ness, regarded her with a surprise more annoying and perplexing than any anger she could have shown.

"This, my Ellen, is your father's miniature. I took it from a quantity of old-fashioned seals and mountings, for two reasons: first, to show it you, and compare the likeness to yourself, which every person pronounces frappant : secondly, I want to give you something splendid, but I am cramped for means; and these diamonds round the setting will make you a beautiful centre for a pearl necklace."

Ellen's eyes were riveted on the delicatelyarched brow. The face was pale and thin, with a peculiar expression of sadness impressed on every feature.

"And that was my father!'

pressed to Ellen's quivering lip.

and it was

"And will you

give it me?" she exclaimed, bending in supplication over her mother's bosom. "Let this be

your donation to your Ellen."

.

"The jewels are fine, certainly; I can attest they cost two hundred guineas six months after I was married to him. Well do I remember the enormous charge, and papa scolded me

about it; but they are yours, ma chère, and I will pay for any thing you may select as an ornament they may be sufficient for."

"But the picture, dear mamma- that is what I ask you kindly to spare me.”

"Oh! the miniature; I have another resemblance of De Lastre as good as that, so I will make a bargain with you. You must give me some trifling thing which you have worn, that I may substitute and produce as a token of our compact of affection."

"But I have no jewels, dear mamma ;” and she took the scissors to clip off a lock of her raven hair, and was undoing the Grecian plait, when Lady Belnovine withdrew her hand from the purpose, and pointed to the blue ring.

66

Anything but that!" Ellen blushingly ex

claimed.

66

Nothing but that," Lady Belnovine protested, "or your father's miniature shall be out of its case, and buried in its former darkness:-so consider."

The ring was now Lady Belnovine's, and she put it in triumph on her forefinger.

"Lore

vaine meant to do you a favour, I dare say, or

to oblige Madame de Norman, so he brought you to his house; but he has not tact or conduct in extreme or delicate cases. It would have been better to wait, and let Lord Darmaya propose the move himself;-but Arthur was always impetuous and rash."

"He is my dearest, kindest male friend, and I owe him the most sincere gratitude," Ellen vehemently added in unblushing composure, as her sparkling glance almost amounted to the flash of indignation.

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"You are a silly girl, to be so wounded at words," said Lady Belnovine, smiling sarcastically; one might really imagine you were seeking a worldly star in the change of name we meditate. But that would be unworthy of intellect. You have too much sense and your penetration not to see clearly that Lorevaine is a stoic, and treats you as a little dependent thing, to whom he owes certain attentions for nursing him, as I hear you did, and being in a manner thrown upon his goodnatured protection. But, independent of age- for he is six years too old for you,-he would not enter the holy state again. I know him-you can

not; he once loved, and never will again; I have frequently heard him declare as much. All men are vain, and like to make victims; he as well as any of them, perhaps. So keep your heart entire, unless Montague has won it, which I still suspect. Villetta tried for the ducal coronet at Rome; failed, as many others did : still he gave her sanguine expectations there, and here took us all in completely. The fire is out, my love, and you are shivering with cold, but the last dinner-bell is calling us to the salon." Then, passing her arm through Ellen's, they descended the stairs ensemble. "Très belle you are, dear Ellen; but why so shy? are you not my daughter? Do not therefore be afraid of any of them."

They were now in the assembled group. Lady Belnovine dropped the hand she held to receive the offered many who greeted her entrance; and turning away from Ellen, left her standing alone, petrified with the agonized feelings her remarks had planted. A mist was gathering to obscure her vision, when Lorevaine, pressing through the crowd which quickly environed her, drew her gently out of it; and

as they were proceeding to dinner, he sate himself down by her, though Lady Belnovine darted a lightning flash at his want of etiquette, and called Lord A. to fill the chair instead. Lord Belnovine was on the other side of Ellen; for he, too, always waved ceremony, and left his rank to support itself or not, as caprice might determine.

There were twenty guests at table. Lord Darmaya nodded to his grandaughter distantly, with a condescending stare at her dress. The din of noises might be compared to the Tower of Babel, and left every one free to talk in full voice without observation. A lady who sat by Lord Darmaya was intently regarding Ellen, as a smile of recognition played around her lip. She spoke in a pleasing accent to this effect; "What a little love your Ellen De Lastre seems to be! vraiment ravissante ;" and she whispered in his ear.

"Do you think so, really? In my opinion she is too unformed and thin. I never admired une paysanne. I like the full, finished court beauty, as you know."

A loud laugh from Lorevaine and Belnovine.