them; and I really liked it as well. Imagine if I loved her!"

He smiled, and said nothing. The mother was right-the subject did not interest him. Presently he lifted up his head from a sort of reverie into which he had fallen, and he said

"Now you must tell me about Sir Thomas and Lady Maria."

She glanced up at her mother.

"Must I describe Sir Thomas, mamma ?" The mother shook her head.

"Mamma says no.

I don't like Sir Tho

mas: he is not one of my sort."

"And Lady Maria ?"

"No; I positively do so exceedingly dislike Lady Maria, that, without appealing to mamma, I will of myself say, find her out for yourself that is, if you think it worth while to take the trouble."

"I like to hear you describe. Is there no one else coming?"

Oh, yes; quite a party. We sit down eighteen to dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Hook; and Mr. and Mrs. Cook; and Mr. James and two

Miss Hooks; and Mr. John and one Miss Cook; and Mr. Squire Phillips, as he is called here, and Mrs. Phillips, whom I like excessively stay, how many have I got?" She counted them upon her fingers-" and myself fifteen, and yourself sixteen, and Mr. Wilcox -oh, I had nearly forgotten darling Johnny Wilcox!-and who can the last be?" looking up at her mother. "I am short one."

"Your father desired a place might be reserved for Mr. Danby, though he did not think it very probable that he would stay."

"The man from London that comes on business to papa?"

"The same."

"Well, that will not be anything to us. He will have nothing to do with us. So Colonel Lenox must make his amusement, as he can, out of those already reported-and I recommend Johnny Wilcox."

"And why so?"

"Because he is an original, which none of the rest, but Squire and Mrs. Phillips, indeed-and they are as old as the hills-can be called. People may be excessively un

cultivated, and excessively devoid of anything like ton, or the conventional manners of the world, and yet be anything in the world but original. May they not, mamma?"

Her mother nodded.

"Bad copies of bad models: for little minds. do not even dare to be themselves. Johnny Wilcox for me."

Man is born, bred, reared, dyed, double dyed, in jealousy-it is the universal passion. He did not like even to hear her praise Johnny Wilcox.

"He seems very happy in your admiration."

"So I assure you he is."

"Your next favourite to Miss Hesketh?"

66

My very next?" with a saucy smile.

"I am impatient to behold the man honoured with so large a share of Miss Wyndham's esteem."

"Really! Well, you shall be indulged tomorrow."

And now they all three rose and began to walk up and down the terrace.

She was in excellent spirits and full of

talk, for she had an abundant imagination, an open, innocent heart, and a most overflowing tongue. I always thought her very handsome when I knew her, but that was, I believe, because she exercised such a charm over every one: the learned in such things would not have called her so perhaps.

Emilia had not regular features, but no one could deny that she was a very fine girl, full of health and animation, with two very expressive eyes of whatever colour you please to call them, for no one could ever decide the matter-a sweet, delicate mouth, expressive of both sense, temper, and feeling a nice, steady, round chin-abundance of brown hair -a colour like a rose-a light, elastic, but somewhat full-formed figure, with a pair of the most beautiful arms in the world, which last advantage gave a singular elegance to her gestures: however, when you were with her, or talking to her, you seemed as little to think of what she looked like as she did herself.

It was about eight o'clock in the evening, and she was sauntering up and down with her

gipsy hat upon her arm, chatting and smiling, when the supper-bell rang, and two gentlemen emerged from the shrubbery; one was her father, the other his man of business; that is to say, an eminent legal gentleman from London who was with him.

This gentleman - though rather an uncouth one he was-practised in some one of those branches of the profession, which confine men to their chambers, and never summon them forth to plead in public, or, indeed, to mingle much with men in general. There is, however, in this chamberpractice abundant exercise for the acutest intellect, and a vast experience of the world is acquired, though usually of the worse half of the world. Men who devote their lives to such pursuits become, or are apt to become, singular in their habits, suspicious in their views, unsympathizing and cold in their tempers; their intellects are often almost preternaturally excited; though improving in acuteness rather than extension-in clearness rather than in breadth of comprehension.

Mr. Danby was a thin, spare man, whose