of the trick played upon the beautiful Miss Gunnings, many years since, one of whom was, I believe, afterwards Duchess of Ancaster.

Can it be possible, thought she, that the same feeling of jealousy has instigated some envious beauties, or the mothers of them, to play the same mean game with this charming and innocent girl?

Mrs. D'Arcy, however, kept her suspicions from Lady Price, as she felt assured that both herself and Sir Owen would deeply feel such an insult. As soon as she had quitted the house, Mrs. D'Arcy sent me for the colonel, and telling him what had passed and what she suspected, entreated him to wait upon the duchess, and ask her whether she had given orders for the issuing of the cards to Sir Owen, his lady, and their protegée; and if not, to spare them the pain of a rebuff, if, upon the faith of the invitation, they presented themselves at her fête.

The colonel soon returned to confirm his wife's suspicions. The Duchess of

had

given no orders for cards being sent to Sir

Owen Price and his family, but with a becoming dignity she assured Colonel D'Arcy that he need be under no uneasiness as to the reception by her of his friends. Indeed, she felt so indignant at the impudent and unfeeling fraud, that she resolved upon a counterplot which should disconcert the projects of the anonymous writers of the invitation.

It was agreed that nothing should be said to Sir Owen and Lady Price, of the imposition which had been practised upon them, as Colonel and Mrs. D'Arcy well knew that if their friends were made acquainted with it, nothing would induce the high-born Welshman and his wife to enter the mansion of the duchess.

The evening arrived, and Colonel D'Arcy accompanied his friends to the brilliant assembly.

The duchess, who had already received at numerous party of her guests with her usual grace, no sooner heard the names of Sir Owen and Lady Price and Miss Wogan announced, than she hastened with unusual empressement

to meet them. Greeting the modest Welsh beauty with much warmth and kindness, she took her arm, and leading her to the dance, introduced her as a partner to the fashionable and good-natured young Earl of Bridgeporte.

This was sufficient. For the remainder of the evening "The Welsh Heiress" was the belle, and those who came to laugh went away grievously disappointed, and no doubt angry with themselves for the foolish and ill-natured ruse, which had been the sole means of introducing so conspicuously this lovely girl to the notice of the highest and best society in the metropolis.

Nor did the success of this plot end here. Miss Wogan became so much the rage, that articles of dress were called by her name, and the very same dispute, and in almost the very same words, arose between three young men of rank respecting her, as had formerly caused the elevation of Miss Gunning to be Duchess of Ancaster.

The young Earl of Bridgeporte was one day disputing with Viscount and the Mar

quis of respecting their various degrees of attachment to the Cambrian beauty.

"I am sure," said the earl, "neither of you can disbelieve my ardent affection for her, as I am willing to fight any man who doubts it."

"I will do more than fight,-I will die for her!" said the fiery young viscount.

66

Hush, my dear friends," said the marquis, coolly; "I will do more than either of you." "Do more!" exclaimed the two eager young men at once, "that is impossible!”

"I will marry her!" answered the marquis. "Marry her!" repeated his two friends in astonishment.

"Yes, marry her," said he; " if she will have me!"

This declaration put a stop to the angry debate.

The young, generous, and handsome marquis proposed and was accepted by "The Welsh Heiress.”

The envious plotters of an unfeminine scheme to disconcert and insult a poor, but well-born and beautiful rival, had the mor

tification to read in the Morning Post, four

months after the ball at the Duchess of

the following announcement :

"MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.

-'s,

"On Tuesday last was married, by special licence, at St. George's, Hanover Square, the Marquis of, to Gwendoline, only daughter of the late Evan Wogan, Esq., of Cwymtaydr, North Wales. Immediately after the ceremony the noble bride and bridegroom set off in a splendid chariot and four with outriders, for their magnificent seat in shire."

I just mention this affair, because few persons really knew the inside of this interesting

event.

As the summer approached, Mrs. D'Arcy feeling better, and having a great desire to visit her native place in North Wales, preparations were made for the journey, to which she looked forward with great delight, particularly as it gave her the prospect of seeing her only sister, who resided in the principality.

A few days before we started, which was the middle of June, as I was sitting in Mrs.