she thought, had ever so hard a lot in life as her own, and she almost wished herself established as the humble companion of Lady Dronington. Mrs. Harrington quitted the room, telling Mildred she was very sorry to see her so utterly de ficient in self-control; and Mildred indulged (if indulgence be a correct word) in a long-continued flood of bitter tears. At length the door opened, and Charles entered. of it. All temptations to prodigality are, how- | flattered herself, she had conciliated: no one, ever, now at an end; you are no longer wealthy!" Mildred stood aghast. How could her riches have departed in a single day? She remembered that a few nights ago at a party, she had heard a nervous old gentleman of eighty-seven avow his apprehensions that the three per cent. consols would not last his time; | and she imagined nothing less than that she was victimized by the sudden insolvency of the Bank of England! "A ship from Portugal has ar rived," continued Mrs. Harrington, in the same cold, hard tone: "Mr. Farnford is not dead: he was taken up in a state of insensibility by a little fishing-boat, and conveyed to the fisherman's hut. A long illness and brain fever ensued when he recovered his senses, his first care was to communicate with his friends, and great was his surprise at finding that they were mourning for him as dead." "But may not this history be a fabrication?" said Mildred. "Has the bearer of the intelligence brought any proof of the truth of his assertions?" Shall I meet with sympathy from him!" thought Mildred; "or, is he like the rest of his family?" tween us; it no longer exists; promise, my beloved Mildred, to be mine!" Never, Charles, never!" answered Mildred. "I do not wish to dissemble my attachment for you: I am convinced of the sincerity of yours for me; but I will not bring poverty to you: I will not expose you to the anger and reproba tion of your family." The countenance of Charles did not certainly express sympathy, for he looked remarkably animated. "Dear Mildred!" he exclaimed, placing himself by her side, " dry your tears, I beseech you; this is not a time, my love, for false scruples or disguises. I am aware, I have long been aware, that, if I offered my hand and heart to you, I should be successful in my suit. I could never, however, have borne to do so, while interested motives might have been imputed to me all fear of that kind is now re"The best of all proofs," returned Mrs. Har-moved; your wealth was the only barrier be rington-" Mr. Farnford has come over in person!" Mildred burst into tears. "Compose yourself, Mildred," said Mrs. Harrington, authoritatively: "take example by me: you do not see me shed a tear, or indulge in unavailing regrets; and yet I assure you my situation is far from being an enviable one. Madame La Roche, and the other tradespeople, will naturally look to me for repayment of the large Charles replied by a thousand passionate prodebts incurred by you. As for the money testations and tender arguments, which were which Mr. Whitfield has advanced to you, that cut short by the entrance of Anastasia, who told negociation was settled entirely without refer- Mildred that she was greatly concerned to see ence to me, and of course you alone must be her give way to depression; recommended her to answerable for it." Poor Mildred's tears flowed copy her own excellent spirits; described Mr. afresh, at the idea that she was now far worse Farnford as a most delightful person, and off than she had ever been in her life; for she asked Mildred whether she would advise her to owed money for the first time which she was wear pink or blue when he caine to dine with unable to pay. "I have, however," said Mrs. them on the morrow. Mildred, under the very Harrington, "acted with my custoinary prompt-just plea of illness, passed the remainder of the ness and presence of mind, and with my un-day in her own room; her feelings had been varying attention to your interest and comfort. When Mr. Farnford, who appears a most gentlemanly, amiable man, called on me yesterday, I suggested to him that, perhaps, in consideration of the unavoidable misunderstanding under which you had laboured, he would defray your debts, or at all events make a compromise with your creditors; and probably, if he approved of your manners, even allow you some little yearly stipend. I have invited him to dinner tomorrow, and trust that you will do your best to conciliate his favour and patronage." Never had Mildred been so miserable; never had she felt so degraded. Without any fault of her own, she stood in the humiliating position of a debtor, without the means of discharging her debts. She was told that her sole dependence must be on the patronage of a man whom she had never seen, and whom she had always from a child heard spoken of with disapprobation and contempt. She was treated with scorn and coldness by Mrs. Harrington, whose affections, she cruelly wounded: she had imagined that the neglect which she had received from the Har ringtons as an humble companion had arisen from her own shyness and sadness-that they did not love her because they did not know her; but since her elevation to wealth she had ap peared in her natural character, and she cer tainly had put trust in their asseverations of fondness and admiration for her, and notwithstanding her experience of the frequent decep tiveness of Mrs. Harrington and Anastasia, she had almost brought herself to comply with their request that she would consider them as her mother and sister. Now, however, her return ing poverty exhibited them in their true light; they cared nothing for her grief, felt nothing for her disappointment. "At On the ensuing morning, after breakfast, Mrs. Harrington was filling up cards for an Home," Anastasia practising French songs, and the captain copying a gallopade for Miss Milsington, just as if she were still prosperous and imagination. Mr. Farnford was under-sized, over-dressed, and possessed a very commonplace, but certainly a very good-humoured countenance: he was neither gentlemanly nor delightful, although Mrs. Harrington and Anastasia had chosen to represent him as such: he was abundantly civil; made fine speeches, as if he had learned them by rote, and talked a great deal, but at the same time had a nervous flutter, and restless anxiety to be easy about him, which showed that he had not been in the habit of happy. Mr. Harrington and Charles had gone | to the counting-house, the latter to be a passive recipient, during the walk, of a long lecture from his father, on his egregious folly in having fallen in love with Mildred Beverley without having ascertained the reality of her heiress-ship. Charles might have retorted that his father had counselled him to do so within half-an-hour after Mr. Whitfield's first visit; but he preserved silence; for Charles rather belonged to the tribe of doers than to that of sayers, and as he had fully made up his mind to marry Mil-mixing with good society. A seat was placed dred if she gave her consent, he did not consider it necessary to annoy his father by any previous declarations of the strength of his devotion towards her. A little before six, the greater part of the family were assembled in the drawing-room to await the arrival of Mr. Farnford. Anastasia was dressed in pink satin; her hair was arranged in innumerable ringlets, her sash was very long; she looked blooming and smiling, and altogether bore a great resemblance to a doll at the Soho Bazaar. Mildred wore a plain black silk dress, her hair was braided, her cheek was pale, and her eyes were dim with weeping. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington had adopted their usual company look; she was already in anticipation, the polished, courteous hostess, and he the cheerful, hospitable host. Captain Harrington had not yet joined the circle, and Charles had remained at the house of business, feeling sure that neither his temper nor his spirits could brook an association with the wealthy stranger, to whom his Mildred was told to look for patronage and support. The feelings of the two young ladies of the party were widely different in their nature. Anastasia had resolved that Mr. Farnford should fall in love with her; she had been disappointed in some unreasonable expectations, and had consequently made up her mind not to be particular about any recommendation but money in a husband. Mr. Farnford, on the morning he called, had paid her several flowery compliments, saying, that if Miss Beverley resembled her, she need not lament the loss of her fortune, since she would be enabled to command just as many annual thousands as she chose to name; and Anastasia dreaded no rival in the sad, tearful Mildred, who seemed rather calculated to act as a foil to her. Mildred felt that she should both fear and dislike Mr. Farnford. Mr. Whitfield had described him as a suspicious, gloomy, misanthrope; and she formed no expectations of kindness and liberality from him, but rather anticipated some caustic allusions to the downfal of her ambitious hopes. The age of Mr. Farnford, also, was a subject of regret to her: she knew he could not be above eight or nineand-thirty. She might have brooked to receive favours, or to listen to cynical speeches from a venerable white-haired man; but Mr. Farnford was too young to render either his gallantry acceptable, or his rudeness pardonable. At length the much-dreaded first cousin arrived, and completely did he differ from all Mildred's previous for him at dinner by Anastasia's side, but he addressed the greater part of his conversation across the table to Mildred. "Little is my compunction," he gallantly observed, as he challenged her to take wine, "for having been the means of robbing of the adventitious goods of fortune, one so lavishly and richly endowed by nature.' Mildred felt even more uncomfortable than she had expected to do; she had hoped that Mr. Farnford would have had the good taste to refrain from any allusion to pecuniary matters before the assembled family; and to be held up thus publicly to the very footmen in waiting as a dethroned heiress, hurt and mortified her. Neither did Mr. Farnford's compliment to her personal attractions at all tend to conciliate her favour, for she was conscious that she looked extremely ill, and that even at the best of times she could bear no comparison with Anastasia, who was now brilliant with health, hope, and gaiety, shaking back her abundant ringlets from her snowy forehead as she addressed Mr. Farnford, and throwing artificial light into her eyes in a manner which she had learned from her French governess, and which few Englishwomen ever thoroughly succeed in acquiring. Nothing, however, could divert the course of Mr. Farnford's compliments from Mildred; he protested that he had pictured her in his dreams for years, but had never imagined anything so captivating! And Mildred was almost disposed to resent his admiration as an insult; but she reflected that he could have no motive in feigning emotions that he did not feel, and that the probability was that he had sufficient kindness of disposition to wish to make her feel herself at ease, but from his ignorance of good breeding, and the laws of society, took a very ill-chosen way of doing so. Wearied by his encomiums, and stared out of countenance by his prominent light grey eyes, she turned to her neighbour, Captain Harrington, and attempted to engage him in conversation; but the gallant captain had been refused by Miss Milsington, in the space between luncheon and dinner, and was so extremely out of humour, that he returned no answer to the observations addressed to him by any of the party but a short, blunt contradiction. "Are you not reckoned very like your mother, my dear cousin?" said Mr. Farnford, after dinner, scrutinizing Mildred through his eye-glass, as if he were making out a passport for her. "I should flatter myself very much if I deemed there was any likeness," replied Mil dred. I have often wished that I possessed a miniature of her." "My mother was remarkably handsome., were confiding to Mr. Harrington his feelings "May all your wishes be as speedily gratified," replied the courteous wine-merchant, sliding his snuff-box across the table as he spoke. Mildred was not aware whether he wished her to admire the diamonds on the outside, or to solace her sorrows by the aid of the fragrant powder within; but she opened the box, and to her great surprise beheld on the lid an exquisitely painted likeness of her mother. 66 My dear aunt," said Mr. Farnford, holding his handkerchief to his eyes, "bestowed on me when a boy a little cheap likeness of herself, which, when my worldly concerns flourished, I entrusted to an excellent artist to copy." This little trait of gratitude pleased and affected Mildred, and she looked on her first cousin with more approbation than she had yet bestowed upon him. My late dear deceased aunt," said Mr. Farnford, with a sigh, "was as beautiful in her person as in her mind. A thousand times have I felt a certainty that her daughter was the exact image of her, and I longed to return to England, not because it was my country, but because it was the country of Mildred Beverley." 66 Mildred considered that this declaration was very inconsistent with the avowal that the speaker had made to Mr. Whitfield a year ago, | that although he thought it a duty to provide for Mildred Beverley after his death, he had no wish for her society during his life-time. Surely," she said to herself, "I am living a life of strange mystification; everybody connected with me seems to have a double character to sustain; how is it possible this smiling, complimentary gentleman should ever be severe and misanthropic ?" 66 Anastasia, indignant at the neglect of Mr. Farnford, had become as sullen as her brother the captain, but Mr. and Mrs. Harrington were all courtesy and urbanity; it was evident to them that Mildred had made a sudden conquest of her cousin, and strange and unprecedented as seemed the circumstance, they were sincerely rejoiced at it, since old bills would now be paid, and new ones opened; Charles would be rescued from the snares of a portionless girl, and Anastasia would have a gay house to visit at. At length, after sitting, as Mildred, Anastasia, and the captain thought, an unconscionable time, Mrs. Harrington retired, and Mr. Farnford opened the door for the ladies, and stood bowing with his hand on his heart and an expression in his countenance of deep suffering at the idea of the half-hour's separation from his goddess that was in store for him. Anastasia sullenly threw herself on a sofa in the drawing-room, and Mrs. Harrington took Mildred's hand, and said with much of her former kindness, "How happy I am, my dear girl, that my zeal for your benefit induced me to invite Mr. Farnford to meet you! He is evidently charmed; his heart is gone at first sight: I should not wonder if even now he | Anastasia, who caught the last sentence, now came and sat by the side of Mildred, and was so exceedingly amiable and cordial that Mildred even welcomed the entrance of Mr. Farnford as a relief, since, abrupt and forward as were his assiduities, they were at least disinterested; he had never known her otherwise than as a portionless orphan, and his attentions could proceed from no other source than real liking or pity for her. Mildred, however, soon became wearied of hearing Mr. Farnford's fine speeches, and complied with his request that she would oblige him with a song, as the lesser evil of the two. Mildred was always an indifferent singer, and nothing renders the voice more untuneable than crying, as my musical readers must very well know; but Mr. Farnford was enchanted, and declared that his heart would be quite subdued by a fine voice, even if a lady did not possess another attraction. At length Mr. Farnford took his leave, giving a long protracted pressure of the hand, and a languishing gaze from his light grey eyes, to his first cousin; and Mildred having received the congratulations of her family, retired to rest, wondering at Mr. Farnford's unaccountable behaviour, and feeling very glad that Charles had not dined at home to witness it. Mildred was in her own room about twelve the next day, when a letter was delivered to her; the handwriting was unknown to her, the paper was highly scented with musk, and the seal bore the impression of two very fat birds, which the wreath of olive leaves that encircled them denoted to be doves, although they looked just as much like sparrows. The letter was from Mr. Farnford, and contained the following lines :— "MY DEAREST COUSIN,-Sentiments of profound affection for you have long been invisibly traced on my heart, and now they spring forth to light beneath the blaze of your beauty, as the figures drawn in sympathetic ink start into life at the action of fire. I lay my heart at your feet, and intreat you will have pity on me, and not defer the completion of my happiness longer than a few days, a period which, although brief in itself, will be beyond mea sure tedious to me. It appears profanation to mention money to one so enchanting as yourself, but as some unworthy slanderers might not hesitate to say that I press you to consent to a speedy marriage with the view of avoiding settlements, I beg to declare that I shall give immediate orders for a deed to be drawn up by which I bind myself to secure to you half my worldly possessions within three months from, this time, for your sole and separate use. Awaiting your favourable answer with the utmost anxiety, I remain your devoted lover, "GEORGE FARNFORD." Notwithstanding Mildred's troubles, her first emotion was to burst into a fit of laughter at this singular love-letter, which she had no doubt was considered by its writer as a master-piece of eloquence and tenderness. Presently, however, she reflected that Mr. Farnford's openness and liberality demanded at least a respectful acknowledgment, and accordingly she sat down, and wrote an answer, in which she mildly but decidedly declined his offer in terms as polite and grateful as if he had been a man of the finest sense and most polished manners, and concluded by informing him that her affections had long been engaged, and that, if she ever married, her hand was promised. Mildred dispatched this note by one of the servants to the hotel where Mr. Farnford was sojourning for the present, and then proceeded to write two more letters, one to Mr. Whitfield, who was staying, on account of his health, at Hastings, playfully reproaching him for his want of discernment of character when he represented Mr. Farnford as gloomy, reserved, and misanthropic, informing him of the offer of marriage she had just received from him, and asking his judgment and advice on the best course she could pursue, relative to the expenses which she had unavoidably incurred during the period of her supposed wealth. The other letter was to Mrs. Tyrawly, telling her all that had occurred during the last two days, representing to her that Bedford-square was now on every account an unpleasant residence for her, and requesting that she would receive her as a temporary visitor at Hampstead. Mildred remained in her own room till dinner; when she joined the family, she could easily perceive by their meaning looks that the secret had transpired of Mr. Farnford's letter, and of her own speedy reply to it, and that they conjectured that reply to have been in the affirmative. Charles, however, evidently did not partake of their view of the case, and he and Mildred exchanged a glance of mutual affection and mutual confidence as she entered the dining-room, which placed them both at their ease during the time of the repast. After dinner Mr. Harrington poured out a glass of wine, and by the arch expression of his countenance and his sidelong smile at Mildred, it appeared probable that he was about to propose some very sportive toast; Mildred therefore considered it high time to undeceive him, and made known to the family, with much trepidation and a beating heart, her rejection of Mr. Farnford. Scenes that we have anticipated with fear often turn out far less tremendous than we could have thought possible. Mr. Harrington, indeed, began to denounce Mildred's obstinacy and rebellious spirit in terms well suited to a judge at the Old Bailey haranguing a condemned culprit on his enormities; but Anastasia came to the rescue in a very spirited manner, | and declared that she did not see why Mildred should be compelled to marry Mr. Farnford if she did not like him; that he was a most delightful person; that she had no doubt he merely offered to Mildred out of pity; that he might easily find somebody who would suit him much better, and that he might live to be very grateful for Mildred's refusal. Mr. Harrington still persisted that Mildred ought to re-consider her determination; but Mrs. Harrington, with a woman's quick tact, perceived that Anastasia was inclined to take upon herself the task of consoling Mr. Farnford for the loss of Mildred, and therefore sided with her daughter, and declared that, as Mildred did not seem to like Mr. Farnford, she could not reconcile it to her conscience (which indeed she must confess was rather an over-scrupulous one) to persuade her to unite herself with him. Charles approved his mother's speech with his eyes, and the captain nodded his head, and said, Very true indeed;" he had never quite forgiven Mildred for her indifference towards himself, and was better pleased to think that her future place in society should be that of a portionless dependant than that she should regain her lost affluence by becoming the wife of a rich man. Mildred next announced her design of going to Mrs. Tyrawly on the following day; this also met with general approbation. Anastasia, in particular, remarking that, under existing circumstances, it would be very disagreeable for Mildred to meet with Mr. Farnford, who of course would continue to visit in Bedfordsquare. The next day Mrs. Tyrawly (who was that rare character, a sound and true friend) called to take Mildred back with her to Hampstead; the farewell was a relief to all parties, and as Charles had received an invitation from Mrs. Tyrawly to come to Hampstead as often as he pleased, he was perfectly resigned to dwell no longer under the same roof with Mildred, since he feared the scrutinizing, spying glances of his mother and sister, and placed great reliance on the good offices of Mrs. Tyrawly. I need not enlarge upon his first visit to Hampstead; he pressed Mildred to marry him, and Mildred still said "No," although Mrs. Tyrawly told her that Charles and herself were so well suited in sensitive and romantic fastidiousness that they would never be able to find a match, except in each other. A week afterwards Charles visited them again; "I am almost ashamed," he said, "to communicate to you an event which has happened at our house. Mr. Farnford has offered himself to Anastasia, and has been accepted by her." An exclamation of astonishment and incredulity burst from the ladies. "You may well be sur prised," said Charles; "I must say that I think Anastasia has degraded herself by her conduct, which clearly can have its origin merely in mercenary motives; but her father and mother approve her decision, and it is not for me to object to it." 66 And does Mr. Farnford," said Mildred, laughingly, "still avow his impatience to part, with his liberty in the course of a few days, and still volunteer a deed securing the half of his worldly possessions for the sole and separate use of his bride ?" "Precisely so," replied Charles. "Were Mr. Farnford a strolling player, well up' in characters of fervent and disinterested courtship, he could not proceed in a more systematic and monotonous course of acting. Anastasia has completely stepped into your place, Mildred, and affection's record of sympathetic ink has been retouched by another hand, and called into action by the light of another flame before an ordinary lover would have begun to think that the world afforded any fair one excepting the charming and scornful Mildred.” "At all events," observed Mrs. Tyrawly, who, being a richly-jointured widow, had a great veneration for settlements, "Mr. Farnford appears to be a very generous man in a pecuniary point of view." account at his banker's; the bearer was a stranger; the banker immediately notified the circumstance to my father, who, when Mr. Farnford joined the family circle at dinner, charged him with being the unknown donor; he first of all denied it, but subsequently confessed to the truth of the accusation." "Contemptible being," softly whispered Mil dred. Charles looked astonished; he could not imagine what there could be in Mr. Farnford's liberal kindness to deserve such an anathema, and almost began to suspect that his dear Mil dred was a true woman at heart, and did not like to see even a rejected lover transfer his attentions to another lady. This surmise, however, did not prevent him from recurring to the old subject of his attachment, and pressing Mildred to accede to an union with him; and to his great surprise she gave him a ready, cordial, and unconditional consent, telling him that she pledged her word to unite herself to him in a reasonable time, and that she did not despair of persuading Mrs. Harrington to allow the wedding to be celebrated in Bedford-square. Charles returned home puzzled and confused with the events of the morning, but merging all other thoughts in the delightful consideration that he should soon claim his beloved Mildred as his own. Yet," said Charles," he has somewhat of the mercantile idea of not liking to pay beforehand. I never told you while you were rich, my dear Mildred, that my father is in immediate want of five thousand pounds to meet a temporary demand; for you have so much of the spirit of Aboulcasem, in the Persian Tales, in you, that I felt sure you would immediately have applied to Mr. Whitfield, and sought his assistance The ensuing day Mrs. Harrington, Anastasia, to enable you to advance it. When Anastasia and Mr. Farnford, were seated in the drawing. had accepted Mr. Farnford, my father requested room in Bedford-square: the former was making that he would favour him with the loan of the a list of the company to be invited to the wedsum in question, and Mr. Farnford replied that ding; Anastasia was turning over a box of he would joyfully advance it immediately after flowers and feathers; and Mr. Farnford was the wedding, and that he hoped this considera-casting enamoured glances at his beloved, and tion would induce my father to accelerate the making occasional mis-quotations from the nuptial preparations as much as possible. Anas- poets, which he illustrated by waving in the tasia is now in the midst of white satin, blonde, air a very clumsy hand loaded with splendid and orange blossoms; she says she is the hap-rings. A knock was heard, and the footman piest of her sex, and although I may wonder at brought up the card of Mr. Whitfield, and said the declaration, I have no right to question it." that the gentleman begged to wait upon them. About an hour after Charles left Mildred, she Oh, that is an old acquaintance of yours," received a visit from Mr. Whitfield. "Nothing said Anastasia to her lover, "the solicitor whom but illness, which incapacitated me from travel-you employed a year ago to make your will, ling," said he, "could have detained me so when you bequeathed all your property to Millong at Hastings, my dear Miss Beverley, after dred Beverley." the receipt of your letter. I did not dare to trust my answer on paper; I have much to say to you, much to reveal to you, much to inquire of you." Mr. Whitfield's conversation with Mildred, in which Mrs. Tyrawly was summoned to participate, continued above an hour; and although I do not intend to relate the particulars of it at present to my readers, I promise them that they shall ere long hear a faithful account of it; and in the mean time I will give them the satisfaction of knowing that it had a most beneficial effect on the spirits of my heroine. “I—I am taken suddenly very faint," gasped Mr. Farnford. "Is there no way by which I can escape without meeting him?" Mr. Whitfield, however, entered at that moment, and the disconcerted lover concealed his face with his handkerchief, and turned his back on the visitor. "Mr. Farnford is taken suddenly ill," said Mrs. Harrington, willing to account to Mr. Whitfield for the strange conduct of his former client. "Mr. Farnford, Madam," replied the solicitor, "will never know earthly illness or Two days afterwards, Charles Harrington trouble more. I have recently received my exagain came to Hampstead. "My future brother-pected communications from Portugal. Mr. in-law," said he, “has greatly risen in my esti- Farnford's body was found a few days after the mation; I now find that he possesses not only fatal accident, and received a splendid interliberality, but delicacy. Yesterday the sum of ment; his Portuguese property, which appears five thousand pounds was placed to my father' to be larger than was anticipated, awaits the |