-an uproar of footmen in the hall-music and laughter sounding from above, a melée of plumes and perukes, and an entortillement of swords, hoops, and flounces on the stairs, while the whole house rocks to the merry feet of beaux and belles of the Court and the grand monde, as they dance corants, lavoltas, and galliards."

"But to recur to this unfortunate affair," said Helen.

"What so gay and seduisant," continued Adeline, whose flighty imagination was too completely transferred to London to allow her to notice her sister's remark; "as to drive to dear Mrs. Thody's, or some of the Indian shops in Bucklersbury, to buy French toys, fans, points, jessamine gloves, Spanish paper, tires for the head, almond-water and washes, a finger watch, a japan patch box, or a darling little china monster, so ugly and so useless, that you can't possibly help falling in love with him. Then hey! for the Park, where you presently notice some handsome gallant in a gilt chariot, with four long-tailed horses, and a whole cluster

of lacqueys clinging behind; he has a periwig that would not disgrace even Sir Harcourt Slingsby; he lowers his side-glass as you pass, and surveys you d'un air enjoué; again he pas sionately side-glasses you when you meet, et vous fait les doux yeux; he quits the Park when you do, and you see him on the Mall, followed by black page, with a brass collar, a philamott livery, silver buttons, with a coronet, and a glazed hat; your spark passes you three times, looking languishing comme on ne peut plus; and at night you meet him in the drawing-room at Whitehall, in a velvet suit, with diamond buttons, buckles, sword-hilt, and hat-band, when he bows, offers you his snuff-box, lays his hand upon his heart, sighs eperdument, et fait it la rôle d'un amoureux avoué."

So totally had Adeline lost herself in this imagined scene, that she went bowing, curtsying, flirting, and swimming up and down the room acting to her own description, affectedly coquetting with the invisible lover she had conjured up; and far from noticing Helen when she again attempted to bring her back to

mportant

subject of their first discourse, she burst into a new rhapsody, "Oh! what bewitching games of cards have I played in London! Oh! the delights of the capote at picquet, of paroli at basset, matadore at ombre, the uue of diamonds at comet, and pam in lanteraloo! Oh! the charm of being joined at the play by a handsome young galant, all lace and ribbons, periwig and pulvilio, qui vous fait sa cour à la derobé, while you lounge backwards in a side box, and see amorous heroes on the stage, tearing, and stamping, and huffing at the gods, in rhyme, in one of Dryden's darling heroic plays!" For some moments she remained lost in a silent continuation of this delicious reverie, and then suddenly recollecting herself, she turned to Helen, and exclaimed in a tone of surprize, "Eh! mon Dieu! we have quite forgotten my poor dear Arcadius in the wood-house!"

To herself this reproach might be applicable enough, but certainly not to Helen, whose whole thought, during the delivery of this rapturous effusion, had been devoted to a consideration of the best means for getting rid of

רת

Reuben, and thus putting an end to Adeline's romantic and dangerous passion for a stranger and an outcast. Knowing her to be not less giddy than susceptible, she really trembled at the risk she was incurring, while her penetrating mind instantly foresaw how perilously the whole family might be compromised if they were detected in harbouring and communicating with a traitor, who was known to have taken an active part in the recent rebellion. Their father's fury, and the fiery impetuosity of their brother the captain, consequences which had entirely escaped Adeline's recollection, would not by any means be the worst result of a discovery, since it had been publicly announced that all those who should conceal the fugitives, or refuse to give them up, would be held guilty of a capital offence. As to surrendering the unhappy man to death who had chosen sanctuary upon their premises, she would have pe rished herself rather than have become instru mental in so base an act of cruelty; nay, she could not help deeply sympathizing with his misfortunes, though she did not the less keenly

feel the vital necessity of getting rid of him with as little delay as possible. Filled with the most anxious and painful thoughts, and afraid of acting with precipitation in an affair that involved such fearful consequences to all parties, she exacted from Adeline a promise not to revisit the summer-house on that day, agreeing to accompany her thither early on the following morning, and informing her that she should in the mean time devote her mind to a deliberate consideration of the steps which would be most prudent for them to adopt in so delicate and dangerous a predicament.

With this understanding they parted, Helen betaking herself to her painting room, where she was less liable to be interrupted, that she might collect her thoughts, and consider how their unwelcome visitant might be dismissed with the least peril to all parties; and Adeline to her own apartment, to conceal the distress she felt at having pledged herself to violate her engagement for another interview with her own dear darling Arcadius. As the appointed hour drew near, she indulged in the most gloomy