"We have all been quite mistaken," said Mrs. Barrington, addressing her daughters on the morning following this discovery of the lover's real object of pursuit; "I am sure I thought, as we all did, it was Philippa the colonel meant to have; and, after all, it seems Caroline is to be the Honourable Mrs. Strathspey. It is no matter, my dears," she continued, perceiving the distanced Philippa look a little crestfallen, "you may be sure, with my management, you will all be established satisfactorily, and it can be of no sort of consequence which of you go first, or to whom. Caroline, my love! Colonel Strathspey, if I am not mistaken, will call this morning. I should wish you to put on that sweet little Swiss cap you look so well in; and, remember, languor is the colonel's passion. When he comes, Philippa, you had better give orders in the hall that no one is to be admitted; and perhaps,-I dare say, you have letters to write, or would like to walk, so you need not stay in."

It is for want of a little manœuvring of this kind that many a good match is missed, causing women of no judgment or penetration again and again to perform their annual journies to town with the same load of merchandize,-the same undiminished pack.

What will you have of it?-In six weeks Caroline Barrington became Mrs. Strathspey; and, at her wedding breakfast, Philippa looked so bewitchingly lovely, that Sir Henry Manvers decided his long wavering mind on the subject of surrender, and the lucky Philippa left town Lady Manvers: so she had nothing to complain of. To be sure, Sir Henry was a profligate and a spendthrift; but, in consideration of these "peculiarities," a liberal settlement was insisted on in her favour; thus she enjoyed the luxuries of a splendid house and equipage, during the few years it required to run through the remainder of his property, at the end of which time there remained to her a liberal jointure, and he provided himself with-a pistol.

Few mothers, however, have the luck, or the address, which you will, of Mrs. Barrington. This was a melancholy truth frequently admitted by Mrs. Temple, as she gazed on her long string of milky faced "Templars ;" and it was immediately following upon the example of Mrs. Barrington, that she formed the resolution of coming to the contest with a daughter under each wing, not saying to herself, "Thus am I doubly armed," but," Thus am I doubly burthened."

CHAPTER VIII.

The Water Party.

"REALLY, Mr. Temple, you have no more consideration than an infant, I must say! What an opportunity now was here of an introduction to the Stapletons, if you had called, instead of writing, for this boy's character. The very people of all others, you know, I wished to cultivate."

66

Nay, my dear, excuse me; I thought you objected to city acquaintances. I know, you used to say, you would not pay a visit to the eastward of Portland Place."

"That was last year, Mr. Temple, when I had but one girl out. Is it not a very different case now? I ask you, with two upon my hands, and this Maria's second season. Is it a time to be fastidious about east and west, with nine such daughters as ours, Mr. Temple? When you knew, too, the Stapletons have two sons, and are rolling in riches!"

"Which makes it the more probable, my

dear, that they will expect wealth with their son's wives."

"That by no means follows. Do we not move in a certain circle, to which the Stapletons never could, but by marriage, gain admission? and is not our rank in life an equivalent for their money?"

"Some merchants are apt to think otherwise, Mrs. Temple. Besides, these young Stapletons

may not be marrying men."

"I declare you would provoke a saint! As if all were not 'marrying' men that can afford to be so. Or, if not, it rests with the judicious management of mothers to make them so. City youths, too, are often quite unacquainted with the game played at this end of the town, and are caught with almost no trouble."

"In that case, my dear, it is a pity you did not take advantage of this 'golden opportunity,' to have opened an intimacy with Mrs. Stapleton."

"I agree with you, Mr. Temple: indeed, like most other things you undertake, it was but half done, for you omitted all the questions of most importance; and, in fact, I do not consider it would be right or prudent to admit the lad into the house on the slight recommendation given by

his late master; and I quite feel that I ought to call upon Mrs. Stapleton, to satisfy myself on the subject. Common prudence demands it."

What a comfortable conclusion it is to arrive at,—that of finding ourselves imperatively called on to do the thing we wish.

"You may sneer, Mr. Temple; but, if you were the mother of nine unmarried daughters—” "Since they are so annoying to you, my love, I could willingly have dispensed with the honour of being their father. These are matters, however, it is quite in vain to complain of. So do not despond: the girls will all do very well in time, no doubt."

I can safely hours sound

"Time is not the thing exactly to assist their well-doing, Mr. Temple. Do you observe that the delicacy of Maria's skin is considerably diminished within the last six months? And have you happened to notice a pimple that has been on her chin these three days? assert, I have not enjoyed two sleep since I detected that pimple! things, I dread eruptions; and on skins so fair there is no palliative. Besides, you know, it is supposed to run in families, and if you produce one pimply girl, (and she the eldest,) you may as well throw up your cards.

Of all other

No good can