Chatsworth and Miss Crawley at the same time. Lady Crockatt had not the smallest regard for her young protegée, but as she hated her friend Mrs. Chatsworth, she asserted the claims of her rival with great warinth; Mrs. Chatsworth, who had designs of her own upon Sir Ambrose, would not absolve him from his engagement; the Squire, with a horse laugh, offered to bet a dozen of claret, that with all his expertness as a Trimmer, Sir Ambrose could not get out of the dilemma unless he danced with both ladies at once; and the embarrassed Baronet, like the supposititious ass between the two pottles of hay, stood with a most lugubrious and puzzled aspect, in vain appealing to the angry disputants to listen to his explanation. Three times had he exclaimed, "Little did I think, and less did I imagine," without being able to obtain a further hearing; though he was at last fortunate enough to pronounce in a momentary pause this solemn decision: "In such a distressing dilemma, I fear I shall be forced to follow my customary course, by quitting the house before the two parties decide upon a division."

"Indeed, Sir Ambrose," said Mrs. Chats worth, I shall not let you off so easily,”

And so saying, she bade adieu to further argu ment, took his arm, and led off her unresist ing prize in triumph to the other end of the

room.

"Was there ever such a selfish, ill-bred crea ture!" cried Lady Crockatt; "she does it on purpose to shock my nerves, knowing that I am at death's door: ordered to drink decoction of Althea every half-hour for my cough, and apply the Anodyne balsam three times a-day for my rheumatism.-Eugh! there's another twinge in the shoulder. I should have been much happier at home with Cynthia, (poor thing! it made my heart ach to hear her howl!), especi ally as Sir Carroll is gone to Honiton, I bet lieve he sent me here on purpose to kill me; however, I am determined to recover if it's only to disappoint him." \

Whoop! that's what I call being kind and hearty on both sides," observed the Squire, "Oh! as to kindness, and feeling, and sym

pathy in this world, I have long ceased to look for them. Nothing but selfishness-nothing but selfishness! Only observe now: all the benches and chairs are occupied by ladies, in what I may literally call rude health; and not a soul offers me a seat, though every body knows what a wretched invalid I am! Ah! there's lame old Mrs. Archer, I see, has quitted her's just to speak to her daughter; so I'll whip into it before she can get back! It's all nonsense to stand upon ceremony at public balls!"

A buzz from the upper end of the room now drew all eyes in that direction, where Sir Harcourt Slingsby, in a magnificent court-suit of velvet and brilliants, was seen to advance; his inimitable periwig waving and swinging forward its perfumed wings, as with gracefully sliding, diamond-buckled foot, he slowly won his way up the room, bowing, congeeing, smiling, and addressing some polite and pleasant speech, in his own whimsical phraseology, to every one that he knew. Hearts and fans

fluttered at the same moment, when he halted

amid the female groupes ;

"Nods, and becks, and wreathed smiles,"

played around him; and a halo of sparkling eyes encircled him wherever he stood; many a fair one was made happy by a passing notice or well-turned compliment; and happier than all was the blushing and confused Emily, when he stopped opposite to her, made his devoirs with his accustomed courtesy, extended his arm, and led her out as his partner for the night.

Upon the first arrival of Lady Trevanian and her daughters, Emily had run eagerly up to welcome her friend Helen, and had seated herself by her side, where she remained until her brother had led her away, to be introduced to one of his friends in another part of the room. Observing that Helen was unprovided with a partner, and feeling particularly anxious that she should not be subjected even to the appearance of a slight, while the mysterious

Occurrence

in the painting-room remained unexplained to Lady Crockatt and Mrs. Chatsworth, she whispered to Sir Harcourt that as she was herself not much accustomed to the corant, with which it was proposed to begin, she would be particularly obliged by his allowing her to sit down during that dance, and his engaging her friend Miss Trevanian as her substitute. Kindness of heart, that indispensable constituent in the character of a real fine gentleman, was possessed by Sir Harcourt in an eminent degree, and his own amiability leading him instantly to discover Emily's motive, increased his respect for her, while it disinclined him the more to part from her, even for a single dance. A nobleman of his acquaintance entering the ball-room at this moment, he introduced him to Helen as a partner, and Emily, now that her friend was in the same set with herself, acquitted herself so creditably in the corant, that the Squire at its conclusion bustled up to Sir Harcourt, exclaiming in a loud whisper, Whoop! Baronet, Emy reminds me more and more of the grey mare.