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to the various alterations that were going forward, as a mother does on the delight that her infant shews in dressing a doll; but Isabella could see no symptom how all this display of ❝ taste was advancing her one degree in his love, esteem, or admiration. She began heartily to repent of having engaged in such an enterprise; and thought of nothing but how to get over it with the least trouble: and to forget it when it was over as soon as she could; but Isabella knew not yet the slippery path of emulating vanity! she knew not the hateful passions that are involved in the single word rivalship.

CHAP. X.

"Yet I see

Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From that it is disposed."-

SHAKSPEARE.

THE important day at length arrived! Mrs. Nesbitt had invited herself to dine with Isabella, that she might assist in overlooking all the preparations, and in ascertaining that all was in order, and every one at their post. She also promised herself the reward of witnessing Mr. Willoughby's delighted approbation on such a display of his

wife's imaginative talents, for as Mrs. Nesbitt herself had been the masterwheel of the whole machine, she had not a doubt but that its movements would secure the most animated applause.

For these, the first fruits of this so confidently anticipated triumph, she was, however, obliged to wait longer than she had reckoned upon. Mr. Willoughby had no taste for the restricted space and scanty attendance which generally belongs to the lords and ladies of the most extended mansions upon such days of gala. He had been out the whole morning; had returned only to dress, and without having once walked through the decorated rooms, had gone out again to dinner.

"Tant mieux! tant mieux!" said the mortified Mrs. Nesbitt,-"I like it the better. His surprise and admiration will only be the greater when he

sees the apartments lighted up, and every thing in its highest glory. Yes, yes, his heart will die within him, like good old Jacob's, when he heard of the wealth and honours of his son.

Your

triumph will then be complete." "I wish I had more spirit to enjoy it," said Isabella, "but I feel sad." "Nothing in the world, my dear, but anxiety and fatigue," said Mrs. Nesbitt."We will dine, and that will refresh you; and then to the important labours of the toilette."

Labour, fatigue, and anxiety, are but indifferent elements to form pleasure from," said Isabella.

ર

Oh, there is no rose sans picque,” replied Mrs. Nesbitt. " Joseph you know, my dear, was taken from a dungeon to be governor of Egypt."

"I wonder," said Isabella, smiling, "how you happen to be so well read

in Scripture, as to be able to quote its authority on every occasion."

"No wonder at all, my dear!" returned Mrs. Nesbitt. "I was brought up by an old grandmother, and was forced to learn chapter after chapter by rote, on pain of her displeasure, which was by no means a non-entity, I can assure you, and thus it is all in my head."

"And never reached your heart," said Isabella, laughing, "but will any of your Scripture learning assist Adams to decide between the dresses that have been sent home for me to choose from? for I have really been so worried for the last week between "bleu celeste" and "bleu foncée," between the "elegant" and the "superb," that I have not a clear idea left upon the subject, and Adams is quite in despair at my stupidity."

"Oh," said Mrs. Nesbitt, "I de