ing her, and with the quick perception of a good judge, said with a low bow, "Have I the pleasure of speaking to Miss Armadale?" "To her companion only," said Margaret, colouring, "Miss Armadale has Mrs. Crawford with her, and I was going to my own room; only I do not know the way."

“I am afraid I cannot help you then," said Nelson, courteously, for I do not know which is your room. I wonder no one is here to take care of you. Here -hillyho! Theodosia! Judith! Girls! where are you?”

"What in the world is the matter?" cried Mrs. Crawford, thrusting her head out of the visitor's room, "Nelson! is that you at last? What do you want?"

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Want, mother? I want one of the girls, to show this young lady her room; she cannot find it alone, and I don't know where it is."

"Dear me," said Mrs. Crawford, very stiffly, looking daggers at Margaret, "I am exceedingly sorry the young lady has not sufficient attention shown her. I will endeavour to amend the error, if she will condescend to follow me." And with a cutting glance at both, the good lady swept up the staircase, stalked along the passage, and flung open the door of the north attic. "I am concerned, Miss Esther, that have been neglected, it shall not happen again."

you

"Pray do not mention it, madam," said Margaret, who at this moment felt excessively angry, and forgot her assumed humility. Mrs. Crawford looked with

F

astonishment at the stately beauty that flashed upon her as from a cloud: but before her surprise found vent in words, the heiress had recollected herself, and stood with downcast looks, as meek and penitent as possible.

"Upon my word!" thought her hostess, as she sailed down stairs again, to seek her wealthier visitor, upon my word!-things are coming to a pass, when charity-girls take the airs and curtsies of a duchess! I hope I'm not uncharitable—I never was-but if that girl don't come to some mischief or other, I shall be exceedingly surprised!"

The evening passed somewhat heavily: a few neighbours had been asked to dinner, and by Mrs. Crawford's secret arrangements, Margaret was consigned to the care of Alfred, and planted as far from Nelson as possible. The latter, by the same judicious management, was stationed next to Miss Martin, having a rather deaf old lady on the other side, so as to compel him to talk to the heiress, if he talked at all. In spite of this, however, he contrived to keep Miss Armadale full in view, and to the horror of his mother, took wine with her in the first course. Alfred, who had forgotten to do so, reminded by this of his duty, grew flurried and nervous, and of course spilt some on her dress. She took no notice, and to his great relief went on talking as if nothing had happened: her voice was so pleasant to his ears, and it was so new for him to be talked to, that he hardly knew what he was

about, and went on helping himself to every dish that came round, without tasting any thing. At length the spell was broken by the ladies retiring. Miss Armadale, as soon as they entered the drawing-room, shrunk into the obscurest corner she could find, and secretly enjoyed the spectacle of Miss Martin's transient greatness. The latter, who was sadly tired of it, was rapidly subsiding into her natural manners; and at length, drawing out her crochet, began to hook away in silence, as if she had been in Portland Place; merely replying when spoken to, and then answering as shortly as possible. She was pressed to play-she couldn't play : to sing-she had no voice: Did she like cards-chess -bagatelle? No-she was very comfortable, she thanked them, and begged they would amuse themselves, and not mind her. "This will never do," thought Miss Armadale," the dear old soul has quite forgotten her part: she is nodding already;" and seeing she had dropped her handkerchief, she took the opportunity of gliding round, and whispering as she had returned it to her, "For goodness sake, dear Martin, don't go to sleep!" Miss Martin started like a horse at the spur-stroke, and gathering up her dormant energies, began to talk right and left, about Paris, and Italy, and London, till all the ladies were quite charmed, and went away agreeing she was one of the most fascinating creatures they had ever seen, it was a great pity she looked so old!

Miss Armadale had just begun to undress, and was

trying to persuade herself she was not cold, and that she was very comfortable, and that every thing was just as she wished, though the grate looked cheerless, with a smoky handful of fire, and the keen blast made its way through the cracks in the window-pane; and had just come to the conclusion that there is a great difference between bearing things from choice and bearing them from necessity, when some one tapped at the door, and Nisbett appeared. Having first peeped all round, to make sure of not being overheard, and then locking the door, she advanced on tiptoe, as if afraid the very boards would prate of her whereabout. Margaret burst out laughing. "Oh dear, Miss Armadale, ma'am! I am so thankful to hear you laugh: I have been ready to cry myself, I know, many times to-day. Only think of my having a comfortable bedroom and fire down stairs, and you being sent up here among the under-servants!"

“Remember it is all my own doing, Nisbett."

"Yes, ma'am, I do remember; but I don't like it the more for that, ma'am; and it angers me that people should be so blind as not to see that you're a lady born and bred, and used to better accommodation than this."

"It is the fine feathers that make the fine bird, you see, Nisbett. But I must not let you stop here, as it may excite suspicion: only just brush my hair for me, I must dress it myself to-morrow morning; you may just give me a look in, though, as if by accident."

"Yes, yes, ma'am; I'll find ways of waiting upon you, as Antoine does, without being noticed. Dear me! and you've only a hard mattress to sleep upon, and this little strip of a curtain: I only hope you wont take cold."

"Antoine managed admirably," said Margaret, "he waited at table, and took care I had all I wanted

without appearing to do so. You may tell him privately from me I was perfectly satisfied with his performance; and as for you, Nisbett, you are so good an actress, I shall be quite afraid of you.”

Mrs. Nisbett retired, somewhat consoled by this compliment and Miss Armadale went to bed, but not to sleep; for the mattress was very hard, and the room very cold, and the mice were tumbling about the wainscot all night: then her room looked into the yard, where a dog was kept, who howled whenever the wind blew, which was about every quarter of an hour and altogether, Margaret's condition was not exactly what a young lady would be supposed to choose, who had so much to choose from. Twice during the tedious night, she rose and went to her window, and each time saw in the one opposite a steady light, like that of a lamp: the last time, she watched it so long, she at last distinguished the form of some one bending over a table, as if in study, and felt almost certain it was her nervous friend of the morning. The various conjectures to which this gave rise having tired her out, she fell asleep; but not for long-for between