Mr. Mudd was accustomed, in his own plain honest way, to make every occurrence connected with duty, and consequently with happiness, a subject of comment in the presence of his children: and feeling a parent's kindness for all young people who would accept it, he tried, notwithstanding his presentiment, to make Miss Rudesby sensible of the misapplication of her pity, in the case of the thief;-for of that part of her conduct which he had witnessed in the hall, he was too circumspect in his conversation to speak. But his attempt was vain not a principle had ever entered her head or her heart: every thing was factitious: all her stock of goodness lay in a littered heap on the barren floor of her memory; and in such confusion, it was not wonderful that she sometimes took up the wrong scrap or mis-applied the right. Mr. Mudd soon perceived that what she wanted in reason she made up in obstinacy; and unable to follow her through the lore from which she quoted examples for all she chose to defend, he sounded a retreat, and left her to herself, lest he might impeach the authority of Mrs. Blindall, of Parthenon-house, where she not only was educated, but 'was always thought right;-and was a great favorite.'

'O yes; quite.'

" And pray what may you have learned?'

'I'm sure I can't tell; every thing, I believe; but the things came so fast I don't know one from t'other; and then there was so much to learn by

heart,

heart, that I was so glad to forget it! But Mrs. Blindall is a very clever woman; a very superior woman; and her's is a most elegant house. It's at Bermondsey: you know Bermondsey, don't you? -it's a very fashionable place, and she takes none but superior people's daughters. Was you ever at her publics?-O! you should have seen the last before I left; 'twas in honor of me. I was drest like Minerva, with a blue sattin helmet, and all the ladies helped to work the Gordon's head: I think it was all done in yellow worsteds; very elegant, indeed. So there I stood with my spear and shield, and then the little ones came and worshipped me: 'twas all make believe, you see; and then we all took hands, little ones and all; even little Euphrasia-Anne-Jane Parkinson; and right and left with the Scotch steps; no, the Irish ones, I mean; and such grand refreshments !—there was a temple, all in the middle of one table, with a stature like me, all in style; and buns, and maccaroons, and tea and coffee. O! no; that was first; but ham and chickens, and such nice jelly !-do you like jelly?'

But you did not learn dancing only.'

'O! no; I had all the masters. Poor pa' paid for my learning every thing fashionable. I'll tell you now, all they learnt at our school.'

'Well, do.'

Why music, and French, and drawing, and jography, and jommetry, and botany, and heraldy, and triggo-I can't never purnounce that; but attitudes and

Mr.

Mr. Mudd now lost his patience; and well was it that he did, for a few firm words stopt the lady completely, and a little reprehension from him, as soon as the servants had retired, shewed that it is, indeed, the folly of others, under which young people are made so conspicuously foolish. She was so frightened at authoritative reproof, accompanied by good sense and good temper, that every joint shook, and her teeth chattered. The girls were now all kindness to her: they took her into another room, and resentment was sunk in the hope that their example might amend her manners.

СНАР,

CHAPTER LXIX.

The party at home. The vexatious ball. The viscount peevish. A steadier mind. An electioneering lady. Prudence discou raged. To a degree.' Ennui.

WITH great regret Gertrude took leave of this respectable and amiable family, but with the conso, ling hope that this was only the beginning of a pleasant and valuable acquaintance. They promised an early visit to Brighton; and Lady Elma having left her ticket at Mrs. Finish's, with a message calculated to teach her a little discretion, conversed with her usual ease and frankness on the events of the day, and the wishes and views they produced in her mind. On reaching the Marine Parade, she, in the most honorable manner, saw her young friend safe in a reception at least without reproof; and making herself responsible for the length of Miss Aubrey's absence, she took her leave, to prepare for a grand ball, in the invitations to which, by some unlucky chance, Lady Luxmore had not been included. To this hour, now almost the last, there existed some hope of mistake and correction; but every moment increased her ladyship's despair; and though Lady Elma, for Gertrude's sake, would gladly have done any thing to please the countess, yet as the entertainment was

private,

private, and at the house of a personage of the highest rank, and to whom Lady Luxmore had been introduced, it was not possible to bring her in, even with a caret.

The day, independent of this mortification, had passed gloomily with all-very very differently from its mode of passing with Gertrude, who reckoned it amongst the few holidays of her life. The airing with Mr. Reynardson had not turned out very agreeable to Lady Luxmore: the gentleman was in one of those fits of dejection to which persons of irregular lives are unfortunately subject, and which seem to present, very forcibly, the options of hanging or drowning; and the lady found it rather dull to be carried to a part of the country less resorted to than any other-she did not know that its seclusion recommended it to the choice of her charioteer, or that he was not vain of his freightage. In returning into the living world, she had met nothing but vexatious questions, and observations about the ball-Don't you go?'Sha'n't we see you there? We are all invited.' 'It will be a famous thing. don fruit-shops are engaged.' most extraordinary decorations.'-' I understand the lights are to be in transparent vases, large enough to hold a real child drest in costume.'The duchess made a point of our coming,- we stay on purpose for it.'

I hear three Lon

They talk of some

All these weapons whizzed about Lady Luxmore's ears, and she had no resource but in pleading the state of her health, which, she had just found

VOL. IV.

F

out,