ter; then came forth the key of keys from the General's own pocket, which opened this important budget of hopes and fears, griefs and joys. During this ceremonial, Lady Emily had frequently found it more difficult to restrain her impatience than to perform any other exercise of virtue which had hitherto fallen to her share to practise; but there are some foibles in the very greatest characters, something to bear with and to be forborne by all those whom we most love and esteem, or by whom we are most loved and esteemed ourselves; these are the minutiae of life, which nevertheless compose its sum total; and upon our treatment of these, depends more of our happiness than is gratifying to self-love to acknowledge.

On the present trial of patience, Lady Emily had jumped off her chair; but the General's love of order was not to be broken in upon, even in favour of his niece's infirmity, and she had to sit down again and witness the accustomed process of letter delivery with what philosophy she could summon to her aid.

"Let us see," said the General, feeling for his spectacles;"Emily, love, fetch me my spectacles; they lie in the second volume of Evelyn."

Another pause, but not a long one; for the light messenger returned in a moment, and then, at last, the contents of the bag were distributed.

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Alpinia, there is for you; and Frances, my queen, there is for you-these are newspapers ;" laying them aside; "but here is one for me: I think I know the hand:" and turning it round and round, he opened, and having perused it, gave it to his niece. Lady Emily coloured as she saw the signature; but recollecting that it probably contained the intelligence she was so anxious about, she hastily ran her eyes over the page, and read as follows:

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My dear General,—I grieve to say that the person about whom you have interested yourself so kindly, is not worthy of your goodness towards her. She is become the mistress of a low fellow who keeps a tavern, and is apparently quite satisfied with the part she has chosen. As you could not receive me this morning, I have sent my servant over to Bwith this note, to be put into your letter-bag. I shall call again in a day or two at the Hall, and give you details concerning this unlucky affair, &c. &c.'"

No sooner had Lady Emily perused this note, than she burst into a passion of tears, overcome with the sad tidings of Rose's disgrace, and she wept bitterly.

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"Ah! my dear child,” said the General, “ you must not indulge in this sensibility; indeed you must not. Life, and its practical duties, will require of you to be more chary of your tenderness."

But what availed the General's experience and gentle caution? It is not till the heart has been torn to pieces, that we learn the art of wrapping it in a leaden shroud, ere it has ceased to beat altogether. The tears of Lady Emily flowed abundantly; and, unrepressed by any selfish reserve, she felt as though her own purity had been blighted in Rose's fall. The first time we are convinced of the fallacy of trusting to mortal virtue, is the first time we are humbled to a due conviction of the imperfection of our own nature. The effect produced on Lady Emily by this melancholy story, was much greater even than the cause seemed to justify; but it was an epoch in her moral existence, and tended to the formation of no common character. Unable to recover any composure, she retired for the night.

"Go with her," said the General, in a faltering voice-"go with her, Alpinia, and soothe

her."

Nobody ever asked Lady Frances to soothe any one; it seemed to be quite out of the question that she should either suffer herself, or console others in their sufferings. It appeared as though she were a sort of person exempt from the common lot of human infirmities. On the present occasion, she contented herself with remarking, "it was a pity her sister should indulge in these agitations: she would be an old woman," she said, "before she was a young one."

"You are right, Frances," said the General; "but Emily cannot avoid being what she is. I wish I could divide dispositions more equally between you."

"Pray, my dear Sir," in an affected tone of languid tranquillity, "do not talk of such a thing; you quite frighten me to think of such a possibility."

"There's no fears," said Miss Macalpine dryly; "but, General, when I return from Lady Emily's chamber, I want a word with you, if you please; I have just received a letter which

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astonishes me, and I would like just to know what you thought upon it."

"Certainly, whenever you wish; only go now to Emily, and assure the dear child that whatever can be done for the Delvins, shall be done. Well, Frances, and whom is your packet from? It seems to have afforded you pleasure."

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My letter is from Lady Arabella, and it does really afford me much delight in prospect: for it proposes my visiting them in Gloucestershire for the winter; and then, that they should take me on from thence to London."

"And would you, Frances, like to accept this invitation, or not?" asked the General, with one of his cunning looks.

"Oh! I should like excessively to go, my dear uncle, if you have no objection; there are few things that will afford me greater satisfaction."

"You jest," rejoined the General: "this is only to deceive me. I know better; by all means send an apology."

Lady Frances saw that he was only in jest, and, therefore, she bore the trial patiently; nevertheless, she did not let the subject rest till she had declared her own sentiments in unequivocal terms,