shall finally be defeated through our own neglect."

"C'est une belle illustration, cette de l'anti

quité !" observed the governess, in a matterof-course tone.

sonnez vos trom

If you insist on proof, what answer can you urge to the "Capponi pettes, et je vais faire sonner mes cloches," or to the von Erlachs, a family that has headed so many resistances to oppression and invasion for five centuries ?"

"All this is very true," returned Sir George, "and yet I confess it is not the way in which it is usual with us to consider American society."

"A descent from Washington, with a character and a social position to correspond, would not be absolutely vulgar, notwithstanding."

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Nay, if you press me so hard, I must appeal to Miss Van Courtlandt for succour."

"On this point you will find no support in that quarter. Miss Van Courtlandt has an historical name herself, and will not forego an

honest pride, in order to relieve one of the hostile powers from a dilemma.”

"While I admit that time and merit must, in a certain sense, place families in America in the same situation as families in Europe, I cannot see that it is in conformity with your institutions to lay the same stress on the circumstances."

"In that we are perfectly of one mind; for I think the American has much the best reason to be proud of his family," said Eve, quietly.

"You delight in paradoxes, apparently, this evening, Miss Effingham, for now I feel very certain you can hardly make out a plausible defence of this new position."

"If I had my old ally, Mr. Powis, here," said Eve, touching the fender unconsciously with her little foot, and perceptibly losing the animation and pleasantry of her voice in tones that were gentler if not melancholy, "I should ask him to explain this matter to you, for he was singularly ready in such replies. As he is absent, however, I will attempt the duty myself. In Europe, office, power, and conse

quently consideration, are all hereditary; whereas in this country they are not, but depend on selection. Now, surely, one has more reason to be proud of ancestors who have been chosen to fill responsible stations, than of ancestors who have filled them solely through the accidents, heureux ou malheureux, of birth. The only difference between England and America, as respects family, is, that you add positive rank to that to which we only give consideration. Sentiment is at the bottom of our nobility, and the Great Seal at the bottom of yours. And, now, having established the fact that there are families in America, let us return whence we started, and inquire how far they have an influence in every-day society."

"To ascertain this we must apply to Miss Van Courtlandt."

"Much less than they ought, if my opinion is to be taken," said Grace, warmly, "for the great inroad of strangers has completely deranged all the suitablenesses in that respect.”

"And yet, I dare say, these very strangers do good," rejoined Eve. "Many of them must

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have been respectable in their native places, and ought to be an acquisition to a society which in its nature must be tant-soit peu provincial."

"Oh!" cried Grace, "I can tolerate anything but the Hajjis !”

"The what?" asked Sir George, eagerly: "will you suffer me to ask an explanation, Miss Van Courtlandt?"

"The Hajjis," repeated Grace laughing, though she blushed to the eyes.

The baronet looked from one cousin to the other, and then turned an inquiring glance on Mademoiselle Viefville. The latter gave a slight shrug, and seemed to ask an explanation of the young lady's meaning, herself.

"A Hajji is one of a class, Sir George Templemore," Eve at length said, " to which you and I have both the honour of belonging."

"No, not Sir George Templemore,” interrupted Grace, with a precipitation that she instantly regretted; "he is not an American."

"Then I alone, of all present, have that advantage. It means the pilgrimage to Paris,

instead of Mecca; and the pilgrim must be an American instead of a Mohammedan."

"Nay, Eve, you are not a Hajji, neither." "Then there is some qualification with which I am not yet acquainted will you relieve our doubts, Grace, and let us know the precise character of the animal."

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"You stayed too long to be a Hajji must get inoculated merely, not take the disease and become cured, to be a true Hajji."

"I thank you, Miss Van Courtlandt, for this description," returned Eve, in her quiet way. "I hope, as I have gone through the malady, it has not left me pitted."

"I should like to see one of these Hajjis!" cried Sir George. "Are they of both sexes ?" Grace laughed, and nodded her head.

"Will you point out a Hajji to me, should we be so fortunate as to encounter one this evening ?"

Again Grace laughed, and nodded her head. "I have been thinking, Grace," said Eve after a short pause, "that we may give Sir George Templemore a better idea of the sets

VOL. I.

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