up!. - toes out! - keep a bold face!-make a curtsey-one, two, three! down!-up! Pay particular attention to the following order: You must all stand, walk, sit, and enter a room, in precisely the same mode, according to the instructions given you. It makes no difference what are your natural dispositions, minds, or characters; you must learn to curb these, and must think, feel, speak, and act, by the prescribed rules laid down for all situations and circumstances.' But a truce with jesting. I tell you what, wife, if Alice is to undergo such a Procrustean mode of operation, as to be made exactly similar to every other young lady in the school, it can only be done by making her assume a character that does not belong to her. So, she shall leave Mrs. Davenant: on that I'm resolved. I will take the boys with me to-morrow, and bring her home.'

Mrs. Vernon acquiesced, with seeming willingness; but she implicitly trusted that the next morning's visit to his counting-room would obliterate all remembrance of his objections to Mrs. Davenant, and his hasty resolution to bring Alice home. And with the intention of diverting his thoughts from the subject, she said: 'Edward and Charles are almost young men, both in height and appearance. What do you intend to make of them?'

'I have not thought much about it. It will be time enough when they leave college.'

'But, Mr. Vernon, as I suppose you intend them for men of business, it will be a waste of their most enterprising and energetic years, to permit them to remain until they are old enough to graduate. It will destroy every thing like business habits, and make them mere sedentary book-worms.'

'I will leave it to them,' said the father. Come, boys, tell me what you intend to be?'

Charles immediately answered: 'I will be a merchant. I am almost tired of the monotony of a college life, already, and think it will soon be time for me to come out upon a busier scene, and a wider sphere of action.'

That is well said, my son,' exclaimed Mrs. Vernon: you have made a good choice, and I hope you may be as successful and as prosperous as Mr. Delville.' A frown passed over Mr. Vernon's face, but he made no comment on his wife's remark, and turning to Edward, said: 'My son, what will your choice be?' Edward replied: With your approbation, father, I would prefer one of the two professions, law or medicine; but I have not thought sufficiently on the subject to give a decision at present.'

'I would rather that you had chosen as Charles did,' said his father; but in this, your own inclinations shall be consulted. You must recollect, however, that even with the finest talents, the members of these two professions must pass through many years of obscurity and difficulty, before they can get into full practice, and also that perhaps two-thirds of their number never succeed. While, on the other hand, the man of business can get into credit and custom at once, and every merchant has the opportunity of attaining wealth. If he does not do so, it is not for want of patronage, but from his own rashness or inefficiency.'

But, Mr. Vernon,' said his wife, I think you do wrong in thus

giving up to Edward's whims. He is too young to judge for himself, and I would prepare him for that occupation which you prefer, and not suffer him to consult his own wishes alone.'

'My dear wife,' he replied, 'I have seen the evil effects of opposing a young man's inclination in the choice of a profession in my father's family, and I then determined never to commit a similar error, if I ever should have sons. Gold, silver, and copper, can be easily fused, and coined into money, but wood and marble would soon be destroyed by the attempt to put them to the same use.'

Well, if he is permitted to choose a profession, I hope it will be that of law, for it affords a pretty fair opportunity of amassing a fortune, while that of the physician rarely or never does. A lawyer of established reputation may get his thousands for a single case, while the doctor makes his money by fifty cents or a dollar a visit. The lawyer is waited upon at his office, and his client does not expect him to put himself to any inconvenience on his account; while the physician is always expected to be an obsequious slave to the caprices of the rich, and to submit without complaining to the impositions of the poor. I do wonder that so many should choose this as a profession, since there is so much labor required, and so little wealth to be gained by it.'

If the desire of gain were the ruling motive of every man, my dear mother,' said Edward, 'the profession of medicine would soon be extinct. But there are other reasons for choosing a profession, than for the facility it affords of amassing wealth reasons that do honor to the mind and the heart. It is the desire of expatiating in the boundless fields of knowledge to which it opens the anxiety to alleviate human suffering, by searching into its causes, that the proper remedies may be applied, and the thirst to know all that can be known of the mysterious formation of the body, 'so fearfully and wonderfully made' - it is these that have sufficient attraction to induce men to forego the lustre of wealth, and the 'pride of place,' and to walk humbly and contentedly in the valley-paths of usefulness and benevolence.'

It was a cold winter evening; but in the drawing-room of Mr. Vernon every thing wore the aspect of luxurious comfort. A bright coal fire was glowing in the polished steel grate, and the brilliantlylighted chandelier brought into distinct relief the rich and heavy folds of the crimson hangings, and the graceful forms of the damask-cushioned chairs, while its own image was reflected in the wide and lofty mirrors. Mrs. Vernon was reclining upon an ottoman, gaily and expensively attired, and holding an open letter in her hand. On the opposite side of the fire sat Mr. Vernon, in a chair that seemed to have been fashioned after his favorite one of former days, but made of materials rich and costly, as if to hide the homeliness of its obsolete form. He was very much changed in the last few years, for his sedentary life and slavish and unremitted attention to business, had brought on premature age, with its infirmities — feeble health and weakened energies. As long as he could, he kept a firm barrier against the encroachment of fashion and style; but when Alice added

her entreaties to his wife's undermining, he found his failing strength of mind unequal to the struggle, and finally gave way to the tide. After Mrs. Vernon had finished reading the letter, she said to her husband:

'I think this ought to be sufficient to convince Edward that Charles has made the wiser choice, and to induce him to remove to the south, as I have so often urged him. Ninety thousand dollars made in one land speculation! -and this in addition to the princely annual income from his plantation! Charles is indeed a fine, ambitious fellow. I foresaw, from his childhood, that he would be the enterprising man of business, while Edward would not have spirit or activity enough to lose sight of the smoke of his father's chimney. Look at the difference between them now! Charles is the proprietor of a town, has one or two banks under his control, and is one of the most influential men in his state. His name is every where spoken of, for his magnificent projections, his numerous improvements, his unbounded liberality, and his immense wealth. But who has ever heard of Edward, out of his own limited circle of acquaintance? I did hope, when I insisted on his choosing law instead of medicine, since he had fixed his choice on a profession, that by this time he would have obtained a practice worth at least a thousand dollars a year. But he can scarcely make enough to pay his office-rent. This, however, is in some degree his own fault; for a fellow-student of his told me that Edward was too conscientious. He said that, to a young lawyer, a conscience was rather a troublesome appendage, which should be dismissed as soon as possible, although it might be of advantage to recall it, when one became rich enough to afford it. Edward is too scrupulous, I know; but he would have been obliged to give up his notions of honor and honesty, if he had had no one to apply to, when he was in want of funds. And I think it will be a good plan to force him into fortune, by insisting on his going to the south-west. You know that Charles has again and again said in his letters, that if Edward could only be induced to go, he would not only realize a handsome fortune in two or three years, but might become a judge, a member of congress, or any thing to which his ambition might lead him to aspire. And if you tell him that you cannot think of assisting him any longer that he must go where he can meet with more speedy success I think this will have the desired effect, as I said before, of forcing him into good fortune. He will not make use of those means by which he could gain practice even here. I wished him to go into society, and to cultivate the acquaintance of the wealthiest and most fashionable families, that he might gain their patronage; but he says he has not time to spare from his studies. He is constantly poring over his books, and what has he gained by it? As a last resort, I have tried to persuade him to secure a fortune by marriage; but even this seems to be contrary to his fastidious principles. I was very anxious for him to attend Alice this evening, for Mr. Conrad's daughter will be quite an heiress, and I thought it possible that he might be fascinated, for she is strikingly beautiful.'

Poor Alice!' said Mr. Vernon; it is a cold night for her to be out and she was dressed so thinly, too: she would not wear her cloak, for fear of disarranging her dress. I hope Mrs. Delville's

carriage is well cushioned, so as to exclude the cold air. The wind whistles bleak and shrill; it must be a dreadful night upon our coasts. I am glad that I have no vessels now. This reconciles me to the thought of having sold them. If I had not done so, I should not have been able to sleep to-night. What a wild blast that was that just passed by! It rushed by the window as if it would shiver every pane. Why, my dear, did you let Alice go?

'At first, I did not intend she should, as I was not well enough to attend her; but Mrs. Delville insisted on it, and kindly offered to be her chaperone. She told me that Mr. Linton would be there, and as Alice has made quite an impression on him, I was fearful that her absence might weaken it. He would also have been left fair game for the many nets that are spread for him, both by mothers and daughters. But I think that Alice will secure him, and she may be Mrs. Linton, if she wishes, before many months have passed.'

Surely, wife, you are not serious?' said Mr. Vernon. Mr..Linton the husband of Alice! He is two years my senior, although he is a much younger-looking man. The child could not love him. The idea is unreasonable - absurd!'

Perhaps she might not feel for him any of that silly emotion that very young gentlemen and ladies call love - but what is far more rational, she would have a deference and esteem for his character and standing, as a man of wealth and influence. It will be a very advantageous match for Alice, in every respect. As Mrs. Frederick Linton, she will at once take her place among the very élite of society, and she will live magnificently, I am sure, for Mr. Linton will indulge her in every thing, and will surround her with as much splendor as a peeress could desire.'

6

'But will she be happy?' asked Mr. Vernon, and can she love him?'

'Certainly,' replied his wife; 'every woman loves her husband, when he is indulgent to her, and gratifies her in every wish. She cannot help being happy, if she is surrounded by all the elegancies and comforts of life. I do not know a happier married woman than the beautiful Mrs. Selwyn. You know Mr. Selwyn is not only old enough to be her father, but he has sons who are older than she is ; yet he idolizes her, and is constantly bringing home to her something rare and costly, for her house or her toilet. He takes great pleasure in seeing her richly and elegantly dressed. He indulges her fondness for the gayeties of society, and is proud of the admiration she excites. Her most extravagant tastes are fully gratified, for he lavishes his wealth upon her with princely munificence. I often bring Mrs. Selwyn forward as an example to Alice.'

Mr. Vernon, who still adhered to some of his regular habits, had retired to rest three or four hours before the return of his daughter. But Mrs. Vernon, though at present an invalid, sat up to await her coming, that she might receive a description of the evening's entertainment, while its scenes were yet vivid in her recollection. After Alice was safely delivered into her mother's care, by the fashionable chaperone, and the lady had taken her leave, Mrs. Vernon, whose first anxiety was to know whether Alice had been admired, and had received much attention, asked her how she was pleased' know

ing that young ladies always consider an evening spent in company very delightful or very dull, in direct proportion to the admiration and attention they have excited, or to the neglect they have been obliged to endure.

'I have spent a most delightful evening,' replied Alice. I was engaged for every set, and waltzed twice with one of the most elegant young men I ever saw - Lieutenant Elwood. He is a fine figure, has dark eyes, a rich mass of raven hair, and the handsomest pair of whiskers that ever graced a gentleman's face. He waltzed inimitably. Indeed, he is more graceful and polished in his manners than any one I ever met with.'

'But was not Mr. Linton there?' asked the anxious and alarmed mother.

Yes, he was there, mamma, and as old and as ugly as ever. He almost persecuted me with his attentions; and if I had not been afraid of offending you, as I know he is your favorite, I would have been quite rude to him. The lieutenant seemed to pity me, and two or three times very dexterously relieved me from his disagreeable intrusion. Indeed, mamma, I think I have made a conquest of the handsome lieutenant,' said Alice, casting at the same time very self-satisfied glances at the mirror, where the youthful beauty was reflected, whose charms were heightened by the taste and skill of her Parisian dressing-maid.

hear

'Nonsense!' replied her mother, with petulance: 'let me never you mention this again. I hope no portionless lieutenant will ever have the presumption to aspire to your hand. It is probable that he is a fortune-hunter, and may think you an heiress; but I can tell you, my daughter, unless you are soon married to a wealthy man, you will have to come down to a different style of living before long; for our heavy expenses made great inroads upon your father's fortune. As Mrs. Linton, you can surround yourself with even greater luxuries and elegancies than those to which you have been accustomed; and you will have an opportunity of becoming a leader of fashion. You will have your equipage, your retinue of servants, your princely mansion, and a husband who will idolize you, and will take pleasure in gratifying your taste for dress. How it would delight Lisette to open your boxes of Parisian costumes, and try their becoming effect upon your complexion and figure! You could then distance all your rivals, for you would then have the triumph of being the first in every new fashion. But if you were to marry a man without wealth, how differently would you live! You would be obliged to content yourself with a small house, or live in a second-rate boarding-house; you would have to relinquish evening parties, because you could not give them in return; and you would be forced to dismiss poor Lisette, for you could not afford to supply her with wine every day, and to give her such wages as her taste and skill entitle her to expect.'

Indeed, mamma, I could not give up Lisette. If I were deprived of her assistance, I should not know how to dress myself fit to appear before any one. The lieutenant is certainly very handsome,' said Alice, with a sigh, but — I will marry Mr. Linton.'

The influence of Mrs. Vernon was successfully exerted upon