friend, because in beholding me her imagination was conducted back to happier days, and to scenes which it is refreshing to the mind to dwell upon. She really seemed glad to see me, and was most demonstrative in convincing me thereof: in introducing me to her busband she dwelt on many good qualities which I did not possess; but then this was coupled with naming the happy period of our first acquaintance. When performing this introductory ceremony, she called up the most becoming looks which she could command, whilst the life-blood visited her cheek with a double crimson hue, and appeared to circulate with unusual rapidity; her eye, too, struggled at its former fascinations, and fain would have sparkled, if its pristine fire had not been dimmed by the hand of time; and her lip played off once more that studied smile which, aided by the dimples of youth, had for many years been so effective. The attempt was able, but unsuccessful; nevertheless, the graces of attitude, and the externals of high breeding, still accompanied every action and gesture of her frame. The man seemed proud to entertain an old acquaintance of hers, but was quite indifferent as to the remaining fair proportions and broken beauties of a splendid ruin, the family records of which appeared to give it its only value in his eyes.

The advantages of the toilette had so long been known to my friend, that it may be easily imagined these were not wanting in order to make the most of a once attractive person; nor was there any lack of conversational amiability to set off the ensemble. The whole was, however, lost upon the husband, in spite of a sort of studied manner by way of kindness, and which was met with corresponding artificial vivacity on her part. I saw that domestic happiness was a stranger at the castle, and I felt rather relieved when, on the ladies' retiring, 1 was left alone with the clod of a husband: his wine was good, and he was civil, so that an hour might be drank away and lost in common-place conversation; after which I anticipated another colloquy with madame on former times, and friends now scattered

about and disposed of in life's vicissitudes. It was merely a family party, so that after coffee we were at liberty, and, as the clergyman of the parish had just dropped in to hunt up a game at cards, to which he devoted most of his time, piquet was proposed; and my friend so long lost sight of and I took a saunter in the shrubbery. After extending my arm to my fair, but altered, companion, who really had more merit in my eyes as a fine ruin than when she represented a stately edifice, overcharged with ornament and the graces of art, we naturally fell into a more confidential conversation than that which is regulated by the barometer, or turns on the local scandal of the neighbourhood, or on the common-place topics of the day. It has never been imputed as a crime to the fair sex to be guilty of overmuch taciturnity; nor did that charge lie at my companion's door, who, after allowing me to risk a few words of regard, of admiring the grounds, &c. addressed me nearly as follows, prefaced by a smile, which was any thing but cheerfulness :

If my worthy lord and master (to which words she gave a sarcastic emphasis) were of the party, he would pester you to death with his trees and his improvements; but I am not so great an admirer of the vegetable world; nor do I care sixpence of what order of architecture his columns and portico may be; nor whether the temple at the end of that dull vista be classical or not in its decorations: I would rather go back to old friends and old favourites, whom, alas! I did not once sufficiently prize, and to scenes of past felicity then undervalued, and gone to return no more!' Here a degree of pathos mingled in the measure of her speech-I felt it, and looked insipid, meaning something kind and consolatory. What a flirt I was in those days!' I nodded assent. It was too bad; and I punished myself as much as I mortified others. They-(a pause)-I am ashamed to say it now-they used to call me the heart-breaker! alas! I am sure that mine has suffered enough since then-heigh-ho! Do you remember how near I was being married to

Sir Charles Graves?' 'I do.' The attentions of Lord prevented that match, and it might have been a happy one. Then Reginald Racket was first upon my list: he, poor fellow! lost me by not being jealous when I wanted him to be so: I accused him of coldness and indifference; and after throwing him into a fever by my levities with his colonel, he exchanged out of the guards, and died in the odious West Indies. Sir Mortimer Manly would, I really think, have won me if he had not had too much self-admiration; I always trembled at the idea of being wedded to a dandy, and of being ruined by a pretty, vacant face, whose features might be the picture of his purse. I, however, kept him in long suspense, and had the triumph of taking him from the blooming dowager, after which I left him to a sense of his own wretchedness, and turned my views once more on a coronet. This failed from jealousy on his part, and, I believe, I rather over-acted mine; but n'importe, for I never cared twopence for his lordship, and I really felt something like a tendre for your friend, Lord John: he was, however, too much of a boy for me, and could not appreciate the conquest of a heart: to tell you the truth, I can't abide your very young men ;'-here she impressed two of her fingers on my arm, and I felt something warm running up the artery which yielded to the pressure, but, looking on a line of decay on her temple, all was calm and cool again-your very young men are versatile and indiscreet, and they are apt to expect that female partiality may be taken by a coup de main. Now I expected a very long siege, and was determined never to capitulate until I met with an angel of a man in human form judge to what I am now reduced! I had a great mind (dwelling upon the words) to take Sydney Montfort; but he was not complaisant and languishing enough for me; his colour never went and came as if in affectionate uncertainty; he never heaved a single sigh, nor looked impassioned during three months' courtship, so I set him down for unfeeling; and I dreaded a dry matter

of-fact spouse as much as a tertian ague. I remember his once saying," Here I have been holding your cloak for ten minutes without a look from you!" To which I replied, "Give it, if you please, to a more patient and complaisant hand," and motioned a Portuguese count to take it: this he had not courage to do, and my swain, looking daggers at him, insisted upon putting it on himself. I liked his spirit: I should then have vastly relished a duel on my account; but I discovered a want of temper towards me, and I was off for ever: had he called me an angel, and tried to make it up, I know not what I might have done. About this period, (she drew her breath deep and with difficulty) somehow or other, my court was not so well attended: lovers were less in number, colder and more distant in their attentions. I had to change my game, and instead of keeping them in agonizing suspense, and warding off proposals, motived on a thousand and one hard conditions, I had to meet politeness and kindness half way, to cultivate any thing in the shape of warm interest, and, lastly, to ogle for favourites and followers!' 'Surely not!' interrupted I. 'Helas! oui. I then fell really in love with that roue, your cousin, and, after being mortified in divers ways by his conduct, I married my good husband out of spite: moreover, I was resolved not to belong to the corps of superannuated spinsters, who are the daily ridicule of one sex, and are neglected by the other.' Why, my dear friend,' said I, with a living lie burning on my cheek, 'you look now nearly as well as ever; one would not take you for above twenty-five or twentysix.' 'Nonsense, you flatterer! (pulling my coat sleeve gently, yet warmly,) that will not do now: no; it is all my own fault-I know it; but it is too late. I thought, like many, to be a tyrant; vanity, not tenderness and truth, made up the greatest part of my feeling. The youth of both sexes mistake things most dreadfully it is in mature age that a sincere passion is truly cherished, and most particularly by your sex. A young man divides his interest between his mistress

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and the turf, his companions of riot and the woman of his choice: self-confident, he neglects that continuous chain of numberless delicate attentions and sweet sympathies, which make him live for one cherished object only, which enable him to read in her eyes, and to accomplish every wish of her mind-to inspire her confidence by chivalrous honour-to preserve her preference by a devotion which amounts almost to adoration; and, lastly, to evince a superiority of mind, talent, and temper over those who might otherwise be powerful rivals. Wisdom is power; talent is a strong indication of success with our sex: if we are light and frivolous, we expect something more from him whom we may have to look up to. Beauty of person and elegance of dress do much for a suitor, but high breeding and prepossessing manners do more. Boys are outre in their toilette: the courtly man studies all its harmonies-all with him is in good keeping; like a picture, nothing eccentric or gaudy. Then again, (here she smiled,) a man must have loved, or thought he had loved, one or two previous to his being perfect in the arcana of captivation: he may have had a boyish penchant, or an aimable folie, which will teach him how to dedicate his whole time and talent to one unchangeable mistress of his affections.' 'You argue admirably,' said I, 'on the tender passion, for one who has never felt it, and who, according to her own confessions, has been a decided flirt.' 'Yes,' replied she; 'but I have reflected a great deal on it since, and, alas! to no purpose.' She now turned towards the castle, and looked melancholy. I thought it a sin not to offer something like comfort, be the delusion ever se great. I wish,' said I, that I had been one of your train, endowed with all the requisites which you have so eloquently detailed.' 'Hold your tongue!' interrupted she, placing the palm of her hand, which as a matter of course and of common decency I kissed, on my lips; don't pretend to say that you ever thought of me; but here comes my husband, and the everlasting parson, so you must be all propriety (I never