lordship, who, the instant he could escape the homage of the doctor, whose bows sent his mouth to kiss the carpet in reverence, turned to observe Mrs. Hargrave's companions, and on beholding Julia, started. Our heroine started not, but felt nothing like satisfaction at recognizing in him one of Fitzroy's companions, who had remained in the sociable, and so much distressed her the preceding evening, by his rudely-indefatigable gaze. His lordship now hastily requested Mrs. Hargrave to introduce him to her fair friends; and Mrs. Hargrave announced lord Gaythorn and the three ladies to each other.

"Mrs. Goodwin," said his lordship, with all the appearance of interest he could muster upon the occasion, "I rejoice to see you so perfectly recovered from your dreadful alarm. My friend Fitzroy and myself could talk of nothing since but your interesting terror, surrounded by such a savage multitude; and had my friend Fitzroy known where he could have had the happiness of finding you, he would (for he is the most attentive man to the ladies in the world) have done himself the honour, even

amidst the bustle of canvassing, of calling to inquire for you."

Doctor and Mrs. Hargrave were now highly disconcerted at finding their guests had been seen by his lordship travelling in a hack chaise, without even the protection of a footman, the objects of ridicule and insult : and now, even more than they had done. the last two days, regretted having given so unlucky an invitation to Mrs. Goodwin; which they would by no means have done, only long feeling a scruple of conscience relative to their neglect of this inestimable relation (to whom they owed such a debt of gratitude), and thinking this election af forded an excellent opportunity of inviting her to Z. when the variety of people entertained at every house would sanction a woman of no fashion being at the rectory; and the constant bustle every gossip would be engaged in, would occupy them too much to indulge their curiosity, and above all, lord and lady Gaythorn were in London, where they had resolved to remain during the election; but upon Fitzroy starting up as a candidate, and his lordship belonging to the party which espoused him, he found himself compelled to be present

at Z. during the contest: and lady Gaythorn, too, had been obliged, for the same cause, to return to the Priory, his lordship's seat near Z. the evening before the last-the first moment his patron's intended presence at the election was announced to the dismayed rector, when it was too late to put off the visit of Mrs. Goodwin.

Lord Gaythorn having made his speech to Mrs. Goodwin, with a bold stare, and languishing manner, addressed some highsounding compliments and congratulations to Julia, upon her apparent recovery from her sweetly-expressive terror, the preceding evening, which she received with a formal bow of repulsive ceremony. His lordship then, observing Celestina sobbing over her still-yelping favourite, kindly demanded what ailed his pretty romp ?

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Only a row with my father," said she, "who was such a brute as to kick my beautiful darling, for tearing a dab of a trumpery sermon."

Lord Gaythorn, shocked at this undutiful speech, instantly turned to Mrs. Hargrave, saying, "I perceive you have not changed your daughter's school."

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No, my lord, nor do I mean it," Mrs.

Hargrave replied. "I was dissatisfied certainly; but now they have got the first dancing-master in England-Scamperini teaches there."

"And can a mother wish for more ?” said doctor Sydenham.

"I am sure, sir, a mother must be difficult to please who could," returned Miss Penrose; "for Miss Hargrave has improved so rapidly and surprisingly under his tuition, that she is the wonder of every beholder. She is now our principal dancer, and on our last public day, all the spectators were in raptures with her; and beside that, she has learned from him to arrange her drapery better than any girl in the school."

"What!" exclaimed lord Gaythorn, "does signor Scamperini teach the misses to dress as well as dance ?”

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No, my lord, no; only the arrangement of the frock-to hold it so, when we walk,' as to display the whole contour of the figure to the greatest advantage," replied Miss Penrose, consequentially.

"So, my lord, so," cried Celestina, now flattered into good-humour, and suddenly dashing down her beautiful darling." I could show it better, had I a thinner frock

on.

Our governess makes us practise this a great deal: but some of the girls, who are rickety, don't like it at all. Ay, and if there is an election ball, I'll show you, too, what good dancing is—I'll dash through Parisot's hornpipe like mad:-I'll make the company stare, I'll warrant me!"

"That I have no doubt of," said doctor Sydenham.

The rector now, with profound respect, asked his lordship some questions relative to the election; and lord Gaythorn told, in his replies, "that Fitzroy was a guest at the Priory-that he was then gone far into the country to canvass, and had deferred waiting upon doctor Hargrave until evening, of whose vote his lordship had assured him.” “Does your lordship favour any other of the candidates?" doctor Hargrave asked. No," returned his lordship; " I am for Fitzroy alone."

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"Does her ladyship?" said the rector. Certainly you have not seen my friend Fitzroy, or you could not ask that question -all the ladies are for Fitzroy," returned lord Gaythorn.

"So must all discerning men too, since he is lord Gaythorn's friend," said doctor