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many-it really seemed such a stretch of virtue; but she said, " My dear Mrs. Fox, how can one possibly spend their money better than in doing a good action, and at the same time enriching themselves." Grizzy's purse was in her hand. clare that's very true. I never thought of that before; and I'm certain Lady Maclaughlan will say the very same; and I'm sure she will be delighted-I've no doubt of that to take a pin-cushion; and each of my sisters, I'm certain, will take one, though we have all plenty of pin-cushions; and I'll take one to myself, though I have three, I'm sure, that I've never used yet."

My dear Miss Douglas, you really are, I could almost say, too good. Two and two's four, and one's five-five half crowns! My poor protégéés! you will really be the making of their fortune!"

Grizzy, with trembling hands, and a face flushed with conscious virtue, drew forth the money from her little hoard.

But Mrs. Fox did not quit her prey so easily. "If any of your friends are in want of shirt-buttons, Miss Douglas, I would fain recommend those to them. They are made by a poor woman in whom I take some interest, and are far superior to any that are to be had from the shops. They are made from the very best materials. Indeed, I take care of that, as" (in a modest whisper)" I furnish her with the materials myself; but the generality of those you get to purchase are made from old materials. I've ascertained that, and it's a fact you may rely upon."

Poor Grizzy's hair stood on end, to hear of such depravity in a sphere where she had never even suspected it; but, for the honour of her country, she flattered herself such practices were there unknown; and she was entering upon a warm vindication of the integrity of Scotch shirt-buttons, when Mrs. Fox coolly observed;

"Indeed, our friend Miss Grant was so conscious of the great superiority of these .buttons over any others, that she bespoke thirty-six dozen of them to take to Scotland with her. In fact, they are the real good old fashioned shirt-buttons, such as I have heard my mother talk of; and for all that, I make a point of my poor woman. selling them a penny a dozen below the shop price; so that in taking twelve dozen, which is the common quantity, there is a shilling saved at once."

Grizzy felt as if she would be the saving of the family by the purchase of these incomparable shirt-buttons, and putting down her five shillings, became the happy possessor of twelve dozen of them.

Fresh expressions of gratitude and admiration ensued, till Grizzy's brain began to whirl, even more rapidly than usual, at the thought of the deeds she had done.

"And now," said Mrs. Fox, observing her eyes in a fine frenzy rolling from her lapful

of pin-cushions and shirt-buttons, to a mandarin nearly as large as life," perhaps, my dear Miss Douglas, you will do me the fayour to take a look of my little collection." "Favour!" thought Grizzy; "what politeness!" and she protested there was nothing she liked so much as to look at every thing, and that it would be the greatest favour to shew her any thing. The mandarin was made to shake his head-a musical snuff-box played its part-and a variety of other expensive toys were also exhibited.

Mary's disgust increased. "And this woman," thought she, "professes to be charitable amidst all this display of selfish extravagance. Probably the price of one of these costly baubles would have provided for the whole of these poor people, for whom she affects so much compassion, without subjecting her to the meanness of turning her house into a beggar's repository." And she walked away to the other end of the

room, to examine some fine scriptural paintings.

"Here," said Mrs. Fox to her victim, as she unlocked a superb cabinet, "is what I value more than my whole collection put together: It is my specimens of Scotch pebbles; and I owe them solely to the generosity and good will of my Scotch friends. I assure you, that is a proud reflection to me. I am a perfect enthusiast in Scotch pebbles, and, I may say, in Scotch people. In fact, I am an enthusiast in whatever I am interested in; and at present, I must own, my heart is set upon making a complete collection of Scotch pebbles."

Grizzy began to feel a sort of tightness at her throat, at which was affixed a very fine pebble brooch pertaining to Nicky, but lent to Grizzy, to enable her to make a more distinguished figure in the gay world. "Oh!" thought she, "what a pity this brooch is Nicky's, and not mine; I would