mam'selle, take yourself off to the entrance and keep good watch, and let us know the moment you see any one approaching."

The obedient dependent vanished, and left the two lovers alone, for lovers, it was evident to the astonished Lewis, they were.

They spent nearly half an hour conversing in the most tender manner imaginable, the count's arm encircling the waist of the beautiful Charlotte, and her head reclining on his shoulder. They were at length roused by mademoiselle running in, and announcing that she saw the countess and the two ladies Clareville walking on the beach towards the place where the lovers were sitting.

They instantly parted, after many an embrace; the gentleman stealing off under the rocks in an opposite direction, having first entreated his chère Charlotte to meet him in mademoiselle's room in the evening. This the lady, apparently nothing loath, promised to do, and she then reseated herself to wait the approach of her mother, who was preceding her step-daughters at a rapid pace. She soon

entered the recess in the rocks, and throwing a hurried glance round, said in an angry tone, "What have you done with the count?"

"The count!" replied her daughter in a surprised tone, "what do you mean, mamma?" "You cannot deceive me, Charlotte, he came with you here, and as I found those odious girls were coming in this direction I hastened on that they might not catch you together. You know that I have told you a hundred times, that you will ruin all our plans, if you persist in flirting so openly with the count. Coquet as much as you like with him, or any body else, when you are Duchess of Lavandale, but till then you must be upon your guard."

"I assure you, mamma," said the young lady, that nothing but the prospect of being Duchess of Lavandale, and enjoying his fifty thousand a year, would make me endure for a moment the tedious pomposity of his grace."

"Nonsense, child, never mind his tediousness, or his pomp, he will make you a Duchess at last, you may depend upon it, if you will

only play your cards well. You know I should never have been countess of Aberayron, nor mistress of three thousand a year, if I had not had the patience of Job himself, and besides I have had recourse to much more manoeuvering than you."

"I am sure, mamma, (replied the dutiful daughter,) "it is you who are talking nonsense. Talk of your patience, indeed; why, stupid and detestable as the old earl was, he was much easier to manage than this conceited and priggish duke, who will not for the world cominit himself, because, pretty, dutiful little dear, he promised his papa that he would not marry any one, (unless it was his love-sick cousin Geraldine,) before he had completed his twentyfifth year. I am perfectly sick of him, mamma, and you must contrive to amuse him, or I never shall be able to get on for the next two months. You would have laughed if you could have heard how well I behaved to him the other day, about his miniature. He was so overcome by my earnestness about copying it, that he was very near coming to an explanation, but the dutiful

boy remembered his promise, and was only sentimental."

"Talking of his miniature," said the countess, "reminds me, Charlotte, of the conversation I have just been having with my two haughty step-daughters."

"Lady Caroline has been positively attacking me about your having refused to deliver up the duke's miniature, and as she declares she will expose you for having abstracted it from her sister's room, I think you had better give it without any more fuss."

up

"Oh! she may have the trumpery picture. I am sure I do not want to keep the likeness of the little apple-faced, curly-pated imp. It is only the setting of it that makes it valuable to me," replied the amiable Charlotte.

"I have been thinking, my dear," continued Lady Aberayron, "that it would be a good plan to get rid of these two troublesome girls, who are only spies upon us, so I shall make a meri, of allowing them to visit their aunt, Lady Melton, for I live in daily dread that the duke may discover the trick I have played upon him re

specting the imaginary Italian lover of Lady Geraldine."

66

Hush, hush, mamma, here come my two sisters."

The Ladies Clareville approached the spot where the intriguing mother and daughter were seated, and Lady Caroline, addressing the latter, begged to know whether or not she meant to return the miniature which had been taken from her sister's room, and which she knew was in Miss Barrett's possession.

"My daughter has no desire to keep it,” said the countess, in what she intended to be a calm, dignified tone.

"It was natural that she should wish to see the portrait done in his infancy, of one who it is more than probable will be her partner for life; and I confess I do not think it shows much delicacy in Lady Geraldine to wish to continue to possess the picture of a man engaged to another woman."

"You will give me leave to doubt the truth of the duke's engagement,” replied Lady Caroline; "I have still too high an opinion of my