"Do you know," said she, "that Miss Belmont the authoress is here?"

"Oh no, I should like to see a live authoress of note. I have never seen a firstrate specimen. Where is she?

"There she is by Mrs. Lovell, dressed in blue."

"That's right, shows her colors, so that they who have not courage to meet her may have a chance to run away, And live to fight another day."

"It seems to me that she looks quite like other folks."

"Yes; no one would think that she was anything remarkable."

"I dare say she is much overrated," said the belle.

"This is very natural," answered the beau. "It is so unusual for us Americans to have a live curiosity of our own; most of those we have are stuffed, and came from foreign parts."

Both laughed at this jeu d'esprit, and even Edward smiled.

"I mean," said the lady, "to be introduced to her."

"Do you? why what will you say to her?"

"Oh I don't intend to talk with her ; I only want to be able to say that I have been introduced to her."

"She is not half so imposing in her appearance as the lady who is standing near her."

"No she has nothing of the true haut ton.”

Very true just compare her with Mrs. Lovell, who stands by her. Miss Belmont looks as if she forgot she was in company,"

"Don't you think she is graceful?" said Mr. Selmar,

"Why yes, rather graceful," replied the belle.

"I think there is great dignity in her simplicity," added Mr. Selmar.

"Now I notice it, she is rather dignified." "Then she looks so loveable,"

"That is true, she has a look as if one might love her. I wonder if she is writing a book! I mean to ask her."

"Do you think," asked Selmar, "that would be an agreeable question to her?"

"Oh la! she must be hardened to all such things by this time. Come, Mr. Bowman, now is a good time for us to be introduced to her; but we must take care of what we say, or we shall get into her next book."

"Yes," said the gentleman, "whenever you associate with an authoress, your great object must be to keep out of her books." This sapient couple then tripped away, laughing at their own stale jests. Mr. Selmar looked up at Amy with a doleful expression of face, as much as to say, Can this be endured any longer? when Mr. Weston joined them.

“I saw you, father," said Amy, “talking with Miss Belmont, and I thought you looked pleased."

"Yes, I was rather pleased; all the world calls her agreeable. It is a pity that she thinks she knows anything of politics. I cannot bear to hear a woman talk politics."

"Is it not of equal importance to a woman as to a man, what the government is under which she lives? and if so, is it not natural that she should have some opinion?"

"The wisest and best have agreed that women are not equal to deciding upon the great questions relating to government."

"The wisest and best are always men, are they not, father?"

"All the sensible women of my acquaintance," said Mr. Weston, who did not choose to answer Amy's question, "agree with the

62

SKETCHES OF MARRIED LIFE.

great majority of men, in thinking that the female mind is not equal to politics."

Amy was always silent when her father talked about the female mind: she was so heterodox as to believe that mind was of no sex; but she knew she could not change her father's opinion.

Amy," said Fanny, as she bade her good night, "remember that you have not yet resigned your office of monitor."

"Yes I have," replied Amy, “to Mr. Roberts, as his sole right."

"No! no! I do not consent. I am more used to being good with you; and besides, Mr. Roberts is too indulgent, he lets me be as naughty as I please."

"I trust that he will be a truer friend than that," said Amy, and they parted.

And now all the company one after another took their leave. It seemed as if the lights gradually faded away, and the flowers drooped as each belle with her attendant beau departed.

CHAPTER VI.

"Possessions vanish, and opinions change,
And passions hold a fluctuating seat;

But, by the storms of circumstance unshaken,
And subject neither to eclipse nor wane,
Duty exists."

WORDSWORTH.

"I HAVE been out of tune this evening," said Edward, as soon as he and Amy were alone together.

"So I have observed; and I was sorry to see it."

"Perhaps you have blamed me for it."

"I thought, Edward, it would have been. better, if you had been more willing to be pleased, particularly as it was Fanny's wedding."

"You do not sympathize with my state of feeling, Amy."

"I think I can understand and excuse your feelings, though I do not sympathize with them."

"But I should be better pleased, if you did."