⚫ at an entertainment, at which you ' are not present? It does not signify: 'I shall know you in whatever disguise you may be: but I shall be the better informed of my fate, by

the present I send you: you will wear knots of this riband in your hair; and these gloves will kiss the 'most beautiful hands in the universe.'

This billet, with the present, was delivered to Miss Blague, with the same success as the other had been conveyed to Lady Muskerry. Miss Hamilton had just received an account of it, when the latter came to pay her a visit: something seemed to possess her thoughts very much; when, having staid some time, her cousin desired her to walk into her cabinet. As soon as they were there: 'I desire your se

cresy for what I am going to tell 'you,' said Lady Muskerry. Do not

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you wonder what strange creatures men are? Do not trust to them, my dear cousin: my Lord Muskerry, who, before our marriage, could have passed whole days and nights in seeing me dance, thinks proper now to 'forbid me dancing, and says it does "not become me. This is not all: he

has so often rung in my ears the sub'ject of this masquerade, that I am obliged to conceal from him the honour 'the Queen has done me, in inviting

me to it. However, I am surprised "I am not informed who is to be my partner. But if you knew what a plague it is, to find out, in this cursed 'town, in what manner the people of Babylon dress, you would pity me 'for what I have suffered since the time I have been invited; besides, the cost which it puts me to is be'yond any thing you can imagine.'

Here it was that Miss Hamilton's inclination to laugh, which had increased in proportion as she endeavoured to suppress it, at length overcame her, and broke out in an immoderate fit: Lady Muskerry took it in good part, not doubting but it was the fantastical conduct of her husband that she was laughing at. Miss Hamilton told her, that all husbands were much the same, and that one ought not to be concerned at their whims; that she did not know who was to be her partner at the masquerade; but that, as she was named, the gentleman named with her would certainly not fail to attend her; although she could not comprehend, why he had not yet declared himself, unless he likewise had some fantastical spouse, who had forbid him to dance.

This conversation being finished,

Lady Muskerry went away in great haste, to endeavour to learn some news of her partner. Those who were accomplices in the plot were laughing very heartily at this visit, when Lord Muskerry came in, and taking Miss Hamilton aside; Do you know whe'ther there is to be any ball in the city to-morrow? No,' said she; 'but why do you ask?' Because, 'I am informed that my wife is making great preparations of dress. 'I know very well she is not to be at 'the masquerade; that I have taken.

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6 care of: but as the devil is in her for

dancing, I am very much afraid, that

she will be affording some fresh subject for ridicule, notwithstanding all 'my precautions: however, if it was ' amongst the citizens, at some private 'party, I should not much mind it.'

They satisfied him as well as they

could, and having dismissed him, under pretence of a thousand things they had to prepare for the next day, Miss Hamilton thought herself at liberty for that morning, when in came Miss Price, one of the maids of honour to the duchess. This was just what she was wishing for: this lady and Miss Blague had been at variance some time, on account of Dongan, whom Miss Price had drawn away from the other; and hatred still subsisted between these two divinities.

Though the maids of honour were not nominated for the masquerade, yet they were to assist at it; and consequently were to neglect nothing to set themselves off to advantage. Miss Hamilton had still another pair of gloves of the same sort as those she had sent to Miss Blague, which she made a present of to her rival, with a