In one particular the refemblance was certainly incomplete. The fuperior intelligence of the fallen angel knew, that the happiness which he intended to destroy was real. Habitually fceptical, Fitzofborne doubted. He watched the varying turns of Geraldine's animated countenance, analyzed her manner and her expreffions with the hope of discovering fomething to convince him that fhe was only a polished diffembler. For it was utterly repugnant to all his received ideas, that affection could really fubfift between perfons of difcordant habits, or that principle could fupply the place of attachment, and give equal uniformity to the conduct.

The joyous occafion which had fummoned him to town gave lord Monteith a prodigious flow of fpirits; and he certainly always appeared to leaft advantage when moft inclined to take the

lead

lead in converfation. When he was disposed to talk, he never confidered how far the indulgence of his own humour was agreeable to the company. His difcourfe could only be interesting to himself and lady Madelina; for it related to his own cafle; how much he and Geraldine had improved it; how popular they were among their neighbours; and how they spent their time. He said many ridiculous things, and uttered many expreffions indicative of good-nature and benevolence; yet, though he certainly did not intend it, retirement had transformed the gallant Monteith; and his wife and his little girls were fill the heroines of his tale. Meantime the countess appeared to be engaged by lady Arabella's frivolity. Her eye indeed frequently reverted to her lord. But whether her attention proceeded from

VOL. II.

G

from anxiety or affection even Fitzofborne could not discover.

His lordship at length grew tired; his fifter had exhaufted her hyperbolical rapture at this happy interview; and the converfation changing to places of public amufement allowed fome opening to the countefs. The opera was mentioned. Lady Arabella declared, that the new grand ballet was fo charming, that it abfolutely threw her into hyfterics." I "proteft," continued the," I don't "think I fhall dare to go again, for << it makes me downright nervous the "next day."

"I congratulate you," faid lady Monteith, on the acquifition of a new "pleasure. You had used to profess "yourself an enemy to mufic."

"O! I hate it ftill in a room, or "where there is but one performer.

"But

"But the opera is fo different. There "the lights, and the company, and the "fcenes, and the dreffes, do so increase "the effect! And the dances are fo fine, " and every body is fo overcome, and "one feels fo fascinated!".

"The mufic I have been lately accustomed to," refumed Geraldine, "is in a very different ftyle. An old "Highlander playing upon his bagpipe, " and the voices of two or three Scotch "girls chanting one of their fimple "ditties, which reverberates among our "rocks, convey to me a more perfect "idea of the powers of melody, than the "fcenes you defcribe. And though I

hope, frequently to visit the opera

"while in London, I much doubt whe"ther my fenfibility can be fo ftrongly "affected there as it has frequently been "during my evening rambles about

"James-town.”

"I hope, madam,” said lady Made

lina,

that your lady ship never walks "beyond the limits of your own park.”

James town is but a little way from "the caftle," replicd the countess, not immediately entering into the force of this obfervation; "I go there most days, "and the walk is much pleasanter than "the drive."

"It is very right, niece," observed lady Madelina, in a tone of stricter authority," that you should affift your "dependents; but you fhould do it like "a gentlewoman; and too frequent in"tercourfe breeds familiarity and con"tempt."

"I have fortunately not found fami"liarity and contempt, fynonymous," refumed lady Monteith, who, though generally filently acquiefcent, feemed on the prefent occafion difpofed to defend her own conduct. "I appear to my

"colony