A sense of coldness passed over her cheeks, and there was a rushing sound in her ears, and a confusion in her ideas, which lasted for some time, and made her uncertain, when she did begin to revive, how long she had remained in that painful state. Yet she had, she found, preserved her sitting posture. She was even beginning to congratulate herself upon this circumstance, when she felt an arm which had hitherto, she now found, been the means of supporting her, somewhat hastily withdrawn. Nearly at the same moment, she heard an approaching step, and a moment after, one of her hands was taken, but not with Edmund's usual gentleness, and pressed to the lips of one, who now assumed a kneeling posture, and drew her other hand from before her eyes. She looked round, and to her inexpressible surprise and horror, beheld Henry at her feet, while the figure of our hero was hastily passing out of the door-way.

When Julia believed it was Edmund, who, with a manner at which her feelings revolted she knew not why, had kissed her hand, she fancied she was shocked at his want of delicacy; but the bitterness of her disappointment, when she saw it was Henry, who had done so, showed how easily Edmund would have been forgiven.

Fitz-Ullin did not appear again during the remainder of the evening. Julia's indignation against Henry, aroused her more effectually, than, perhaps, any thing else could have done. He answered her warmly-expressed displeasure, by assuring her, with a diabolical laugh, that she should not have to complain of his tenderness much longer.

A second set of quadrilles having by this time concluded, the refreshment-room was again crowded, and Lady Julia L. shortly led back to the dance, attended by a host of distinguished admirers.

CHAPTER XVI.

"What a change."

WHEN the sisters retired to their apartment for the night, Frances' exuberantly gay spirits received a sad check; she saw at a glance, how thoroughly unhappy Julia was.

The extraordinary change in Edmund's circumstances, was freely talked over and wondered at, even in the presence of Alice; and she ventured to express her joy on the occasion, and to comment on how delighted her aunt, and, indeed, every servant at Lodore would be, when they should hear of what had happened.

A few moments of silence followed her

dismissal, during which, Frances looked en

quiringly at her sister.

"Well, we have had a full explanation,"

said Julia.

"Indeed!” cried Frances," and what did he say, Julia?"

"Oh, treated all the friendship, that all or any of us could offer him, with sovereign contempt!" Impossible! you must have misunderstood

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him."

"Oh no, there was no room for misunderstanding; he was explicit enough, I assure you! Why, he was little short of angry, (as if it was my fault, that Lady Susan chose to prefer the Marquis of H.), that hope had been all, he said, that, in his eyes, gave value to existence; and he would, therefore, leave England for ever!" The firmness our heroine had been affecting, here gave way, and her voice faltered. Frances embraced her.

"Oh, and he talked all sorts of ridiculous

nonsense," continued Julia, as she vainly endeavoured to check her tears, "about dying an honourable death, and said, that my congratulating him, on his late good fortune, was a mockery. I used, I am sure, to pity him, if he only looked melancholy for a moment; but really, this caricature of sorrow, one cannot sympathise with!" Julia seems to forget a grand distinction: when she used to feel such indulgent pity for the melancholy look, she believed that love, for herself, was its source; it was quite another thing now; she could see the folly of being in despair about any body else.

"And what a time," said Frances, "to behave ungratefully ! It is certainly very unlike Edmund. Indeed Julia, I think you must have mistaken him, some way." Julia shook her head. "We used, you know, to imagine," continued Frances, that it would be such a time of rejoicing, whenever Edmund was discovered to be some great person, (as