METROPOLITAN MAGAZINE. JANUARY TO JUNE, 1841. AMERICAN EDITION. VOL. XI. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY JEMIMA M. MASON, (LATE LEWER.) CORNER OF BROADWAY AND PINE STREET. 1841. THE METROPOLITAN. No. CXVII. JANUARY, 1841. THE BLUE BELLES OF ENGLAND. BY MRS. TROLLOPE. CHAPTER I. SOME PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF A YOUNG MAN. replied the pretty black-eyed brunette he addressed; for I believe no girl ever had a more indulgent guardian; and I am very, very much obliged to you-very much obliged to you both." And the kiss, Miss Constance ?' said the old gentleman. In answer to which appeal, Constance shook back her dark ringlets, and held up her pretty face to be kissed. This ceremo the gay-hearted and affectionate old man; and the young lady then rose from her place at the little old-fashioned round table, at which she had sat with exemplary patience for three hours and three-quarters, during which the accounts of her long minority had been laid before her. 'I 'Now then we may go back to grandmamma, and have some luncheon,' she said. am sure you must both of you be more tired than I am, if possible.' AND now, my dear Miss Ridley, permit me to wish you joy,' said Captain Somers, nautical-ny was promptly and heartily performed by ly splicing two pieces of red tape together, and then passing the long string so constructed, round, and round, and round a huge bundle of papers, which papers none could mistake for anything, save what they were, namely, 'There, a vast accumulation of accounts. Mr. Weston,' resumed the same gentleman, addressing a somewhat younger man than himself, and patting the large packet thus secured with an air of very considerable satisfaction-'there, sir, that is an exceed ingly good day's work. I would rather look over a log-book comprehending an equal number of years, I promise you. And now, my dear, you must give us a kiss a-piece, mustn't you? That's the way, I have a notion, that all these sort of affairs are brought to a conclusion. That is, when everything goes off well, you know, and altogether to the young lady's satisfaction: and I think we seem to have managed matters pretty well between us. Your gallant father left you twenty thousand pounds just eighteen years ago, poor dear little girl! and here we have proved to you, and no false colours hoisted, that you are now, at twenty-one, mistress of thirty. And we have never had any quarrels, have we?" I must have been a worse spoilt child than I am, dearest Captain Somers, if we had,' VOL. XI. 1 Miss Ridley moved towards the door as she spoke, and had nearly reached it when her progress was intercepted by the intervention of the tall and stately person of Mr. Weston, who, with his left hand sheltered within the breast of his waistcoat, and his right gracefully extended in the favourite portrait attitude of some forty years ago, thus addressed her : Though I cannot, charming Miss Ridley, so falsify dates as to demand an equality of privilege with my late respected confrère, on the plea of equality of age, yet, as I trust that rien in the course of the trust, which I have had the honour to rempler, has given you dissatisfaction, I cannot but me flatter that will accord à moi also the same récomyou " pense. Miss Ridley looked at him with an ex |