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master said in some such words, as those once used by a follower of Terpsichore, respecting a superexcellent pupil :

"C'est dommaye que mademoiselle etoit neé dame; elle ferait sa fortune si elle etoit pauvre fille."

Lady Adelaide Seyton was an excellent musician, a perfect amateur, and therefore it may perhaps seem strange to all but very apt connoisseurs of human (and particularly woman's) nature, her seeming rather inclined to discourage, than cultivate, any transcendent excellence of her young step-daughter's in that department.

But this she certainly did, reasoning that it was unnecessary, and often prejudicial to a girl in Aline's situation, to be rendered too conspicuous by any showy taste or talent.

So Aline's musical, and especially vocal powers and inclinations, were in the school-room, kept somewhat in abeyance, though like the bird,

when the dark curtain, with which its cage has been covered to drown its song, is removed, it broke forth with greater might and stronger passion hereafter.

VOL. I.

D

CHAPTER IV.

"My spirit like a charmed bark doth swim,
Upon the liquid waves of thy sweet singing,
Far away into the regions dim

Of rapture, as a boat with swift sails winging
His way adown some many winding river.

*

The silver key of the fountain of tears,

Where the spirit drinks 'till the brain is wild;

Softest grave of a thousand fears,

Where their mother Care, like a drowsy child,

Is laid asleep in flowers."

SHELLEY.

ALINE, on her sixteenth birthday, was in London, undergoing the usual strict finishing discipline of her education.

The morning of that anniversary, she was summoned to the breakfast room, to receive

the accustomed congratulations and birthday presents of her father and Lady Adelaide.

An embrace and kind words from each. Then, the pretty bracelet from Sir Alexander, and sevigné from her step-mother, having been presented and received with smiles and kind thanks, the father, as she prepared to depart, wound his arm round her waist, and having again kissed her brow, and gazed at her for a moment, with his grave, earnest fondness, said kindly—

"How are you going to spend the day, my love?"

"Much as usual, I suppose Papa.”

"What, at your studies? Is not some special treat usual on such occasions-a holiday, or something of the sort?" and Sir Alexander glanced at Lady Adelaide, who smiled, but answered

"Oh, that is the custom with the young ones, but Aline, I think, has rather passed the age to appreciate such childlike favours-your father forgets that you are nearly a woman now Aline." Aline smiled, but perhaps a holiday would

have been little less acceptable to her now, than

six years ago.

"But is there nothing that would be a treat to her?" the father continued; "I have not a moment to spare to-day, or she should ride with

me."

"Well! any thing that she fancies," Lady Adelaide replied; "what would you like, Aline? to drive with me in the park this afternoon, or to go to the exhibition, or

Aline murmured an assent, but with a languid indifference, whilst at the same time the blood mounted to her brow, so that her stepmother answered rather coldly:

"Oh, do not say yes, if it will not be a pleasure to you, dear; is there any thing else?" Aline still hesitated, and coloured yet more deeply.

"Have you no choice?" her father rejoined, somewhat impatiently; "why, if we had asked Ada or Rose, they would have had plenty of ideas ready for the occasion."

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