which she feared to analyze. The simple sorrow of being rivalled in the admiration of her husband, and which she had been doubtful whether she might not owe rather to her own imperfections, than his fault, was swelled to an apprehensive fear lest this husband, whom she had been taught to consider as perfect, and whom her imagination idolized, was not regarded in the world as tainted by its errors, and duped by its follies;-what was this reform which she was to work in Mr. Willoughby? How was she to effect it? and how strange that she should hear only of its necessity from one who had been the warmest eulogist, the most enthusiastic admirer of his virtues and his talents, at a time when a little prudent doubt, and a little rational discri mination, might have been as guides to her conduct, or as preservatives from disappointment.-Isabella wished

Mrs.

that she could hear more.-Isabella wished that she had not heard so much. -Mrs. Nesbitt could mean nothing but what was kind, but she might be mistaken. Yet she was not mistaken in one point; it was too evident, that if Isabella were to possess her husband's heart, she must conquer it.How to complete this conquest became her most serious consideration. Nesbitt asserted, that it could not be done by the beaten road of obedience, forbearance, passiveness. She must make herself felt, that she might be beloved; she must shew that she might be lost, that her value might be known. -Isabella was not unaware of the slippery ground that she was urged to tread. One false step, and she was undone !-Yet she a little wished to try the experiment; she more than a little wished to triumph over Lady

Charlotte, and she resolved to follow the advice of Mrs. Nesbitt.

I have rights, thought she, I have affections. Alas! I even love!-what can Lady Charlotte oppose to such claims? Is she indeed so pre-eminently charming that all must sink on the comparison? what is Lady Charlotte that I cannot be? and what would I not be to excel her in the eyes of Mr. Willoughby?

While Isabella was lost in thoughts such as these, and in a variety of plans conceived and rejected in the same moment, how she could best effect her purpose, Mr. Willougby entered the room-a consciousness of error tinged her cheek with crimson, and gave a little flutter to her manner of receiv. ing him.

"You look as if you were thinking of your lover," said Mr. Willoughby laughing.

"I was," returned Isabella, play

fully.

"And what was your thought?" said Mr. Willoughby.

"I thought that I would make him a request," said Isabella.

!

"Name it, and take it," returned Mr. Willoughby, in gay good humour. "I should like to give a ball," said Isabella.

"A ball?" said Mr. Willoughby, with a tone of some surprise,

"I

was not aware that your talents lay

that way, my

dear."

"Does it require much talent to give a ball?" asked Isabella.

"To give it with effect it doesand without it is done in a way that is distinguished, one had better save one's money, and one's trouble, and amuse oneself at the expense of other people."

"You would rather then that I

thought no more about the matter?" said Isabella, with a feeling that she had been repulsed.

66

Oh, by no means," returned Mr. Willoughby," if giving a ball will give you the least pleasure, I am sure that I shall wish for no other effect. I had only conceived from the indifference which you shewed as to taking any management in the little that we have done of this sort, that you had no taste for such things; and although I admire the talents that can give novelty and grace to so common an occurrence as a ball, yet I acknowledge that they are wholly feminineI have neither imagination nor activity for such a performance; but I shall rejoice to find that you have."

"If I am at a loss," returned Isabella, "you know I can call in a powerful coadjutrix."