lord Francis; "but leave the young torment to her own inventions."

"We certainly will not delay a moment upon her account," said Fitzroy.

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Though not for her account," said Julia, "yet the effort we should make. We, who are the guest to doctor and Mrs. Hargrave, surely ought not to leave their child exposed for so great danger, and insults very much."

"I wish," replied Fitzroy, smiling, "you were not so very good, Miss De Clifford ; for I own it is with reluctance I shall make any effort for this abominable girl's security: but as it is your wish, I-—————”

At this moment they beheld Celestina catch old Dick by the arm, and hurry out of the area with him into the street.

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Nay," exclaimed Julia, "I do give her up as successfully might we make pursuit for an ignis fatuus.”

Lord Francis now conducted Miss Penrose, and Fitzroy Julia, to the rectory gate, where they bade them adieu for a short period, being to go in form in the course of the evening, to be introduced by lord Gaythorn to doctor Hargrave.

Julia hastened to communicate her dis

tressing adventure to Mrs. Goodwin, who felt very much hurt at her niece's conduct; and fearing lest our heroine's feet had been wet in the expedition, she persuaded her to go to her chamber, to prevent any evil consequence by necessary precaution: and when she got her there, knowing that Mr. Fitzroy was expected at the rectory in the course of the evening (but without telling her this as a reason), recommended her to dress her head again, as the shawl had terribly disordered her hair; and when Julia complied, and was ready to attend her down, Mrs. Goodwin looked on her with approving delight, and many a sanguine expectation.

About nine o'clock, lords Gaythorn and Francis Loraine, Mr. Fitzroy, and four other electioneering friends, arrived at the rectory; and after the form of introduction to doctor and Mrs. Hargrave, lord Gaythorn led Fitzroy to Julia (who was seated between doctor Sydenham and Charles Goodwin), and told him, to that lady's resistless powers for canvassing he owed the vote and interest of doctor Sydenham. The eyes of Fitzroy now sparkled with

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additional lustre. "I wished, most anxiously," said he, "for the vote and interest of doctor Sydenham; because I considered them as amongst the highest honours I could receive: but coming from such a source, increases their value above all estimation."

"Mr. Fitzroy," said doctor Sydenham, "I had predetermined not to give my vote at all upon this occasion; but one little anecdote, told by artless innocence, was conviction to me, that I could not bestow my vote more honourably for myself, more beneficially for my country, than by giving it to you."

Fitzroy bowed gracefully to this excellent old man ; whilst his eyes, beaming with gratitude and satisfaction, were rivetted upon the blushing Julia; and the world would he have given to have heard her tell that anecdote, which had thus gained for. him a partisan of so much importance.

Charles Goodwin had modestly arisen from his seat upon the approach of lord Gaythorn, and was now beckoned away by his attentive mother, when instantly Fitzroy took the vacant chair, and joined in conversation with our heroine and doctor Sydenham, until at length lord Francis

Loraine approached, and took an opportunity of saying softly to Fitzroy, but still loud enough for Julia to hear-“ You are a dreadful dunce at electioneering, Horatio! Your attention should not thus be devoted to one object, however fascinating." Fitzroy coloured highly; and, though smiling, arose with reluctance, addressed every one most graciously by turns, and paid his attentions indiscriminately for the remainder of the evening.

But doctor Hargrave, the man of the world, and of acute observation, had seen enough, in this short attention paid by Fitzroy to Julia, that indicated more than a common interest. He saw lord Francis Loraine take the place of his friend, and pay her every respect. He also beheld lord Gaythorn's undisguised admiration of her, and heard his enthusiastic encomiums upon her beauty and elegance of manners; from all which he took a lesson to adapt his own demeanour by; and his beforefrigid conduct to our heroine thawed at once, and he became her zealous panegyrist, and most devoted and obsequious very humble servant.

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By half-past ten, all the visitors, except the inmates of the rectory, had taken their departure; and about twelve, all separated for the night, when Julia took care to secure her chamber from the incursions of Miss Hargrave. Though Julia had encountered no bodily fatigue that day, her spirits had gone through a good deal of exertion, and she was glad to get to bed, where she made the most use of her time, by sleeping uninterruptedly until her usual hour for waking in a morning, when she arose cheerful and well; and, according to an appointment of the preceding night, took a most delightful walk of three miles before breakfast, with doctor Sydenham, and her great friend and favourite, Charles Goodwin. She found the doctor so entertaining, cheerful, and instructive a companion, that the walk seemed as nothing of fatigue to her; and with reluc tance she returned to the rectory, when doctor Hargrave failed not to admire the beautiful addition Miss De Clifford had made to the roses of her cheeks, by her morning's ramble.

The gentlemen hastily dispatched their breakfast, that they might attend their fa