read the announcement of our death with unchanged countenances; the senseless parading up and down the Park; the crowded assemblies, the wearying balls. All these she experienced or participated, and wondered to herself how those around her could call this pleasure, and yet every one looked so happy, smiling, and amused, that she supposed they must find enjoyment in those things which sickened and fatigued her.

She was much admired and courted. Her beauty was universally acknowledged, and her expectations from the Alexanders were generally known, consequently, even those who had no sensibilities to be endangered by her loveliness, had hearts tremblingly alive to the charms of her prospective gold.

Amongst all her admirers none was so genuine, so enthusiastic, or so devoted as Frederick Villiers; he was ever at her side, and watched every turn of her countenance with intense anxiety. He was an only child, and had been indulged from infancy in every wish of his heart; when he

grew to man's estate he found himself courted and caressed, and no care or disappointment had touched his youthful spirit. But when he loved Teresa Cellini, he felt a trembling and deep solicitude for the first time in his life, and the thought of a failure in his hopes sometimes shot across his brain, causing him a severe pang. At length he resolved to end his suspense and offer Teresa his hand and the devotion of his life. She heard him with grief, though without surprise (for no woman can be so blind as not to perceive the feelings she has inspired); and with kind, softening words, she told him that it was impossible she could ever accept his flattering offer.

His grief was great, in proportion to the buoyancy of his former hopes, and he pressed her with so much earnestness to assign a reason for her rejection of him, that she generously confessed to him the unhappy state of her affections, without naming Sedley.

Villiers, at this announcement, ceased to com

plain or plead, and from that moment forbore all allusion to his hopeless love. He was in the army, and had obtained a three months' leave of absence, but immediately on this event he rejoined his regiment, and strove to forget the beautiful Teresa. As is generally the case with men, he soon recovered his natural buoyancy of spirits, and once more the mess-table was enlivened by his jests; his bright blue eye glanced round as carelessly as ever, and his merry laugh rang joyously through the room. He resolved to keep himself free from any farther attachments, and as to marrying, he gave up all thoughts of it, convinced that a being uniting perfect beauty, unbounded affection for himself and brilliant talents, was not to be found; and he kept his resolution most heroically for six months, when he married a little giggling flirt!

With all this Frederick Villiers was not heartless; he felt deeply what he professed to feel, and if nature had endowed him with an India

rubber heart-nature, and not he, was to blame,

for the elasticity with which he rose from the pressure of sorrow.

And yet Frederick Villiers was some degrees superior to the common run of characters.

CHAPTER VIII.

Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus; but use all gently: for in the very torrent, tempest, and (as I may say) whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance, that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul, to hear a robustious, perriwigpated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags: to split the ears of the groundlings;

O, there be players, that I have seen play,—and heard others praise, and that highly,—not to speak it profanely, that neither having the accent of Christians, nor the gait of Christian, Pagan, nor man, have so strutted, and bellow'd, that I have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.

SHAKSPEARE.