The ladies put up their pretty lips, but drank the toast, and Beresford went to the door to wipe his eyes again; while Julia could not help owning to herself, that if she had had her moments of mortification, they were richly paid.

The collation was now resumed, and Julia partook of it with pleasure; her heart was at ease, her cheek recovered its bloom, and her eyes their lustre. Again the Miss Traceys sung, and with increased brilliancy of execution. "It was wonderful! they sung like professors," every one said; and then again Julia was requested to sing.

"I can sing now," replied she; and I never refuse, when I can do so. Now I have found my father's favour, I shall find my voice too;" and then, without any more preamble, she sung a plaintive and simple ballad, in a manner the most touching and unadorned.

No one applauded while she sung, for all seem. ed afraid to loose any particle of tones so sweet and so pathetic; but when she had ended, every one, except sir Frederick, loudly commended her, and he was silent; but Julia saw that his eyes glistened, and she heard him sigh, and she was very glad that he said nothing.

Again the sisters sung, and Julia too, and then the party broke up; but Mrs. Tracey invited the same party to meet at her house in the evening, to a ball and supper, and they all agreed to wait on her.

As they returned to the house, sir Frederick gave his arm to Julia, and Miss Tracey walked before them.

"That is a very fine, showy, elegant girl," observed sir Frederick.

"She is, indeed, and very handsome," replied Julia; “and her singing is wonderful.”

"Just so," replied sir Frederick: "it is wonderful, but not pleasing. Her singing is like herself; she is a bravura song-showy and brilliant, but not touching-not interesting." Julia smiled at the illustration; and the baronet continued: “Will you be angry at my presumption, Miss Beresford, if I venture to add, that you too resemble your singing? If Miss Tracey be a bravura song, you are a ballad-not showy, not brilliant, but touching, interesting and-"

"O! pray say no more," said Julia, blushing and hastening to join the company-but it was a blush of pleasure; and as she rode home she amused herself with analysing all the properties of the ballad, and she was very well contented with the analysis.

That evening Julia was all herself again, dressed with exquisite and becoming taste, danced, smiled, talked, and was universally admired.But was she particularly so? Did the man of her heart follow her with delightful attention?

"Julia," said her happy father, as they went home at night, "you will have the velvet pelisse and sir Frederick too, I expect."

Nor was he mistaken. The pelisse was hers the next day, and the baronet some months after. But Julia to this hour preserves with the utmost care the faded pelisse, which sir Frederick had pronounced to be "a robe of honour."

THE MOTHER-IN-LAW.

BY MRS. HUNTER.

-I shall proceed without any prelude beyond that of telling you that the family, as usual, dispersed yesterday morning immediately after we left the room. Mr. Davenport repaired to the library to write letters for our conveyance to town, and Mrs. Berry to her girls. Mrs. Davenport and myself, said Mr. Palmerstone, whose words I mean to adopt, were tete-a-tete. "I intend my good friend," said this charming woman with her usual vivacity, "to keep you a prisoner. I have owed you a grudge for some years: and this shall be the hour of retribution.

"You will perceive," continued she, taking up her knotting bag, "the odious appellation which you and some others of my very kind friends contrived to affix to my name. It is but just that you listen patiently to all the various griefs and mortifications which have resulted from your plots and contrivances with Davenport, to render me a cruel step-mother, instead of a handsome widow. How many sad events," sighed she, "have separated us since those smiling hours! And let me add," pressing my hand affectionately, on observing my emotion-"let me add, my dear and venerable friend, how many blessings have marked that chequered interval!

From your hand my excellent Davenport received me," continued she: "you may remember we parted at the abbey door; and, leaving you to answer all congratulations, we set out for Mr. Davenport's seat in Dorsetshire. I was then in my thirty-third year, and my boy George, twelve.

Our reception at my destined home had more in it of vulgar curiosity than of cordial welcome.All was in state, and we were ushered into the best drawing room with sullen reverence. Poor Harriet was stationed in it, as fine as hands could make her, and without doubt, had been tutored to receive her mother-in-law with her best courtsey: but no sooner did she see her father than unmindful of me, she ran into his arms and sobbed aloud. A very fat but comely woman joined her in these lamentations; and Frank Davenport stood confused and sad, with his eyes rivetted to the carpet. A look from my husband sent Mrs. Nurse as I found her to be, to her apartment: he then put the weeping child into my arms; she actually shrunk from my embrace, and again, as it were, sought the protecting wing of her father; who, to conceal his agitation, now presented his son to me and my George.

"A few questions relative to the occurrences which had happened in his absence succeeded; and the detail of the lameness of Frank's poney gave George an opportunity of showing his skill in farriery. The boys became interested in this conversation, and soon at their ease: this somehow led to fishing. George was at home again here: he produced his treasures of flies, and an appointment followed for the next morning to employ them in the finest trout stream in England. Poor Harriet, during this animated conversation, remained silent and dejected: but I fortunately recollected some carricature prints we had picked up in our road from Bath: these were produced, and I had the satisfaction of seeing her pretty features relax into a smile. We supped tolerably composed, and not uncheerfully. Frank on retiring for the night, took his father's hand

wishing him good night. I held out mine. He saw my purpose, blushed deeply, saluted me with fervour, dropped his eyes, and then imploringly raised them to his sister. She fearfully advanced and greatly distressed me by falling on my bosom, and weeping bitterly. "We shall meet to-morrow, my love,' said I, returning her to her father, who looked displeased: if it be a fine morning, we will go and give notice to the poor trout of your brothers' evil intentions.' They each took a passive hand, and conducted her, blinded by tears to her room.

"After they had quitted us, my husband expressed his tender fears least I might have received an unfavourable impression of his child from her behaviour. I re-assured him. I perfectly understand,' said I, 'all this business: I have not been so improvident as to be unprepared: be satisfied. You shall be jealous of this child's affection for me in less than a year, unless your confidence equals the love you cherish for me. Your children must be happy, or I miserable.' We then entered into some discussions relative to the domestic concerns of the family.

"You may perceive already, my dear Susan,' said my worthy husband, that I repose all my cares on you; but I conjure you, exert not your prudence at the expense of your comforts. I well know I have been too easy a master, and that by my indolence I have converted very good servants into very idle ones.' He then detailed to me the enormous increase of his house-bills, and the general neglect of his concerns, which had insensibly gained upon his domestics. They are' said he, honest, but like their master, love their ease. I wish to meet contented faces and cheerful obedience; and they see in mine that of a