casques, and glittering lances, were common sights, and the young nobles were easily distinguishable by their sumptuous attire and manly bearing, and their fiery steeds were caparisoned as befits such glorious creatures."

Teresa expressed some such feelings to Catherine, who replied, with mock solemnity, "Alas! my dear creature, these are the degenerate days of stony hearts and inconstant ones; of uninteresting cloth coats, and most unbecoming hats, and when a languid drawl and an effeminate bearing characterize many of the élite of our youth. But there are redeeming exceptions to this last clause, for instance, Sir Herbert Sedley and Farquhar; surely the days of chivalry could not have produced two knights of more goodly presence or gallant bearing."

But vainly did poor Catherine search into the interior of every box, note every one that entered the pit, and strain her eyes in looking through her opera-glass-no Farquhar met her view, and she sank into low spirits as the evening passed away, and the time for departure ap

proached, without bringing her any interest or pleasure. Teresa was amused at the furore of applause bestowed on a dancer who had acquired the art of spinning round like a top, and ending by grinning at the audience, to show that he was not inconvenienced by it, when not half the same plaudits had been vouchsafed to the gifted and extraordinary singer in the opera.

Between the acts of the ballet, Catherine discovered Sir Herbert Sedley in a box nearly opposite to them. She immediately pointed him out to Teresa, and the latter much agitated, retired to the back of the box, saying that she found the light too much for her eyes.

She was angry with herself for having allowed her resolution to be overruled, and for having accompanied her friends to so public a place as the Opera, where she might naturally have expected to meet Sedley; and she sincerely hoped that she had escaped his notice, as he seemed to be much occupied with his party. From where she sat, she could observe him safely, and as Mrs. Bolton and Catherine were

talking busily to a gentleman who had just entered their box, she kept her eyes rivetted on the opposite group.

Sedley was even thinner and paler than when she last saw him; but she observed, with satisfaction, that his countenance wore an expression of calm resignation, which was the result of his late salutary retirement. She easily conjectured what was the source from which he had drawn consolation, and he had never appeared so truly handsome in her eyes as at this moment, when, with a placid smile and quiet attention, he was listening to the observations of a young lady in

the box.

The gentleman who had been talking to Teresa's companions, left them, to visit another party, and doubtless to favour them with the same original observations and brilliant witticisms, by which he had astonished and charmed Mrs. Bolton and Catherine. The moment he was gone, Catherine congratulated herself on his exit, and looking across at Sedley, she exclaimed," Really, Sir Herbert Sedley spoils

How seldom we

one for the rest of mankind! find such a rarity as a man of large fortune and high connexions, who is above fancying a trap in every woman's smile, who possesses a warm, disinterested heart, manly sense, an accomplished and thoroughly cultivated mind, a strong principle of religion, and an amiable, gentle disposition! And all this is united in Sir Herbert Sedley."

"But my dear Catherine," said Mrs. Bolton, "the world jogs on so merrily and well as it is, that I see no necessity for a change in the state of things. It seems to me that brains are equally divided between the two sexes, and there appears to be no lack of conversation, such as it is, in society."

"You may well say 'such as it is,'" replied Catherine, laughing, "I would not have people exactly discuss chemistry or mathematics during a dance, neither do I expect high-flown orations at the dinner-table, nor eloquent sentiments in an Opera-box, but really it is so sickening to hear the eternal repetition of things which have gone the round of all the newspapers, to be

condemned to laugh at a witticism as venerable as it is insipid, and to hear precisely the same remarks from twenty different people."

"You are somewhat fastidious, Catherine," said Mrs. Bolton; "you forget that you are a peculiar being, one of a thousand for originality and powers of conversation, and therefore you should be merciful in your strictures on less-gifted mortals."

"I never shall forget," continued Catherine, "a country ball to which I went some years ago. I was very young and very fond of dancing, consequently, the lady with whom I went introduced me to partners without number, and certainly the quantity far surpassed the quality. My first was a youth just imported from Cork, who had been brought to the ball by way of a beau, by a lady, whose daughters were very little asked to dance. I was in great request, and I suppose the poor young man was bewildered at finding himself face to face with the belle of the room. After his introduction, he stood beside my chair, writhing in all the