burn hair, which was ornamented with a sprig of white jessamine, hung in graceful ringlets on her snowy neck; a robe of plain white muslin, with pearl ornaments, added still more attractive charms to her already innocent and lovely appearance.

Edmund, in a transport of admira-tion, was running to embrace her, when she entered the parlour, till a look of kind reproach checked his youthful ardour, and added new fuel to the flame he now laboured to conceal.

In a few minutes they were conveyed. to the rooms, the brilliancy of which struck our heroine with the greatest astonishment and pleasure; but she

was prevented from expressing her sentiments, from that diffidence which is natural to young persons, on their first appearance in public.

As she passed, reclining on the arm of her adorer, the several sets who had already began dancing, she could not avoid hearing the numerous exclamations of admiration made of her; "what sweet innocence," cried one; "what lovely eyes, 'tis surely an angel," said

another.

But one gentlemen, of whom she then knew nothing, but whom she afterwards discovered to be Lord Darlton, was the loudest in his applause; he persecuted her all the evening to allow

him the honour of her hand only down one dance she, however, objected to dancing with a total stranger, therefore politely declined his offer.

Notwithstanding this repulse, he intruded himself upon their notice during the greatest part of the evening; till at length Mr. de Valcourt, upon the request of Miss Montravers, returned home. Their conversation, during the ride, was chiefly concerning the extraordinary conduct of Lord Darlton, the company they met, &c.

Laura expressed herself surprized at the extravagant and splendid dresses of some of the ladies. "I was not aware, said the artless girl," that it was ne

cessary to expend so large a sum on the decoration of the person to how much better a purpose would part of the money, which has been lavished for such useless trifles, have been expended in relieving the wants of the indigent, or instructing the children of the poor.

"Those gaily dressed ladies, can certainly never have felt the pleasure of affording succour to the distressed, or they would surely prefer applying their funds to so agreeable a purpose."

Edmund and his father joined in mutual admiration of the benevolence of her sentiments, and perfectly coincided in all she said.

Norville Grove at length appeared in view, and they were very shortly assembled in the supper room, where they took a slight refreshment and then retired to rest.

Laura's dreams were much disturbed by the events of the evening; for though she had expressed no concern before her friends, she was as uneasy as they were: she, however, formed a determination not to appear again on a simi lar occasion, (for some time at least,) when she hoped Lord Darlton would have controlled his feelings.