by my side.' 'I know no such thing,' she said, putting her hand on my lips and lapsing a little into her former petulance; but a deep blush gave contradiction to her words. Now, for the first time, Wriothesley appeared to understand the character of his fair enslaver, and smiled in his turn; whereat Emily whispered; 'I fear I am lost-see the sad fellowhe is beginning to grow confident already.'

"In this way we proceeded till met by the carriage. Wriothesley assisted us in, but did not presume to enter till invited. Come sir, won't you get in; perhaps you would rather walk, or possibly, you have some engagement.' No second invitation was necessary. In he sprang, listening with a laugh or a smile to every thing that was said to him, the very picture of ecstatic enjoyment. In truth, Wriothesley, his profession notwithstanding, though full of courage, is a modest backward man. I told Emily so; but she argued the contrary, and said the men were all bold, forward, and

confident. I could have told her of another very proper good man, but I did not-nor shall I tell you naughty fellow, nor write another letter, unless you send me one that is very nice and very, very long."

VII.

"On getting to the old Hall, Captain Wriothesley was out in a moment and helped us to descend. I really believe he was going to take his leave, when Miss Jones called out. Well, you are very provoking; do you think we shall let you away in this manner. You must stay and dine with us; won't you come in sir?'

"The good old knight almost met us at the door. He was not at home when the servant went back for the carriage; but he had learned the almost tragical occurrence at second hand, and was at once shocked and rejoiced at the narration. In fact, he idolized his daughter; and had any mischance occurred to her, it

would have brought down his grey hairs with

sorrow to the grave.

'Dear, dear papa,' springing into his arms, 'this gentleman has saved my life; he is going to dine with us, and you must be very kind to him.' 'Why, my dear,' after a hearty embrace, this is young Captain Wriothesley whom you would not suffer me to ask before.' 'Even so papa; and now he is going to dine with us to day, and more than to day I expect.' Here, she tripped away, followed by your Julia to dress for dinner; the old gentleman with tears in his eyes and a countenance indicative of fond delight and admiration, looking after her, and exclaiming - miracles will never cease.'

"When we were alone, Emily threw herself, on a chair. Well, this is a pretty close to all my high resolves. So these odious men have got the better of me at last, and I am obliged to love them whether I will or no.'

6

'Nay, now my dear Miss Jones, Captain Wriothesley is too generous to wish to coerce your affections.' 'Nay, now Miss Prim,' she rejoined, mocking my accents, who told you I did not want to be coerced. I love the dear fellow, I do-so noble, so generous, so young. He saved my life, and I'll marry, yes, I'll marry him whenever he will.' Here, she smiled, and blushed; and at last, overwrought and excited as she had been during that eventful day, her poor heart gave way, and she wept a plentiful flood of tears on my bosom.

"Never had Miss Jones looked so beautiful and attractive as when she descended with me to the drawing room. Her feelings and sentiments had taken a more natural turn; and freed from the brusquerie, in a great measure assumed, which had previously characterized her, she became reserved and even timid in her demeanour. Was it that she was no longer her own mistress, and that she who once ruled it so despotically over others, had now to submit to

a still more unsparing rule? However that might be, she curtsied half in jest, half in earnest, as she entered the apartment, and with winning grace undulated to her seat.

'How now,' said the old knight, 'what fresh freak art bent on my daughter; some new whim I'll warrant me?' 'Now dear papa don't say those foolish things-what will Miss Hastings, what will Captain Wriothesley think of you?' Captain Wriothesley,' said the old gentleman, 'Captain Wriothesley; I thought t'other was the favourite.' 'Now papa, you will kill me if you go on so.' 'Nay now, kill thee Nemmy; it is not so easy to kill a young girl, at least such as thou who hast more blood and spirit than a well-bred Arabian.'

"We proceeded to dinner. Emily would fain have pushed me over to Wriothesley; but I took the old knight's proffered arm, and left the blushing girl to lean on that of her lover. If ever man were enchanted-yes, enchanted, it was he. Ah, traitor, you never manifested