don't amuse me in the least; but then you have not come out yet, though you are a year older than I was when I was presented; and I have a notion, Emily, that a season in London would make a wondrous change in your ideas-cure you, in short, of this sentimental rusticity."

"If you mean to say that I should enjoy the amusements of London excessively, I have no doubt of it; but why should you doubt that my delight also in the country is genuine ?"

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Why? why, because it is so unnatural."

"Oh Frances, love, say rather that you are unnatural. Do, not, however, let us dispute about it, but, on the contrary, try how well you can entertain yourself this day, and I will do every thing in my power to please you."

So saying, with light heart and bounding step, she descended to the breakfast-room.

"I am sure it will not rain to-day," said Lady Emily, after the salutations of the morning had passed. "Do you think it will, dear

uncle ?"

"No, my Emily!" he replied, tapping the

tube of the weather-glass; "I can answer for it, it will not."

"It is just the very day for fishing," observed the Colonel: "the fish will rise beautifully: such a mild atmosphere, neither dark nor light; and such a dappled grey in the East.”

I am

"Oh! what a charming day we shall have!" cried Lady Emily. "Come, Alpinia, make haste, put on your walking-shoes, and arm yourself for an expedition with me. going lily-hunting with Rose, and we must not be baulked of our enjoyment for want of a few sensible preparations and common comforts. You see, I practise as I preach :" and she pointed, laughing, to her walking-boots, which could not disguise all the beauty of the small feet they defended; and her dark silk pelise, which showed to advantage her fair and delicate complexion sparkling with added colour from the excitement of the moment: "and now," said she, "we can brave ditches and brambles, and pursue our recreation unimpeded by finery at least."

Lady Frances cast a contemptuous glance at

her sister.

"You really have made yourself a proper figure," said she. "I wonder how my uncle can allow it !"

:

Not so Lady Frances herself, whose attire was a light summer costume, as costly and fashionable as though she had been going to some fête in town. Beautiful she was, undoubtedly; but as Lord Mowbray's eyes dwelt on her, and then turned to her sister, he could not help reading a transcript of the character of each in their choice of an habiliment for the morning's diversion and the silent comparison was in favour of Emily. It was decided, however, that he should accompany Lady Frances in one carriage, with General Montgomery, and Sir Richard Townley; while the Colonel, Lady Emily, Miss Macalpine, and Miss Paterson, occupied the other. Rose Delvin was to follow in the pony phaeton; where, as they were going a considerable distance, and did not expect to be back till dark, arrangements had been made to convey sundry cold refreshments, of which Lady Emily had undertaken the charge. "But," said General Montgomery,

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we

should be badly off, I fear, if I trusted entirely to my sweet Emily in this department of the day's business; for I am sure, at any time, a flower would carry it over cold ham and chickens. Are the refreshments put into the phaeton?" asked the General, turning to the servant who announced the carriages.

Lady Emily looked rather mortified at this observation of her uncle; and said, half playfully, half reproachfully, "Why, my dear uncle, with all my romance, I do not really imagine myself sufficiently spiritualised to live upon flowers and air: but, suppose I did, do you think that your giddy Emily would forget her uncle's wishes and comforts ?"

The General, affectionately pressing Lady Emily's hand, kissed her, and said gaily, "Come, we are all ready, I believe; let us be off. The day will not be too long."

In their drive through the New Forest, the General frequently caused the carriages to stop, in order that he might point out some beautiful combination of trees, or some peep of the distant country seen through them. On these

occasions, as on all similar ones, Lady Frances seemed wholly unconscious of what was passing; but when they moved on again, and that the General's attention was engaged in conversing upon some agricultural matter with Sir Richard Townley, she talked to Lord Mowbray of the Opera, of the last presentation at Court, of the debuts of fashionable singers and admired dancers; discussing the merits of each with rather more assurance than seemed properly to belong to her age and sex. Lord Mowbray professed his ignorance upon most of these subjects, and his indifference to others, in a way provoking to Lady Frances; though it served to give an additional stimulus to her finding a topic of discourse which might engage his attention.

"Are the operas better in Italy," at last said Lady Frances, "than in London ?"

"Far better," was the short reply.

"How so ?"

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Why, because, in the first place, music is indigenous to the soil of Italy; and in the next,

we never have an opera performed in this