France, she sent by him to her friend Eugenie de Césolles, a miniature which she had painted of herself, with these lines underneath :

O toi qui traça mon pinceau

En l'envoyant à mon amie
Indigne objet d'un sort si beau
Helas que je te porte envie !
Ah! puisses tu lui rappeler
Un leger souvenir de celle
Qui voudroit comme toi couler

Ses momens fortunés prés d'elle,

Et si ce triste souvenir

Lui fait jamais verser des larmes
Qu'il serve encor à t'embellir

Et te prêta à ses yeux des charmes.

Lady Margaret received a letter from her brother, Lord Rosmore, informing her that his son was in hopes of soon being able to return to England, having been promised the first opportunity of leave.

"I trust, therefore," he added, "that the union which we have all set our hearts upon between your nephew and my lovely niece, will then take place. I know his anxiety to return

is caused by his wish to throw himself at her

feet, and as I conclude,

"No woman can think of denying

The hand that lays laurels before her ;"

I flatter myself there will be no obstacle in the way of an event which will afford to every one of our family so much satisfaction."

Lord Rosmore considered himself quite a diplomatist as he wrote this letter, for he was perfectly aware at the time, that his son had no intention of marrying his cousin ; but he thought it advisable to keep up his interest with the heiress, and made no doubt, that the young man would let himself be persuaded to consent to what was so much for his own benefit.

His letter had, at any rate, the effect of driving from Olivia's mind all thoughts but of her cousin, and his expected return-she talked of nothing else to Rosina.

"I wonder," said she, "if it is true what my uncle writes of his attachment to me."

“Can there be a doubt of it?” asked Rosina, rather surprised, for from the tenor of all Lady Margaret's and Lady Olivia's discourse, she concluded them to be engaged.

"No doubt of his affection and regard," replied the other; "he expresses that strongly in the only two letters I have received from him during his absence, but I cannot be sure that he is desperately in love, and you know that is necessary if one marries."

"In novels,"

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said Rosina.

They are taken from real life: I fear his love for me, is but that of a brother, and not so strong as mine for him; my aunt assures me it is otherwise, and perhaps I am too exigeante, too fanciful; or perhaps he has a cold disposition. He certainly, however, has a sincere and warm heart; well, we shall see, when he comes-I hope nothing will prevent our being united, for I have set my mind upon it, and the disappointment would be my death-stroke."

Her vehemence and tragedy-like expression made Rosina shudder,

"Heaven grant," said she, with tears in her eyes, "that if your happiness depends upon it, he may be as you wish, when he returns. The sight of you no doubt will rivet his chains, and if he never expressed to you his passion, it may have been from want of opportunity."

"No, he had opportunity enough; but it was probably my fortune which kept him back, for he has very delicate feelings of honour, besides he certainly seemed to have something on his mind. I remember once asking him if he had ever been in love? He answered yes. I fancied he was thinking of me, and we were silent; at last he said, it was long ago, and she is gone."

"Gone!" I exclaimed, "what, dead?"

"He made no answer, but a tear glistened in his eye, and he rushed out of the room. Although young, he has travelled much, and probably had some adventure in Spain or Portugal, but as the person is dead, he must have got rid of her

recollection long before now ;-so much the better, for I could not bear a living rival."

The report of his return appeared to have been premature, for they heard no more of it; and as winter advanced, Lady Olivia declared her determination of no longer remaining in the country.

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"We have had enough of rural felicity," said she, so, pray aunt Margaret be kind enough to write or send to Brighton, to take us a house there for a few months; it will be something new."

The aunt obeyed, and in a short time they were established, in a pleasant house in the most agreeable situation. The gay world was flocking to that little town, which was the favourite residence of the Prince.

Lady Margaret and her handsome niece soon found many people of their acquaintance, and were, as well as Rosina, invited to everything that was select. Lady Olivia in the enjoyment of the admiration she excited, soon lost her sentimentality, and delighted in being the