ing the matter forward. An appearance of anxiety, on my part, to cause a reconciliation, would I knew only defeat my object; my knowledge of Lady Bernard's character told me this, and when I saw her compress her lips, and fold her arms in a peculiar way she had of doing, I felt it was not the moment for producing an effect upon her adamantine heart.

CHAPTER XII.

"Thou art not steep'd in golden languors,
No tranced summer calm is thine,
Ever varying Madeline.

Thro' light and shadow thou dost range,

Sudden glances, sweet and strange,

Delicious spites and darling angers,

And airy forms of flitting change."

"MY DEAREST ISOLA,

TENNYSON.

Condole with me! a fearful thing is about to happen! I must tell you, that you may in friendly sympathy join your tears to mine, and I send herewith a small a small lachrymatory to contain the precious drops. Compassionate

my sad lot!

By the inscrutable decree of fate, I find myself about to espouse that dreadful creature,

that ghoul-like monster, whom you know I've always detested, that Charles Compton!!! Horrible, is it not?

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"You'll wonder how I ever consented to immolate myself in such a manner, and I'm sure I cannot relieve you of your wonderment. However, I mean to teaze him to death, to worry his life out: but it's a sad fate, to be doomed to act thus by a human being, is it not?

"No-darling, I am the happiest, the most enviable of mortals, though you'll never believe me to be so,

because you don't know that wretched doomed being as I do. He is the very dearest, dear fellow, Charlie is. I always thought so, but it's only quite recently that he has made the discovery that he cares for me; and then, would you believe in the insanity of the man, because he happens to be poor now, he was going to treat me in cruellest way possible!

"Had I been a beggar girl, I know he would have proposed directly; but his abominable, invincible pride was such, dear, dear fellow, that he wouldn't ask me to be his wife. So absurd!

"How it came about at last, I'm sure I cannot tell you, but I think mamma saw the creature's folly, and gave him a helping hand— darling mamma! She knew that his poverty is only temporary, because he is sure, sure to get on in his profession, he is so very—very clever, and then he's heir to an uncle who is reputed exceedingly wealthy, so that there is no fear in the end; and until this said uncle choose to bid adieu to this uncomfortable world, mamma will give us enough to live upon quietly.

You, Isola mia, will no doubt, in your sagesse, shake your head like the rest of the wise folks at the idea of my living quietly," he even has the impertinence to do so, for like every one else, he thinks me a silly, extravagant girl but, cara amica, don't be shocked, I'm going to be a useful member of society at last, I've hit upon an expedient for increasing our income famously. I intend taking in washing and mangling! Shan't I mangle the things with a vengeance? and I wish you to give me your custom, and to get me a l you can. I'll get up,' (I believe that's the term), Lady Bernard's stiff starched ruffs and

cuffs in first-rate style, and all commands shall be carefully and expeditiously executed.

"To show my economic tendency, I intend being married in calico, and if you are my bridesmaid, which of course you will be, if you don't turn Grey first (!) I shall expect you to be habited in a robe of similar simplicity."

So, at last, the scales had fallen from his eyes ! and he saw the haven of rest: rest, did his unquiet heart seek repose? not yet certainly, but he was not likely to find it on the restless bosom of Leila Compton. In her wilfulness, her caprices, her thousand and one changes and fancies, there was constant variety; there was a new charm in every phase of her ever-varying character, whilst his earnest spirit, his persevering, untiring energy, his manly straight-forwardness, would act as a balance to her volatile disposition: they were admirably matched.

"And now I must tell you of something no less interesting. The lovely and accomplished Miss Rice is about to be conducted to the hymeneal altar!!!! Yes, really, and by a most extraordinary cock-a-too man, bearing the euphonious name of Barleycrop !!