affluence when they first set out in life, they would have considered it little less than a miracle. But, like everything else that is gradually attained, it now excited no wonder in their minds. There was still a striking simplicity in Jane's manners and appearance, a consciousness of happiness, and a refinement of feeling, that intercourse with the world too often blunts. When her children were fairly in bed, and the domestic duties of the day over-when her husband laid aside his day-book and ledger-when the fire burned bright, and her little work-table stood by her side-when Frank ventured to pull off his boots, and lay half-reclined on the sofa-then came the hour of conversation. Then Jane loved to talk over the past and the present, and sum up their stores of happiness. Sometimes she requested her husband to read aloud; but he never got through a page without her interrupting him, to point out something congenial, or something in contrast with their situation; and the book was soon thrown aside, as far less interesting than their own conversation. I do positively believe,' said Jane, 'we are the happiest people in the world. I can say with truth that I have scarcely a wish ungratified. I am sure I envy nobody.' 'Yes, we are happy,' said Frank. Our condition is not what it once was. You remember when I paid our first quarter's rent that I had but three-and-ninepence in my pocket to pay the second.'

It was by reminiscences like these that their present enjoyment was heightened. Uncle Joshua often called on his young relatives; but their removal had increased the distance, and he began to feel the infirmities of advancing life. Jane had observed that he often pressed his hand upon his heart; and to her inquiries, he said: ‘A pain-but it is gone.'

The house they rented was larger than they thought necessary; yet, as the rent was reasonable, and the situation good, they concluded it was best to take it. The whole of it need not be furnished. A large room might be left for the children's play-room, and another over it for a store-room. A little experience, however, convinced them that they wanted all of it; and, as Jane said, 'they could furnish these two rooms from the interest of their legacy.' They soon found that the size of the house required an additional domestic. Indeed, they seemed to have attained new importance by its size and situation. Mrs Hart, on this occasion, acknowledged Jane as an acquaintance, and made a morning visit, sporting her camelhair shawl, which, to use her own phrase, 'looked still fresh and lovely.' She had never remembered to reimburse Jane for her subscription.

It was really astonishing how fast the Fultons became known. People in the first society, as it is termed, began to ask who they were. Those who called, professed themselves delighted with Jane's 'sweet, humble manner,' and determined to 'patronise her.' yet, however, they had only reached the magic circle of genteel

As

society; they had not stepped over it. They had no heart-burnings when their opposite neighbour gave a splendid ball, and did not invite them; and yet Jane said: 'On her children's account, she was glad to have a different circle of friends from what she formerly had.'

Poor Jane! The enemy had begun to sow his tares, and pride and ambition were springing up in her heart. Dr Fulton undoubtedly derived some advantage from their change of residence; and while Jane exulted for her children, he exulted for his profession : his patients were more able to pay, and he began to be employed by the opulent. Mr Bradish, with his millions, had the good fortune, for Frank, to be taken dangerously ill of a fever when Dr Rwas absent, and Dr Fulton was sent for. From this time he became one of their family physicians.

With all this increase of consequence, their habits were much the same. The happiness and improvement of the children was the great object. If they were extravagant, it was in schools. Even Mr Bradish could not be more particular than Dr Fulton in the excellence of the schools to which he sent his children. Accordingly, they were sent to those which had the highest reputation as their improvement was the first wish of their parents. The neighbourhood into which they had moved was a fashionable one; and our city has not yet attained the happy eminence of not knowing who lives in the same mass of buildings with us. Most of these left a card; and now and then a wandering invitation reached them for a ball; but it was subject to no discussion. Frank wrote a regret when a leisure moment came, for Jane was little in the habit of using her pen; and to those who are not, even answering a note is a work of magnitude. Their next-door neighbours were the Reeds; and Mrs Reed and Jane soon became familiar friends. It was the first really stylish family into which Jane had become initiated. It certainly opened a new world to her. She saw forms and ceremonies used of which she had no conception. She learned that napkins and silver forks were essential to her dinner-table-that Mrs Reed could not use a steel fork; consequently other people could not. In these and various other things, Jane became an apt scholar; and the consequence was, that their expenses gradually increased. Yet there were luxuries for which Jane could only sigh, for she felt that they were far beyond her; for instance, Brussels carpets and pier-glasses, and, above all, a centre-lamp.

'How rich the Reeds must be!' said she one evening, when they returned from a visit they had been making there.

'You are mistaken,' said Frank; 'Mr Reed's income is but very little more than ours.'

'Not more than ours!' said Jane; 'then how can he afford to furnish his house so elegantly?'

'I protest I don't know,' said Frank; 'but he says his wife is an

excellent manager. I wish, Jane, you would find out how they contrive the matter, and perhaps we can take a leaf out of their book.'

Mrs Reed had all the little vanity of being able to make a show on small means; and when Jane humbly asked advice and direction, willingly granted it. In the first place,' said she, 'I set it down as a rule, from the first, that the only way we could get forward in the world was to live in genteel style, and put the best foot foremost. You would be astonished, between ourselves, to know how little we have to spend; but then I have a great deal of contrivance. What wages do you give your servants?' To Jane's information she replied: "You give too much. By the by, I can recommend an excellent seamstress to you, who will sew for twelve cents a day. But, my dear Mrs Fulton, you must not wear that shabby bonnet ; and, excuse me, you do want a new pelisse tremendously. It really is not doing justice to your husband, when he has such a run of business, and such a handsome income, to dress in this manner.'

'I do not know how it is,' said Jane; ‘but we spend a great deal more than we used to do; we send our children to expensive schools.'

"That is entirely a mistake. I don't send mine to any; it is my system. They get such vulgar habits associating with the lower classes! I educate them myself.'

But do they learn as well as at school?'

'How can a woman of your sense ask that question? As if a mother could not teach her children better than strangers! Take my advice, and save all the money you are paying for them; it is just throwing it away. Educate them yourself. Rousseau approves of it.'

Though Jane did not entirely adopt Mrs Reed's ideas, she thought, with her, that they were paying an enormous sum for schools; and both she and Frank agreed, as demands for money increased, that they might just as well go to cheaper schools. The penalties of living beyond the means most generally fall upon the children of the family; not that parents love them less than other appurtenances, but because deficiencies here are more easily kept out of sight. We speak not of dress or food, but of education.

Many declaim on the expense of schools, who forget that teachers are qualified by devoting the best part of their lives to the subject; that the education of children cannot be taken up all at once merely for a living; but that, to be successful, it must be founded upon higher and nobler motives, and deserves a compensation equivalent to the preparation and importance of the object. Mrs Reed thought otherwise when she found how little trouble it was to educate her children, with a girl hired for an assistant. Those who saw not the interior, spoke of her as a most wonderful woman.

Perhaps there is no class of men less liable to extravagance than physicians. Their gains are slow and laborious, and they toil for

daily bread from hour to hour. No large sum comes in, like a lawyer's fee, for a few words of advice; and no lucky speculations in coffee, indigo, or cotton, raise them, like merchants, from moderate means to sudden affluence. But the seeds of luxury and extravagance may be scattered everywhere; and even the very security that Frank felt in his profession and in his own moderate desires, had perhaps made him less vigilant.

Though Jane did not entirely trust to Mrs Reed's opinions as to teachers and schools, on many other subjects she yielded implicit deference. The consequence was, that, from a simple-dressed woman, she soon became a fashionable lady, bonneted and blonded in the extreme of fashion, and, even to her own surprise, a fine stylish-looking woman. Frank, who had hitherto only appreciated his wife's virtues and amiable qualities, began now to pride himself on her elegance. The moment this sort of pride takes possession of a husband, he delights to hang his idol with finery and trinkets. How much of honest, faithful affection and esteem mingles with this tribute, depends on the character; in the present instance there was an uncommon degree of affection. For many years they had been all the world to each other-had struggled through a degree of penury-had enjoyed comparative affluence meekly and thankfully -and even now, Jane sometimes doubted whether their enlarged income had increased their happiness. She still, however, continued her charities; and one day, when she applied to her husband for a sum to give away, was surprised when he replied: 'Really, Jane, I cannot afford such a donation.'

'Not afford it!' exclaimed she; 'why, it is no more than we have given for several years.'

But our expenses have greatly increased.'

And so has our income,' said Jane triumphantly. Frank looked thoughtful, and shook his head. 'Well,' said Jane cheerfully, 'we have been talking about getting a centre-table; now suppose we give that up, and devote the money to charity?'

As you please,' said Frank coldly.

Jane was silent for a moment, and then said: 'No, dear; it is not as I please, but as you please.'

'A centre-table was your own proposal,' said Frank.

I know it; but I should not have thought of it if Mrs Reed had not said it was necessary.'

'Mrs Reed seems to have become your oracle, with all her folly. Then it was only because she said so that we were to have a centre-table?'

'No, Frank; not entirely. I thought it would be very convenient; and then it gives a room such a sociable look; besides, as we had a centre-lamp

'I don't see how that helps your argument; the table doesn't hang to the lamp, does it?'

'No; and I begin to think it is of no consequence. Indeed I should never have thought of it, if it had not been for Mrs Reed.'

'Mrs Reed again!' exclaimed Frank peevishly. 'I really think that woman's acquaintance is a curse.' Jane made no reply, but her eyes filled with tears. Since you are so unwilling to give up either the centre-table or your donation, you shall have both,' said Frank; 'so pray go and select one with your friend.'

'Can you think me so unreasonable?' replied Jane. There was a pathos in her voice that restored her husband to his good-nature.

Frank had set Jane a task beyond her strength. The centre-table was purchased, and then an elegant centre-vase. Mrs Reed was not the only fashionable lady that had taken up Jane. There was Mrs. Bradish, whose husband was said to be worth a million, and who had a right to spend what she pleased. Nothing could be more flattering than her attentions. It would seem as if wealth diffused some of its golden glare among the onlookers; else why is so much deference paid to it? In vain we say, philosophically, it is dross; or, experimentally, it benefits not us. Still, the rich have their humble imitators, and mammon its worshippers. Frank became the companion of the wealthy; and it was necessary that he should not disgrace his intimates by a penurious style of living. He and Jane were invited to dinners and soirées. Such constant invitations must be returned, and they began to give entertainments. Hitherto, the little Misses Fulton had kept their seats at the dinner-table; but their dinner was at a most inconvenient hour to accommodate them. It interfered with morning calls; and it was determined the children should dine wholly in the nursery.

Jane thought it a singular piece of good fortune that she should be taken up by three such friends as Mrs Reed, Mrs Bradish, and Mrs Hart. The first knew everything and everybody; the second was rich enough to make ducks and drakes of her money; and the last was the mirror of fashion and dress. It might be rationally asked, what benefit she derived from this triple alliance. But it was a question she never asked herself. With all this, however, she was obliged unwillingly to feel that neither her happiness nor her comfort was increased.

As the appearance of property had become necessary, economy must be practised somewhere, to bring out the year. This of course fell upon the interior. Jane had been in the habit of superintending her own affairs, and seeing that nothing was wasted, and nothing used superfluously. This system, while it extended to each and to all, was cheerfully received; but when the domestics found that the luxuries of the kitchen were not proportionate to the parlour, they became discontented, and left the family. Those mistresses who have ever experienced the harassing labour of keeping up a showy appearance in the parlour, with strict economy in the kitchen, will sympathise with poor Jane in her arduous task. Sometimes she