thought of. However, Mrs. Delmar, who really was a good-natured woman, sent her a note, with a present of fruit, which was returned, the house being shut up, and its inhabitants gone; this was now explained, with the necessary alterations and additions,-for Rosina was become a person of some consequence in their eyes. She was civil and good humoured as usual, but did not think it at all incumbent on her to enter into particulars, or give answers to all the inquiries, apparently so friendly, of those who had turned her from their door.

"My dear Miss Deloraine," said the simpering Arabella, "will you be kind enough to introduce me to Lady Olivia Darcy? I ought to know her, for my father was very well acquainted with her great-uncle, Mr. Graham."

"Certainly," said Rosina; and turning to Lady Olivia, she mentioned the request.

The latter was conversing with some one, and the sweetest smiles were on her face; but on hearing what her friend asked, she replied in

no low tone :- "I do not want to know those people ;"-with the addition of a frown, which was quickly displaced, as she turned back to continue her conversation and remarks on the

race.

Rosina was surpised and confounded; for though she knew Lady Olivia was capable of hauteur and incivility, she had never beheld them so marked in her before; and she felt distressed, lest Mrs. Delmar and her niece should attribute to her fault, the proud rebuff they had received. But she had never made any complaints of them to Lady Olivia, who had, however, heard from Miss Graham, of her having been so suddenly desired to leave Penley, and she chose, in consequence, to take up the cudgels of a persom, whom she honoured with her favour and friendship.

"You are too placable, Rosina," said she, when they were again seated in the carriage, "one would have thought those people your dearest friends, from your kind manner of receiving them; those whom you really have cause to like,

have no reason to be flattered if you are the same to all."

Rosina smiled, but did not think it necessary to make any apology for having been commonly civil to persons she had never quarrelled with, whatever their conduct might have been towards her.

Among the cavaliers who were around their carriage she descried Sir Owen Shirley, who coloured as he raised his hat in bowing, but did not address her. He seemed to be well acquainted with Lady Olivia and Lady Margaret Darcy, and she heard him ask their permission to come to Wansgrove, which they granted willingly. This circumstance was unpleasant to her, as it was possible he might still have an intention of overcoming her determination never to listen to his wishes; and she thonght of accepting an invitation she had just received from an aunt of her father's, Mrs. Bodkin, a rich widow, without children, living in Hampshire, who had probably never given her a thought ever since she became an orphan, but having

heard that she was residing in a large countryhouse with rich and noble friends, and that she had no need of her help or protection, it came into her head that it was her duty to invite her to her house.

Lady Olivia would not hear of her departure, and insisted upon her remaining with her throughout the autumn and winter. She found her society too agreeable and necessary to her to consent easily to its loss. She redoubled her kindness and attention, which had begun in a slight degree to relax, and reproached her for thinking of leaving her.

"Are you not comfortable here?" she asked, "if not, pray say so, that it may be remedied. Whatever it is that makes you think of going away, I should positively die of ennui without you, which I was often in danger of doing before you came, with no companion but my aunt Margaret, who you know is neither merry nor clever. She sits moping over her tapestry or knitting, and all her sprightliness consists in agreeing with

whatever I say, which is very little, for I never have much to talk to her about,—or in making complaints of the gardener or the cook."

Rosina laughed at the exaggerated account she gave of her aunt's sociability. "But surely," said she, "you must, from your situation in life, have formed acquaintance with people of your whom you would find agreeable inmates

own age

of your house."

"Not for any length of time," replied Lady Olivia, "at least I know of none that I should like. The girls I am intimate with are full of vanity and folly, or else extremely stupid; but you need not try to make me think of whom I might find more agreeable than yourself, for that is impossible, you suit me perfectly; so do not, I beseech you, make any arrangements for leaving me, and make up your mind to consider this as your home; at least till I marry, and by that time, perhaps, we may find a husband for you; for the engagement you told me of with a foreigner, will, depend upon it, never come to any