FLIRTATION.

CHAPTER I.

C'est un grand pas, c'est un pas irreparable, lorsqu'on dérôle tout-à-coup aux yeux d'un tiers, les replis cachés d'une relation intime-le jour qui penètre dans le Sanctuaire, constate et achève les destructions que la nuit enveloppoit de ses ombres.

B. CONSTANT.

It will be remembered that, on quitting the Delvins' cottage, Lady Emily had left an injunction with her parents, that Rose should attend her at the Hall on the following morning; and when, subsequently, she became acquainted with the circumstances of Ambrose's release from prison, her desire to see her protégée was considerably increased, and the night had been

passed by her in forming plans for the happy union of this once attached couple.

She felt, consequently, some disappointment as the hour passed away and no summons came to apprize her of Rose's arrival. Breakfast was over; eleven o'clock struck; still she loitered in the morning room, and became every moment more and more thoughtful.

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Why, Emily, love," said General Montgomery, at length observing his niece's abstraction, "what is the matter?-you are not in spirits." "Indeed, dear uncle," she replied, "I am not out of spirits-I am only thinking"

"Thinking upon what grave subject, my Emily? Remember, to-night is Mrs. Fitzhammond's ball, and you must put on your gayest spirits as well as your gayest attire. Tell me, dearest, has any thing occurred to make you wear this face of care ?"

"Oh, no, dear uncle, no! only I expectedRo-I desired her to come to me this morning, and it is past the time."

"Have you forgotten, then, what I told you of Mr. Carlton's very noble conduct, in regard to Rose's lover? She is taken up, you may be

sure, with Ambrose. Depend upon it, they are too much occupied with each other for her to remember her appointment with you."

Before Emily could reply, Lady Frances remarked that she really could not understand Mr. Carlton's conduct in this affair, though she must allow it to be noble-quite singular.

"It is the very way," she said, turning to Lord Mowbray with an assumed softness of manner" it is the very way to encourage similar outrages on another occasion; it is quite a mistake, quite a misplaced generosity, in Mr. Carlton to pardon such a man, at least without having first made him smart for his offence. Do you not think so, my Lord ?"

"You would, then," replied Lord Mowbray, "were it your case, Lady Frances, hang the man first and try him after ?"

"It is most probable," said Emily, who, for the first time, showed any symptom of interest in what was passing" it is most probable that Mr. Carlton may, on reflection, have thought himself in the wrong, and therefore took this measure as the best means of repairing his error; and he deserves praise for his candour, though

I cannot think his conduct either very noble or very singular. All that is left to us, when we find ourselves to blame, is to acknowledge the truth, and make the best reparation in our power."

"Ay, but to acknowledge the truth, when a man is in the wrong, Lady Emily, is as difficult," observed Colonel Pennington, "as to find it out on any ordinary occasion. For truth, they say, lies in a well, and those who look for it there, generally see nothing but the reflection of themselves, together with all their prejudices and passions, and so are not a whit the nearer their object."

"And when you have found it," said Lord Mowbray, "what is it good for? All the pleasures of life lie in its illusions; and the only way to go through the world quietly, is to be content with the surfaces both of things and persons."

"The only way," replied Colonel Pennington, "to avoid being put in a passion, is to avoid silly people; but, as the world is so full of them, that to keep out of their way is impossible, I suppose I am doomed to be in passion to the end of my life!"