such sighings, and

to the view of all the country joskins, farmers fat wifes, and starched old maids, in the neighbourhood of Leicestershire. Zounds and the devil! now I think of it, he may stand a chance of making a conquest there, as well as any where else. There will be such turning up of the whites of eyes, such groanings, and so many ah's and oh's when the clerk cries Amen, that after he has preached threetimes in the parish church, who knows but he may lead some pious spinster to the hymeneal altar three weeks afterwards?" but by all that is lovely and bewitching, "I'm off" continued Frederic, " on the wing like a skylark, for there is lady Theodora gone to water her flowers, the fairest of which, does not look half so blooming as herself, sweet little soul, what an innocent she is."

"You surely do not take lady Theodora for a fool," cried Edmund, "no," answered Frederic, with a sort of half sneer, "she is sensible enough for a woman.". I don't like women to be too sensible, it wont do,but I must talk her out of this romantic passion for flowers. Zounds, now I think of it, I should hate a wife always boring one to death about the healing balsam of a plant, or the colour of a carnation, let me but see that colour mount to her cheeks, and the sparkling lustre in her eyes, and I care not for any other accomplishment: so I am off to little Theodora, to hoax her out of her whimsical employment. "A young woman might be much worse employed, do you not think so Edmund," cried Adolphus, as he leaned his arm pensively on the chair, which Frederic had quitted.

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"Or an old woman either," answered Edmund, "for they never cease to talk of scandal, condemning

without one spark of lenity the very follies of which they themselves have been guilty when equally young and thoughtless, with perhaps not half so good a heart to excuse them for it.".

"Ah Edmund!" cried Adolphus, "we must not expect to find many such characters as Camilla Grandison, who is in herself blameless, but is charitable to the feelings of her own sex: were every old maid thus, surely the shafts of ridicule would not be pointed at the whole community; and men, if they cannot love would learn to treat them with respect."

Edmund Austincourt's sentiments and those of his cousin were for the most part congenial;, and as he assented very cordially to those which Adolphus had last expressed, they strolled arm in arm together round the plantation of the Priory! and on their return thither, were met by an old, but of late very unfortunate tenant of Sir Mildred's, whom lady Austincourt had a twelvemonth before caused to be turned out of his little farm, and to the relief of whose distressed family lady Theodora had so generously contributed. Adolphus always held a respectful deference towards age, especially when misfortune and calamity added to the catalogue of its misfortunes. .

The eldest daughter of Farmer Roseberry had from a child been brought up in the service of lady Austincourt, and was perhaps, from the education which her ladyship had given her, far superior to her humble situation, which she was taught to feel and to experience every hour in the capacity of lady's maid to the Miss Austincourts; who, while they invented every species of ill humour to torment her, envied her the superiority of those personal charms with which Fanny

Roseberry was eminently gifted; her face and form being exquisitely lovely. This lady Austincourt very soon discerned, and for this very cause, kept her from observation as much as she possibly could in the priory. Notwithstanding her ladyship's precaution however, Fanny Roseberry was sometimes seen; and once seen, her beauty became the general topic of conversation with all the young gentlemen who visited the Priory; and with none more than with Frederic Austincourt himself. Frequently when his mother was out of hearing had Adolphus heard him declare, that Fanny Roseberry was a girl quite suited to his taste; and conclude his eulogium in a style of such warm admiration, as often made Adolphus surmise would at one period or other prove disadvantageous to her situation, if not dangerous to her repose. When farmer Roseberry, therefore informed Edmund and Adolphus that he had the good fortune to be re-instated again in his farm, to which was also added one hundred acres more of land, and that by the kind intercession of Mr. Frederic Austineourt, Adolphus could not help exchanging looks with Edmund, which they interpreted in silence; and both now trembled for the happiness of the beautiful, young, and as they then thought, the innocent Fanny.

The day following, the hitherto little and agreeable party were interrupted by the arrival of lady Austincourt and her now highly-finished daughters; when we say finished, it is to be presumed that they were completely finished, for more could not be done nor added to render them fashionable fine ladies. It was very plain also to be perceived that, the return of the lovely Fanny added in no inconsiderable degree to the

enjoyments and fine animated spirits of Mr. Frederie Austincourt, who, under pretence of being in his sisters' dressing rooms, had now too many and frequent opportunities of both seeing Fanny and conversing with her; what advantages he took of these oppor tunities will be seen in the course of this history.

That there was an alteration in the Miss Austincourts since their visit to London could not reasonably be denied, for Miss Georgina was more disgusting, by a display of arrogance which was insufferable, and Miss Maryanne more ridiculous than ever by an affectation which was exerted on the most trifling occasion, and which her masculine person by no means lessened; her complexion never good was now heightened by a mask of deep rouge, very unfavourable to the expression of her large black staring eyes. Miss Austincourt, though she did not rouge so highly as her sister, added to her sallow cheeks a quantity of white paint, which sometimes made her look ghastly; but as she had a predilection for being thought a sleeping beauty (her eyes which were of a light grey, having a dull, heavy, and vapid expression), she naturally conceived it would give a languishing delicacy to her sickly and inanimate countenance. So the white rose and the red rose now vied with each other which should conquer most; the one by insipidity, and the other by disgusting flippancy. Miss Grandison, to finish the group, appeared like herself, the good-humoured picture of pleasant eccentricity; wounding the feelings of no one; dignified in her own sentiments; and yet adhering to her own opinions without departing from good manners.

Whatever lady Austincourt thought of the improve

ment of her darling Frederic, she at this moment was pleased to do justice to her youngest son, whom she declared was a perfect Adonis." And Adolphus Walsingham too," said she, as she glanced coldly towards him): why the boy is grown out of my know ledge;-but bless me Sir Mildred, what have you done with lady Theodora ? why do I not find her here in the drawing room to welcome my return home?"

"That is a question you must ask yourself," replied Sir Mildred," for upon my life your ladyship left such hard restrictions to be imposed on her that, had 1 permitted them to have been put in force, the poor girl would by this time have been as white as a turnip and as thin as a weasel, instead of looking as you shall now presently see, blooming as a little Hebe, and elastic as one of my young fawns."

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LO ki Upon my word Sir Mildred," answered her ladyship," you would spoil the finest system of education in the world by your excessive indulgence: lady Theodora is not her own mistress you will recollect; and it is by no means proper that a girl like her should have too much liberty."

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"Oh mama! spare your eloquence," drawled out, Miss Georgina with her eyes half shut, " for nothing human will ever make Theodora forget her gothic ignorance."

"And pray Miss Austincourt," cried Sir Mildred, highly displeased with the rancour and envy which his daughter had betrayed, "what do you know about her, gothic ignorance as you are pleased to style it? You forget that you are now talking of the daughter of the earl of Percy, who is without exception, at this moment, the most lovely and accomplished young lady

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