Then throwing aside her masculine demeanor, her How would the cow-horn of the Egyptians-the tones sank into the softest cadence, with the reply-ram's-horn of the Hebrews, or the paltry seven

"I often tell her," said Mrs. Enfield, "that she was born for an actress, and in not fulfilling her destiny, the drama has suffered an incomparable admission to our Club." loss. I am convinced that no one person but her

He replied, "that if so, he should not oppose self could have given such effect to that duet-them, as variety of character was desirable to give wonderful mobility of countenance, flexibility of greater zest to their meetings." voice, attitudes imposing-one might really imagine they saw two distinct persons."

"As it is one of the rights of woman to be always stiled fair," said he, smiling, "I suppose we must yield them the additional charm of being al

There was a bunch of flowers from which Nancy was selecting those she liked best.

briskly forward, when a severe blow on the head
brought him prostrate to the ground. He was
stunned for a moment, but recovering himself, he
sprang to his feet and gazed eagerly around, pre-ways graceful.”
pared to struggle with the ruffian who had dealt it.
By the flickering flame of a lamp, he discovered
his imaginary assailant to be a piece of timber pro-
jecting from the scaffolding in front of a house, upon
which some repairs were making, where a light had
been hung as a hint to pedestrians, and which the
abstraction of his thoughts had prevented his ob-
serving.

"They are beautiful," remarked Braithwaite— "how bright their colors-If I were to reply to the question- Who can paint like nature,' I should say-the French. They will ever surpass other nations in these elegant trifles."

"You shall choose for me," said Nancy—“I am bewildered with the variety."

A number of visiters entering at the moment, Braithwaite took his leave.

"Is this an omen?" mused he. "May not this prefigure the rough hand of the captain, checking the hopes of a poor attorney aspiring to gain his rich and lovely daughter? Could he read my heart His visits now became regular and often rethough--could he see the hard struggle of pride peated; and his attentions towards Nancy daily and love-for, never will I incur the suspicion of more ardent. Capt. Broadhorn liked the gentlewishing to enrich myself with the toils of another manly deportment, fine face, and agreeable conof being indebted to a wife for comforts and luxu-versation of the visiter, who, in return, admired ries I had neither industry nor wit to acquire; the frank-hearted, honest simplicity of the capeven were I to gain the consent of her father, I tain's character. One, more presuming, or less would not unite myself to her, until it was in my high-minded than Braithwaite, would not have power to offer her a support that none might blush hesitated in declaring himself, as the behavior of to accept. I am no blind lover-I see her faults, both father and daughter was full of flattering enbut with all these faults I love her still, and with couragement. Riding and walking parties, with her I may promise myself as much happiness as other schemes of amusement, were ever in agitafalls to the chequered lot of man." tion, and Braithwaite was always the first invited

Thus Braithwaite pursued this train of reflection to join them; besides, Capt. Broadhorn had been until he arrived at his own lodgings.

CHAPTER III.

Com'st thou with deep, premeditated lines, With written pamphlets, studiously devised? Shakspeare. A press of business did not prevent Braithwaite calling the next day to inquire after Nancy's health. He found the gay little beauty as blooming and agreeable as ever. She was surrounded with feathers and flowers, being busily engaged in preparing for a ball that was to take place the ensuing week.

“I suppose you will be there?" she said to him. "I doubt it-You know I never dance, and in a ball-room a gentleman loses much of his consequence with the ladies, by being a mere lounger among them."

heard to say that "his only ambition in a husband for his daughter, was a sensible, honest fellow, who would be kind to her." The truth was, that Braithwaite had not made up his mind how to act. He could plainly perceive that there was a tincture of coquetry in Nancy's disposition, and whenever he thought of making a final disclosure of his feelings, the bare possibility of a rejection-which, to his pride, would have been intensely woundingalways restrained him. Nor was the consideration of self, the only one by which he was influenced. He disapproved of those long engagements so uncertain in their result, and which subject the parties involved in them-particularly the lady-to much inquietude. Nancy, though she gathered enough from her high-souled lover to divine the cause of his scrupulous line of conduct, was still piqued that her beauty and fascinations should not

"You do not think dancing interferes with your have gained a victory over every motive. dignity, Mr. Braithwaite ?"

"No, but so few excel in that accomplishment, that I have thought best not to attempt it. It is not uncommon to see an awkward fellow floundering and blundering through a cotillion-throwing the whole set into confusion and incurring the imminent risk of dislocating the arms of his fair partner, and so borne away by the excitement of animal spirits as to be quite unconscious of the ridicule he excites."

"But he will not always be so circumspect," thought she," and then I will have the pleasure of laughing at his romantic notions."

The Wards, those dear friends of Nancy, were still out of the way, so that Braithwaite for some time, was spared the mortification of having the foibles of his mistress, unwelcomely displayed before his eyes, in remarking, when in their company, how easily she was led into folly and rudeness, into error of opinion, and inconsistency of

"And what of the ladies ?" asked Nancy; "can- action. not you extend your strictures to them?"

"I have a letter from Letitia and Harriet," said

Nancy, with a face radiant with pleasure, and holding it up to Braithwaite, as he entered to pay one of his evening visits. "They will be here soon. I was sure they would not forget the Club. You know it meets at their house next Wednesday." "What would you say, were I to tell you that I do not think much of your friends?" asked Braith-peared so entirely devoted; indeed, he had been waite.

hours which a young lady in the affluent circumstances of Miss Broadhorn had at her disposal. It was not very probable that Braithwaite, with all his circumspection, would forever be governed by the same prudential considerations in regard to forming an engagement with one to whom he ap

"That you were unkind to me, and unjust to them," and Nancy colored with pain and perhaps displeasure.

"If that be so," said he, "fancy what I have said, unsaid. The charge of injustice I might endure, but that of unkindness-and of unkindness to you too, I never can."

Some hours after when the Wards were again mentioned, and Nancy was dwelling on their imagined excellencies, he observed—“I am afraid that none will ever hold the place in your affections that they do."

66

That I am sure of," replied she.

more than once on the point of declaring his passion, when he was prevented by some momentary interruption. "She is the very being," thought he, dwelling with fond partiality on the thousand excellencies with which his fancy had invested her, " to smooth the asperities of one, whose nature, like mine, must grow rugged from the cares and labors of an arduous profession-Her gayety, by chasing away unpleasant retrospections, will gild the present hours. Were her character more sedateher temper gentler, the very tameness of these qualities might pall upon me." The uncle of the Miss Wards died, and they, of course, as he had assigned them large bequests, were inconsolable.

"Not one?" asked he, fixing his eyes on her They continued in the country, smothered in crape face.

Nancy blushed, and Braithwaite thought, with pleasure, of the day, when, under his influence, she would learn to form a correcter judgment, and be able more readily to select the gold from the dross in her intercourse with the world.

and bombazine. Nancy made frequent excursions to see them, and repaid the deceitful tears they wept, with drops of unfeigned sympathy. The meeting of the Club was again postponed to an indefinite period. Dr. Enfield, who perhaps had something in reserve, which, like wine, he thought would be improved by keeping, was the only one who expressed pleasure at the delay. There was indeed, little doubt of his having a great production in preparation; as he was often overheard muttering to himself while walking the streets, and supplying the deficiencies of his memory from a roll of closely written foolscap.

There was no meeting of the Club at the time appointed. A note from one of the Wards, enclosing a general notice which Nancy was requested to circulate, conveyed intelligence of the illness of the relation at whose house herself and family were staying, "which would render it impossible for them, under such cruel circumstances"--so the words At the expiration of a few weeks, the Miss ran" to open their doors to festivity." The fair Wards threw aside the semblance of woe, and burst writer further stated that, "the disappointment was forth upon the world in all the glare and glitter of increased by cousin Alfred's being with them, who, brilliant colors and new jewels. Nancy was overunder the two-fold anticipation of an introduction to joyed-her element was excitement, and her powers Nancy, and the entertainment awaiting him at the of contriving new amusements being almost exClub, was quite in despair at the unforeseen dis- hausted, she turned eagerly towards her friends for appointment." Nancy, who had lately acquired a other sources of entertainment, and the principal babit-flattering to the hopes of Braithwaite--of one of these, was the meeting of the Club. There showing him all the confidential epistles of her was now nothing existing to prevent the long antifriends, did not withhold this, notwithstanding it cipated event, and this was signified by a formal nocontained some idle speculations on the subject of tice to the several members. The evening camematrimony, and the motto on the seal, "keep it a se- they met at least all who were not prevented; for cret." He was pleased to observe, that the pro- a distressing, though not dangerous epidemic pretracted absence of the Wards was not as much re- vailing at the time, numbers were suffering from gretted as it might have been, which with pardona- its effects. Braithwaite was not there-a note of ble vanity, he ascribed to the now engrossing pas excuse enclosing the fine, which, agreeable to the sion he had awakened in her. "Love makes the penal code of the Club, was required for non-atwisest men fools." Though this was not literally tendance, unless indisposition or some other caapplicable to Braithwaite, yet he went through the lamity was the plea-threw a damp over the Wards, usual routine of common-place attentions. He which was increased by the intelligence, that couwrote complimentary verses in her Flora-over- sin Alfred, who had gone on a shooting party, would whelmed her with new books, as fast as they issued not be back until the succeeding day. Never was from the press-culled poetry, music and flowers, there a duller or more insipid set assembled towith various other bagatelles to beguile the many idle 'gether. Many who had come with preconcerted

"Did he say where he was going, and how long he would be away?" she enquired.

ranging her tresses with infinite grace, Nancy again left the house with a light heart, and elastic step, to enjoy the society of her acquaintances abroad. "Where are you going, Nancy?" asked Harriet Ward, looking from the window of her carriage.

speeches and well-rehearsed songs, failed in their ultation lighted up her features, at the ascendancy attempts, either from natural diffidence, or a too she had gained over the thoughts of the handsome ardent desire to excel themselves. Miss Hurst Braithwaite. was summoned from the room, shortly after her entrance, by tidings of the illness of her grandmother. The child of Dr. Enfield's brain, so The servant replied, "that he had only left the troublesome to him for weeks past, came forth in writing for her, and his compliments for the rest a long, set treatise, on the injurious effects of tight of the family-but," added the man, "he looked lacing, which produced much whispering and com- very much distressed at not seeing you." Nancy motion among the ladies, who were outrageous. smiled yet more triumphantly, and tossed the card The doctor was too earnestly involved in his sub- on the table. "It is impossible," thought she, surject, to mark its impression. With hands forcibly veying herself in a large mirror that hung in the pressed upon his chest, he gasped through the cata-room-" for me to trace all the circuitous windings logue of evils he was describing. "Too frequent of this Braithwaite's singular notions of love, but respiration, producing disturbance of lungs"-" im- one thing I know-I am sure of him--so sure, that pediment of the motion of the ribs"--here the doc- I have ceased to be beset with the apprehension I tor's hands descended to grasp the parts referred was once foolish enough to feel, of his not really to-"blood imperfectly vitalized”—all which valua- loving me." The fair image that the glass reble information was disregarded by the indignant flected, was a further warrant for security, and arfair. Dr. Enfield concluded his harangue-better suited to have been delivered before a medical society-with a pressing solicitation, that the forcible manner in which he had displayed the prevalent evil might be seriously considered, and that each within the sound of his voice would throw off Visiting. I want to know what is the matter the tyrannical fetters, in which a too imperious fash- with the Arlingtons and others who were not with ion held them enthralled. Letitia Ward, Presi- us last night-I hear Rosamond Willis is quite ill." dent of the Club, had risen from her seat more "O, never mind about them. I believe as Letithan once, with a face of severe displeasure, to tia says-that the principal reason, which prevented call him to order; but on this first exercise of her so many from attending, was a lack of wit, and office, the fear of exceeding the limits of her prerogative kept her silent. Very little more transpired during the evening, worthy of note. Mrs. Enfield's and Miss Straddle's names were handed in for the privilege of membership. There was not a sufficient number to form a majority; therefore, these applications were laid over until another meeting. "If they are admitted," said Letitia to Nancy, "I shall make my valedictory bow to the Club, and if there was such a thing as expelling a member, I would try all my influence against Dr. Enfield. Did you ever hear of any one so indelicate and impertinent! If he is permitted to go on at this rate, we may, with reason, apprehend a disclosure, even of the revolting scenes of a dissecting room."

CHAPTER IV.

"I loose the falcon of my hopes

Upon as proud a flight,

As their's who hawk'd at high renown,

In song-ennobled fight."-C. F. Hoffman.

Rosamona in particular, you know, is not very bright." This unfortunately was exactly Harriet Ward's own case. "I will go with you, however," she added, "if you will ride;" and the steps being let down, Nancy tripped lightly into the carriage with her friends.

"Was it really indispensable business, or only affectation that made Mr. Braithwaite stay away?" "I believe he stated the true reason," said Nancy, "he left town early this morning.”

"Not without seeing you, first, of course?" This question was evaded by Nancy replying, that " she had not seen him before he went."

Harriet's hopes revived; for, with all her pretended friendship, she was anxious to supplant her companion in the affections of one whom she considered by far the most loveable person she had ever seen. I have been thinking how cousin Alfred felt, on being detained in the country--I am sure it was against his inclination, for he is dying to be acquainted with you."

"I am sorry," said Nancy; "for, he will certainly he disappointed in me."

Business had reluctantly compelled Braithwaite to be absent from the meeting; and the same cause, "Not at all--he has had so faithful picture of prompted his departure from town early the follow-you."

ing day. He had called to bid Nancy adieu before "I hope then he will recollect that it is drawn he went, but not finding her in, had traced a few by the partial hand of friendship, and make some hurried lines on the back of a visiting card, ex- allowance for heightening of coloring." pressive of his disappointment. This card was "No, the portrait is true to nature, I assure you. delivered to her on her return, and a smile of ex-'Do you think Letitia, or I, would stoop to flattery ?"

Harriet proceeded in an artful strain to insinuate, dent, Letitia, attached to a figure of Hercules, futhat her cousin was even in a more desperate condition than that of one who has fallen in love at first sight, being positively smitten without ever having seen the object at all; and the complaisant smile with which Nancy listened, proved that the gilded bait was not unsuccessful.

A round of visits, and an hour spent among the enticing finery of a milliner's shop, made it late before Nancy reached home, where she found Mrs. Mustin, who was rather an epicure, in a fret at her encroachment upon the dinner hour.

While Nancy was participating in the lighter pleasures of society, Braithwaite, meanwhile, was deeply immersed in the duties of his profession, and even the object of his secret adoration was for awhile forgotten. He was engaged in a criminal process in which his feelings were unusually interested. The case was one, where crime had resulted less from inherent depravity, than from a chain of adverse and uncontrollable circumstances that had gradually led the way to it. When Braithwaite stood forth in defence of the criminal, the full powers of his mind, the whole tide of his sympathy were displayed, till the hearers seemed passively to catch the very color, momentum, and strength of the mind to whose operations they were attending. The public prints were not silent on the occasion of this effort of genius and sensibility. Captain Broadhorn read aloud to his family several extracts from the speech, followed by the highest commendation of the speaker, whose talents, it was predicted, would hereafter throw a lustre on his country. Such a man as that is worth talking about, remarked the Captain, laying down the paper and taking a puff at his cigar. "What do you think, little Nancy?"

riously wielding an enormous club, ingeniously stuck over with a variety of faces, bearing a resemblance to several members of the society. This was anonymously handed in at a meeting, and it required all the self-possession, the stately President was mistress of, to conceal her anger and chagrin.

"You are not the first, whose high station has provoked envy, my dear," observed Mrs. Ward. "I am happy to see this malicious contrivance foiled by your excellent sense."

Dr. Enfield, who had instantly recognized in it, the cloven foot of his aunt Straddle, remained painfully agitated, fearing her detection, and that he might be suspected of having a finger in the affair.

Braithwaite did not return as soon as he had anticipated. In his absence much had occurred, though trivial in detail, to change, in the opinion of the public, the position Miss Broadhorn and himself had maintained towards each other, prior to his departure. The many favors recently received from fortune, had determined Braithwaite to propose himself to Nancy, when next they met. The unceasing encouragement given to his attentions, both by herself and father, would have made it pusillanimous in him to doubt the reception his addresses would meet with; but when on his return he heard, through numerous channels, of the probability of her bestowing her hand on the cousin of the Wards, instead of rushing forward like some impetuous lover, with a premature disclosure to relieve the tortures of suspense, he prudently resolved to relinquish the idea of which his heart was full, until well assured his proposals would share a better fate than that of being made the sport of a more successful rival. His anxiety to see Nancy had been so great, that, travel-soiled as he was, he would have flown to her; but, under existing circumstances, his motions were checked, The Club met again under more favorable aus-and it was not until many hours after making his pices, but few were absent, and a synopsis of its toilet with the utmost precision, that he presented proceedings, as given by Dr. Enfield, the next day, himself in Captain Broadhorn's drawing room. to his mother and aunt, presented a more flattering "Nancy-dear Nancy"-he had well nigh said, aspect than at first. These ladies were very much as he marked the unfeigned pleasure with which displeased at the reception their application had she welcomed him-" You are well, I know-I met with. It had been voted down, notwithstand-never saw you look better-and have been enjoying the strenuous exertions of Dr. Enfield, seconded ing yourself, I hope," he added, leading her to a by Miss Hurst. In consideration of their mortifi-seat.

Nancy smiled, but made no reply.

cation, the doctor would have withdrawn from the "Very much, the season is uncommonly gay— Club, but this they would not allow, convinced that nothing but balls and parties—and we have had an no private consideration could be a sufficient ex- excellent Thespian corps." cuse for concealing talents, such as his, under a "And the Club?" bushel! Miss Straddle consoled herself with several severe squibs, levelled against some of the leading members, and Mrs. Enfield gave a wider circulation, through the Ladies' Magazine, to those poetical effusions she had hoped to spout before the select company from which she was excluded. "Don't be ironical, Mr. Braithwaite-I should One of the most successful missiles of Miss Strad-never presume to compare myself with Letitia, as dle's malice, was a caricature head of the Presi- regards the requisites for the station she fills."

"Oh, it has risen to high renown, I assure you; but it could not do otherwise with such a President at its head as Letitia."

"And such a Vice-President as Miss Broadhorn," said he, smilingly.