is sure he will one day be a lord, and that he is the nicest and handsomest young fellow in all England!' I ventured to observe that since it was her own wish and her father's wish, I did not see what great ground she had for complaint. 'I do not deny' she responded; the justice of papa's praises; but what drives me mad, is that these self-satisfied men should carry matters with so high a hand, and take it all along for granted that what their mightinesses resolve upon, poor we must submit to without grumbling.' I forthwith tried to comfort the dear girl; and then, she proceeded to speak of what dress she would be married in; and how she would look, and how poor Wriothesley would look, and where they would go, and what they should do. In fact, the good old gentleman has latterly been indisposed-threatenings of apoplexy, the medical men hint, and speaks of the necessity of winding up his affairs, and procuring a son and a protector for his daughter. He cannot bear Wriothesley

out of his sight, so that it were hard to say which, the father or the daughter, loves him best. Seriously speaking, he is worthy of their preference; and, a certain young gentleman excepted, there cannot be a more candid, manly, or upright youth. His conduct on the day of the runaway; and his struggle for life and death with the masterless horse, on the brink of the precipice, have decided for ever, as well they may, the question of his footing with the family of the Jones."

IX.

"I have a world of things, dearest Charles, to say to you. I wished to return to my poor mother, whose declining health and strength render my presence the more desirable. Emily, however, will not hear of my departure; she says that I am necessary-indispensable to her, and that she will have no other bridesmaid. I have written to mamma for further permission to stay. As for Wriothesley, he affirms that

he will have no bridesman but you; so that these matters, I may hope, unless insuperable obstacles interpose, are definitively settled. A day even, has been named for the ceremony. Emily reiterates that she cannot live without me; but I know very well that once she bears the name of Wriothesley, she will no longer find me indispensable. And this is right and natural; for when I am wholly thine Charles, and you have sworn me your plighted faith, whose society on the wide earth shall I care for in comparison? I should once have blushed to acknowledge this even to myself; but dearest Charles, am I not thine own Julia, and shall I hesitate to avow the first and dearest impulse of my heart? Dost believe with some, my Charles, that anticipation is sweeter than the reality that our fondest hopes and wishes ever fail in the fruition? Ah, believe it not! Those who are true to themselves-to each other; who fail never in love's observances, will likewise not fail to secure that happiness

that foretaste of heaven on earth which only can be realized at the shrine of our best and purest affections.

"I am daily consulted by Emily on the choice of the silks, satins, pearls, and robes which she is to wear; and she is likewise good enough to think what will be most becoming in a brides-maid. For my part however, I shall wear nothing but that simple robe of white muslin, in which I once heard my Charles say, he liked above all things, to see young girls appear. This, with my own hair, and perhaps, a string of pearls which I owe to the friendship of Miss Jones, and a diamond aigrette, the gift of a gentleman you know, are all the adornments of which I propose to boast. I hear great disquisitions on Mr. Wriothesley's intended attire, but this is a subject on which I shall not pretend to descant. For my own part Charles, I think youth and beauty require few adventitious additions; if grace, and cheerfulness, and unaffected modesty do not suffice,

neither will the precious brocades nor priceless gems of the east and west.

"The day never passes my Charles, in which I do not think of you. Morning and evening I take out your letters and con them over; for although I know the words by heart, it is still a pleasure to see the lines that were traced by your dear hand, and the paper on which you inscribed them. In some places, you tell me, there are kisses for me; and I do not fail to take possession of them, and to kiss the honied depositories a hundred fold in return.

"Do you remember one evening late, when we walked around our little garden; the stars were sparkling with all their liquid radiance in the vault of heaven; the moon was as if suspended in the lofty ether; the winds were hushed to rest, and naught was heard save the fitful gushing of the distant stream so perfectly inaudible by day. Suddenly, a vivid meteor rushed towards us as from out the very zenith; and when it had reached mid heaven, burst into