She appears a dashing Woman.

became estranged from her, and his inconsistent conduct, and systematic illtreatment of her, checked the natural vivacity of her temper; and the smiles which dressed her countenance in the public scene of gaity, were succeeded by an overbalance of tears in her private and. solitary hours.

The late Earl's numerous family had of course left but very little portion for his daughters. Major Pemberton was not rich, but he launched into expences of the most extravagant nature; and was ambitious that his wife should appear the most dashing woman in the regiment; that her horses, her carriage, should be the most fashionable and most superb, and her liveries coutinually new.

No one loved elegance better than Lady Laura; no one understood it so well;. no one knew better that it does not consist in expensive ornaments, but that much

Her Husband goes Abroad

cost lavished on them, only destroys that simplicity which gives to elegance, when united with taste, its greatest charm. She had been early accustomed to that economy, which, however elevated the station in life may be, must yet be preserved in a large family. No one was more naturally generous, and no one could economise better: Long, very long ago, but for her provident care, Major Pemberton would have heen a ruined man!"

The regiment he belonged to was ordered abroad, while her three children were in the early stages of childhood. She felt this separation keenly; she still dearly loved her ungrateful husband; he loved her also, but he loved himself, and his expensive and destructive pleasures better!

Lady Laura, after his departure, placed her little girl at school; and taking her

A rigid Disciple of the Old School.

infant boys with her, she repaired to the country seat of the Countess Dowager of Thornborough, her mother.

The old Lady Dowager was a good woman, but her temper was trying and unpleasant; to keep up her dignity in high style, with her chaplains and a numerous train about her, she would practise many mortifying acts of self-denial; was parsimonious in many things to an extreme, and was a rigid disciple of the Old School.

The lively Lady Laura went with an heavy heart to immure herself in this gloomy mansion, anxiously waiting for news from her yet loved husband. He wrote to her but seldom; and she heard alarming accounts from other quarters of his improper conduct, his outrageous and haughty behaviour to his snperior officers, and those beneath him. How often did she wish she had braved every

She repairs to a Cottage Orné.

danger, and had accompanied him; hoping, and fondly imagining, that she might have been a check on his extravagances and imprudence. No, Laura, not even thou canst check confirmed inconsistency, nor the untoward spirit of an head-strong, impetuous man!

We will pass over many a sad hour she numbered; many a sleepless night of agony, and and many a tearful morning. She had the painful task of closing a mother's eyes; and the thoughts of her mind were in some degree dissipated, by arranging with Lady Caroline (her only sister who remained unmarried,) her late parent's affairs. Her brothers arrived, took possession of the house, and she accompanied Lady Caroline to her future residence, which was a small cottage orné at some distance.

Lady Caroline was quite the commonplace woman of quality; she had so long borne with her mother's humours, by

Her Husband's return.

being continually with her, that it had given a listless kind of callousness to a naturally lively and ardent mind. However, Lady Laura has ever done her the justice to say, that she behaved to her in a very trying period of her life, which followed in a short time after, in the most warm, affectionate, and sisterly manner : For the Major soon arrived in England; he had quitted his regiment, and returned to his Laura, almost a bankrupt in fortune, through his own shameful extravagance.

A series of repeated infidelities, neglect, and cruel behaviour, on his part, since his return, oppressed the active mind of Lady Laura, and brought on a nervous disorder. We forbear giving detail of his conduct; such is too much the same, and too well known in the cha racter of a fashionable husband.

That afflicting malady, which equally.