steal a peep at her, as if she was comparing her with some object in her own mind; then recovering herself, resume a desultory conversation with Amelia; and this continued till she rose to take leave.

66

A-propos, I had forgot one thing!" said her ladyship-" You are not to say to any one, for your life, the poem is lady Felicia's. It would be too bad for a woman of her rank to be exposed to the attacks of critics. She only trusted the secret to me, because she knew me to be discreet." "Comme une coup de canon!" said Amelia aside. "You go with us to the

opera to-night?"

Lady Claremont replied she did not like yet to go into public; but Amelia having urged that she wished her sister's opinion of the new decorations of her box, this important consideration overcame the fair widow's scruples, and the party for the opera was formed.

"C'en est fait," said Amelia, laughing. "You have made the conquest I fore

told.

told. Poor Charlotte is absolutely smitten with you, and I shall hear of nothing tonight but Miss Somerville's merits. Well, I forgive you your advantage. I am not jealous of your favour with lady Clare

mont."

Though this was said playfully, there was something in it that struck a chill damp through Julia's heart. Pensively she prepared to dress for the opera, and was only interrupted in her reverie by the unexpected entrance of her brother.

"I have brought you a set of the 'Pictured Mocha,' as Darwin fancifully calls it," he said, at the same time placing a very elegant box of ornaments before her.

"I thought the sober gem might suit my Julia's serious taste. They are admired by gayer ladies too, for I have just presented Amelia with a set. And now I think of it, you need not tell Mrs. Somerville," he hesitatingly added, "who gave you these."

Why

"Why so? why make a mystery of it?" "Indeed!” replied Horatio, rather confused, "I can give no rational reason; but the little angel loves me with such jealous susceptibility-such romantic affection, that the idea of my bestowing a similar tribute of regard upon another, as upon herself, although that other be my sister, would give her pain."

"And do you act wisely, Horatio, in encouraging in your wife a disposition to cherish that poisonous weed, jealousy, along with the rose of love?"

"Point de rose sans épine, Julie! The little creature has somehow taken panic at your really-superior understanding; she is in perpetual dread lest it might lead me to undervalue hers. She fears your former influence. What do I say? She fears my old servants-my friends-my books--my paintings every thing, in short, which might divide my love and attention with her. Never did I see affec

tion so apprehensively delicate; but, at the same time, never did I meet with any so engaging."

"May her tenderness prove your compensation, Horatio, for any thing you may lose by her! Yet permit this observation to my sincere attachment. You

In

have ever been to me a brother the most kind and generous, and must acknowledge that, in return, like sir Peter Teazle, I never refused you my advice. Infuse a little firmness into that ductile mind. stead of injuring, it will only strengthen and elevate the sensibility of your Amelia. So may you, notwithstanding the general mistrust in human felicity, find her love indeed a thornless rose."

The cloud that had gathered on Horatio's brow at the beginning of this little admonition, was completely dispersed before Julia had ceased speaking. She had often found that a friendly counsel, couched in the guise of pleasantry, had more success with the gay and sanguine temper

of her brother, than one given with an ap pearance of greater gravity and earnestness. The effect was so on this occasion.

Harmony and good-humour were completely established between the brother and sister. Horatio kissed the fair hand she extended to him with an affectionate and brotherly politeness; at the same time he could not help observing-" Now I durst not even do that if my dear little angel: were by."

- The party were not long seated in their box at the opera, when Amelia asked their opinion upon its interior drapery and decorations, which had been finished with much expence and taste; while the box itself was, as Mrs. Somerville justly observed, not only the most indispensable, but the cheapest thing in the world, it being held in partnership with lady Clare

mont.

Unwilling to offend, and unable cordially to approve, Julia kept silence while Amelia descanted on draperies, and fringes,

and