and his admiration was so marked, that it excited the observation and amusement of every one in the room. The next day-and the next -he called at a somewhat late hour, and was admitted. Lady Douglas, who was all civility, did her utmost to

"Beguile the time,

Look like the time! bear welcome in her eye,
Her hand, her tongue!"

She endeavoured to converse upon such subjects as she thought might interest him, and though he did not talk much, certainly, yet what he did say, was by no means deficient either in sense or meaning. And Helen, who felt less shy with him, than with the generality of her flippant admirers, whose sole object seemed to her to be quizzing, rather liked than disliked him upon the whole.

Encouraged by his evident desire to improve the acquaintance, and perhaps not quite unsuspicious of the cause, Lady Douglas invited him to stay and dine with them the second day, as it was getting rather late, a proposal he accepted with great readiness. In the evening, Helen played to him, a proceeding which was peculiarly congenial to his feelings, as it precluded

the necessity of trying to make conversation, a talent in which he probably felt his own deficiency. It was late before he rose to go, and, somehow or other, he had contrived, during the evening, to ingratiate himself so much with the party he quitted, that he had no sooner shut the door of the room, than Lady Douglas exclaimed with much animation, at the same time running to the glass, and adjusting her ringlets, "what a very charming person Lord Montgomery is! so easy and unaffected !"

And Helen's ready reply was, "Yes, indeed: I had no idea so great a man could be so kind and good-natured. What stories people do tell, to be sure!"

Whilst aunt Letty's qualifying remark was"Seems good-natured, I admit, and not proud; but never trust to appearances, child!—be deceived if you do, depend upon it!" Having pronounced which words in a very serious tone, the ancient maiden sighed deeply, took up her bed-candle which her niece had lighted for her, and slowly proceeded to her own apart

ment.

The next morning, as Mrs. Gardner was sitting quietly knitting in her dressing-room after breakfast, thinking over all her miseries, and

the wretchedness of being routed out of her own home at her time of life; the door flew open suddenly, and in rushed Helen, with her face as red as fire, and her eyes nearly starting out of her head. She banged to the door with violence, and throwing herself upon a chair, panted for breath.

"Dear me! how rough you are, Helen," exclaimed her aunt, in a peevish voice, but without raising her head, "I wish you would not startle one so. Do learn to be more lady-like !—Very disagreeable !"

"Oh, aunt!" cried Helen, her voice nearly choked with emotion, as she still struggled for breath, "What do you think has happened? Such a thing!"

Mrs. Gardner turned quite round, and looked at her niece in astonishment. She was struck with the agitation visible in her countenance.

"What has happened?" she inquired for once, in a tone of real curiosity.

"Oh dear! what shall I do? I am so frightened, and-who would have thought it?"

"Thought what? What has frightened you, silly child?" cried her aunt, growing more and more impatient every moment; "can't you tell one at once, instead of keeping one in suspense in this

manner. What shall I do? I'll tell you what to do, when I know what has happened." "Lord Montgomery !"

"Well! what of him?"

"He has just proposed to me. Oh, aunt Letty!"

And she covered her face with her hands, and burst into a flood of tears.

For once in her life, aunt Letty was surprised. It was her way to pique herself upon never being astonished at any thing; but this time she really did feel astonished. For a moment or two, all she could utter, was "well!" in a tone of voice which completely baffles description; but which certainly implied that for once in her life she had not been prepared for what had occurred. At length she was able to speak. "Don't cry, child; but sit up and tell me what you mean. Lord Montgomery proposed to you? Are you sure?"

"Oh yes; quite sure. He repeated it over and over again; and he said he loved me, and-"

"Why, the man has only known you three days."

“Five days, aunt," interrupted Helen, with

an earnest simplicity that was amusing. "You know it was Monday we met him, and—”

"Well, what does it signify whether it is five days or three? He can't love you in that space of time, you know. But they are never to be trusted. When I was young;"-Mrs. Gardner stopped and sighed. "And pray, what did you say to him?" inquired she, a moment after. "Oh! I said—indeed I hardly know what I said, I was so frightened, and altogether—" "But you gave him some answer, I

-yes or no?"

suppose

"Indeed, I believe not. I said I was much obliged to him, and all that; but I was so surprised and frightened, that I really hardly recollect what I said."

There was a pause of several minutes. Mrs. Gardner was revolving it all in her own mind, and Helen-but it is impossible to tell what Helen was thinking of; her ideas were in such a state of confusion. At length, she looked up, and said in her sweet imploring voice, "Dear aunt Letty, do tell me what to do!"

"My dear, how can I tell you? You must make up your own mind. If you like Lord Montgomery. It is all very sudden, to be sure-very!