voices of the serving-men, doing homage to the superior quality of some guest, announced an arrival of importance. Proud and haughty to all, Mr. Littleton received his visitors. When nobility approached, he was, perhaps, a little more deferential'; but, so slight was the difference, as scarcely to be Alice became confused with the accumulation of names, and dizzy with the unceasing whirl and excitement of the moving mass which crowded the room.

seen.

Presently she heard her father's voice saying: "This way, Mansfield, I will have the honour of presenting you to my daughter."

Alice looked up. A gentleman stood before her, and bowed respectfully.

"The honourable Mr. Mansfield; my daughter, Miss Littleton," said her father, introducing them. "Come, Alice, my love, you are mistress, you know, and must help me do the honours." So saying, he mingled again with his guests.

Alice blushed deeply, as she gracefully acknowledged the salutation.

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'Perhaps," said Mr. Mansfield, "Miss Littleton would condescend to give me her hand for the first quadrille."

Alice bowed assent.

In an instant his practised eye saw through her

assumed composure, but real agitation, and, well knowing the gentle means to inspire confidence and dissipate timidity, he said, in a tone of friendly encouragement: "This, I understand, is the first time you have honoured society with your presence. I should think the novelty of this scene must bewilder and confuse you."

His respectful manner, and gentle tone, took effect. Alice felt herself reassured. Like most nervous people, Alice thought herself the only nervous person present; and it at once afforded her comfort to hear that her agitation gave no surprise, but was what, in fact, her companion expected. She was conscious of his sympathy, and she felt herself, at once, on firmer ground. Pleased with the interest in her, which his voice and manner seemed to show, Alice could not but feel drawn towards him. So easily will a word, a look, interest a young and untried heart. Not that Alice gave herself unreservedly to the first comer. It was rather the warmth of gratitude which kindled towards him-gratitude that he had awakened selfconfidence within her. She felt he was her friend, and in her innocence confessed to him the agitation she had suffered.

The well-skilled man of the world, seeing that by giving her confidence he had won her ear, now

said: "If Miss Littleton had been better acquainted with herself, she would have known that it is we who must stand in awe of her, and not she of us."

The language of compliment was new to her, and a slight blush of pleasure tinged her cheek.

"Miss Littleton has yet to learn the homage which man pays to beauty, when set off by modesty and good sense;" continued he.

These words were said in sport, but the openness and candour he threw into his tone showed he wished them to be understood in earnest. They did not fall without effect, and Alice was conscious of an increasing interest in him. Mansfield saw his advantage, and knew how to cultivate it. Carefully avoiding whatever she did not comprehend, he conversed with animation on such subjects as his keen eye remarked were within the grasp of her knowledge and understanding. Whenever the discussion touched a subject on which he perceived her to be at home, he at once assumed the part of her pupil, and had the art to make her feel herself his superior; so flattered are we when those who are better and wiser than ourselves stoop to our teaching. Avoiding levity, Mansfield addressed her as an old friend. Levity wins the frivolous; but he left such small game to his inferiors, and aimed higher. He knew that the warm advances

of friendship, provided they are made with becoming and modest delicacy, are far more pleasing than the formal drawl which we are accustomed to use to a new-made acquaintance. It is flattering when we find a person, hitherto a stranger, seems to place us at once on an equal footing with others whom he has known for years. Mansfield, therefore, spoke in a tone of respectful familiarity, and, by appearing to give his confidence, won hers. Direct personal compliments he paid most sparingly, because he knew that, though they please the wisest of us at times, yet, where common sense is present, they soon cloy; but his skill was consummate in sending those sidelong shafts, which, apparently directed elsewhere, glide off to hit the object really aimed at.

Pleased with each other, Alice and Mansfield took their places in the quadrille. The gentlemen looked the admiration they felt, and the ladies owned the power of Alice's beauty by trying to divert attention from it. As the evening wore away, she had many partners, but in none was found the easy, open friendship of young Mansfield. Many showed her more formal courtesy and forced attention, but none had that winning manner which goes direct to the heart. Many men mistake bustling officiousness for politeness. They

deceive themselves.

To a woman of sense, it is

troublesome, and, therefore, unpleasant. Mansfield well knew his own power, and the impression he had made, and saw that the best way to deepen it was to leave her for awhile to the importunity of the many coxcombs who crowded about her. She would thus learn the rarity of such as he, and esteem him all the more. He judged aright. The fashionable youths who stood in studied attitudes, and drew plentifully from the stock of commonplaces, which furnish society with conversation, failed to interest her. It is true, that, when they laughed in their hollow mirth, she tried to feign a pleasure which she did not feel. She laughed not because she understood what was meant, or saw the point of their wit, but because she thought kindness demanded it. Mansfield, as he strolled leisurely up, and met her smile of recognition, could hardly suppress a look of triumph. knew her mind better than she herself did, and he knew that her thoughts were on him, rather than a young gentleman in elegantly-made attire, who was straining every nerve in the selection of common-places, from the stock before mentioned. In silence he stood near her, and took care to be sparing of his conversation, because he knew it was valued highly. And thus Alice Littleton's first evening

He