech I can linger no longer; but it is a horrid disappointment, for I thought she meant to ask me to dance with herself."

"You could not possibly suspect me of such an impropriety;" and she glanced archly at Elliott. "But away! or you will be too late."

"If you think it expedient that Miss Mason should bear the ridicule of the two despised ones dancing together, I am at your command."

"Thank you! After Alford has resigned her hand, she will I am sure, be delighted; and you shall be my vis-à-vis." "Like the pale moon winning our light from you."

"It is not requisite you should live in the Palace of Truth. I verily believe you have the fable ring in your possession." "I must answer in other words than my own:

'Her goodness and her worth to spy,
You need but gaze in Ellen's eye.
Not Katrine, in her mirror blue,

Gives back her shaggy banks more true,

Than every freeborn glance confest

The guileless movements of her breast.'"

"Then it seems I am to bear the blame of your embarrassing penetration. I doubt if the Ariosto of the North would approve of such a perversion of his poetry; and I must take lessons in deception, or I can never hope to keep a secret."

"Room, ladies, room!" exclaimed Alford, returning, and insisting on the two fair damsels granting him a seat between them.

"What is the matter?"

"Matter, Miss St. Maur? Matter enough! If you will

not keep off that horrid Mrs. Carleton, there will be murder before the evening is over;" and he fanned himself violently.

"It is a serious affair, I perceive; and we will do our devoir to prevent such a fearful catastrophe. But take pity on our curiosity, and tell us, did she scold for the confusion you caused at her dinner?"

"Nero's cruelty was nothing to yours! Reminding me of that démele, and the long harangue I endured during our drive home. It is worse, a thousand times worse. Positively the wretch has been telling every one that 'her son John had some thoughts of you at one time, but she was happy to say he soon gave them up; such a daughter-in-law would not have suited her at all!' I am only glad I heard her. I vouched for having seen John on his knees once, and report said twice; and I assured her that no one out of Bedlam could believe her tale. If she does not deserve burking, I know not who does. I only hope I have put you in such a passion, that you will forbid her your house."

"For shame, Alford ! How can you say such things? and where is the delicacy you boast of preserving in all that concerns me? Why not let the remark pass unnoticed?"

"Unnoticed! and let the world suppose that dolt had denied you? Since you are not proud for yourself, your friends must be proud for you. But this is not the whole ;" and he whispered. "She had the insolence to say, Some people think that Miss Grey pretty, but I say she is like a blighted snow-drop, that has come out a month to soon.'"

"Ha! now the murder is out."

"For shame!" said Alford, avoiding her arch look; "when I am ever ready to be your defender; but even this is not all;" and he spoke aloud. "She declares to every one that the Mahons are trying to catch her son John, as a last resource, for they are entirely ruined, and bailiffs in the house."

Impossible! Mrs. Mahon looks as calm as ever."

"Oh, poor dear Mrs. Mahon!" exclaimed Mrs. Jones, approaching, "Have "Have not you heard? So shocking!" And she began her tale with all the delight of a thorough gossip at finding an ignorant listener. 'Only think. Mr. Mahon had the imprudence to place all his money in the hands of a friend, who was a banker, and now he has failed and run away. Only think how dreadful! And they say besides, that, somehow or other, his name was in the bank; and so the creditors have seized on every thing, Shocking, that the father of a family should be so imprudent! And

would you believe it? the bailiffs are in the house now, though she gives out he is ill; and moreover Mrs. Mahon went down on her knees to the bailiffs, to let her and her daughters have their ball dresses and come to the ball; and one of them is here dressed as a footman; and she has brought Miss Elizabeth as well as Miss Caroline, in hopes some one will take them off her hands, and she is trying all she can to catch Mr. De Roos and Mr. John Carleton; and she won't let her daughters tell any thing about it, just as if we did not know! Shocking thing, indeed! And only think, they say Mr. Wilder has been playing in town, and lost forty thousand pounds, and his wife's jewels. Is it not dreadful?"

"Dreadful indeed, if true;" said Helen, as Mrs. Jones stopped for an instant to take breath, not having ventured to pause before, lest some one should forestall her story.

Oh, it is all quite true, I assure you." "How can you know that?"

"Well now, I'll tell you," said the gossip, looking important, coming close up to her, and speaking in a confidential manner. 66 My maid's sister lives housemaid with Mrs. Mahon; and as I had heard from a friend something odd about two strange men, I sent Jane over, just as if she went to see her sister, you know, that she might learn all about it. I would have gone myself, but then they might have said, 'Not at home;' and I thought she would learn more from the servants. And so she did; for she asked one of the bailiffs himself, and he told her all about it; and I was the first who knew it; for no one suspected any thing till I told them. I hear he is to go to gaol to morrow, and that she will have nothing but her settlement, which is only one hundred a-year.

"Is it possible," said Helen, indignantly, "that you could be mean enough to send your servant to pry into the sorrows of the unfortunate, for the pleasure of detailing them to the world? For your own sake spread the report no further. The person who delights in spreading evil tales, and attributing evil motives, should be shunned by all as a pest."

แ

"I am sure—I am very sorry," stammered forth the half petrified gossip, "I had not the slightest intention of offending you.'

"You have not offended me, but you have shown yourself a mischievous tale-bearer;" and Helen walked to the other end of the conservatory.

me.

"Now do, my lord, persuade Miss St. Maur to forgive I am sure I would not vex her for the world."

Her terror lest she should be denied the entrée at Hurlestone, and Helen's indignation, so rarely excited, caused some merriment to the young lord, a merriment he seemed inclined to prolong; for, putting on a grave air, he said, "Indeed! I don't know what to say, Miss St. Maur looks very angry and I am afraid to venture. Do you know of nothing to propitiate her?"

"Yes! yes!" cried she joyfully after a moment's pause. "If she will but listen to me, I know something that it will please her to hear."

"I will insure you a hearing then," said the laughter-loving young man, curious to hear what she could have to say.

Helen turned round as they approached, but before she could do more than look a question, Mrs. Jones began with her former breathless and uninterruptible haste, and with the assured manner of one certain of a favourable reception for her intelligence:

Oh, Miss St. Maur! that Mr. Elliott is in the army, and is a great man in disguise, and his name is not Elliott; and I can tell you all about him. I heard Lady Catharine Alford call him Urser Major, and then all the people laughed at her mistake, because she did not call him Major Urser. Well, I wanted to know more, and so I just asked Mr. Dalton what regiment he belonged to; and, for once, he answered civilly, and seemed to know all about him, for he said he was connected with the staff of one of the Polish regiments; and when I asked if he had a very high situation, he said a most exalted one indeed, higher than was held by any one in the county; and yet there are three dukes and the lord lieutenant, in the county, and ever so many lords and generals. But I dare say you guessed this, you were so civil to him. Only think how condescending he must be ! And so unfortunate! Susy gave him to understand she would not dance with him, and perhaps he might have taken a fancy to her. I wish I could see him to say how sorry she was."

"Have then your wish!" cried the laughing Alford dragging forward Elliott from behind a shrub.

"Come

Elliott, come! and enact the part of staff officer in one of the Polish regiments. Whose staff did you say?" questioning the embarrassed Mrs. Jones, who was favouring the newly-discovered exalté with curtsey upon curtsey.