Has listless depression become her habitual frame of mind? Have honied words and eloquent eyes caused her heart to beat blissfully one week, and has that same poor heart been crushed the next by coldness and neglect, till alternations of hope and disappointment have left a discouraged, drooping spirit for the buoyant one; a languid smile for the bright one; a heavy eye for the joyous glance; and a measured step for the elastic bound?

Poor victim! your dream was short and full of thorns, and you may not again know your former happy days. Reason and religion may render you a contented, serene, and useful woman, but the spell of life is broken-care has entered your young bosom, and once in possession he will never vacate his quarters.

There were many other aching hearts in this crowded ball-room besides the one we have described; but amongst the loveliest and gayest shone pre-eminent Louisa Sedley, the most bewitching woman and finished coquette of the day. Whatever she wore became

instantly the fashion; whatever she did was performed with a grace and charm unrivalled.

Totally devoid of heart herself, Louisa Sedley held almost unlimited sway over the minds of all those who were much associated with her; and all her admirers were treated with equal suavity, and kept in good humour with her and with each other. She had bland smiles, and soft tones, and gracious words for every one save her own husband-for she was a married

woman.

She had sworn at God's altar to love, honour, and obey one man beyond all the world, and this one man was precisely the person who possessed the least of her regard.

Yet with all her frivolity and coquettishness, the voice of scandal had not as yet attacked her name. In the present corrupted state of society, the worthless coquette who flirts indiscriminately with every man, and sets the opinion of the world at defiance, will escape censure far sooner than the woman of comparative principle and feeling, whose name

may unfortunately be coupled with that of a libertine, however unjust may be the imputation. On this night Louisa Sedley was the queen of the revels; the ball was planned and given by herself, and radiant with beauty and spirits, elated by admiration, and regardless of appearances, she laughed, talked and danced with unwearied vivacity.

Louisa was a perfect English beauty; the fair, long ringlets, the dazzling complexion, and large blue eyes, were all thoroughly Saxon; but her animation and surprising powers of conversation were quite exotic. She could assimilate herself to every age and character, and was alternately grave, or arch, pensive, or playful; naive or witty, as she thought would best suit her companions. Many envied the young Lady Sedley, and thought how blessed she must be, with fortune, beauty, talents, and a husband who had been angled for by many a noble beauty, previous to his marriage.

Leaning against one of the door-ways was a young man of about twenty-six, who seemed

regardless of the busy hum of voices around him, and whose pensive countenance betokened a mind ill at ease.

There was an indescribable something in his appearance which involuntarily arrested the attention, a calm dignity, a soft melancholy, which interested the beholder at first sight.

Unconsciously he played with the black ringlets of a beautiful child, who, as Lady Sedley's sister, was allowed to run about the spacious rooms; and as he listened to her sweet prattle, he smiled sadly, and patted her round cheek or dimpled shoulder.

To those who have suffered much, children are peculiarly dear, and yet the affection such feel for them is mingled with great sadness.

It is beautiful and refreshing to see their bright, unclouded faces; to listen to their sweet, innocent remarks; to watch their graceful play; and, above all, to hear their merry, joyous, lovely laughter, which comes warm from their little hearts; all this is delightful-but then comes the thought of what you are and

what they may become. Those smooth ivory foreheads may be prematurely wrinkled by care and sin; those clear unquenched eyes dimmed before their time by blighting tears- -worldly sordid pursuits take the place of those childish amusements, and that heartfelt laughter have ceased to be heard.

Dear, charming, little creatures! How soon is the bloom wiped from the plum, the dew from the rosebud, and the down from the butterfly's wings; yet scarce sooner than your brief days of purity and loveliness are flown!

But Herbert Sedley, who thus fondled this sweet little girl, had never felt as a child; there was ever a strange mournfulness in his view of things from his earliest years.

Every now and then his eye rested with an expression of singular and earnest scrutiny on the brilliant form and features of the young Louisa Sedley; and as he marked her universal smiles and unvarying gaiety, an expression of scorn sometimes curled his lip.

One of the most terrible effects of great dis