herself, and the duke having lately lived in such privacy and such retirement from the world.

Imogen had but just reached her home, and was reclined on a couch, indulging those tears which flowed from a source whose existence she dared scarcely confess to herself, when mademoiselle d'Entragues rushed into the room, and, flinging her arms round Imogen, exclaimed, "Then it "is but too true! something has ruffled "those charming spirits which render you "the soul of society. Alas! that tears "should drop from those eyes where the

glance of triumph lately shone! Do ἐσ you know your sudden indisposition at "the Louvre is the theme of universal "discussion? I am just returned from the "hotel de Montmorency; the whole court

was assembled there, and nothing talked "of but your illness: some said indeed "that you fainted at the king's leaving

you for mademoiselle de Guise, upon "which that severe wretch, Daubigné,

"wrote an epigram, which he says he will, "insert in his life of the baron de Feon"este; then others said that whatever was "the cause, de Sancy was no sufferer by. "the effects, for you were seen tête-à" tête with him in one of the recesses in "the great hall, after he led you from the "audience-chamber; upon which some "one remarked-"

"I must beg," said Imogen, with dignity, and without the least trace of her for-. mer emotion," that you will not trouble

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yourself to recollect any more of those "unfounded and impertinent observations, "beneath you to repeat, or me to attend "to. It is true I am but a novice in the "world; but I am very well aware of that " idle spirit of detraction that governs the

،،

aggregate of society, which is oftener "the offspring of unoccupied ignorance "and simple inanity than premeditated "malice. The mind filled with the inte"rest of its own reflections, the heart oc

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cupied by the pungency of its own feel

❝ings, has no leisure for vague and found"less observation on the conduct of "others, and no inclination to convert "another's actions into malignant misin"terpretation."

"It is all very true," said mademoiselle d'Entragues; "and you are the best proof "of your own assertion; for your feelings "and your reflections have apparently in"volved you this morning beyond the possibility of their concealment."

Mademoiselle de Beuil now entered, accompanied by mademoiselle de Guise, both to enquire after the indisposition of Imogen; who, stimulated to exertion by the last pointed observation of mademoiselle d'Entragues, answered to their enquiries that she was just well enough to receive about a hundred and twenty people whom she expected at her concert that evening, and in which she should take a principal part herself. "I shall expect

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you all," she added; "and pray lead a

"crowd in your train, that I may satisfy

"the longing anxiety of the dear world "who has interested itself so much in my

Here a laquais entered with a note, which mademoiselle de Beuil playfully snatched out of Imogen's hand, and exclaimed, glancing her eye over it, "What! a "billet-doux from the philosophic cheva"lier, and you within a few weeks of becoming his wife! Oh monstrous !". She then read aloud the following lines:

"This is one of your public evenings; "will you allow the duke de Beauvilliers "the honour to be numbered among your "guests, and to accompany to the hotel "St. Dorval Your

"DE SORVILLE?" Very laconic indeed!-no solicitation "-in the true stile of a Spartan husband. "Come, my dear little countess, what an"swer shall we send?" continued mademoiselle de Beuil, running to an open escrutoire.

"Whatever you please," said Imogen,

with a faint smile, and endeavouring to re-. press her emotion.

In a minute mademoiselle de Beuil pen-. ned and read aloud the following reply:

"The countess de St. Dorval will be "happy to have the honour of numbering among her guests the duke de Beau"villiers."

"Here," she continued, putting the billet into the laquais' hand, "that is sympa"thetically brief. And now, my dear "countess, is not this same chevalier of yours a very daring man, to introduce to your notice the richest, noblest, hand"somest, man in France ?"

"In this instance," said Imogen, "I "cannot praise his intrepidity."

"But you cannot be insensible to your "own," said mademoiselle d'Entragues; "for this young and interesting duke is a "dangerous acquaintance to a woman of your character, who is already the pro"mised bride of another, for he too possesses feeling and sentiment."

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