leave to make her his wife. It would be vain to say Lucy had not suffered latent hope to revive in her bosom on this unexpected visit of her long esteemed friend; and when he requested half an hour's private conversation on a subject very near his heart, her hopes almost amounted to a certainty. She had been a widow above nine months, and therefore did not conceive any impropriety in listening to an overture of the kind, for Lucy was above affecting a depth of sorrow she did not feel. She lamented the loss of her husband, as that of an inestimable man from whom she had received many favours; and for whom she had felt a high veneration, but it was impossible she could lament the dissolution of ties in which the heart had taken no part. What then must have been the shock her sensibility sustained, when, instead of pleading his cause with herself, this long and secretly selected object of affection solicited her interest with another person. A cold chill ran to her heart, the blood forsook her cheeks, and it was some minutes before she could reply. At length she said in a low voice. "That it would ever give her pleasure to promote his happiness: and if Clara was not averse to the union, she would throw no obstacles in the way." The tremulous voice, the pallid cheek, the tear hardly repressed, awakened something like suspicion in the bosom of Auland, that he had still an interest in the heart of Lucy; but he had gone too far to retract; the affections of the young and innocent Clara were engaged, and now to aspire to the hand of the Duchess, would be highly dishonourable, as well as being liable to misconstruction in regard to the motive from which he acted. He therefore thanked her for her acquiescence, and left the apartment-Lucy had now a new part to act; a part most excruciating to her feelings. She went beyond her promises; so far from throwing obstacles in the way, she hastened the preparations for their union, and a month from the time of his arrival in Scotland, Auland departed, taking Clara with him a bride; she having received from her noble friend a fortune of five thousand pounds.-Lucy had resolution sufficient to act thus far with rigid propriety; she even forced herself to breakfast with them on the morning of their nuptials; but her strength could not go any farther-t accompany them to church, or to see them on their retu she felt was impossible. One of her women accompanied Clara on her journey, and when they stopped for the night, delivered a letter addressed to them both, breathing the most fervent wishes for their happiness; but taking leave of them for ever, as she declared she would never again visit London, but meant to pass the residue of her life in seclusion. That residue was but short; rest and appetite forsook her; tears were her constant companions, whetting her pillow at night, and seasoning her solitary and scanty meals by day. Her father had paid the debt of nature; she had no friend to call her back to the active scenes of life; the world was a blank; her heart a dreary void-and six months saw her a shadow standing on the verge of eternity. Her favourite woman, distressed to see her lady reduced to such extreme low health, ventured to write to Mr. Auland. On the wings of gratitude and esteem he hastened to Scotland. The shadow of the once lovely Lucy was reclining on a sofa; the daylight was withdrawn, and only the fire illumined the apartment; her eyes were closed, and, in all probability, her thoughts were fixed on the person who had for so many years occupied them. Her woman softly opened the dressing-room door, and Charles, on tip-toe, followed her in; when he beheld the fragile expiring form of Lucy, an exclamation escaped him. "Who's that?" she cried, wildly, starting up; she saw him, shrieked his rame with an emphatic blessing; and sinking on the ground, expired. An unfinished letter addressed to Mrs. Auland, gave the history of her heart, from the commencement of her affection to the day of her death. She had made her will, which rendered her beloved Charles and his wife independent; but to the former, the possession of that independence was embittered by the remembrance of the sufferings of the lovely, unfortunate donor. SOLUTIONS TO MY LAST BUDGET. 29 When it's in a hogs-head. 30 Sealing Wax. 31 It is a Jewell—(jew-ill.) 32 A Seaman. 33 Great and Grate. 34 Heartsease. B. BLACK. THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD. Our readers by referring to Vol. 1, 1827, page 137 of this work, will find Mr. Westall's illustration of this popular story. Mr. Benwell, in the frontispiece to this volume has displayed considerable talent in delineating that part of the "histoire" where the robin is supposed to have strewn the children with leaves. As Mr. Westall's picture was accompanied with some remarks which are equally applicable to Mr. Benwell's, we invite our readers to turn to their former volume. THE LADIES' TOILET. FASHIONS REPRESENTED IN THE ENGRAVINGS. EVENING DRESS.-A dress of apricot-colored Indian taffety, with a very broad flounce of white blond at the border, in a Vandyck pattern, headed by a rouleau of white satin, in scalops; at the point of each scalop is a rich tufted ornament, composed of white silk. The corsage a la Sevigne, the sleeves long, and of white crepe-lisse,-they are a l'imbecille, with Vandyck mancherons, of the same material as the dress, edged by fringe of the same color. Antique English points of blond finish the sleeves at the wrist, below which, confining it next the hand, are broad bracelets of black velvet, with a large emerald, or a red cornelian, set in fillagree gold. The headdress is a beret of black velvet, ornamented with pink ribbon under the brim; and one white feather is also placed beneath it, on the right side: over the brim is an elegant plumage of white ostrich feathers. CARRIAGE DRESS. - A satin pelisse, the color of the Parmaviolet, fastened down the front of the skirt with papillonrosettes, of the same color. This pelisse is made with a large pelerine cape of the same, over which is a double one of India muslin, trimmed with fine lace, and surmounted by a narrow ruff. The sleeves are a la Mameluke, with lace ruffles turned back to the arm: next the hand is a neat gold bracelet. The hat is of black satin, bound and trimmed with celestialblue velvet and ribbon, with full blown roses without green foliage; on the right side of the hat is an aigrette, formed of blue and black heron's feathers intermingled. CURSORY REMARKS ON THE LAST NEW FASHIONS. Though the town cannot be called full, nor shall we expect it to be so till after Christmas, with those belonging to the higher orders, yet it already boasts a more splendid and distinguished appearance than it did last month; and though the promenades are more thronged with beauty and fashion, than Hyde Park is at present with carriages emblazoned with grand armorial bearings, yet London has now become the chief mart of intelligence concerning the various changes in female attire. Merino dresses for home costume are very much in favor; though the fine double merino is certainly expensive, yet we would advise the purchasing of this beautiful article, which appears like a very fine and light cloth, not discovering the twill, which, in the other merinos, always imparts the idea of a stuff gown; we have seen some charming merino dresses, one of which was of a bright geranium; it was bordered by two broad bias folds, each headed by narrow black velvet; the body was made partially low, a l'enfant, and the sleeves of a very moderate width, finished at the wrists by a broad cuff of black velvet, fastened by jet buttons. We have seen other merino dresses, ornamented much in the same manner, of myrtle-green and slate-color, yet we dearly love to see our ladies "walk in silk attire ;" and we much more admire two home dresses of gros de Naples, of the latter colors, which appeared lately on two very elegant young females of fashion; they were trimmed round the border of the skirt with two narrow flounces; the boddice made quite high and fitting tight to the shape, with sleeves a l'Amadis. An India muslin collar, trimmed at the edge with fine lace, finished these tasteful dresses. Gros de Naples and satin are much in request for the dinner and evening party; black satin is in high favor; we have seen a dress of this kind on a matronly belle at a dinner party; the body, though low, concealed much of the bust; the sleeves fitted almost close to the arm, and were of black satin; but over these were a capacious pair of black Chantilly lace of a beautiful pattern, en colonnes, which had an excellent effect: two flounces, deeply scalloped, and edged, and headed by narrow black velvet, formed the border on the |