"What! might she not go with my papa solus?" Matilda enquired; "how ridiculous!"

"He is not Miss De Lastre's papa," answered Mrs. Montague; "therefore, no chaperon for her, or any young lady but you, though he took her from me the first soirée. Besides Lady Belnovine intends having Miss De Lastre an hour before dinner, alone."

Poor Ellen walked to the door with a timid step, and was landed at her grandfather's house. It was, she thought, a fine house, but not half so elegant as the one she had left. She was shown up-stairs into Lady Belnovine's dressing-room. Her ladyship was not there; but the quantities of things dispersed about amused her for the moment: beautiful dresses; cases of jewels; and flowers, as if they were freshly gathered, though without the perfume and fragrance which their well-imitated branches almost led her to expect, but they were every one artificial; neither the heated salon or the wintry blast could make them droop. What a melange of recherché expensive confusion, heaped indiscriminately, lay there, sufficient to embellish twenty boudoirs !

"You here, my Ellen!" was uttered suddenly as a door sprang open. Lady Belnovine turned towards her daughter and embraced her; then taking her passive hand, spoke as follows: "I have good tidings for you-I hope so, at least, for I have exerted every nerve and argument to prevail, and pleaded your cause and my wishes, like a heroine in romance. But you bear an unfortunate name : would it might be changed! mais nous verrons. Lord Darmaya is flinty and obdurate, bien difficile, where no feeling of self-interest seconds the power of eloquence; but really, now you are in London, it seems so odd that you are not with us, and we all must love you, naturally. Lord Darmaya is sometimes kindness itself to me; but no one ought to blame me for being a little disobedient, and the boon I have been begging for you, is such as you may fairly anticipate : therefore, pray feel that a home is yours where I see you now."

A silent sense of misery in store, smote on the heart of Ellen. Sinking down on a chair, she covered her face with her handkerchief and wept; then the idea flashed across her that she

was ungrateful and unnatural to her mother. She pressed her to her bosom, subduing in herself the glowing anguish of her fears, and looked steadfastly in Lady Belnovine's face.

I

"I guessed how anxious you would be, sweet love, and, knowing from my own experience how triste and thoroughly ennuyeuse Lorevaine's house must be to you, I resolved to unloose the startled hare, and at once domesticate you in your future domicile. Do not tremble! have almost gained the day; ainsi soyez heureuse, chère petite ;" and she re-arranged the folds of Ellen's drapery. "Why, this is real Brussells lace, of the finest sort! Where did Madame de Norman buy it? and so perfectly made! But how extravagant! It must have taken a whole year's salary, at least.”

"It was a gift from Mrs. Montague,” Ellen described.

"Mrs. Montague! impossible; she is as poor as Madame de Norman."

"I hope then," Ellen replied, "that Mrs. Montague has not been so generous, and that you may be mistaken as to the extreme costliI wish I had declined accepting her pre

ness.

sents. It grieves me to reflect that I must have inconvenienced her."

"Oh! do not annoy yourself on that indiscretion," the Countess rejoined; "Mrs. Montague's purse will not be affected by any donation of hers. Whose hair bracelet is that? Madame de Norman's, of course ?"

"It is Lady Matilda's."

"Oh true! Madame de Norman's hair is sandy, if I remember-but the turquois ring! whose cadeau was that ?"

"The Duke of Lorevaine's."

"I thought so!" and she walked across the room, as if considering before she would recommence a conversation. "You and I must

be of one mind in all things, my dear Ellen," she said; "a half-and-half confidence will not answer the purpose of either you or myself."

A pause ensued, which Ellen did not attempt to break.

"Montague is a rational man," resumed the Countess ; "neither handsome nor the reverse, though many have thought him captivating, His present income is sufficient for any person who has been properly disciplined, and not

spoiled by rank and splendour. Besides, Baptiste has considerable probabilities floating over him great church preferment may be his, through the interest of Lorevaine."

"He deserves it, I am sure, mamma,” Ellen timidly advanced.

"I am aware he does; and I think you will both be quite as happy in your mutual sacrifices, for you are penny less, as any two young lovers can be."

Ellen burst into a laugh; then, with an inherent gracefulness arose: "You are totally mistaken. Solemnly I affirm, I would not, could not, marry any person I do not love. I respect and sincerely esteem Mr. Montague, but I do not love him; nor have I the slightest cause to suppose that any sentiment of mine would afford him either pleasure or pain.”

"Then I am right," said Lady Belnovine. In so contemptuous though soft a tone was this affirmation made, that she seemed desirous of effacing the impression it probably had produced; and the Countess was almost disconcerted to perceive that her daughter, though with an uncomplaining look of utter hopeless