it, for her keys were in her cabinet, and several letters lay open upon the table. One of them, a very long one, was in a hand I had always too well recollected; and, to my astonishment, delight, and terror, a miniature of the writer, exquisitely painted, and giving all the sparkle as well as sensibility of her countenance, lay by the side of it.

I was quite overpowered-my eyes gloated upon it-I fetched my breath quickly-and was lost in a trance, when my patroness entered.

She saw at once my whole situation; coloured deeply herself, with surprise and agitation, and would have been angry, had she not seen, as she said, that I was more sinned against than sinning. She, however, in a hurried manner, swept the letters from the table, and turned the face of the miniature from my eyes; though that did little good, for the back shewed one of those lovely dark tresses, which I had too often admired not to recognise.

After a minute's silence, during which she seemed to be recollecting herself, Lady Hungerford said,

"This is most untoward. I will own to you that I have kept this picture almost religiously from your sight, from the fear of the very effect which I see it has had upon you; and most seriously do I grieve to see how little you are cured when most it behoves you to be so."

I gave a deep sigh at every thing being thus recalled, but could not help saying,

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Surely, lady, there is some mystery hanging about this agitating subject, which, as you are so kind as to interest yourself about it, you would only be more merciful to explain. Why, may I humbly ask, does it more behove me now to be cured than at any other time, when at any, and every time, I feel that not to be so only urges me on to perdition ?"

"I had hoped,” replied she, recovering her composure, "never to have heard that sentiment again; and really, from your friend Mr. Granville's account, I thought that your study of the world, in which you were making such progress, had had the effect we both wished for you. This little incident has undeceived me; and I shall certainly ask my uncle to send you abroad with your friend, as soon as the event he expects happens. To remain here is madness, and pity indeed is it that so fair a fortune in expectancy should be spoiled by such want of firmness." Then, seeing that I was about to reply, she interrupted me, saying, "It is not that I blame your constancy, or that I do not in some measure admire it; but when so strongly forbidden by duty to her, as well as yourself— ”

"Duty to her!"

"Yes; for why should you embarrass, and add to her uneasiness ?"

"I, madam? I embarrass? I add to uneasiness? What can this mean? Is not Miss Hastings

free-free as air? Unless indeed she too has set her affection where it is not returned; but thatthat's impossible !"

"I believe so," said Lady Hungerford. “But let me probe you, and deeply too, in a question which I will not ask if you are afraid of it; for I tell you it will try you."

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"If it be any thing," replied I, firmly," which concerns Miss Hastings' happiness-if it reveal that her affections are both pledged and requited—believe me, though my life depended upon it, I would rejoice." Nobly resolved, and nobly uttered,” replied Lady Hungerford; " and I am "and I am sure my dear Bertha would feel all its generosity, could she know it. But tell me if I am really to understand what it imports, that you could see her married with composure, and be yourself happy ?"

"With composure, I will not say," returned I; "but as happy as I am now-nay more, to think that her own happiness was secured, I am very sure of myself when I answer, yes.”

"I am very sure," replied the frank and winning lady," that you yourself deserve all the happiness you have missed, and if that will console you, that your own heart is not unworthy of Bertha's. Were the thing not absolutely impossible, and willed by fate so to be, I could even wish you success; nor, I am free to say, is there any thing in your birth, still less with your mind, and the prospects you have

before you, in your worldly situation, which would prevent my doing so. But fate, as I have said, has so willed it, and must be obeyed. The thing, were you an emperor, is quite out of question."

I felt all the kindness and condescension of this speech, and only longed to kiss the fair hand which touched my arm in the eagerness with which she supported it by action. I felt it, however, as a complete death-warrant, and so I told her, adding my entreaty that all the mystery which seemed, particularly of late, to hang about the subject might be cleared up.

"It would," I said, "go farther than any thing else to settle my mind for ever. As it is," I added, "the uncertainty, the mystery, are far more insupportable than the unequivocal assurance of her hand and heart being betrothed."

Lady Hungerford, smiling at the energy with which I said this, observed, that she thought Rousseau himself could not have expressed his feelings more warmly. Better, however, to forget, instead of nursing them, which it was too plain I was doing.

"Your ladyship need not fear for me,” replied I, "provided only that the fact is, as I have gathered it from all quarters-that the execution is ordered, and that there are no hopes of a reprieve."

At this she looked hesitatingly, and at length observed,

"I do not mean to say, that what you have supposed, and seem so to wish, is the absolute fact; nor am I at liberty to say a word more; but if it were (whether this is, or is not, bravado), let me ask, what really would become of your affection ?" "Madam," answered I, "I would hug it to my heart, and carry it with me to the grave."

The amiable woman was moved with this in a manner as remarkable as unexpected. Her cheek flushed, tears glistened in her eyes, and this queen of fashion, this observed of the drawing-room, and ornament of the presence, became an absolute daughter of nature in her simplest and most amiable form. How wrong are upstart railers to suppose that either men or women are necessarily hardened because their lot is cast among the great.*

Finding that the agitation produced did not subside, she said, with a smile which almost contradicted her words,

"You must go, for 'tis in vain to counsel, and. almost to blame you. These conversations do me

* This reflection, just in itself, is supported by a trait in a very great person, so pleasing, that I cannot help transcribing it. When the Dauphin of France was attacked by the smallpox, in 1752, his wife passed days and nights by his bed-side. Poupe, a blunt physician, called in, and being a stranger to the court, did not know her, and thought she was a hired nurse. "Parbleu," said he, "voila la meilleure garde que j'ai vue. Comment vous appelle-t-on, ma bonne ?"-Mems. de la Housset.

Catalogues are made of the crimes of royal persons; why not of their virtues?