consternation, the modest, timid, shrinking girl, who fled to her house as an asylum from tyranny at home-she whose predilection for Miss Somerville's society could only be surpassed by her delicate preference of her brother, gradually metamorphosed into the haughty and dashing woman of fashion, loud in her censure, severe in her sarcasm, and volatile in her pleasures.

All this time Amelia held a very different conduct with Horatio. If she had not been able entirely to reassure him with respect to the ominous apparition of Armine De Ross, she had at least contrived to give the affair such a turn that, strange as it may appear, it only served to confirm her influence over him. Amelia had the address to persuade him either that she was a gentle victim, and therefore the more deserving of pity, or that his superior merit had obtained a triumph over the earlier influence of Armine in her heart, or perhaps both. Be it as it may, the good-natured Horatio loved her with a tenderness

a tenderness more solicitous than ever. His affection had lost a part of its earlier charm, but this was succeeded by a species of fascination more dangerous; he neither thought her so innocent, nor so amiable, as at first, but found her more interesting, when he believed she had been unhappy; his anxiety to anticipate her wishes increased the inequalities and asperities of her temper (if ever they broke out in his presence) he attributed to her situation, and went beyond the extent of his fortune to gratify her capricious fancies.

That injudicious caution which always led him to conceal, even from his wife, the real state of his circumstances, often induced Mrs. Somerville to enter into plans of expence which she perhaps would have avoided, had she been better informed. Horatio had involved himself in debt at the period of his marriage, and his present way of living increased it. Partly to fly from the murmurs of a heart ill at ease, E 4 and

and partly at the solicitations of her friends, Mrs. Somerville gave into a degree of dissipation which he was far from approving; but to remonstrate with Amelia was more disagreeable to Horatio than to see her thus employing herself, and "I cannot afford it," were words never admitted into his vocabulary.

In pursuance of this plan, Mrs. Somerville had gone one day to waste the morn ing at the bazaars, which were just then highly fashionable. The bazaar in Soho square claimed the preference; and here Mrs. Somerville entered along with her sister-in-law, for Amelia could still, in public, lean upon the arm of the almost heart-broken Julia, and insult her with those soft names, and softer smiles, which have no meaning when they cease to come from the heart. It was the fashionable hour-the bazaar was thronged with com pany. They were soon joined by lady Claremont; and Julia, labouring under the secret consciousness of Amelia's un

kindness,

kindness, found a consolation in the animated greeting of that lady, whose predilection for her had completely confirmed Mrs. Somerville's laughing prophecy. Arm-in-arm they perambulated through the wonders of this motley scene, which borrowed all the aids of adventitious decoration to set off the tempting variety it displayed. Large looking-glasses, extending from the floor to the ceiling, multiplied, in every direction, the effect of the innumerable stands of jewellery, millinery, perfumery, toy, and fancy articles, sufficient to have set up the proprietors of a Dutch fair. At every standing lady Claremont had something to recommend or to buy; it was an artist she was patronizing-a milliner she protected-or a perfumer, of whom it was a charity to purchase some article, as the poor man had broken half-a-dozen times, though lady Claremont always took her rouge and pearl powder from him, and he was now trying the novelty of an exhibition at the bazaar.

Miss Somerville found it very difficult to resist the polite energy of her ladyship's various recommendations. Every moment lady Claremont gained upon her inclinations, though she was more calculated to captivate the fancy than the heart. She talked almost incessantly; but there was so much sweetness and so much frankness in her manner, that she pleased at once, as being natural and polished in the highest degree. Calling Julia's attention to some highly-finished paintings—“ I shall order a dozen landscapes of that artist," she said, "to adorn my favourite summer sitting-room at Clairville; I like those specimens extremely. Julia, you must pay me a visit at Richmond, that we may get a little more acquainted; and I will try to make it more amusing to you than your last excursion there," continued her ladyship, smiling. My dear Miss Somerville, are you not tempted with those beautiful caps? Allow me to recommend Mrs. Stanton to your notice—a very

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deserving