Hargrave, bowing to the ground. "Therefore permit me to say, my lord, that I am for Fitzroy alone.”

"That is kind," said lord Gaythorn, shaking the rector's hand. "And pray,

doctor Sydenham," he continued, "may I ask, who is to have the honour of your vote and interest?"

"I am at present," replied doctor Sydenham, smiling, “devoted to Miss De Clifford, my lord, who must have the goodness to determine for me."

"Must I?" said Julia, smiling too"then if you have great many hundred votes, I wish them all to be given for Mr. Fitzroy."

"His

"Indeed!" said his lordship. knight-errantry to your fair friend has won, I see, your interest for him."

"My knowledge of Mr. Fitzroy," replied Julia, feelingly, "was of longer time than his so kind rescue of Mrs. Goodwin's servant. I am of myself under obligation to him ;" and her cheeks glowed with, and her eyes spoke, the most animated gratitude, while she continued-" I was once in so great distress-insulted, mortified, derided, (by my own sex it was, who had no shame

to do it). I had friend none near me-oh! it was to me a moment of strong suffering: -but Mr. Fitzroy came, and came to my help. Mr. Fitzroy was a stranger, but that for him was nothing; his heart was benevolent-I wanted of him aid, and he gave me safe protection."

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My vote and interest then are his," said doctor Sydenham, with emphatic feeling. Happy Fitzroy, to have such a resistless advocate!" said his lordship, looking expressively at Julia, who gravely replied—

“That man, indeed, is most happy, my lord, whose own merits claim and secure to him the so honourable support of such a venerable and so good a friend as doctor Sydenham."

Lord Gaythorn now entered pleasingly into general conversation; and at length, when he arose to take leave, he, with much politeness and hospitality, invited the whole party at the rectory to dinner, next evening, at seven o'clock-an invitation which was most cordially accepted by doctor and Mrs. Hargrave; and his lordship departed, attended to the very outward gate by the obsequious rector.

The morning was chiefly taken up by a

variety of insipid visitors to Mrs. Hargrave; and at dinner, a large company assembled. The dinner was fatiguingly pompous, yet excellently good, but went off heavily, the whole conversation turning upon the election.

CHAPTER VII.

WHEN the ladies withdrew from the diningroom, they all went to walk in the grounds; and Celestina was so importunate in her entreaties to Miss Penrose and Julia to accompany her a little way down a lane that joined the grounds, to see a beautiful owl the pew-opener was rearing for her, that they were at length obliged to acquiesce; when Miss Hargrave led them away from the rest of the party, through the shrubbery, to a wicket, which she let them out off; then following them, after locking the door, she threw the key into a deep stream, which ran at one side of the lane they now were in; and bursting into a loud laugh at her exploit, cried out

"Ecod! I have played you a nice trick! for we cannot get back through the grounds, that's a sure thing; so needs must, my dears, when somebody drives; and through the whole town you must parade to get home and by the hustings, where I want to go sadly, but knew if I asked you to go with me, you would not, you are both such mimini priminis; so now I have tricked you nicely into it."

Julia and Miss Penrose looked on each other in amaze and consternation, to the high delight of Miss Hargrave. They saw that climbing the pales would be as impossible for them as regaining the key, which had instantly sunk in the muddy stream. They neither of them knew a step of the way (Miss Penrose only having arrived the day before our heroine)—had no protection -no guide but Celestina, whom they had no confidence in. They were both very nicely dressed for the drawing-room, but not the street. Luckily Mrs. Goodwin had thrown round Julia a thin muslin shawl she had found in the hall as they passed through it, which our heroine now converted into a veil; and assisted Miss Penrose in making the same substitute, of some drapery which

hung, merely as an ornament, from Miss Penrose's shoulder; and these happy contrivances served both as a good and graceful covering for them.

Preceded now by Celestina, who, in spite of every remonstrance from her trembling companions, shouted-" Fitzroy for ever!" to every individual she met, our poor dismayed heroine and Miss Penrose set forward -the latter, a pretty, smart, showy girl, sufficiently attractive to be in a most unpleasant situation; and Julia De Clifford, strikingly-lovely and elegant, but added to the perils of their walk.

As they entered the town, they were met by numbers, who gazed in surprise and admiration upon them, as arm-and-arm they clung to each other for mutual protection; but their boisterous companion being universally known, spared them from any insult. At length they reached the marketplace, where they were forced to pass the principal inn, every window of which was filled with men. And now, Celestina, darting from them, made directly to the hustings, where she saw old Dick (her own carpenter, who worked for her favourites) doing something to a door.