as she was passing, she held her fast, saying, "You must come and tell me what you think of the new work. EAST AND WEST' is an excellent name, isn't it? it comprehends so much, and it does not disappoint you in that; there is a great deal in it more than many people will like; but let the galled jade wince;' it is beyond belief how many people look frightened !" "Frightened!" said Mr. Lepel, who had overheard this conversation, while employed examining Lady Emily; "delighted, you mean; the generality of people live only upon being talked of, or at, no matter which, or how." "You speak your own sentiments," rejoined Mrs. Neville; "you live upon it; but many others do not like the idea, I can tell you, of being hauled over the coals." "Vulgar!" exclaimed Mr. Lepel, loud enough to be overheard, and turned away. "For my part," continued Mrs. Neville, "I think it may do them all a vast deal of good, if they will only take the covert hints it contains.” "My dear Mrs. Neville, did you ever hear of books doing any body any good ?" said Mrs. Fitz hammond; "I mean, any body of fashion: few read, and still fewer think of them." "Oh, for the matter of that, EAST AND WEST is not very deep; and yet in one or two places there is something to touch the feelings, too." "Its being dedicated to Lord Mowbray, is the circumstance which obtains for this novel so much celebrity, I believe," rejoined Mrs. Fitzhammond. "I am told there is some allusion to himself; and all the mammas, who want him for a husband for their daughters, are interested in finding out the enigma." During this conversation they had reached the staircase, which was very much crowded; and Emily, as she leant upon the balustrade, heard just beneath her a voice which made her start: it was too loud in its tone for propriety, too sweet in its sound for vulgarity; it proceeded from a beautiful female, who, dressed in the extreme of fashion, with a gentleman on each side, was leaving the pit. Lady Emily looked and looked till she was bewildered: she thought she knew the face, the voice; but dress and rouge, and a totally changed expression, so perplexed her, that for a o 2 length of time no distinct recognition came to her of the person; till suddenly a laugh, such as she had heard in green lanes, when culling violets, left her no doubt that she looked upon Rose Delvin. She turned pale-she felt faint-she could hardly support herself; Mrs. Neville pushed on, and in the next moment they were at the bottom of the staircase. Emily found herself for an instant in absolute contact with the object of her solicitude. 66 Rose," she said, in a low voice, and with an emotion she could not suppress, "Oh, what do you here ?" The unhappy girl started, and, uttering a loud scream, seized Lady Emily's arm. "See, she is ill! she will faint. Mrs. Neville, Miss Macalpine, it is Rose. Oh, save her, save her!" There was a general commotion, and Lord Mowbray came up among some others. "Are you not well, Lady Emily? what is this ?" "Oh, it is poor Rose! those men are taking her away; save her, bring her back to me!” Lady “Wretched girl! I can do nothing. Emily, this is no scene for you; let me put you into the carriage; every eye is on you, and you tremble:" he pressed her arm in his as she leant upon him. Mrs. Neville utterly confounded, and Miss Macalpine horror-stricken, followed them: the former overpowered Lady Emily with questions, but she was in no condition to answer; she sat, overcome with sorrow, shame, disgust, every way distressed. She gave way to a passion of tears. She felt she had made herself conspicuous in a most unworthy cause, and she wept incessantly till the carriage set them down at the hotel. CHAPTER IX. The morning rose that untouch'd stands, Such fate, ere long, will thee betide, OLD SONG. WHEN Lady Emily awoke the next morning, she scarcely knew where she was; a sense of oppression was at her heart, but she could not at first clearly recollect its cause. This temporary unconsciousness, however, soon yielded to a dis |