was beyond measure. It had quite restored her health, she was able to recommence her rides, and would order the donkey to be got ready immediately.

So then, it appeared that the drive to the charity school had not answered the purpose after all, and I was to be the locum tenens of Lady Betty's affections till the arrival of a new acquaintance. I know not whether my constitution is different from that of other people. A pretty face is certainly a terrible criterion of a man's resolution; but for the honour of manhood, I contrived for once to be superior to its fascinations. To adhere strictly to truth, I must confess, however humiliating the confession may be, that this dignified behaviour was very naturally sustained by the transactions with Lady Barbara, for the consequence of whose communications there was no answering. I declined the donkey ride, looked a

most explanatory look of reproach, and declared my necessity of returning to town. Lady Betty was amazed, remonstrated-entreated-looked like an angel-and finally put her handkerchief to her eyes. There was no standing this.—“I go,” said I, "I go, because it is proper to quit whenever my presence becomes troublesome-I will not oblige you to put me on the shelf.—I will not be too encroaching upon your temperate regardHeigh-heigh-ho!" With that I plunged my spurs into my steed, and vanished at full gallop.

It was long before I heard anything more of Oakenshade or its inhabitants. In the middle of the following December I received a piece of wedding-cake from the gentle Barbara, and in the same packet a letter from Lady Betty.

She had written instead of mamma, who was troubled with a gouty affection in the hand. She anoke much (and I have no doubt sincerely) of

the cruel separation from her sister. Touched feelingly upon the happiness of the time I had spent at Oakenshade, and trusted she might venture to claim a week of me at Christmas. She was truly sorry that she had no inducement to hold out beyond the satisfaction of communicating happiness, which she knew was always a paramount feeling with me. She was all alone, and wretched in the long evenings when mamma went to sleep; and reverted plaintively and prettily to the little study and the ghost stories. As for the lilac pocket-book, she had cast up her follies and misdemeanours, and found the total, even before the end of the year, so full of shame and repentance, that she had incontinently thrown it into the fire, trusting to my kindness to give her another with fresh advice. Dear Lady Betty. my resentment was long gone by-I had long felt a conviction that her little follies were blameless,

and not all uncommon; and I vow, that had her happiness depended upon me, I would have done anything to ensure it. I was obliged, however, to send an excuse for the present, for I had only been married a week.

THE

DELIGHTS OF FOREIGN TRAVEL;

OR, THE ENGLISHMAN BEFRIENDED.

Joy to those travellers who find a pleasure in foreign countries! It was not with such feelings that I left England; and even now, after a twelvemonth's residence in France, I am as little reconciled to it as ever, and that, from no fault either in the people or the country; both are, in many respects, delightful; but champagne itself is flavourless to a sick palate, and the fairest land is no better than a desert when the affections are pointing homewards.