gratitude is due. I conclude you are grown out of my remembrance. I dare say, now, I ought to inquire for your papa and mamma, and all your little brothers and sisters? If so, my pretty Miss, have pity on an old woman; help out my want of memory, and tell me your name."

"And really, do you not know me, dear Lady Frances?" exclaimed Lady Ennerdale, smiling sweetly, and so highly elated at being styled "Miss," that she could scarcely restrain a burst of exulting risibility.

"Know you, madam!" said Lady Frances, after deliberately putting on her spec. tacles, and staring through them in astonishment: "Know you, madam!-Indeed I did not, and that I could not, without the aid of my glasses, is not to be wondered at; since I could not expect to see you in a dress too juvenile for even your youngest child, that great tall girl there. But, perhaps, you are going to a masquerade this evening, and you go in the disguise of Youth.-Oh! I see now it is so.-Lady Hollowell has thrown off her weeds for the occasion, and goes as the caricature

of a fashionable lady. Upon my word, two most admirable masks! Not a creature will discover either of you!-With a youthful mask on, Lady Ennerdale, every one will be deceived into a belief of your being young, and not once suspect you to be the mother of a grown-up family.-Nor will any one conceive this outre elegant the sad relict of the late Lord Hollowell, in the first year of her widowhood. Miss Modely too is going, and evidently as Lady Godiva :and here comes Peeping Tom."

At this moment, Mr. Primrose had put his head into the room, with the most ludicrous expression in his countenance of hesitation, ruefulness, and inquiry. In a short time after his carefully and becomingly arranged head, curled à le Adonis, his exquisitely dressed little body appeared, breathing all the perfumes of Arabia; and, advancing to Lord Delamore, he said,

"Upon my word, my lord, I am really at a loss-I scarcely know if I ought to appear in company to-day; but, as the party is en famille, I suppose it will not be too indecorous."

Lord Delamore requested an explanation.

"Why, my lord," replied Mr. Primrose, "this has been a most eventful day to me. In it I find myself a candidate both for congratulations and condolence. The former, for the escape which I have had of being killed."

"'Fore George, it was a hair's-breadth 'scape!" exclaimed Lady Hollowell, who, now convinced of her having lost every chance of succeeding in her infamous design upon Lord Delamore, relapsed at once into her natural masculine manners. giving Stratton the go-by, I upset, and out popped little Hercules, like a shuttlecock, and lit upon his head in the snow."

"In

"A very judicious arrangement, indeed," said Lady Frances; "as there could be no concussion from the softness of the clashing parts."

"But I might as well have broke my neck as not, madam," said Mr. Primrose, angrily. "Indeed, I think so," replied Lady Fran

ces.

Lord and Lady Delamore now politely congratulated the little little beau upon his

escape; and then requested to knów "what they were to have the distress of condoling with him upon."

"Why a letter," he replied, trying to look sorry, "awaited my return (for the post came in devilish late to-day) to announce to me the unfortunate death of my brother; drowned, by a sudden squall, upon a fishing party. Poor William! I am really vastly sorry for him. I am indeed!".

"Then, then," exclaimed Lady Hollowell, with quickness," you are now Earl of Heathland, with an immense estate !"

"To all intents and purposes :" replied the little beau, strutting to a fire-place, and endeavouring to look dignified, as becoming a peer of the realm.

66

Why this is indeed a windfall, blowing the sweet caresses of dame Fortune; and without any annoying appendages:" said Sir Charles Stratton, feelingly.

"It is an ill wind that blows no one good," said the new lord, chuckling, "and you may well call it a windfall,' for I expected it no more than my brother did; as poor William was to have been married in about a week."

"What a fortunate man!" exclaimed Sir Charles; but whether he meant the new lord, or the late one, who by drowning escaped a wife, we do not know.

Very fortunate," replied his lordship, "since my brother was to die, that it was before I was thrown out of the succession. Really, I can scarcely believe that I am Earl of Heathland."

But, by two of the ladies present, he was soon convinced of that; for now he was a attention conquest worth speculating for flowed sweetly in upon him-Miss Modely wooed him, in hopes he would make her a countess; and Lady Hollowell thought it a better project to become wife to this afflu ent silly peer, than secret favourite to Lord Delamore.

Dinner was waiting for the new Countess of Montalvan; and Miss Modely, on purpose to annoy Lord St. Orville (whom she hated, for not taking the numerous hints she had given him of her tender passion) said, "It is your niece elect, Lady Frances, who is thus cruelly starving us."

"The papers," said Lord Westbourn, with