CHAPTER XXIII.

THE days flew past like a weaver's shuttle.

"And so our 'grand reception' is to be this evening! Pray, dearest Minnie, lend me a few ideas. I do really wish to be quite brilliant-never mind about the borrowed light, so that I shine with it. For it would be a sore mortification to see the glory of our house' pale in the full radiance of all the Guilders."

"There is no lack of ideas in that little head of yours, sweet Belle, if only you would have the grace to sort them."

"Sort ideas! I could never even make up a nosegay that would hold together-all the flowers that should form the centre would keep bursting upon the outside. No-give me my beautiful adornments-be they intellectual or floral, ready-made to order."

"You will never get 'excused' on this pretence, my pet, for sooner or later, you must combine and arrange, if you do not originate. So you may as well begin this evening! and so keep on for the seven ensuing days."

Oh, then, what a vicissitudinous week this will be !" "Each little event traced back to the evening, in which my cousin Belle was satisfied to shine with her own clear light."

Oh, never set me to 'investigating' first causes.

"And so, ma belle, we are really to see our new cousin this evening aunt Guilder expects him at eight."

"And it is now five minutes to six," she said, taking out her watch. At this moment the door opened, and Eolia came gliding up the parlor-vista towards us, courtesied"If you please, ladies, tea is ready-shall I show you ?” We followed the pretty sylph, and found the family wait

ing to sit down to tea. It was a round table: my aunt sat by the silver tea-urn, and poured the aromatic beverage into the most delicate china cups, which Eolia passed to us. Sitting opposite my aunt, the seat she always assigned me, I could not but notice the lovely bloom that tinged her cheeks. I served out the jellies and preserved strawberries, and passing a plate to her, I said—

"Dearest aunt, you are looking very happy to-night."

'Ah, my little niece, one who is very dear to me, who has been long absent, returns to-night. All through the day I have counted the hours that part me from my beloved son; and now there remains only" she smiled, and looked at the beautiful French clock on the mantel.

And I noticed that she ate nothing, only took a morsel of jelly. When our repast was over, aunt arose, and said—

Now, my dears, I will send Eolia with you to your rooms. I give you full time to dress, without haste; let me see you both looking as lovely as possible, and when I am ready, I will send for you. I shall receive my son alone— have a little supper ready for him here—that over, I will present my nieces, and there will still be time to make a little acquaintance before the guests assemble. Does this please you, my sweet Minnie ?"

"Perfectly. I only hope we may be able to bear well our part."

"Oh, fear not, and fail not."

And we

-Belle and I, courtesied out of the room.

Seated within the sanctity of our own, we began to speculate upon the supposed merits of that august presence, into which we were so soon to be ushered.

But as the walls of our room had no ears, what was said went not beyond them. We still persisted in dispensing with all assistance from Eolia. While her mistress, from long habit, continually needed the fairy creature about her person--and then, what folly in us, with our robust, agile, full-toned life. to accept of aid which we did not require !

Belle" Look as lovely as possible, my dears," said our aunt. I shall give infinite attention to my toilette, and a placid smile, which I intend to get up-for these, alas ! may be all I shall have to rely upon, since you, cruel maid, refuse me even the least valued gem, from your intellectual storehouse.

Min.-You shall not annoy me, you pretty vixen, for I intend to be perfectly beautiful this eve; not only to please my aunt, (the saints in Heaven bless her), Madam Guilder, I should say, but also for my own sake. For I, too, wish to sustain the glory of our house. There, Belle, have not I borrowed an idea from you, and as I pay promptly, take this in return-quite as original, and perhaps of equal value. Belle.-Oh, now I am to hear the profundity of mightiest thought.

Min.-Beyond your depths, perhaps.

Belle.-I expect nothing less.

Min.-Listen! Ahem! In your conversation, do not hesitate, do not hurry, have in your mind what you mean to say, then utter it with clearness and elegance.

Belle-Thank you, my oracle.

Min.-Now to our occupation, the highest we richly-dowered maidens may dare aspire to, dressing to look beautiful, thereby to get a husband! But frankly, Belle, dear, I do not wish just yet for a husband, be he the paragon which our new cousin is believed to be, for, I have myself to love, honor and obey-these duties, believe me, are quite commensurate with my capacities.

Belle-Well, when I take a husband, we shall both promise one and the same thing-to love, honor and cherish until death, this, and nothing more. And if he be the one I now think of, he will promise and fulfill all this.

Min.-Ha, ha, Belle, have you made the nomination? Belle-Oh, bah! Pray forget it, Minnie, I was merely thinking aloud-no, no, I wasn't thinking at all!

Min.-Never fear. I shall forget it before the evening

passes, and now for a moment I will think aloud, and own it too. I have a presentiment that I am to be very happy this evening, one of the first requisites to being beautiful, (which I aim to be,) then I have been reading up to a certain point, and practicing from the most approved composers-oh, ma belle, I have so many resources, I cannot fail.

Belle-And what do you wear? I see our Eolian Strain has most artistically arranged your rich maroon-colored velvet, on that Bishop's chair, to invite attention.

Min. She is right-this is the identical dress I intended to wear. The color, a rich maroon, is perfectly suited to my complexion and style of person, not so fairy-like and ethereal as you, my snowflake, but rather Hebe-al, and a delicate brunette, with "glossy ringlets and dark, Spanish eyes," as the poet hath it. And look, my fairy Belle! What lovely Ja ponicas! the white one I shall hide amid the recesses of my darkly flowing hair, the others, the pink and scarlet ones shall peep from amid your laughing, flaxen curls

Belle—Oh, beautiful, exquisite ! heavenly! I never saw anything half so sweet in life.

Min.-Save "Love's young dream !"

Belle-Pray tell me what I shall wear-beside !

Min.-Your green and black bayadere. Those tiny rosebuds, pink and white, running round between the satin bars, will seem to emulate the flowers in your hair. Lovely! My dear, you cannot fail to impress one with your freshness, and those grave and reverend fathers we are to meet, will be wafted in thought to the verdant fields from which we came ! Belle-Have done! I never half know whether you are caressing or mocking me.

During all this silvery patter of small talk, the toilettemaking had steadily progressed.

There were only a few more turns to make, necklaces to link about those swan-like throats, bracelets to fasten around arms of such dazzling fairness, for even Hebe herself could not boast of more resplendent beauty, and of this, it seems my young heroines were fully aware.

Kind mother Nature had endowed them with great personal beauty-this they religiously strove to preserve, by correct habits of life and an equable temper.

A well-known tap at the door, and being bidden, Eolia entered. Her delight amounted to extasy.

of

"Oh, Miss Minnie, you are a perfect rose, the queen love and beauty. And Miss Belle is a pearl, a lily, oh, a lilyof-the-valley. How delicious, how sweet, how perfectly lovely! I do affirm, I never saw any young ladies in New Orleans half so pretty."

We were amused and pleased with Eolia's boundless admiration, it augured well for our success.

"Now, will the young ladies come down-for oh, I forgot to tell you that Master George has come, and they are waiting for you in the boudoir."

I do believe Belle turned a shade nearer the hue of a snowflake at this announcement; but I gave her dimpled arm a vicious little pinch (under protest), as we left the room, which brought a smile to her lips, and a tinge of life-color to her waxen cheeks.

Madam Guilder received us in her sweet little boudoir, beyond the parlors. She smiled-was evidently much pleased when she saw us, but at once, and very ceremoniously, introduced us to her son.. He met us very graciously -passed all the elegant compliments due to the time and occasion-then led his mother back to her accustomed seatdrew a small, luxurious chair near her, for Belle, then, with a graceful air, placed me in one of the recesses of the téte-atéte, himself sinking quietly into the other.

And so our acquaintance began.

I had full leisure to sketch his portrait, for an unusual repose came stealing over me, like a summer twilight.

He was just so tall, that a lady would lift her eyelids when addressing him—the proper stature for a gentleman— had a graceful figure, an air which was at once cheerful and manly, fair complexion, dark brown, abundant hair, clear