this day; and how often did he regret having exposed himself to them? How many invitations did he decline? How many false excuses did he make? And how often did. the glow of false shame mount to his cheek?" "What is this new feeling that oppresses me," said he, when he retired to the solitude of his own chamber. "I am merely endea vouring to keep the course which prudence prescribes to me. I am merely combating the thoughtlessness of my nature. I have the means of supporting existence but not extravagance.—I see myself outdone; perhaps the jest of a few paltry coxcombs whom I despise.-I cannot launch forth into the character of a man of fashion, and I am weak enough to regret it. I have done no wrong, have injured no one. Of what then am I ashamed? Psha," said he, "am I ashamed of being poor?"

Duke.

Fair i'faith

To eyes just come from Barbary.
Then she is young?

Valerio. There have been younger maids

Duke. Valerio.

That have seen pretty infants on their knee.
Then she is wise?

Ay, wise as those that think
That they shall trap me into marriage bonds.
Safe bind, Safe find.

"Nor at home to any one but Lord Lovemore, and one or two others, whose names I could not hear, is my mother's order for today," said Julia Courtney, in a tone of evident displeasure, as she entered the room where Catherine was seated alone, engaged in ber favourite amusement of drawing. "And Frederic Gordon promised to call here to-day! This it is to be subjected to maternal control! Heigh, ho! my dear, I wish I were my own mistress!" Catherine suspended her employment for a moment, and looked up doubtfully in Julia's face. Julia pursued her soliloquy," My Lord is the hero of the day now with my mother! Every minor consideration gives way to this one important point! Heavens! how Clementina will lord it over us, when she becomes Lady

Lovemore! I think I see her with her haughty stare, ready to crush me into insignificance, offering me a seat in her carriage with provoking condescension; and inviting me to her nights with such a patronising air. Oh insupportable! Gordon and I will never be able to enter the lists with her! When I think of those things, do you know, I'm half sorry I have suffered this silly business to proceed so far. Ambition flutters round my heart, and seems to tempt it to turn traitor." "No, no," said Catherine, earnestly, laying her hand upon her cousin's arm, "such inconsistency is not in your nature! I know you better than to believe you are capable of following your sister's steps, and sacrificing all to ambition. Consider a moment,are all the toys which Clementina will purchase by her marriage worth the price which she will pay for them?" "I believe not," said Julia, hesitatingly; "you plead Gor don's cause eloquently-well, my lot must be speedily decided. But why that look of consternation; are you startled at the effect of your influence?" "No," returned Catherine, "but startled to see you form such hasty decisions in an affair of so much importance. Gordon's prospects are anything but flattering, at present. Is there no medium between utter desertion, and plunging headlong into difficulty? Time may work a

me?

change in his favour.-His exertions may ultimately prove successful,-his father's heart may soften towards him, can you not wait the result!" "Oh! say no more of it, my dear; I'm not in a humour to listen to a lecture just now. Did I not forbid him to think of me any more? Can I help it, if the man is obstinate, and will not obey And did I not tell him distinctly, that I began to detest him? Can I help it, if he will not believe me? Oh! yes; Time may work a change in his favour, but it will work none in mine," she continued as she surveyed herself in a large mirror. "A few more years in this world of dissipation, and I shall become ugly, artificial, and almost as heartless as Clementina herself! Will Gordon's constancy stand such a test, think you? But, to start something new, what think you of this new arrival-this country cousin this peerless rustic-this Vaughan ?" Catherine bent her head over her drawing dipped her brush hastily in the pallet, and muttered a few indistinct phrases, in which the word "indifferent," was the most audible. "Heavens!" said Julia, laughing," my question was very mal-a-prôpos just then. I quite forgot the nature of your employ ment! Come, come, you have totally spoilt your beautiful drawing,-you may as well

burn it at once and thank me for contribut-
ing to its destruction!" "Really," interrupt-
ed Catherine, "you are most provoking.
This cousin of your's is nothing to me!"
"I'll engage he's of a different opinion,"
said Julia, laughing; "there never was a man
in this world that had not as large a share of
vanity as-as-a woman! But I had forgot-
ten to tell you, Philip informs me that this
rural swain has already taken fright at the
specimen he has seen of our town-life, and
afraid of being contaminated by the sight of
so much dissipation,--is for making a hasty
retreat into the country. But I find a much
more natural cause for his determination,
and pronounce him afraid of losing his
heart, is it so, my sweet coz?"
"I see
nothing very extraordinary," said Catherine,
suddenly recovering her self-possession, “in
this; he never intended making a very long
stay in London, and after having protracted
his departure much beyond his original in-
tention, is it at all surprising that he should
at length fix the time for his return?"
"There is no throwing you off your guard,"
said Julia, a little chagrined, "no surprising
you into an expression of human feeling.
With your caution, you and Vaughan
would be the best matched pair in Christen-
dom. What I complain of in your paragon
is, his unnatural prudence. I hate a man