*

with an ease and vigour rarely witnessed at his years, tripped down the carriage steps, and supporting his daughter on his arm, entered the apartment together. I presented them to my friends, whom I presented in return: the ladies curtsied, the gentlemen shook hands. Profuse in their inquiries, they had not learned the adventures in which we had been engaged, nor the risks we had ran, till informed of them by the Walkers. "It was almost worth while," observed Miss Jones, turning to Julia, "to incur the danger to be so valiantly released from it." This was a simple and natural compliment, but it was said in such a way, and with such an arch expression of the eyes, as to call up all the colour in the poor girl's countenance. "And doubtless, Sir," said she, turning to myself;

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you felt very happy in being able to rescue so fair a young lady from the hands of the spoiler." Miss Hastings, however, soon regained her equanimity, and sustained with maidenly composure, the roguish assaults of her brilliant

adversary. Miss Jones now proceeded to inquire after my wounds, and hoped they were in a favourable way: here the old gentleman looked serious and compassionating; but Mrs. Hastings simply rejoined that there was but one wound, now nearly healed. The young lady was happy to hear it, "but she had apprehended—” and here she laughed with a girlish glee, which her senior thought very indecorous—" that there were several wounds; and that some of them would prove difficult of cure. Those of the knights in ancient times were healed by their ladye loves, whose multifarious accomplishments included surgery among the rest; and it was refreshing to find a preux chevalier like Mr. Thornley, not less fortunately circumstanced."

Mrs. Hastings was somewhat mystified at this speech, but rejoined with equal gravity as before, that a surgeon, a very skillful person in his way, came frequently for the purpose of

dressing Mr. Thornley's arm.

VOL. II.

"And does he,'

N

continued our indefatigable tormentor, "equally administer to all Mr. Thornley's hurts?" To which question Mrs. Wilson, not knowing exactly what it meant, remained silent. The old gentleman, who thought hunting the most sovereign balm for all bodily ills, hoped I should be able to ride after the hounds, which would soon put all to rights. And both, after reiterating kindest good wishes, took their leave.

There was that in Miss Jones's manner, which rivetted Julia's attention-something in that sprightly young lady's raillery which bespoke a meaning beyond the words. She was aware

that I had danced oftener than once with Miss Jones at the memorable ball; and was further aware that I had paid her a morning call. Now she had come to see me!

It is not in the nature of things that a woman, any more than a man, should look on with indifference when one young, amiable, handsome, and accomplished, pays attentions to another whom she holds in esteem. There was therefore

or was it therefore-vain man, more than usual solicitude in Julia's manner and deportment that day at dinner. She several times said "Sir," when spoken to by her mother; and " Madam," when addressed by myself. Once indeed, when Mrs. Hastings required a little salt, Julia handed a glass of water. Why, child," said her mother, "this visit has turned your little head. These Jones are no such great people after all; I have visited as good or better in my time."

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Ah, mamma," rejoined Julia, " I was not thinking about that." "What was it then, my love,

you were thinking about?" But her daughter had relapsed into her revery; or if she did hear, esteemed the question one which just then, involved no reply.

There

Julia's demeanour was altered afresh. was a loving earnestness in it, mixed with hesitation, and it might be distrust, which she had not previously displayed. I had been taking a turn in the garden, between which and the sitting-room, there was a glass door that opened

in the centre and descended to the floor. On entering, this door happened to be ajar, and the soft slippers which Mrs. Hastings insisted that I should wear, apart from any wish or intention of my own, prevented my foot-fall from being heard. Julia was sitting with her face turned from me. I had conjectured that she was reading, perchance embroidering. Silently advancing I found she was unconsciously twisting and untwisting a bit of riband round her finger. A tear, I could not be deceived, was trickling down her sweet soft countenance. She started as I approached. "Ah, Charles-Mr. Thornley, is it you!" hastily brushing away the teardrop as she spoke. I took her hand in mine I pressed it. I inquired in the tenderest accents that nature had given me, the source of her disquietude. But there was no response, and tears still continued to gush between the long white fingers that covered her face.

"Mr. Thornley," she said, composing herself as she spoke, and rising with dignity while