been for ever lost, in an unconquerable attachment to Fitzroy.

very

"This perfidious woman," continued her ladyship, "was once my dearest friendwe went to school together, and she won my guileless heart by her insidious blandishments. My father's riches then equalled his rank, and it was in my power to be kind to her; nor did she ever fail to work upon my prodigal generosity. Often has she spent months together at my father's house, where she experienced the greatest attention and hospitality. But times changed-she became a countess : and my infatuated father, from an unfortunate propensity to gaming, dreadfully reduced the circumstances of his family. It was now that lady Enderfield proved her ingratitude equal to her perfidy. She never came to see me, or honoured me with her notice, except for the express purpose of mortifying me and my beloved sisters. Oh, I could tell you such unkind, nay, cruel things of her doing!-but, continually talking of her rank, her splendour, her court arrangements, she never failed to glance at my attachment to the most amiable of mankind, by saying-These are things younger

brothers' wives, who live on love in a cottage, can know nothing of.'

"Will you not pity my deplorable weakness, Miss De Clifford, when you hear that it was the mortifying conduct of this woman that led me on to be a fiend-even more cruelly perfidious than herself; to blast my own happiness for ever, and murder him, my Frederick?-I gave my hand to the detestable lord Gaythorn, because (oh, infatuated fool!) he ranked higher in the peerage than lord Enderfield, that I might take precedence of this now-hated woman; and from that dreadful hour, I have been most truly the wretch I merited to be. Weak, silly, silly, rash fool that I was!she has still the advantage of me in every thing. Her husband died, and has left her at liberty to wed the man of her affections; while mine-though his death could have availed me little, but a release from an abhorred husband; for, maniac that I was! lord Gaythorn's widow could not have been the wife of his son."

Lady Gaythorn now burst into a new flood of anguished tears, and Julia could give her no comfort. She sincerely pitied this self-devoted sufferer, yet despised the

woman who could be led by perfidy so cruel, by such ignoble, puerile motives. She rejoiced the amiable Fitzroy had hitherto escaped the misery of an union with such a worthless being as lady Enderfield; and fervently hoped he might escape her still, even though she herself might never have the happiness to become his wife.

Suddenly the tears of lady Gaythorn ceased to flow, and energetically she exclaimed-" Why do I loiter here to defeat my own purpose!-To see the vile, detested lady Enderfield elevated above me in rank, would make me even more wretched than I am. It is in your power only to save me from that misery. If the amiable Fitzroy is an object of interest to you-if you prize his happiness-if you wish not to see him the most wretched of mankind, exert your fascinating powers, and rescue him from the destruction that now assails him in the form of lady Enderfield."

66

Julia's sensibility was painfully awakened.—“ Dear madam," she exclaimed, "after lady Enderfield's much perfidy, and so great deal strong ingratitude to him, and after appearing in the soon time of her widowhood

at the ball-and so attired! think at all, Fitzroy can be for danger?"

"I know her—I know Fitzroy too; and know his danger is imminent."

"Then, then is Fitzroy," said Julia, with glowing cheeks, "not worthy for a virtuous. woman's love."

"Miss De Clifford," exclaimed her ladyship, "be not childishly romantic. Expect perfection in no man. Fitzroy has ten thousand merits. Were you his wife, he would adore you for ever-if lady Enderfield is his, the moment the illusion of her blandishments is past, he will abhor her. Throw not fastidiously the now-offered smiles of fortune from you. Consider it your exertions to save the happiness of Fitzroy, to secure your own, and become a duchess."

worth

"But to proceed, how am I to do?" asked Julia. "Not by entering lists with this so subtile lady Enderfield?"

"One look of love from you would secure your triumph, and bind Fitzroy to you for ever."

66

Oh, lady Gaythorn!" Julia replied, in gentle accent, but determined tone, and,

that look shall not ever-no, not ever come premeditatedly from my eyes. Fate, dear madam, must here go her own part to do; she cannot, through my means, find art to be for her the auxiliary."

"Promise, however, you will do nothing to repulse Fitzroy-that you will meet him again as if you had not heard of his former situation with lady Enderfield.

66

"I promise readily not to make repulse for him; but can my agitated feelings promise for not to meet him, with an increase of interest, from hearing the so bad news for his having been unhappy-so much deceived of perfidy so cruel?"

"Since such is your disposition, this is an auspicious moment to lead you to him," said lady Gaythorn eagerly, and smiling through her tears. 66 'Let us hasten therefore. He had not seen this Circe when we left him, and I trust the crowd has yet concealed her from his sight. Remember, all that has passed between us is an inviolable secret: and should any one question you about my indisposition, have the goodness to say, 'the heat and dancing overcame me.'