your sorrows as I would in those of a friend of

my own sex. This dear hand has, I am afraid, been wasted."

"Count, I beg-I entreat-do not make me angry"

"Loveliest of lovely creatures," said the Count, "you have not the heart to reward admiration and sympathy with anger. What, weeping?"

My Lord, if you have any friendship for me, leave me❞—

Friendship, can you doubt it?"

He dropped on one knee. This seemed a favourite position. His homage, doubtless, would have met with severe rebuke, but a step was heard in the hall.

"There there's James, my Lord!"

The entrance of the domestic restrained the ardour of the noble foreigner, who was upon his feet and several yards off with an adroitness that argued considerable practice.

"Pray tell my dear Hamilton," he cried, "that I waited for him an hour. I must bid you adieu," and he bowed himself out.

"Take away the tea things, James," said Mrs. Hamilton. The man obeyed and disappeared.

His lovely young mistress remained a moment in an attitude of thought. Suddenly rising, she gazed at herself in the mirror, and as she gazed, her feelings appeared to assume a new mood. She adjusted the blonde and curls around a very charming face. A soft colour suffused her countenance. Her eyes emitted a lustre which had not brightened there for many a day. She sighed, but as she sighed, a smile beamed upon her features, and she seemed lost in the mazes of some sad but pleasurable thought.

"Yes," at length she said to herself, "happy, happy woman! what would life have been

to me then! what a contrast! I should have had my portrait taken, just so there! with that ringlet hanging-so, and the lace brought down a little in front, à la Marie Stuart; so, there, the Countess Clairmont! with the drapery over the arm, and the eyes lifted thus."

The reflection of another figure in the glass caused her to start with a slight scream.

"Good heavens! Edward, how you frightened me, is that you?"

"Why who the devil should it be," replied the husband; "and what are you at there, parading before the glass, like a tragedy queen?"

"I was-I was trying on my cap-but you startled me so-you are always so rough, Edward."

"I am not," replied he.

"You are, indeed,"

"I am not; get me some tea," flinging himself heavily down on the sofa. "I am tired."

"Yes, dear Edward, instantly," said the affectionate wife, passing her arm tenderly around his shoulders.

"Then why the devil don't you go?"

"I have already rung for it. You always come home as cross as-

The husband swore; the wife sighed. James brought the tea.

Oh, matrimony! thou

But they are waiting for us at the Temples.

CHAPTER V.

A NEW YORK ROUTE-AND A NEARER VIEW OF

SE VERAL CHARACTERS.

"For my mind misgives,

Some consequence yet hanging in the stars,

Shall bitterly begin his fearful date

With this night's revels."

Romeo and Juliet.

THE Company were assembled by ten; not all, but nearly twice as many as could press at one time into the ample and splendid apart

ments.

A fashionable New York mansion is not surpassed any where in graceful elegance and