dant picture or statue which escapes general notice, and only attracts the idolatry of a connoisseur. The one was a brilliant fantasia which arrests the listener's attention-the other the soft and melting strain of sacred music, which, heard by one attuned to receive it, haunts the heart for ever. The one was the gaudy tulip of the parterre-the other the beauteous lily under the shadow of the rock. Need we pursue our similes further. In plain prose let us say that Miss Fairweather's ease and sprightliness of manner gave her an advantage in general company over the quiet and demure Miss Lawrence, in spite of the greater personal attractions which an impartial observer would have awarded as the latters share. At first sight you would have called Miss Lawrence the most beautiful, Miss Fairweather the most engaging. Miss Fairweather would not be satisfied till Mr. Basil had produced some of his sketches of Miss Lawrence, which were pronounced like, but not beautiful enough. "And now show me some of Miss Lawrence's sketches," said Miss Fairweather. Ernest looked astonished. "Do you draw?" he asked, turning to Miss Lawrence. "And Miss Lawrence has lived in the same house with you a week and yet you never found that out. Why Elinor how deceitful you are," said Miss Fairweather laughing, "not to have told Mr. Basil you could draw." "Mr. Basil never asked me," said Miss Lawrence, with naïveté. "I thought two artists would have found one another out. Why she paints, Mr. Basil, beautifully. Landscapes, heads, everything. There Elinor, take up the brush and finish that little head Mr. Basil is painting." "Is it possible," exclaimed Mr. Basil, “ that you conceal such a talent? Let me second Miss Fairweather's request. Imitate the artists of antiquity who always left behind them some token of their visits to one another. Leave me some tangible proof that you and Miss Fair weather have been really here and that it is not a dream of an angel's visit." "I'll tell you what," said the animated Miss Fairweather," you shall sketch Mr. Basil. Mr. Basil, I order you to sit still in the most picturesque attitude you can assume until Miss Lawrence has done with you." "Then I shall fall down on my knees like a despairing lover," said Ernest who seemed very much inclined to suit the action to the word. Suppose we make a group. Miss Lawrence, couldn't you put Miss Fairweather into the picture ?" After a good deal of badinage, Ernest sat down with his head perked up in the air, while Miss Lawrence took up the brush, but her sitter certainly tried her patience considerably, as he hardly ceased talking for a moment while his sallies from time to time caused a good deal of laughter, not tending to the advance of the painting. At the end of an hour and a half, Miss Lawrence had produced an unfinished, but clever little sketch of Ernest's head, upon which many encomiums were lavished by Miss Fairweather and Ernest. "I shall treasure this, believe me, Miss Lawrence. I shall have no occasion now to bite my thumb like the sleeper awakened, to know whether this is not a dream." and Before the young ladies took their departure, Mrs. Basil invited them to drink tea attend a concert afterwards with herself and Ernest on the following evening. As soon as they were in the street, the young ladies began talking about Mr. Basil as was very natural under the circumstances. Well, what do you think of him Elinor you have known him longer than me?" "Longer but not more intimately. One would think you were quite old friends to hear you talk. Mr. Basil never took half the pains to make himself agreeable to me as he does to you." "Well Elinor, don't evade the question," said Constance, not without a secret exultation |