the audible whisper, breathed purposely for her hearing, amidst a host of other beauties—“Ah, there is not one of them to equal lady Emily Ardenbrooke after all!" And though she did not much relish the "after all," because it seemed to imply something imperfect, yet she was delighted with the incense, would then come home in high spirits and excellent temper, and Harrison was sure to receive some striking instance of her bounty, or rather of her prodigality.

Therefore, when from late hours and fatigue the waiting-woman would look like a witch, her temper never appeared soured, and she did all that was required of her with the most smiling and willing cheerfulness. Her place was an excellent one, and gold, that powerful and soothing balsam, softened all the rigours of her situation. She had saved, during the thirteen years she had lived with lady Emily, upwards of a thousand pounds, with which she had it in conB 3 templation

templation to purchase the hand of the butler in honourable marriage,' though he was eight years her junior; she knew he was somewhat needy, for his master, colonel Ardenbrooke, did not give much away, and for a very good reason, be cause his improvident inconsistencies left him nothing to give.

But we must return to lady Emily, who, after having somewhat recovered from her surprise, turned to her glass, exclaiming "Oh, what a fright I am making of myself! Nothing destroys beauty like crying-that is the reason I never go to a tragedy; and Venus is well described as the laughter-loving goddess."

"Yes, my lady, I remember you told me who Venus was, and I am sure her face and shape must have been just like yours; and you told me too that Mars was in love with hér-ay, ay, that comparison holds good too."

"I do not desire," said lady Emily,

looking

looking angrily, but inwardly pleased, "to be troubled now with your nonsensical remarks; I have a great deal on my mind at present: every minute I am expecting major Featherton-what keeps him so long at Tattersall's this morning I cannot conceive. Do you know if my husband is at home?"

66

Yes, my lady, he has not been out the whole morning."

"Give me the rouge then," added her ladyship.

Harrison was in great hopes that her lady would forget the letter, which she had carelessly thrown on a table beside her; but lady Emily anxiously kept her eyes upon it, while she was endeavouring to recall some lustre into them, by operating on her cheeks: she immediately afterwards caught it up, and consigning it to her reticule, she next impatiently desired to know if the last dress she had ordered from madame Le Roy at Paris had arrived?

"Ah!" thought Harrison, "with all her feeling, her head, thank Heaven, is still full of new fashions;" she however made the laconical reply aloud of—“ No, my lady."

"Dilatory wretches!" said her ladyship; "now could I weep in good earnest for half an hour. Harrison, you will be surprised when I tell you that my husband knows of this letter; and he it was who instigated my cousin to write it to me; and the request in it comes from him. Now could I laugh heartily, in spite of disappointment and every other feeling, to think what an inconsistent being he is! Harrison, there is the blue room-it is the very best in the house-and the young person that is coming must occupy that; for-I dare say-nay, I feel sure, that she is nearer to-Good Heavens! what was I going to say? I shall love her, however, dearly; poor innocent! she cannot help—I am sure-oh yes, I must love her."

This expression was repeated with some degree of sentiment, and again a tear started into the eye of the fair speaker, which was accompanied by a scornful forced kind of smile, and an indignant blush, that, as it kindled into deeper shades, became at length of so refulgent a tint, as quite to overpower the rouge which her ladyship had laid on. Harrison was generally very apt at giving a shrewd guess about what was going on, but now she was quite at fault; and most heartily did she wish, but durst not ask, for her lady to be more explicit. Perhaps her jealousy of this unknown rival in the favour of her mistress absorbed every other feeling, and deprived her of her usual portion of skill in discovering secrets: it however strongly prompted her to make that objection to the blue room, which she knew would have a powerful effect, and a sure influence over lady Emily." My dear lady, pardon me," said the soubrette," but