shocked at such perfidy, gave instant orders that he should never again be admitted: but though at first her feelings were excited on her own account alone, yet the sight of Mrs. Lovemore's distress soon dissipated every selfish consideration, and she resolved to use her utmost skill to unite this mistaken pair ; for she felt assured that Mr. Lovemore had flown to dissipation rather from spleen than inclination, and she hoped, however, blameable, he might be, it was yet time enough to retrieve all and reclaim him. Mrs. Lovemore, in the irritation of wounded feeling, resolved never to see him again; and would have hastened to her parents in the country, without a moment's delay: but Mrs. Belmour induced her to stay to dinner; when, by dint of persuasion, and a painful conviction that she had been indeed to blame, in rendering his home unpleasant to him, this judicious friend prevailed upon her to adopt a plan by which Ar. Lovemore might be surprised into a change of conduct. This was to be a plan of assumed gaiety on her part, and a public and playful detection of his levities; for Lady Constant had made Mrs. Belmour the confidant of Mr. Lovemore's letters to her, and she was to be made a party concerned in his exposure.

Mrs. Lovemore issued as many cards as the time would admit, inviting company to her house that evening, and urging their acceptance of the invitation; promising to assign a reason for her sudden and hasty summons. After dinner she returned home to dress, having previously sent orders to prepare for company. On her arrival, she found a letter from Sir Brilliant Fashion-declaring his love, and soliciting an interview, and she immediately sent him an invitation to come in the evening, in consonance with the proposed plan.

The important hour having at length arrived, Isabel trembled for the event; but she was animated

and cheered by Mrs. Belmour. Several visitors now came in, and, amongst the rest, Sir Brilliant Fashion. Lovemore came home very early; for Mrs. Belmour, ere he left her in the morning, had appointed him to visit her in the evening: but being nformed that she was from home, and had not left either letter or message, he was much chagrined, and, as she conjectured he would, hastened home immediately.

At the sound of his voice, poor Isabel was violently agitated; but, exerting her utmost resolution, she prepared to meet him. He entered with folded arms, and a gloomy aspect, and threw himself into a chair. Isabel welcomed him home; he coolly thanked her, and leaning his head on his hand, appeared lost in thought. She then inquired if he was not well? "Quite well," he replied, "but rather out of spirits."

"You are never in spirits at home, Mr. Lovemore," replied Isabel, in her usual tone of reproach. The conversation continued for some minutes;-on 'her side, all reproaches-on his, the usual mixture of levity and politeness. She strove in vain to engage his attention, but he never once raised his eyes towards her. At length she angrily inquired what part of her conduct gave him offence.

"Pshaw, nonsense (he replied, yawning, unbuttoning his waistcoat, and untying his neckcloth as he spoke), nothing gives me offence child, why will you harp on that ungrateful string? You know I am very fond (yaw, yaw,)-like you of all things, think you a most admirable wife; prudent, managingcareless of your own person, and very attentive to mine; not much given to pleasure, grave, retired and domestic; (yaw, yaw,) govern your house, pay the tradesmen's bills (aw), scold the servants, and love your husband::-upon my soul a very good wife, as good a sort of a wife as, as (Oh! yaw, yaw)-as a body might wish to have-Oh! lord, I'm wonder

fully tired, ring for William, Isabel! I must go to bed."

Isabel begged him not to retire so early; and asked him if he would not join the company in the drawing-room. Lovemore now for the first time turned his eyes towards her; but, seeing her in full dress, started from his chair, and in astonishment, inquired the meaning of all this-Isabel had now no resource, but to act her scene with spirit, and therefore, assuming a gaiety very foreign to her heart, she informed him, that it was her intention in future, to lead a life of pleasure and amusement, a plan of improvement in their domestic arrangement, which she hoped he would not disapprove.

"Oh! by no means (he replied), the alteration in her mode of life would be delightful to him." Yet the discontented tone in which he uttered this assurance was not in any way indicative of approbation-and he begged for a further explanation of the cause of this sudden revolution in her habits and temper-"Oh! lud, lud (returned Isabel, laughing), pray do not question with that sombre face," she then rattled on for some minutes, with the utmost volubility-repeated many of the volatile expressions which he had been in the habit of using to her, in polite ridicule of her gravity-forbade him to interrupt her, declaring it was now her time to talk, and laugh, and sing and be merry-which she was resolved to be the rest of her days; and having thus aroused him to positive anger, she left him, singing as she went, "Away with melancholy."

Lovemore was astonished; and the more he reflected, the more he was perplexed. First he thought she was seized with insanity; but there was too much "method in her madness" for it to be a disease; then some of her female friends had been tampering with her, and rousing her to a spirit of disobedience, and perhaps revenge for his neglect

and falsehood! That was as an alarming thought! How far might that spirit of revenge lead her? She had herself spoken something of the laws of retalia tions what could she mean? The demon of iealousy instantly took possession of his mind, Lady Constant, Mrs. Belmour, every thing was forgot in apprehension of his own honour-and he was in the act of following her, to keep a strict watch on her words, looks, and actions-when Muslin ran past him with a letter in her hand. Her surprise on seeing him, and her anxiety to conceal the letter, at once aroused his suspicions; he forced the paper from her, and found it to be a flaming epistle from Sir Brilliant Fashion to Isabel. Now the cause of her levity was explained; and, enraged, he was going to rush upon Sir Brilliant, and demand immediate satisfaction; when he saw Isabel, coming along the gallery, followed by Sir Brilliant.

Anxious to know how far she was implicated, he stepped aside to listen to their conversation; and was agreeably surprised to find her innocent of any infidelity, and that she rejected his addresses with disdain, threatening to impart the secret to her husband, if ever again he dared insult her by any repetition of his love. Sir Brilliant was not however so easi y

repulsed; he caught her in his arms-wnen Lovenore darted into the room, and Sir Brilliant, with the most perfect nonchalɛnce, dropped on his knee, pretending to fasten the buckle in his shoe. A violent altercation now ensued, in the midst of which Sir Bashful Constant entered to inquire the cause of all this disturbance. Lovemore instantly put the letter into his hands, vehemently declaring it a most unparalleled breach of friendship! an unjustifiable offence! to all which Sir Bashful cordially assented, and Sir Brilliant, ashamed, could not utter one word in his own defence.

But Lovemore's triumph was of short duration, and a scene ensued which overwhelmed him with shame and confusion. Sir Bashful commenced the attack, by quietly putting a letter into the hands of Sir Brilliant, and requesting him to read it aloud. It was Lovemore's letter to Lady Constant, the fragments of which Sir Bashful had picked up and pasted together! This unexpected stroke was most perplexing to Lovemore; and, not prepared for any defence, he was hastily quitting the room, but was intercepted by Mrs. Belmour, who, seizing his hand. exclaimed, "Mr dear Lord Etheridge, I am very glad to see you. Mrs. Lovemore, allow me to introduce Lord Etheridge, a very particular friend of mine." Again he strove to escape; but Mrs. Lovemore detained him-and presented him to Mrs. Belmour as her husband, Mr. Lovemore-while Sir Brilliant and Sir Bashful laughed aloud, and bade "his honourable lordship welcome." Exasperated, he burst from them, to go to the card room; when Lady Constant ran full against him, and begged him, as he loved her so much, to be her banker for an hundred pounds, as she had lost all her money! Another burst of laughter now assailed his earswhile Lady Constant assuming a serious aspect, informed Mrs. Lovemore, of the insult she had within