Certainly, madam, I did not immediately recognise you," replied lord Francis, with frigid gravity; "since I should have looked for lady Enderfield in a doleful dress, and in the house of mourning; for I had heard your husband was very lately deceased, and I sincerely congratulate your ladyship upon the report being so happily without foundation." His lordship, profoundly bowing, now hurried on with Julia.

At the door of the ball-room they found lady Gaythorn, pale, trembling, and highly agitated, leaning upon the arm of Fitzroy, who first espied our heroine." Here is Miss De Clifford !" he exclaimed with animation: "I knew she would come when she heard you were ill."

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"And I feared she would not encounter the crowd, for one she knows so little of," said her ladyship, who now, with tremulous eagerness, grasped Julia by the arm.

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And," continued her ladyship, "I have done dancing for the night, Fitzroy ; so you are freed from your attendance upon me. Do you and lord Francis now leave us." "Can we, then, be of no assistance to

you ?-none at all?" said Fitzroy with concern, and anxious to remain with Julia.

"No," replied her ladyship-" no: I have now Miss De Clifford with me, and the magic of her melodious voice shall charm my perturbation to sweet tranquillity, and she will lead me back to the scene of gaiety myself again:" and her ladyship attempted to smile, but it was so ghastly, so wild, so foreign to her heart, that Julia, alarmed, hurried her away from the gentlemen to a private room, where her ladyship hastily dismissed the attending domestic, and, locking the door, to guard against every interruption, fell upon Julia's bosom almost breathless with agitation.

Our heroine, in amazed consternation, knew not in what way to attempt consolation or relief; she could only say, "I am grieved:" and this short sentence came in a tone so resistless from her heart, that it touched at once every feeling of tenderness in lady Gaythorn's bosom, and instantly called forth her tears, which, by shedding abundantly, gave ease to her almost-bursting heart.

"Oh, Miss De Clifford !" at length sobbed out lady Gaythorn, "I am a wretch,

who, by ingratitude, and treachery the most perfidious, murdered the beloved of my soul: but had I-had I been left to myself, I could not have proved so base, so barbarously inconstant.—And she, the bane to my repose, who hurled my happiness down that fathomless pit where it was for ever lostwhy has she appeared to overset me?— Why is she come, like the ill-omened raven, to blast your peace as well as mine?"

Julia started, and horrid apprehension of --she knew not what-pervaded her whole frame, chilled her blood, and made her heart flutter with alarm.

"She, that indecorous woman, who makes every pure mind, of her own sex, blush at her indelicacy," resumed her ladyship, "was the first and early love of Fitzroy, and his long-betrothed wife."

Our heroine's heart felt this blow; but it called back her retreating firmness to sustain her.

"She was always beautiful, sensible, highly-informed, and accomplished," said lady Gaythorn; "but in her bosom lurks the most profound dissimulation, the most designing, treacherous heart, that ever

throbbed to deceive. Her father lived in the village contiguous to Fitzroy—for lord Horatio Fitzroy's principal residence is in this county. She had no fortune: in family was a gentlewoman, and no more. Fitzroy, from a very youth, was much at her father's house, and the whole family of dis-simulation combined to captivate his susceptible heart in the wiles of this fascinating Circe (who is three years older than Fitzroy and myself, for she is now nearly twenty-seven). They succeeded-Fitzroy became distractedly in love: and his father and mother, adoring him and gratifying his every wish, agreed to a marriage which they approved not of, and which was now fixed to take place as soon as he became of age.

“Lord and lady Horatio Fitzroy, partial to the Continent, principally reside abroad; and Fitzroy, about three months before his minority expired, went to visit his father at Naples, to arrange with him every thing for his approaching nuptials. In the interval of his absence, lord Enderfield saw Fitzroy's intended bride, became enamoured, and offered her his hand. Fitzroy was then supposed to have no chance of his uncle's title; and the accomplished jilt unhesitatingly,

and without even a line to extenuate or soften her treachery, became a countess.

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Fitzroy sustained her perfidy with manly firmness; but it was supposed he deeply felt it, for though many unexceptionable matches have since been proposed to him, he has rejected them all: and much I feared, as the death of lord Enderfield took place at Venice, eight months ago (Heaven knows if fairly), that he was at length destined for this his first unworthy love, until you appeared and silenced every apprehension, and gave me hope and joy. In the gay city of Paris, this-in every way I be lieve-Circe has spent the first months of her widowhood; and now is here, I doubt not, because she has heard of the marquis of Penmorva's death, and wishes to try and reinstate herself in the affections of Fitzroy, that she may become a duchess.-But, oh, merciful Heaven! grant that I may never, never live to see that torturing hour!"

Although sensations new and painful agitated the throbbing heart of our heroine, she yet felt gratitude to Heaven for this history having been disclosed to her; and for the ill-omened arrival of lady Enderfield taking place before her peace of mind had