propensities, and I was frequently asked, in a bantering tone, whether I had not a lover at sea. It is very odd, but I do not think any one believes in an abstract love of the ocean. That Viola should delight in these lonely rambles, was not deemed remarkable; young ladies whose lovers are away may be pardoned a little eccentricity.

Miss Sidney's engagement to Lord Glenalbert was, of course, well known; still there were not wanting many young gentlemen who would kindly have beguiled the weary interval, during which she was separated from her lover, by a little innocent flirtation, but it would not do; without the slightest prudery or affectation, she talked gaily and pleasantly to all, but none could say he was more highly favoured than another.

2

There was shortly to be a ball at the castle, and as the neighbourhood was extensive and populous, it was arranged that every family of respectability should be invited; persons whom it would have been the death-blow of aristocracy to have mingled with in London, but with whom Lady Sarah thought, without any very great compromise of her dignity, she might associate in the country. The ball was to be a magnificent thing in its way, and many people were coming express from London for it. Amongst these were Mrs. and Miss Page, who thought nothing of travelling between one and

two hundred miles for a ball. By the by I forgot to mention in its place, that as soon as Viola's projected union with Lord Glenalbert was publicly known, Mrs. Page suddenly became most exemplary in the matter of visiting, &c. She even delicately insinuated to Mrs. Sidney that she took a great deal of credit to herself in bringing about that affair; as it was at her house the young people had first met, and she wound up her discourse by saying, that "of all things in the world, her daughter Helen would like to be Miss Sidney's bride-maid; that Helen had always taken a great fancy to Miss Sidney, and there were not many persons Helen liked, she was so fastidious." It is not to be supposed that Mrs. Sidney was weak enough to be deceived by these fine speeches; but she remembered that Miss Page was a niece of Lord Dareall, and as such she thought her name would figure well among the list of fashionables who were to grace her daughter's nuptials.

Miss Sidney had no love-sick female friend, no "confidante mad in white dimity," with whom she might engage in the ordinary traffic of sentimentalities, the tender whispers, the rose-coloured notes, the mutual sighs, the gentle raillery, the exchange of blushes, and the "quid pro quo" locks of hair, auburn for black, or black for auburn; she was wont to say that I supplied the place of all younger

female associates, besides which, she was very fond of her brothers and sisters; and I dont know how it is, but I think people with strong domestic attachments, are not apt to pick up stray intimacies; therefore when Mrs. Sidney said she wished her to have Miss Page for her bride-maid, Viola answered, "As you please, Mamma; I think Helen Page a good-natured, well-meaning little person; I dislike Mrs. Page, because she was most insolent to us; but I have no objection to her daughter, who-"

"Oh, my dear Viola!" interrupted her mother, "let by-gones be by-gones; you will now hold such an infinitely higher station than poor Mrs. Page, that it would be quite beneath you to evince any sensitiveness to former slights ;" and as Viola did not reply, the matter was arranged to Mrs. Sidney's satisfaction.

This is rather a "per saltum," or frog-like way of telling a story; but to return to the main indictment.

Miss Page was very fat; she piqued herself on possessing great naiveté and simplicity of character. She was one of those "unlessoned girls, unschooled, unpractised," who, with a fearless frankness, give utterance to every crude thought that passes through their fertile brains; she had afflictingly high spirits, and laughed so loud, and talked so

fast, that you felt, after speaking with her (or rather after hearing her speak, for as to any thing like a reciprocity of communication, that was quite out of the question), a weight on your chest, a struggling for breath, similar to that pleasantest sensation, the nightmare; in short, she ran where less mercurial people would have walked; romped, where others only danced; and jested on many subjects which the prejudices of old fashioned people have from time immemorial venerated as sacred; added to all which, she had a string of pet phrases that would have made a philologist's hair stand on end; such as, a nice man, a dear little chair, a sweet table, a glorious dress, a darling bonnet, a bewitching necklace, &c., &c. Such was Miss Page, or such she appeared to me, after two or three weeks residence in a country house, amidst a host of signally silly young men, and superlatively sentimental young ladies, had brought her absurdities into full play.

CHAPTER IX.

My mind misgives;

Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date

With this night's revels.

SHAKSPEARE.

Avec les hommes l'amour entre par les yeux, avec les femmes par les oreilles.-FRENCH PROVERB.

Les êtres crées l'une pour l'autre doivent se reconnaitre à la première vue.-WERNER.

LADY SARAH HERBERT had three children. Her eldest son was married, and residing on the continent, being remarkable for nought that I could learn, but his preference of every other country to the one honoured with his nativity. Miss Herbert was a singular abstraction. She passed her life in a Rip Van Winkle state of torpor; a tortoise was active-minded and agile in comparison; it was