Theodosia," Julia replied, "if Lord and Lady Delamore will have the very much kindness to permit it for me."

"Permit you!" exclaimed both Lord and Lady Delamore-"Could any thing increase our obligations to you, it would be your thus kindly going to our afflicted. child."

But," said Lord St. Orville, his face suffused with the most animated tint of vermillion, and endeavouring not to evince the anxiety he felt, "I think it very wrong exactly and rigidly to indulge poor Theodosia in her whim of not seeing her nearest. relations at present; since the longer this dreaded first interview is deferred, the more formidable, in her fancy, it will become, and still more painful when realized. To receive me, cannot, in possibility, affect her so sensibly, as yet beholding my father and mother; therefore, I really think, in kindness to her, we ought not to let whim creep in to her grief, to heighten it, and nourish its continuance; and that I ought to accompany Lady Frances; and-and"And Miss De Clifford not to go until

you return then let it be so, since you wish it," replied Lord Delamore, looking archly through his long eye-lashes..

"Oh no, my lord; not so," said his son, in evident alarm-"No,' I would not disappoint Theodosia for the world.-Oh! no, I mean to go with Lady Frances, and you-you-Miss De Clifford, who can, better than any body, persuade my sister to see me."

"Well, my dear boy, I think it right you should go, since it is your wish; if your aunt permits, and your mother ap proves."

"I most readily permit, Theodosius, if he has your permission to accompany Miss De Clifford," said Lady Frances.

"And my cordial approbation," said Lady Delamore, smiling in rapture, "since it is to comply with his own wish, and to lead him to give comfort to my afflicted child."

"Well," said Lady Frances, addressing Lady Isabella, I have given you some information of one of your brothers, now give me some of the other. Has Mr. Vil

lars Harville yet made his conundrum, that, was to puzzle every body?"

"I do not know what one you mean, madam ?" replied Lady Isabella, in surprise. "Oh! the one of his uncle Thony's white terrier's head, with the red eyes, perched on the black greyhound's shoul ders."

Julia started, blushed with doubt and amazement; Ladies Hollowell and Selina turned pale, in alarm, and started too.

"You remember it, Miss De Clifford," continued Lady Frances, "since you were the frightful object who gave birth to that brilliantly witty idea the day you first went to Delamore-house, and received so niemorable a reception."

"Then you know the occurrences of that day, Frances," said Lord Delamore, eagerly" Will you oblige me by now relating them ?"

: Lady Frances was not present, my lord, and may have been misinformed," exclaimed Lady Selina, trembling with ter ror-“ I suppose Miss De Clifford herself has told Lady Theodosia; and so ber

tween them, they have made the story their own way."

Your sagacity, madam, is for once mistaken," replied Lady Frances; "I was not misinformed, nor informed, by Lady Theodosia."

"Nor did I ever make violation of that promise, which I did give so in sincerity the day I did leave London, either directly or indirectly, Lady Selina; no, not even after I had the much great pain to find how ungenerous was the advantage taken of promise, made by sincerity, in quite be lief it was to honour," said Julia, mildly, yet with great emotion.

"So! so! so!" exclaimed

Lord Dela"Lady

more, colouring with indignation.

Frances, I now make it a point with you to relate all you know relative to that day."

Lord St. Orville, almost convulsed with sympathizing agitation, now, by an incontrolable impulse, grasped the trembling hand of Julia, with his own, as tremulous one; and she, believing the action inspired by pitying kindness, withdrew not her hand for some moments.

In compliance with her brother's re quest, Lady Frances related every particular of the memorable visit of our heroine to Delamore-house; and so faithfully, so circumstantially, that Julia was in amazement, and the copartners in the shameful transactions of that day overwhelmed with rage and consternation.

Although Lady Hollowell's defamation of our heroine had been told by her, in secret, to Lord Delamore, his lordship chose that Julia's vindication should be public,, not doubting but the malicious calumniator had given hints upon the subject to some of his guests; but the recital of the insolence and humiliation his preserver had been exposed to beneath his roof; and the further proof it gave him of the defects of his long favoured child's heart, and of her ́hatred to her mother by fixing the period of her life, being despaired of, to perform such witty pranks, affected him so much, that he almost repented demanding the narrative before so many witnesses; and more particularly as he saw how much his wife and son were distressed at Julia's unmerited