tim of ill usage, were they not followed up by serious consequences.

Julia had had her share of this gentleman's attentions; and, in common with sundry others, believed herself the most favoured of the favoured. In addition to his other attractions, Mr. D- - was in the habit of entertaining the town with balls, dinners, fétes of all descriptions. A ball at his house was looked forward to in the gay world, vu the circumstances of his case, with infinitely more pleasure than the thousand and one other notices of such events; howbeit his house was little better than many others, his company not more select.

On the 20th of May it was announced that a ball was to take place at the house of this favourite of fashion, with the (to some) additional merit that it was to be costumé.

Straightway commenced the organization of quadrilles, meetings were called at divers houses; Maradan, Devy, Claret, &c. were summoned, and the great question agitated whether the costumes should be Swiss or Spanish, Turkish or Tartan; if Swiss, what canton-if Spanish, what province. Then followed hot debates among the ladies; yellow did not suit the dark, red never yet became the fair; one was too tall for such high feathers, her head would be eternally in the chandelier ! another was too short for such very long waists; one said they should wear rouge, it was allowable in a costume; another, cut to the heart, told the melancholy tale that her father would not

listen to such an idea, and it would be very hard, if one were to wear it, that they should not all do so; still worse, if it were permitted to all of them, her unfortunate self alone excepted!

However, after innumerable difficulties, the costume was settled and ordered; and in process of time each young lady, in addition to a pretty new dress, had the advantage of possessing a grievance; for had she had her own way, this would have been so, and that would never have been here instead of there, which every one must allow would have been far prettier, much more convenient, and a great deal cheaper.

But however interesting this matter might be, other more interesting matter transpired in a few days. One evening as Julia was dressing for dinner, her maid, who was fond of making remarks to lighten the labours of her vocation, began:

"I understand, Ma'am, Mr. D's ball is to be more beautifuller than ever this time."

"Indeed?" said Julia. "What have you heard of it, Bates?"

66

They do say, Ma'am, there's to be fire-works in the garden, and the ball-room is to be all hanged with atificious roses, and some talks of a transparency of some kind, with one of the letters of the alphabet in the middle of it, a nitial I think they calls it." ·

"An initial," said Julia, "indeed? And do you know, Bates, whose initial it is ?"

"I fancy Mr. Williams was saying, Ma'am (that's the groom of the chambers, Ma'am, a nice civil young

VOL. II.

man he is, quite pleasant!) Mr. Williams was saying, I think, that it was a hi. (Lawk, Miss Julia! you are not a-going to put on that shocking ugly cap Miss Jones made you, this evening, are you? Don't pray, Ma'am, it really looks quite nunting. I don't know how it is, but Miss Jones really does make sad nunting figures of all her caps, now; not at all fit for a lady of fashion to put on. Well, I'm sure! I don't know when I've seen such an ugly figure as this cap!"

"Well, Bates," resumed Julia, hoping to lead her back to the original topic," and so you think it was the letter I?"

"So Mr. Williams said, Ma'am; but I catched a peep at it, and I thought it looked more like a J. Mr. Williams, however, certainly did say it was a hi. There's not much difference to be sure between the two letters, however."

"No," said Julia thoughtfully, "there is but little difference between the two letters; indeed, they are often considered one and the same."

"Yes, Ma'am, that is just what I was a saying to Mr. Williams. I said,' says I, 'I think we may make a pretty good guess who that's meant for,' says I. Yes,' says he, I think we may indeed. My master has good taste in the ladies, Mrs. Bates,' says he. ‘Indeed he has,' says I, though I says it as should not," says I. 'I am sure,' says he, 'I don't see no reason,'

says he,' why you should not say so, Mrs. Bates, as well as another," says he, (he is quite a civil pleasant young man, is Mr. Williams, Ma'am.)".

Mrs. Bates continued sometime her encomiums on Mr. Williams and the inpending ball, but Julia's thoughts now dwelt only on the information she had received. She could scarcely conceal her satisfaction; here was delightful, palpable corroboration of her deliberately formed opinion; nay here was absolute proof that Mr. D—distinguished her in a peculiar manner. He gave a ball, and that ball was costumé,-every one knew her remarkably good taste in dress; here was a delicate and indirect compliment; his ball-room was hung with flowers, the garden at Graham Court was famous,-evidently an allusion to it, and a homage to its merits.

--

There could be no question that these were nothing less than covert methods of announcing his final intentions; and lest any doubt could exist of the identity of the lady, he had actually provided a transparency with her own initial in the midst!

The result, therefore, of the ball was more than certain. The twenty-first of May would dawn upon Julia another creature, that day would see her an affianced bride. She was almost tempted to order her wedding clothes.

The following day Mrs. Bates's intelligence as to the “letters of the alphabet," was confirmed. Some of the habitués of Mr. D - pronounced it to be indeed an I, but none would venture even a surmise as to the individual prefigured thereby. Julia in conscious security and delight, sat by and sucked the grateful news, smiling inwardly and in derision at the conjectures of

the society, in which her name had not found a place.

Pleasantly and gaily sped the intervening days, visions of bliss and change floated in Julia's fertile brain, when lo! at one fell swoop their "baseless fabric" was dissolved, leaving not "a wreck behind." Two days before the looked-for fete, Mr. D-'s marriage was declared with Miss Isabella Dashwood. Julia fainted, and tore her hair, but Miss Isabella bought her trousseau; Julia went into strong hysterics, but Mr. D-, faithless, philandering, ball-giving Mr. D-, was married St. at George's.

Alas, poor Julia!

CHAPTER XIX.

Whom but to see is to admire,

And, oh forgive the word!-to love;

Forgive the word in one who ne'er

With such a word can more offend.
LORD BYRON.

The periodical arrival of Arthur Ashmont's letters was always anticipated by the Graham family with interest and delight. In the course of his correspondence, Alice had been apprised of his quarrel with Mr. Middleton and its cause, with George Shenstone's arrival, and with the intimacy which had sprung up between