having once or twice accepted an invitation from him to join his morning readings with me in the library, she perceived in me such evident and strong symptoms of anger and jealousy, that she wisely forbore to adopt the proposed custom. Even the lessons we both received from masters who came to attend us from were separately taken, and our

studies separately pursued.

The greater part of Agnes's leisure hours was therefore devoted to my mother, who gradually became so fond of her, and so dependent upon her, that she seemed as if she could hardly bear her niece out of her sight. Agnes was always ready to arrange her work, to read aloud to her, and to contribute in all ways to her comfort. My mother had been in the habit for some time past of dining three or four times a week in her own private room; Agnes persuaded her that it was better for her to make the exertion of coming downstairs, especially when any one joined our little circle; for she soon perceived that her aunt's illness was chiefly mental, and had long been acting on a frame naturally languid and delicate, and reducing her first to despair, then to apathy.

Mr. Mordaunt, the rector of Leyton, a man whom worldly prosperity had not made lukewarm in the duties of his calling, had often regretted that he could not induce me to take any active interest in my poorer neighbours; and though I never refused to contribute from my own amply stocked purse to any request for pecuniary aid, such a request was seldom made, owing, I believe, to Mr. Mordaunt's erroneous impression that it was considered by me rather as a liberty. In Agnes, he and his wife and daughters found a ready and able coadjutor in visiting the poor, attending the Sunday-school, and giving largely, as the liberality of her uncle and aunt enabled her to do. Agnes's gentle voice, her sweet smile, and undoubted sincerity in the expression of sympathy, or the relief of want, caused her to be no less beloved than she was esteemed; and, useful at home and abroad, her life was no longer an unhappy one, though there were still times when the feeling of sadness and loneliness was strong upon her.

One morning, when Agnes had been about a twelvemonth at the hall, Mrs. Mordaunt, her eldest daughter, and her son, who had just quitted Oxford, came to call upon my mother. They found my father and myself ready dressed,

and about to go to Hartley Grange, nine miles distant, to be present at a grand fete given that day in celebration of Lord Tintern, the Earl of Hartley's only son, attaining his majority. The Mordaunts were also on their way there, and they appeared a good deal surprised at seeing Agnes in her usual morning costume, and evidently quite unprepared to accompany us. Henry Mordaunt could not forbear saying

"Miss Bray, have you no fears of being late for the festive scene, or is your toilet as quickly completed as that of my sister Emma, who never takes more than a quarter of an hour, even when dressing for a ball?"

"I do not think a quarter of an hour would quite satisfy me," replied Agnes; "but I am not going to-day to Lord Hartley's, so I am in no danger of being late."

"Not going!" repeated young Mordaunt, in a tone of incredulous astonishment; "what, is not Lady Hartley aware of your residence here?"

66

Lady Hartley was so kind as to send me an invitation," said Agnes, blushing slightly; "but I prefer remaining at home with my aunt."

I felt myself colour deeply, as much from anger as from shame, when Henry fixed his scrutinizing gaze upon my face; for I well knew that Agnes had declined going from the knowledge of how unwelcome her company would have been to me, and I thought I saw that he suspected something of the real truth.

"Miss Vernon," he said, gaily, "do help me to prevail upon your cousin. It will be a splendid affair; ourselves, I dare say, about the only poor commoners present; archery, dancing in tents, ices and champagne in the grotto, fireworks in the park, and a grand dinner to all the tenants and school children-it will be a rare day even for those accustomed to such festivities. Indeed, you ought to come, Miss Bray"-and he added in a lower and more earnest tone, overheard only by me-"and I have been promising myself such pleasure in engaging you for the first dance."

Mrs. Mordaunt and Emily joined their entreaties to Henry's, that Agnes would consent to change her mind, and oblige them; while I was astonished at their thinking it worth while to interest themselves at all in so unimportant a matter. "Miss Bray has made her own choice," I said: “I believe she prefers remaining with mamma.'

"Do not let me be any tie upon you, my dear child," said my mother to Agnes; "I am feeling remarkably well this morning, and would much rather you should go and enjoy yourself." "There!" exclaimed Henry, triumphantly; "now, Miss Bray, the only impediment is removed, and you are left without the shadow of an excuse for being obstinate."

Henry did but torture Agnes by his importunity, kind and gentlemanly as was his frank manner, with which his fair open countenance accorded well.

66

Agnes looked distressed, and saying in a hurried manner, quite foreign to her natural one- Indeed, indeed, it is impossible for me to go!" she laid down her work and left the room. In the doorway she encountered her uncle, who was coming to tell me the carriage was waiting. This was a signal for the Mordaunts to take their departure, greatly to my relief, and apparently to their's also, with the exception of the imperturbable Henry, who, as he passed me, said "Never mind, Miss Vernon; we shall succeed yet in drawing forth your cousin from her self-chosen retirement." When they were gone, my father asked me what young Mordaunt had meant by his parting speech?

"Some folly about Agnes not going to the fête," was my reply, in a nettled tone of voice; "just as if she were not altogether unfitted for such scenes, or, as if she could not go if she pleased. I think it is a great pity that people cannot attend to their own affairs, without interfering in those of others; but I suppose the Mordaunts presume upon having known me all my life."

"If I thought for one moment," said my father, "that Agnes would really like to go-but, Caroline, you ascertained her wishes when first the invitation arrived; did you not, my child?"

"Of course I told her of it, papa; but she immediately asked me to decline for her."

"Ay, so I thought," answered my father: "poor girl! her spirits do not rally as one would have expected in so young a person; but time only can do this."

The subject was not resumed; and after my mother had wished us a pleasant day, and received in return a cold "Thank you, mamma," from me, we stepped into the carriage, and in less than an hour had reached the entrance gates of Hartley Grange.

CHAPTER III.

THE sun was unclouded in his majesty, and shone that day upon a lordly spectacle. That day! how every smallest incident of it is treasured in my mind, as though it were yesterday. I will not weary my readers with a lengthened detail of the arrangements for the fête; suffice it to say, that all was conducted in a style of princely hospitality, combined with elegant taste; and that the natural beauties of the domain contributed their more powerful charms to those so liberally supplied by art. And while, among the noble and the wealthy, many a young heart throbbed, and many a young cheek glowed with joy and pleasure, the poor were not forgotten, for they, too, were sharers in the bounty of the good Earl.

The Mordaunts were a few minutes later than ourselves, and for a time we were separated by the throng; but presently Henry edged his way through all obstacles, and, with his usual air of gallantry, asked my hand for the first disengaged dance. I accepted him immediately, as I saw a Captain Spencer advancing towards me, whom I rather disliked, and with whom I was anxious to avoid dancing so early in the day. At the first pause in the dance, Henry recommenced his attack upon me, saying

"Is it not a pity, Miss Vernon, that a young creature like Miss Bray should so entirely exclude herself from society? On your own account, I am sure you must regret it; for it would be so pleasant for you to have a charming companion of your own age to go every where with you."

He was silent for a minute; but, finding I made no reply, he continued

"Were she once induced to accept an invitation, I scarcely think she would hesitate about doing so again; for there is

a charm in her smile and her manner, that must ensure her being a universal favourite."

"Really, Mr. Mordaunt," I replied, in a tone intended to be haughty, but which I am sure must have betrayed no small degree of sulkiness and ill-humour-"really, Mr. Mordaunt, my cousin seems to occupy your thoughts so entirely, that I am surprised you do not endeavour to induce her to take a more important step than that of going to a ball or a dinner party, and so enable yourself to regulate her doings according to your own will and pleasure.”

"Nay," said he, seriously; "I am hardly presumptuous enough, with all my assurance, to deem myself worthy of Miss Bray; but from my heart I can say, happy will be the man who wins and wears her."

A curl of the lip was my only reply; but my tormentor's remarks were arrested by a sudden apparition, and one of such exceeding beauty, that I stood for a minute, as it were, spell-bound.

Leaning on the arm of Lord Tintern, who was conducting her to his mother's tent, was a young lady apparently about seventeen or eighteen, whose whole appearance I can only describe as dazzling—a vision beheld but once or twice in our lives, and which leaves its impress upon our memories for ever. She forcibly recalled to my mind those lines ceding the description of the bride of Abydos:

pre

"Who hath not proved how feebly words essay To fix one spark of beauty's heavenly ray? Who doth not feel, until his failing sight Faints into dimness with its own delight, His changing cheek, his sinking heart, confess The might, the majesty of loveliness? Onwards she moved; and all eyes were bent upon her, and many tongues were busy in inquiring her name. She was rather above the middle height, and there was a soft roundness about her figure, redeeming it from the charge of being too slight, but not in the least impairing the grace of her every movement and gesture. Her eyes were of a sparkling hazel; her luxuriant brown hair, tinged with a rich gold, fell in long curls nearly to her waist; her complexion was brilliantly fair, with a soft colour on her cheek; and the smile which was often playing about her mouth was perfectly bewitching.