powerful captivation did not consist in their beautiful hue, but in their varying and lovely expression. Her cheek was "the residence of spring;" nothing in the garden of Flora could rival its rich carnation; her lips could alone boast a deeper hue. Round her snowy forehead and temples, hair of glossy auburn sported in artless curls, and gave a romantic charm to her enchanting

countenance.

Elmore was the handsomest and most elegant man in the world; at least so Augusta thought, as well as most of his female acquaintance. But he had qualities of an higher order, genius, cultivated by a finished education, fascinating wit, polished and engaging manners, and an unceasing vivacity, which made his society delightful. But man is seldom perfect, and Augusta erred in thinking Elmore a paragon. Courted, admired, imitated, and assailed by flattery in its every form, he could not help believing himself a superior being. He loved Augusta, but though his attachment was obvious to all, and she herself had not a doubt of it, he had never yet avowed his passion. A man less vain and penetrating than himself, would have discovered the influence he had acquired over her heart; she appeared even to disdain to disguise it ; her eyes glistened at his approach, affection animated every feature, and every accent; it blushed on her cheek, and played round her mouth in rosy smiles; she seemed to

forget every other person present, and to give her attention only to him. Elmore was sensible of his power; he feared nothing from delay, and resolved to study with scrutiny the character of this charmer of his heart, ere he devoted himself entirely to her. His sentiments were refined to fastidiousness; her ignorance of the world, and even that ingenuousness which betrayed her affection for him, which to others would have been a charm, in his eye was a fault; it was indeed her most impolitic fault; apparent indifference might have alarmed and fixed him, but Augusta was unaccustomed to conceal any feeling, and had not learnt to tutor her face to speak a language foreign to her heart.

Arlington possessed all that was great and good in the character of Elmore, without so fascinating an exterior; his person was tall and manly, but had none of the pliant elegance of Elmore's; his countenance was noble and intelligent, but serious and thoughtful; his temper was naturally grave, and had been rendered still more so by a studious application to the acquirement of knowledge. To profound learning he added the firm virtues of the Christian. Conscious rectitude, and an absence of all fear of man, derived from an internal feeling of the support of Heaven, gave to his large dark, gray eyes, an expression as intrepid as the warrior's glance. They were penetrating as if, with the sage, they would

"look all nature through," yet as full of tenderness and truth as the ingenuous eyes of infant affection. The personal graces, the sparkling wit, the seductive gayety, the engaging and ensnaring flattery of Elmore, he half envied and half despised; he himself was such a lover of truth, that no hopes or apprehensions of favour or disadvantage, would have been able to force from his lips a word bordering on insincerity. But though thus inflexible in integrity, and rigid in morality, the natural benevolence of his disposition made him gentle and courteous to all; and the pleasing manner in which he unfolded the stores of his enlightened mind, made him an instructive and desirable friend. Though not admired and complimented like Elmore, he was honoured and esteemed, and always received with complacent kindness by his female acquaintance.

When he first saw Augusta, dazzled by a beauty which not " the firm philosopher can scorn," at least not a philosopher of six and twenty, he involuntarily sought her acquaintance. An acquaintance with her did not diminish his admiration; her mind was uncommonly improved for one so young, and he discovered that it was capable of every improvement; her heedless vivacity entertained him, the rectitude of her principles satisfied even his ideas of morality, and he went on exploring new graces in her character, and new virtues in her heart,

his own.

until he found that he had completely lost He was first aware of his danger, by a pang of jealousy arising from her obvious preference of Elmore; he struggled for release, but it was too late; his chains were riveted, and he found a melancholy pleasure in thinking that they were so. "It is indeed impossible," cried he; "I feel that I can never cease to love her; my hopeless attachment shall never be known; I will not attempt to supplant my happy rival, and shall not therefore injure him. I will be solicitous only for her friendship; I will watch to serve her; my happiness, as it respects this life, will be promoted by hers,may she be happy, though another makes her so; and whatever be my fate, I shall rejoice in her felicity." Such were the reflections of Arlington. He resolved carefully to conceal what he imagined he could neither banish nor subdue-and far from shunning the dangerous presence of Agusta, he was almost a daily visiter at Mrs. Ranmore's. Augusta, though entirely unconscious of the deep interest he felt in all that related to her, regarded him as a friend, and was always pleased to see him.

Justina had now been six months absent from home; her impatience to see her beloved friends was every day increasing; and she felt, besides, no little curiosity to see that paragon of a man, whose perfections were the theme of Augusta's pen,

On the expected day she arrived at her home, accompanied by Louisa Ranmore and her brother. She was received with transports of joy by her sister, and with the warmest affection by her aunt; her companions too were welcomed with cordiality. They passed the day in gayety and friendship, amusing each other with their mutual narrations.

At tea, Elmore was announced with eyes glittering with happiness. Augusta introduced him to her sister and friends; she then looked with an expression of inquiry at her sister, as if to mark the effect of his appearance on her. She was satisfied that Justina did not think her encomiums on him were exaggerated: but as she knew her sister cared but little for mere personal graces, she was extremely desirous she should hear him converse. Augusta was soon gratified; he entered into conversation with them all immediately, with ease and sprightliness, and soon convinced them that his beauty was not his most dangerous charm. Soon afterwards Arlington entered: he found them laughing; every heart seemed to bound with happiness ;-his responded not; he only bowed to each at his introduction, and when seated, appeared rather as a spectator than a sharer of their enjoyments. Engrossed with one another, they at last seemed almost to forget his presence, while he viewed them all with the