-remember there's as gude fish in the sea as advice till ye is, no

ever came out o't, and my

to fash mair about him."

"I dear Alpinia, not I-what right have I to think about him? he never thought of me."

66

Oh, for the matter of that, as the auld song says

'Luve will venture in whar it daure na weel be seen, Luve will venture in whar reason ance has been.'

And then, that same Luve will not give place to reason's sel'. Ance in, it's no' so easy to drive him awa'-it's a waur job, may be nor ye think o' my puir lassie"-and Miss Macalpine sighed a heart's sigh. "Now take my counsel; don't be letting the canker o' care feed on your heart's core-your cheeks are no' the rosy cheeks they used to be; and the sparkle is out o' your ee, and—”

"Now, do not be fancying all sorts of things, Alpinia, that are not true; how can any body look well in the hurry of a London life? and besides, should I not be more hard-hearted than a stone if I could see my dear uncle

turned out of his home-the home he loves so well, to be a wanderer, a sort of outcast, and not feel for him."

"That's true; my vera heart's sore, thinking o't. Oh! if he could only come and stay a while wi' me at Heatherden! it would be a proud day to me to see him there.”

"Under other circumstances, I doubt not my uncle would be delighted to become your guest; but when the heart is crushed, and the prospects of life darkened as his are, there is nothing but an independent situation, however humble, which can afford repose or refuge to a noble mind."

“And you, Lady Emily, are determined, I hear, not to accept Lady Frances's invitation, though she really wishes to have ye.”

"What, and leave my uncle? how could you suppose such a thing?”

"I never did enterteen sic na thought: I knew well eneugh that ye would never forsake him."

"There, Alpinia, you did me but justice; besides, I have no merit in this determination,

for I love no body so much; at least"-(and she blushed and hesitated, for, to the shadow of a shade, Lady Emily always spoke the truth)— "at least I love no one better, nor can I everin another way, perhaps, but in no way with more true devotion of heart and soul."

Here a note arrived :

"From Mrs. Neville," said Lady Emily,

opening, and reading it.

"She wants me to go

evening, but I shall

to Lady Orwell's this not accept her proposal; for to-morrow is the grand fête which Prince Levenstein gives at Roehampton, which I own I should like to see, as it is the first thing of the kind, and may perhaps be the last at which I shall ever be present; so I would not leave my uncle for two nights together. I shall say nothing, therefore, to him about it, else he will order me to go, and get Lady Glassington to come and make up his card-party."

"That's weel thought; but are ye sure ye would na go if I could get ony ane to tak your place at the card-table."

“No, Alpinia, I assure you I am very an

xious to keep my own place there; it is delightful to be necessary to the amusements of those we love."

This matter arranged, they separated till dinner, and in the evening, notwithstanding Lady Glassington's fury that morning, she could not withstand an invitation to make up the General's table, and accordingly obeyed the sum

mons.

66

"This is really like you, my dear lady," said the General, going to the door to meet her: you do not retain any rancour against me, and I make no doubt I was in the wrong, since found fault with me."

you

"Ah," said Lady Glassington, with a smile of allusion to recollected love: "there was a time when you and I might have found it a dangerous thing to quarrel and make it up again. But now, the sooner we agree after a little angry discussion the better, for we know not how long we may be alive to quarrel."

This little bit of sentiment quite softened the General's tender heart, and there was something like a renovation of their ancient innocent

Flirtation established between them for the rest

of the evening.

Just as the cards were cut, and Miss Macalpine and Lady Emily were settled as partners, a servant announced that Mademoiselle Blondell had brought home Lady Emily's new dress, and wished her Ladyship to try it on, in case any alterations should be necessary; for she was afraid if she did not receive her orders that night, she could not possibly call the next day; having so much to do, she should be obliged to disappoint a great many ladies.

"Oh!" said Lady Glassington, laying down her cards," by all means go, my Lady EmilyGeneral, order her to go, and try on her dress, and we shall see how she looks in it."

"Dear Lady Glassington, I assure you, I am not the least anxious about the matter. Do not, I pray you, disturb your game for me. I never tried on a gown in my life; it will do vastly well, I have not the least doubt of it; let it take its chance, pray." (To the servant.) "Tell Mademoiselle Blondell 'tis all right."