It is probable that Agatha saw something in the countenance of her mother as she left the scene of the conference which has been described in the last chapter, that led her to believe the present moment would be favorable for discussing a little business of her own.

"I wish you would come into our room for a moment, mamma," said she, "I have something that I want to show you.”

"And what's that, my dear?" replied her mother, gaily. "But let it be what it will, I am ready to see it."

"I don't believe you will admire it much," muttered the young lady, as she led the way to the sleeping apartment of herself and her sister. On reaching it, Mrs. Roberts perceived that the bed, and most of the chairs, and other articles of furniture, were covered with a variety of wearing apparel, bonnets and shawls inclusive, which spoke more plainly of past gaiety than of present neatness.

think in my heart that unless you and papa find some means to enable us to dress decently, I don't speak of myself only, observe, but of Maria also, whose two silk morning dresses I cannot look upon without feeling myself color to the very earsI say, ma'am, that unless you and papa do find out some means of clothing us decently, we shall both of us have a right to consider ourselves as having been most abominably ill-used.

"Well then, please to listen to me, Agatha," began Mrs. Roberts, but she was not permitted to proceed.

"I beg your pardon, Ma'am," said her eldest daughter, holding up her finger to stop her, "I really beg your pardon, but I do beg you will not begin to answer till you have heard what I have got to say. I have gone on silently for some time past, in the hope from day to day that you would say something yourself about the necessity of leaving off these faded, worn-out things. But no! day after day passes on. You hear "Just look at all these things, ma'am, if us invited by ladies of the very highest rank you please," said Agatha, putting herself to join them in parties, to which they go as into a sort of stiff and stately attitude, with elegantly dressed as if they were going to her arms crossed before her. "Perhaps Longchamps, while we have nothing to wear you remember, ma'am, what I said to you that their waiting-maids would not have some time ago on the subject of consisten- thrown away long ago. The agony of apcy. I wish you would have the goodness pearing before the eyes of these illustrious to recall it to your mind now, as I think it ladies, dressed so disgracefully, is bad might be useful in assisting you to make enough-but it is by no means of this that up your mind as to the propriety, or impro-I the most complain. The cruelty of the priety of our pretending to continue in the privation is felt ten million times more in brilliant circle of society in which we move another direction. You cannot be ignorant at present. How do you suppose the Princess Fuskymusk off will relish my continuing to appear with her, arm in arm, upon the public walks, in such a bonnet and mantle as this?"

Mrs. Roberts took up the bonnet, which she placed upon her finger, turning it round and round, the better to examine it on all sides.

of the fact, ma'am, that Maria has inspired a young nobleman of high rank and enormous fortune with a passion likely to lead to the most gratifying results-I say nothing of myself I wish to say nothing. My destiny, perhaps, is as yet less plainly marked out; one thing concerning it is, however, assuredly certain, namely, that I have formed intimacies-let me rather say friendships"Upon my word, Agatha," she said, with here, which will for ever render it impossia pleasant smile, "if I had never known ble for me to submit to any association with that you were a very handsome, elegant-persons not of exalted rank-whether I looking girl before, I should know it now. marry or whether I live single, my doom is It really is hardly possible to believe that fixed in that respect. It is possible that I you have actually been wearing this horrid may die, mamma; that I may die before thing, and yet, positively, looking like a well- your eyes, if the admirable management by dressed girl of fashion all the time! You which you have contrived to introduce us certainly must be beautiful, child." to the very first society in the world, should "It matters very little how beautiful I fail now, and oblige us to conceal ourselves may be, ma'am," replied her daughter, "if from the eyes of all we love and value upon I am forced to appear in such dresses as earth! This is possible-but it is not posthese-I will not scruple to say it, for Isible that I should ever again consent to be don't see any reason why I should; but I do taken into such society as we were intro

The Princess Fusky muskoff is so exquisitely elegant, you know, that it is quite impossible that he should not see, and feel too, poor fellow, the dreadful contrast!"

"I am, indeed, thankful, ma'am," said the eldest Miss Roberts," that we seem to

duced to formerly. This I never will endure. No! not if the only way of escaping from it is by suicide!" And here the young lady ceased, striking her fair forehead with her open palm in a manner which betrayed very strong emotion. Among several other very remarkable be redeemed from the horrible condition in talents, Mrs. Roberts possessed that of being which my father has chosen to keep us, for able to whistle, one single note at least, I must do you the justice to say, that I beloud, shrill, and long. She availed herself lieve the fault has not been yours. It is quite of this talent now, and produced the sound evident that your ideas upon the means neabove described with so much strength and cessary for sustaining a distinguished situaperseverance, that both her daughters ap- tion in society, are greatly more enlightened plied their hands to their ears, exclaiming, than his-poor dear gentleman!" While as by common consent, Oh! don't, pronouncing the last three words, Agatha mamma! don't!" Mrs. Roberts, however, seemed, with some little effort, to throw off ceased not till her breath failed her, which the tragic vein in which she had been inwas not soon, and then, recruiting herself dulging during the former part of the conby inhaling at leisure as much of the neces- versation, and it was almost in a gay accent sary material as sufficed to display another that she continued. "And now, mamma, of her varied talents, she first burst into a I must beg you will tell us how you have hearty laugh, and then said, "Well, my managed it. A short and easy method for dear, I hope you have had a great deal of bringing a stingy old gentleman to reason pleasure in hearing yourself talk, which, may be a secret worth knowing." indeed, I cannot doubt, because it was a fine speech, Agatha, particularly the latter end of it-but if, instead of a pleasure, it happened to be any trouble, you might have spared it, and lost nothing, for if you had been pleased to condescend to hear me out, when I began to speak, you would have known lots of time ago, that I had been thinking of your bonnets and shawls, you foolish children, quite as much as yourselves, and perhaps a little more to the purpose, Miss Agatha. For though it never came into my head that I had better kill myself for want of a smart bonnet, I hit upon something that I think will do quite as well, though perhaps it won't make such a good story in the newspaper. But never mind, Agatha, you need not look so terribly solemn because I laugh at you a little. Tell me, dears, at once, what it is that you most want, and I will tell you in return, that it shall be bought, and paid for too, without losing a moment of time from the first part of the job to the last."

"I hope and trust, dear girls, that you will both of you make such marriages as will render all such secrets unnecessaryfor I can tell you that the business is far enough from being a pleasant one. As to how the thing was to be done, you know, admitted neither of question nor answer. The business lay in an egg-shell. There was but one way of getting out of the scrape, and that, of course, he was obliged to take, whether he liked or not. When income won't do, the fund that comes next, you know, is capital, and a trifle from that must be taken to enable us to turn this corner. But I beg you to observe, both of you, that my firm intention is now, as it ever has been, to practice the very strictest economy in all things. Let your husbands be ever so rich, my dears, depend upon it that a well-regulated system of economy will never do you any harm. I, myself, have always been rather celebrated among my friends and acquaintance for my excellent management in every thing relating to money matters, and "Oh! my dearest, dear mamma!" ex-I should grieve to think that any daughter claimed Maria, letting fall a much worn dress that she had been holding ready to display, and throwing her arms round the maternal throat, "how can I ever thank you enough for saying so? I feel quite sure that my beloved Lynberry would be faithful to me if I wore the dress of a beggar-girl, but yet I won't deny that I have suffered dreadfully from appearing in his eyes such a poor, penniless creature as I have done.

of mine should be deficient in a talent upon which I certainly do a little pride myself. I know perfectly well, dears, that you must be made decent-that has always been, as you must be aware, my first object, and the second is, as you know equally well, to do it with the greatest possible economy. I myself, must have a new dress, and a new summer bonnet and a cloak immediately. I am excessively sorry for it—but it is im

"No, mamma, he has not," replied Maria,

possible to help it, and, as the old adage says, what can't be cured must be endured." with the sort of firmness which arises from "That is quite true, ma'am," replied feeling that the truth we utter has nothing Agatha. "I declare to you, I very often in it from which we ought to shrink. "No, wish that it were possible to go naked-or, mamma, he has not, but if you will take my if not not quite without clothes, on account opinion, and I certainly ought to know of modesty and all that sort of thing, I do something about it, I should say that, if most truly and sincerely wish that fashion papa is really in the sort of humor you did not oblige us to put on so many expen- describe, it would be exceedingly wrong sive and perfectly useless things as we do. indeed not to profit by it. It is impossible We should look a monstrous deal better for any one to say how soon it may be. It without them." may happen to-morrow, nothing can more likely. And then, just fancy what a pity it would be if you had to do your disagreeable work all over again! Indeed, indeed, mamma, I advise you to have the money ready if possible, and, let what will happen, I am quite sure that between us we should know very well what to do with it."

"That is so like you, Agatha !-you dear odd creature!" returned her mother, laughing. "But now, my dear girl," she continued, putting aside some of the faded finery which encumbered a sofa on which she prepared to place herself, "now let us talk a little of our dear good friends Lynberry and Montgomery. I hate plaguing my girls about their lovers, as some mothers do, but I should like to know a little how matters go on. You feel quite certain, my dears, don't you, that these two charming men are really attached to you?"

"There is great good sense in what Maria says, ma'am," observed Agatha, "and if you really have the power of getting hold of money now, and do not profit by it, you will have nobody but yourself to blame for it, whatever misery may come afterwards."

"Can I doubt him? Oh! is it possible to "That is all very true, Agatha," returned doubt such a being as Lynberry?" replied Mrs. Roberts, "but yet I don't think I Maria, pressing her hands upon her heart, should quite like to ask your father for an to still the tumultuous throbbings which this additional hundred pounds or so, to buy mention of his name occasioned. "You wedding-clothes, unless I was pretty tolerasee how devoted he is to me, mamma," she bly sure that they would be wanted, so I resumed, "and, oh! what a monster of think I will wait another day or two, before suspicion must that woman be, who could I speak about it, Maria." suffer herself for an instant to doubt the truth of a passion that has been proved, a thousand and a thousand times over, by every demonstration that the tenderest love can devise."

"Heaven forbid, my dearest Maria, that I should try to make you suspicious, particularly towards the man who so evidently intends, some day or other, to become your husband! Poor, dear, excellent young man, I am sure I love him already as if he were my own son!"

And here Mrs. Roberts was so strongly affected by the tender words she had herself uttered, that she put a finger in her eye to

remove a tear.

"You must do as you please, ma'am," said Agatha, with a frown, while Maria relieved her wounded heart-wounded by the injurious doubts of a suspicious mother, by shedding tears. "You certainly must do as you please," resumed Agatha," but, I confess, I think you wrong, very wrong, indeed."

"Well, I will think about it again, my dear, before I decide," said Mrs. Roberts, in return to this remonstrance, adding, though not without a little tremor in her voice, for she was beginning to get a good deal afraid of her eldest daughter, "and now, Agatha, do tell me a little how you and Mr. Montgomery get on together? He is a most remarkably charming man, No, Maria," she continued, "I don't and I am ready to declare any day that he doubt his faith or his constancy, for a single shall have my fullest consent, if he proposes moment; nevertheless, you know, I should for you, although I know perfecly well that not be at all sorry to hear that the offer was he is only the son of a nobleman, and not made, because, just in the humor that I a nobleman himself, like our dear Lynberry ; have got your father into at present, I think but that shall make no difference, not the one might be able to coax something hand- least, and you could not say any thing that some out of him in the way of wedding. I should like to hear better, Agatha, than clothes; but he has not spoken quites out that he had proposed, and that you had acyet, has he, Maria?" cepted him."

"Well, then, tell Vincent so—I am not quite sure, by the way, that I shall find another echo in him. But he is such an excellent fellow, and so thoroughly unselfish upon all occasions, that I am positive he won't wish to keep you here merely to please himself; and, upon my soul, I don't think there is any thing more to be seen or said here, particularly necessary for the progress of your education."

"I must desire, ma'am, once for all," j Say?" repeated the young man. "I replied the young lady, "that you will not will echo your words, Montgomery-I have give yourself any trouble about my concerns had enough of the baths and the bathers." whatever. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, and I must insist upon it that my friendships, whether male or female, are left wholly and entirely to my own management. I consider the friendship of her highness, the Princess Fuskymuskoff, as a most important epoch in my destiny, and having once found myself the chosen friend and confidante of such a woman, one of the most illustrious in Europe, it can hardly be expected that I should submit to be called over the coals, and examined like a schoolgirl, as to what either the men or the women of my acquaintance may choose to say to me. Be satisfied, ma'am, with my assurance, that I will take very good care of myself, and when the time comes, whether it be early or late, that I have any thing, either concerning myself or any body else, which I may think it necessary for you to hear, you may depend upon it that I shall communicate it. And now, if you please, I should recommend that we should go shopping-I cannot go to the picnic to-morrow without a new parasol, new boots, new gloves, and, most of all, a new bonnet. Perhaps, ma'am, Maria and I had better go on to Hombert's by ourselves, as I know we have both of us a great deal to do, and you can follow us when the carriage comes.'

"I suspect he thinks so too," replied Lord Lynberry, "and, though I believe most sincerely, that his beautiful cousin is in love with him, and that, consequently, it is utterly impossible he should not be in love with her, I am sure he will be ready to set off the moment I tell him that I think we had better go, and it will be capital good fun travelling together, Montgomery. When do you think you shall start?"

"This is Tuesday, is it not?" returned Montgomery. "I know of nothing which need detain me beyond Thursday or Friday at the very latest; and, to tell you the truth, I don't wish for any particularly long leavetakings, do you?"

"No; my heart is so tender that I could not stand it," replied Lord Lynberry. "Where is Vincent, I wonder?"

"Giving Miss Harrington a lesson in Mrs. Roberts did not venture to make drawing, either in the forest yonder, or in any objection to this arrangement, and the the Murgthal," said Montgomery. "How two young ladies set off together, inex-marvellously true is the proverb which says pressibly relieved by the liberal permission one may steal a horse, and another may they had received to make purchases, and not look over the hedge.' If one of our happy in the harmony of feeling which pro- dear friends, for example, one of the enduced the mutual avowal that if there was chanting Robertses, were seen deliberately a bore in the world more detestable than all tucking herself under your arm, or mine, for others, it was the having a mother who chose the purpose of wandering away for hours, to busy herself by interfering in her daugh- tête-à-tête among the mountains, I suppose it ters' love affairs. would be considered, notwithstanding their particularly fast ways, as rather an extra breach of decorum, yet this little creature does it every day of her life with Vincent, and I don't believe it has ever entered the head of any one to fancy there was any thing wrong in it. Is this prejudice and partiality, or only truth and justice?"

It was within a week after the events and conversations above recorded, that Mr. Montgomery, upon receiving a letter from his cousin, strongly urging his not returning to the neighborhood of their capricious aunt till the time fixed for their marriage, accosted his young friend Lynberry, on the public walks, with the following abrupt question.

"Well, Lynberry, are you ready to start for Rome? I have had enough of the baths and the bathers. What say you ?”

"Only truth and justice, Montgomery," returned the young nobleman, "and that sort of self-evident truth too, which the dullest must see, whether he will or not. If one of the Robertses were invited to make such an escapade, and could find an opportunity to do it, when they thought nobody was near enough to see, they would be sure

to look sneaking, if they did not feel shy; young nobleman so very nearly his own but this little creature, as you call her, looks master would be mere pedantry," he added about her with an air not only innocent, but with a smile. "Nevertheless, should any proud, and evidently glories in what she is such whim come over you there, you would find the whole region a studio, and that of the most inspiring kind."

about."

"Yes; and that pride, by the way, is in truth the mot de l'enigme," said Montgomery, But, notwithstanding this very perfect "for it acts doubly. In the first place, the self-command, and the equally perfect abpretty creature is evidently proud in having negation of all selfish feeling displayed in found a gentlemanlike cousin to take care of the promptitude with which Mr. Vincent her; and in the second, she is proud, and set every thing in action to facilitate their with equal reason, of her own young cour- immediate departure, the sensations proage, in so frankly taking advantage of it." duced by the necessity which his duty im"I believe you are quite right, Mont-posed on him of immediately quitting Badengomery," returned Lord Lynberry; "you Baden were so acutely painful as for the first really seem to have studied the young lady's time fully to awaken him to a knowledge of character very profoundly." his real condition. Then, and not till then, "No; those who run may read it," re- did he become aware that the young girl plied the other, "and I own to you, that over whom he had been watching with all had I not been in love before, yea, and a cautious brother's care had become dearer heartily too, I should scarcely have escaped to him than life-dearer than every thing the fascination of her beauty and her origin- that life could give, save the consciousness ality combined. She certainly is very love- of uncompromising honor and rectitude. ly, and shows well too, from the marvellously It is not to be supposed, however, that his strong contrast which she forms with every hired service as a tutor to Lord Lynberry thing around her. I really wonder, Lyn- would have been felt by him as a tie sufficientberry, how you have escaped? I thought ly sacred to interfere with all the happiness you were caught at first, but lo! you sud- of his life. Had this been the only impedidenly veered about, and fell at the feet of ment to his devoting himself to Bertha during a very different idol." every hour of his future existence, his good judgment, energy of character, and promptitude of action, would speedily have removed the difficulty. But, alas! this obstacle, when compared with others which existed to divide him from his young cousin, was an ant-hill to a mountain. His father was a ruined man, and he, therefore, of necessity, was a ruined man also. Bertha was an heiress. Could he then, was it in his nature to take advantage of the circumstances in which he had found her, and which inevitably tended to give him, in every way, value in her eyes, in order to win her affection, and so become possessed of her wealth? He could not do this. Dearly as he loved her, he could not have consented to gain her at that price, and he thanked Heaven that the same moment which showed him the extent of his danger showed him also the way to escape it. Had he indeed understood more thoroughly how matters stood with her, he might in some degree have acted differently; but of the terrible and mysterious circumstances attending her mother's death he knew nothing. Greatly as she appeared to take pleasure in talking to him of times long past, when he had been known to and fondly beloved by her mother, she shrunk with such evident agony from

"I have no fancy for being second best, Mr. Montgomery," replied his young lordship, coloring. "I could, perhaps, have discovered and appreciated the real character of Miss Harrington, as accurately as you have done, but I had no wish to contest the fair lady's smiles with my tutor, and threw myself at the feet of the idol you mention, expressly to keep myself out of her way; and, false idol though she be, she has served to save me from offering incense at a shrine too unpropitious to make worship at it any sign of wisdom."

"Quite true, Lynberry. So now hie thee to thy philosophical tutor and inform him of our wish to move on. If he makes any objection, the very slightest in the world, I shall suspect him of being more like other mortals than you seem to suppose." "Vincent will make no objection," replied the young man.

"We shall see," said Montgomery.

The result proved that the young nobleman knew his tutor well. Vincent did not make any objection, but declared on the contrary that he thought Lord Lynberry quite right in wishing to get to Rome.

"You will find more profitable amusement," he said. "To talk of study to a