interest which they ever took in the happiness and welfare of their dearest relatives and friends; certainly, however, there were no questions asked of Mr. Clarendale, or any pressing symptoms of curiosity at all exhibited in their countenances when he returned again to the drawing-room, after his Lordship's carriage had driven from the door; but there was a peculiar expression on the face of a fond, transported father, as if he had something to communicate of a joyous nature which could not be concealed, for it seemed bursting from his lips; and the young people having withdrawn, he imparted to his beloved wife and Mr. and Mrs. Trelawney the nature of the business on which Lord Beauverie had paid him a visit that morning, and all that had passed between himself and the Earl respecting Lucy, at which Mr. and Mrs. Trelawney expressed themselves delighted, the latter exclaiming, in the most rapturous accents,

"There, Mary, did I not prophesy that this would all come to pass, though you would not believe a word about the matter? Did I not tell you that your daughter would be a Countess, in spite of all your prodigious fears, and Henry's, that the girl's head would be turned with vanity? What do you say now, Henry and Mary,-how does Lady Beauverie sound in your ears ?”

"I protest I am so flurried, and so surprised, and so-so-so happy!--oh, Rosa, dear Rosa!" exclaimed Mrs. Clarendale, bursting into an involuntary flood of tears, which she had endeavoured, but no longer had the power of suppressing, for the feelings of a mother could not be stifled,-nature was

eloquent, and uttered volumes in these silent drops, and they spoke to the hearts of those by whom she was so affectionately beloved better than all the language in the world; and the "dear Mary!" which was immediately pronounced by them all very soon had the desired effect on the spirits of Mrs. Clarendale, and sent her tears back again to their native source, to which succeeded smiles of the most happy combination, for they were blended with peace and harmony of soul.

It was now necessary, however, for Lucy to be apprised of the flattering and distinguished proposals offered to her by Lord Beauverie; and Mr. Clarendale immediately made her acquainted with them, to the no small surprise and astonishment of the lovely girl, and having done so, he addressed his beloved child in the following impressive words :

"Lucy, I have now discharged my duty with respect to communicating to you the sentiments and intentions of the Earl of Beauverie, and his Lordship's proposals are indeed highly flattering, and far beyond what my child could have expected in the humble situation of life in which you were born and educated: it is a noble proof of the generosity of his Lordship's character, to make choice of an object whom he must love for herself alone, since he is well aware that you have neither the advantages of exalted rank or the splendour of wealth to recommend you to his notice. Great, therefore, very great must be his affection for you, and you, no doubt, feel grateful in return; but beware, my Lucy, that you do not consent to marry the Earl of Beauverie merely for the splendid and exalted station to which you will be raised, and the

flattering prospects which will await you; examine your heart with the nicest circumspection, search into the deepest recesses of it, and consider well, my child, that you do not give your hand to Lord Beauverie because he is wealthy, and will give you a title, for a title without happiness, my Lucy, is but gaudy slavery; and remember, that you are at this important crisis called upon to answer for yourself, you are independent of the will of your father and mother in this respect, who love you too tenderly and sacredly to command you to marry any man whom your heart does not feel an affection for, for under this impression you would be miserable, bound in abject slavery,→ although your fetters were made of jewels, or of golden ore, they would still be fetters, and you would feel them such to the end of your existence; therefore do not deceive your own heart,-if you do not admire, if you do not approve, if you do not love Lord Beauverie; mark me, my child, if you do not think that you shall love Lord Beauverie, it is not your father's wish to see you united to him; I will never sacrifice your inclinations in love affairs; believe me, though I would not consent to your making any man your husband whom I thought unworthy of you, yet, on the other hand, be assured, I would never force your alliance with even the most exalted, if your own heart did not feel a predilection in his favor. You are now, my love, in the full possession of my sentiments, and free to act as you please on the point I have so particularly stated; and when his Lordship comes this evening, you will be left alone with him, and must decide for yourself."

"Alone with Lord Beauverie, papa?' cried Lucy,

now blushing and even trembling; "Why cannot you be present? I shall feel so awkward, worse than I did at the Opera, when I replied to his questions so foolishly."

"But it is plain that you did not suffer even then very greatly in his Lordship's opinion," answered Mr. Clarendale, smiling at the ingenuous simplicity of his amiable and innocent child; "besides, the questions he asked you at the Opera and those he will ask you now are totally different: if you love Lord Beauverie and are now informed by your father that he loves you, what has my Lucy to fear, in conversing alone with the man who has acted so honorably towards her?"

"I don't dislike Lord Beauverie," cried Lucy, ❝because when I see him I am always so happy, and after his departure, whenever he has dined in Berkeley Square, or 1 have been in company with him at Lord Wyndham's, I used to wonder what made me so melancholy, so I may conclude that this was love, papa, for I never felt it before in the absence of any body else. Oh yes, I am sure it was love, my heart beat so, and if this is love, it is one of the sweetest sensations I ever experienced in my whole life,-is it indeed love, papa?"

: To have resisted laughing was morally impossible. and Mr. Clarendale very heartily indulged in this propensity at his daughter's expense; at length he exclaimed,

Why really, Lucy, it is very like the tricks of the little urchin, when he has a mind to be frolicsome, but he is not always so pleasing as you describe,-sometimes he is a very painful and troublesome guest, but

you have the fairest picture of him, and may that be the only one you will ever see."

On these words, Mr. Clarendale and his lovely daughter separated, the one to converse with Trelawney, and the other flew to the side of her transported mother, who was waiting for her in Mrs. Trelawney's dressing-room, where a conversation passed of the most pleasing and agreeable nature between these amiable relatives. Mrs. Trelawney kissed the fair cheek of the blushing Lucy, while she congratulated her on the prospect of happiness that awaited her, ip becoming the bride of such an exalted and accomplished personage as the Earl of Beauverie.

"Ah, dear aunt, but I feel so conscious that it is more than I deserve," cried Lucy, "and I am so fearful that I shall not acquit myself as I ought to do this evening, when his Lordship comes. Papa says that I am to see him alone, dear aunt,-is not that alarming?"

“Oh, quite terrible, my love," cried Mrs. Trelawney, laughing, "but you will grow used to it in time, though it is certainly prodigiously shocking to be told by the man whom you love, and whom you are now convinced loves you, that he is come to offer you his hand, and lay his splendid fortune and title at your feet, and that in a few weeks you will be the Countess of Beauverie,—really, Lucy, I wonder how you will be able to survive it."

66

Ah, dear aunt and mamma, pray don't laugh at me," said the blushing girl, placing both her hands over her face; and at this moment Mary bounced into the room.

"For heaven's sake, mamma and aunt Clarendale, what are you doing with poor Lucy?" exclaimed she;