yet she has the ready. What pretty lace that is on your handkerchief!-point, is it not?"

"It is."

"Ah, now, you'll hardly believe that is just what we wear at court.”

"I do not know why I should doubt it, I have seen it there myself."

"No! Have you been to court, though? You surprise me!"

“And why, my lord?"

"Oh! his lordship perhaps thought you too young to have been introduced at court," suggested the conciliating Mrs. Lindsay, as she marked Augusta's eyes flash and her colour rise.

"No, not exactly that! but really now every body goes to court in these days. It's very different to what it was in Queen Charlotte's time. Her drawing-rooms were so select."

"Not too select for us to be admitted," said Augusta, no longer able to contain her indignation.

"Oh, no! by no means. I didn't mean

that, I assure any one."

you; I meant no reflection on

"Of course not, my lord; how could you?" replied Augusta, and added to herself, “illbred, odious, old fool, when shall I get rid of you?"

Mrs. Lindsay was very angry with Augusta, and the drive did not promise to be very propitious. However, they arrived at Hampton Court, and there the exquisite beauty of the gardens, and the interest attached to the pictures and the place, atoned a little to Augusta for the annoyance of such a companion. He allowed Mrs. Lindsay to pay for the catalogues, and the admissions to the gardens, observing that in his hurry he had forgotten to bring any change. And when they repaired to an inn, where Mrs. Lindsay had ordered an elegant collation, he threw out sundry hints that he was her guest for the day.

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Mamma," said Augusta, when they strolled for a moment alone, while his lordship retired to adjust his wig, "do you mean to pay for that old horror?"

"Of course, I do. I am very glad to pay a few shillings to secure you thousands per annum. Don't be a simpleton; every thing is going on admirably. I see he's getting desperately in love with you. Leave everything to me; I shall have plenty of the best wine, and I'm quite sure that going home he will propose to you."

At this moment his lordship came in, his hair newly arranged, and looking a greater fool than before; they sat down to table, where he proved himself quite a bon-vivant, and where, as Mrs. Lindsay's guest, he drank freely of the most expensive wines; however, though somewhat elevated, he was too much accustomed to wine, and had too much of the thorough-bred about him to betray himself, except by an increased devotion to Augusta, and a profusion of compliments even to her

mamma.

Mrs. Lindsay, when the repast was over, thought the moment a most favourable one for the declaration, and made an excuse (something about seeking her reticule) for

but

leaving the room for a few minutes; Augusta, though vain and ambitious, had all the delicate instincts of her sex, and when her mother reached the corridor, she found her by her side.

"How provoking you are, Augusta!" she said; "I left the room on purpose to give the earl an opportunity of proposing."

"And I left it to avoid his doing so."

The mother said nothing, but resolved not to be so outwitted again. She returned with her daughter, and they re-entered the carriage with the loquacious and flattering earl, who was much pleased to have had so fine a repast at the expense of any other person-even a lady.

"The happiest day of my life, 'pon my soul and honour it is," he said, attempting to take the hand which Augusta, in spite of an angry nudge from her mother, hastily withdrew.

Mrs. Lindsay suddenly pulled the checkstring.

"Excuse me, my dear lord," she said, "but I feel ill, faint, sick. I must ride outside for

little way, at least; I am subject to feel thus-do not trouble yourself-remain where you are, Augusta."

"If you are ill, mamma, I had better get out and sit with you."

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No, there is no room for you; I desire you to remain where you are. Thank you, my lord; I leave Augusta to your care; the air will soon revive me."

Augusta, much displeased at this arrangement, sat, in spite of a parting frown from her mother, silent and sulky. She felt, though she did not look up, that the old earl was gazing with die-away tenderness at her, and after a while, that consciousness made her features relax, and she was obliged to put her hands to her face to conceal her laughter.

"Ah! my angel," said the old coxcomb, "I thought that cruelty would not survive the presence of mamma; praised be Venus for those rosy smiles! they promise that I shall be most blest ;" and he tried to take her hand and to raise it to his lips.

"What do you mean, my lord?" said

VOL. I.

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