we remodelled all our dresses; affected the extreme of fashion; and laughed, talked, and walked from morning to night for it is one of the effects of these gay places to excite a perpetual restlessness, so that we were none of us able to sit at home, but were continually at the pump-rooms, in the street, or in the shops; and not seldom finished our daily career of folly at a ball or in the theatre. We presently acquired all the fashionable phrases of the place, got acquainted with the histories of the most remarkable characters, called the young men by their Christian names, and were, in fact, as ridiculous as fashion and folly could make us.

"And now, had I not determined to furnish a short history of my life, by way of affording some little warning to other young people who may at any time come into a situation resembling my own, I should here break off my narrative; my folly and its ruinous consequences striking me in a point of view which causes my tears to flow and mingle continually with my ink. But I will proceed, and should think myself amply repaid for the anguish I endure in the performance of this task, with the assurance that one person would hereafter take warning by my example.

"Had I, like Jane and Bessy, never known the way of righteousness; had I never been told the danger and sin of accommodating myself to this present evil world; some little excuse might have been pleaded in my favour. But I had not even this poor apology to urge; I knew I was doing wrong, and though daily under this persuasion, I pursued my mad career.

"We had been at Cheltenham little more than a fortnight, when one morning Frank came in, and informed us that he had just parted from Sir Timothy, and that he expected him to call in a few minutes.

"Sir Timothy at Cheltenham ?' said Jane; 'well, this is delightful.'

"She had scarcely spoken, before a very loud knock at the door announced the arrival of the person in question; and Sir Timothy presently appeared, little changed by his long residence in town, excepting in certain particulars not worth mentioning, relative to the cut of his hair and the arrangement of his cravats.

"The meeting between him and my cousins struck me, although I was by this time somewhat used to their easy and inelegant familiarity, as appearing more to resemble that of some great school-boy and his sisters, on the return of the former from school, than what is customary between ladies and gentlemen; but as my aunt stood by and laughed, I was disposed to think all was proper. However, when Sir Timothy, calling me by my name, would have accosted me in the same manner, I drew back, and gave him to understand that he was not to make so free with me as he did with my companions.

"On this my cousin Frank burst into a loud laugh, and said, 'Why, cousin, I vow you have made Sir Tim blush!-a thing which has not happened, it is my belief, these ten years.' Then turning to the young baronet, 'You cannot think, Sir Timothy, what a fine lady our little starched prim Methodist is become.'

""If I cannot think, Frank, at any rate I suppose you will give me credit for being able to see,' he replied. 'And I do see such a change in Miss Jenetta,' he added, bowing to me, 'as perfectly dazzles my eyes and fills me with astonishment.'

"This fine beginning was, to the utter astonishment and mortification of my aunt and cousins, followed up in a manner so lively by Sir Timothy, that from that day he was constantly at our lodgings, always joined us when we walked, and paid me such attentions, as not only flattered my vanity, but made me anxious to let my cousin Jane see that I considered myself as having obtained a very great triumph over her.

"You are vastly pleased, Jenetta,' said she to me one day, 'at these attentions of Sir Timothy; but let me see him pay you the same attentions in our town and before Miss Hawkins, and then I shall indeed think something of them.'

""Then you would think more of them than I do,' I answered; for though I am at present amused and flattered by his assiduities, I should not desire them to be

come serious.'

"And why not?' she asked.

"At that moment, a hasty comparison passed through

my mind between Sir Timothy and the far more agreeable person of Theophilus; and I was silent. But Bessy answered her sister by saying for me, 'Don't believe a word she says: she would give her ears to be a baronet's lady, and triumph over Miss Hawkins.'

"The idea of being a lady and triumphing over Miss Hawkins had never precisely occurred to me before; but now that these things were presented to my imagination, I thought I could enjoy both, provided a marriage with Sir Timothy was not a necessary preliminary. While these things were fresh in my mind, Sir Timothy came in, and telling me that there was a band of music about to play in the walks, requested me to accompany him to the pump-room; adding, while I was tying on my hat, 'And who do you think are in the room? Who, but old Hawkins and his gay daughter!'

"I looked with amazement at my cousins, who instantly prepared to follow us with their brother, in order to see the end of this unaccountable business.

"The band was beginning to play as we entered the pump-room; the evening was a remarkably fine one; the air was embalmed with the odour of many flowers, which were worn in the breasts of the company, and with many rich perfumes scattered over their clothes.

"The first person I saw on entering the room was Miss Hawkins, walking with her father. I immediately perceived that she was troubled by seeing me with Sir Timothy; and I also discovered that he enjoyed her perplexity, endeavoured to increase it by the most marked attentions, and the appearance of the utmost regard. For a moment I enjoyed my triumph in as complete a manner as such a triumph could be enjoyed by the emptiest trifler. I laughed, I talked loud, I looked gaily round me, and played off the fine lady as completely as if I had been bred and born in the precincts of St. James'. But in the midst of this heartless and unholy triumph, my eye suddenly caught the figure of a young man, who, sitting in a retired part of the room, was looking at me with such earnestness that Sir Timothy himself observed it, as I found by his looking from him to me, bending down to my face for the purpose. For a moment I

ness.

seemed like one in a dream, without being able to collect my thoughts: but this state of confusion was instantly followed by a certainty that the person I beheld was Theophilus. No one could be mistaken in his noble air and fine countenance, excellent in all the beauty of holiA darker grow than was natural to him indicated his having been exposed to the ardent sun of some warmer climate; while a certain degree of attenuation in his features marked some derangement of health: yet he never appeared more pleasing, more interesting, in my eyes, than at that moment, although astonishment and even high displeasure were visible in his countenance when his eyes met mine. He however arose and came up to me, saying, 'Miss Mannering, do I see you? I thought at first that I must be mistaken.'

"As he spoke I drew my arm hastily from Sir Timo- thy's, and felt my face flush with shame. 'O! Theophilus! I said; more I could not add, for my voice faltered, and my eyes filled with tears.

"He looked at me, I thought, with compassion; and then cast a hasty glance at my companion. 'Where are you to be found?" he asked.

I gave him a card with my address.

"He received it with a bow; wished me a good morning in a voice of forced composure, and quitted the room; leaving me overwhelmed with a thousand painful feelings.

"After his departure, Sir Timothy offered his arm again, which I declined, saying, that I wished to sit down. He then led me to a seat, and placing himself by me began to rally me upon the agitation which I had betrayed at the sight of the young stranger. He went on a long time, for I could not answer him; but I might have been convinced by his unconcern on this occasion, that although he for some private reasons of his own chose to amuse himself with me, and to make a public display of his attentions, yet that I had no real interest in his affections. His presence, however, was now become so completely irksome to me, that I rejoiced when he proposed our walking back to my aunt's lodgings; where I had many questions to answer respecting Theo

philus, and much raillery to endure from my cousins, who had been accurate observers of all that passed in the pump-room.

"I could fill volumes with a description of the various thoughts which passed through my mind from that time till the noon of the following day; at which time Theophilus called, and was received alone by me, I having excused myself from going out on the plea of not being well, which indeed was not far from the truth; for my mind was in such a tumult as very visibly to disorder my whole frame.

"I had given orders that if a gentleman called to see me, he should be admitted. Theophilus was accordingly introduced into a small parlour, where I presently joined him. On entering the room, he looked very seriously, and spoke to me with marked coldness. He then informed me, in few words, that he had been obliged to leave his situation abroad, and to return for a short time to England, on account of his health; that he had been ordered to Cheltenham, but having learned since his arrival that the waters were not suited to his case, and that nothing more was probably necessary for him than the air of his native country, he had resolved to leave the place the next day.

"I felt this keenly; believing that the time had been, when Theophilus would not have shown such haste to leave the place where I was. However, I replied, that I was sorry he was going so soon, and that I should, in consequence, see so little of him.

"He bowed, but seemed to receive this compliment as a matter of course; and soon after was rising to depart, when, in extreme agitation, I stopped him, and addressing him by the same familiar name which I had been accustomed to use in our childhood-'Stay! stay, Theophilus,' I said, 'stay one moment only, and answer me this question-Have I entirely forfeited your esteem?' A burst of tears accompanied this question, and I sunk back on my chair in an agony of remorse and shame.

"He turned from the door as I spoke; a fine flush passing over his features, which was instantly followed by a deadly paleness. He came close up to me, and taking a chair next to me, 'No, Jenetta,' he said, 'my dear