deserving woman," in a whisper," and has seen better days."

But lady Claremont did not confine herself to tempting Julia to spend money; if Miss Somerville had not restrained her new and lively friend, she would have pressed half her own purchases upon her acceptance, under the name of mere trifles, little souvenirs, &c.

Julia was in the midst of a polite dispute with her ladyship, who wanted to make her a present of a very elegant cross and chain, when their attention was diverted by overhearing a gentleman and some ladies, whom he was squiring, in a very lively altercation, of which they seemed to be the object." I allow," observed the gentleman, " 'tis a general

"But those ladies, I dare answer for it,

don't require it; and I maintain that, though lady Claremont is very lovely and very fascinating, Miss Somerville would be équally admired by any impartial judges."

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"A compliment apiece for us!" said lady Claremont, laughing; can you tell me," she added, in a whisper, "who the complimenter may be? By the loudness of his tones, and the air of the ladies who accompany him, I should vote them a group of country cousins."

Julia had thought there was something very peculiar in the tones and manner of the speaker, as united with the time and place, and was hardly surprised to discover it was her old acquaintance, Mr. Tom Birkit. The lady was Eliza Sanderson, who had been some time his wife, and who was accompanied by her mother and two sisters, neat as imported, from Rothbury, and all gaping at the wonders of the bazaar.

Amazed at the profusion of tempting.

articles

articles that solicited her attention, poor Eleanor Sanderson wished for every thing she saw, and, like the conqueror of the world,

"Sighed and looked-sighed and looked

Sighed and looked—and sighed again;"

and wondered what this cost, and wondered what the other would fetch at Rothbury; and was, in short, so taken up with the objects displayed before her, that she did not recognise her old acquaintance. Not so Eliza Birkit-she stepped forward so quick, that Amelia had just time to retreat within a circle of fashionables, and make herself inaccessible; while Horatio, who was quite superior to that kind of folly, with his usual urbanity, inquired after the health of his country friends.

Pleased to reflect that she could not be now suspected of claiming their acquaintance upon interested motives, Mrs. Tom Birkit was voluble, in return for the polite

and

and obliging reception she met from Horatio and Julia. The first piece of news she announced, in a whisper, was the death of her honoured father-in-law, which had happened a week after the departure of the Somervilles from Rothbury, and was, as his neighbours had always predicted, owing to a fall in a foxchase. This event might be termed a release, in more senses than one, and Mrs. Birkit did not scruple to call it so." But for that," she observed,

66

we should have been kept, our whole lives, at that odious poking Rothbury; but now Tom will not take things as he has done, and we shall see if he had not always some spirit."

During her residence at Rothbury, Miss Somerville had often observed that the inhabitants, though apparently pretty nearly upon a par, had each some reserve of selfconceit, which made them conceive themselves thrown away upon the place, and that they talked as if compelled to reside

there

there by some accident or misfortune, tho', in fact, born and bred in that vicinity.

Mrs. Birkit would probably have continued her intelligence, had not her attention been directed to a circumstance which she observed with no gentle feelings. This was no other than Amelia, who had refused to know her, welcoming, with her sweetest and most fascinating smiles, her sister, Mrs. Tornado, whose elopement with the young West Indian may be remembered, but who now, being assured of the approbation and forgiveness of her husband's father, fluttered, in the gay scenes of London, in all the splendour and triumph of the bride of a rich planter. Why Amelia made this distinction she had not yet confided to any one.

Eliza, having read that the best way to overlook a slight is to pretend to be engaged with a different object, ab-> ruptly seized her husband's arm, and, turning from the wrath-inspiring sight, exclaimed-"Look there, Tom; I'm

sure