in every way as was Augusta Beauchamp, made a conquest of an elderly made up Marquis... that a young nobleman so elegant, so gifted, and so every way remarkable as the Count de Montfaucon should fall in love with such mere country girls as Rosalie and myself...I should think such a man as the Count might choose from among the very élite of the English beaumonde, and, indeed, it is by the merest accident that such a person is become known to us at all. In our ordinary circle of acquaintance we should never have met with him. I doubt if he is not far above Lady Beauchamp's reach, but if through her son-in-law, she were to know such a distinguished foreigner be sure she would take good care not to introduce him to us."

Mrs. Orde was surprised...It was not Jeannetta's wont to overrate others, or to underrate herself...Mrs. Orde's impression was, that Jeannetta thought herself a match for any aspirant

however exalted, foreign or English...She did not know how great a change had stolen over Jeannetta's spirit...She knew not how great a leveller is first and passionate love, how it delights in exalting its object, and disparaging itself...Jeannetta's opinion, however, had its usual weight...the idea, that but for an accident they could never have been honoured by such notice as that of the Count de Montfaucon, excusable enough in a young girl so inexperienced and so much in love, was weak woman of the age and usage of Mrs. Orde-Yet she readily adopted it, and even began to fear, that any delay in paying proper attention to the Count and his friends might make them withdraw their august counte

in a

nances.

She therefore said, "You know Jeannetta that I have entire faith in your discretion and judgment. I have no doubt you are quite right, and that we shall lose these valuable acquaint

ances if we are backward in meeting their advances. Present my best compliments then and invite them to dine with us to-morrow." "To-morrow is the new young actress's benefit, when we promised to take a box."

"Well, we will dine in time for them to go with us, if I am well enough, if not Aunt Jenny, now she has all her treasures back, will be well enough to chaperone you. Go dearest and invite them. I will write to Lady Beauchamp all the same, that can do no harm; I will only tell her there are such foreigners here, but not that we know them. I shall beg her to enquire about them."

Jeannetta then looked in upon Rosalie, and told her of the party in contemplation. Rosalie saw that Jeannetta's eyes sparkled, and her cheek flushed with anticipated pleasure, her woman-instinct prompted a guess, which the thought of Gerard Esdaile rendered very painful.

She knew poor Gerard meditated a hurried

visit sub rosa during term! what if he should run all sorts of risks to find Jeannetta entirely engrossed by the Count de Montfaucon, and foreigners domesticated, where he for so many years had been as a son.

Rosalie knew it was Jeannetta he loved, but she loved him well enough to dread his learning that he loved now without hope! Jeannetta was too much engrossed to notice anything unusual in Rosalie's manner. She hurried down stairs, but the Count and the Baron were gone!

CHAPTER XII.

GOOD GENERALSHIP.

JEANNETTA was not a little surprised and mortified at finding the drawing-room empty, when she returned with her mother's flattering invitation.

"How very rude!" was her first indignant ejaculation. "How proud he must be!" was her next. "He might have waited a few minutes when I all but asked him to do so,"