few past years of her life had been spent at school, and to the neglect of all the lighter accomplishments she had studied books, and left her instructors, a well educated lady, despite her country breeding. The Lacys, one and all, availing themselves of the relationship and the good old fashioned hospitality of the mother, made annually an excursion to the place of her residence, and thus and there passed many a summer month, which was received among their city acquaintances as a trip to the watering places, or the still more fashionable resort, the falls of Niagara. Susan was always invited to return their visits, and always with the secret fear that she would accept; though there was no reason on earth why they should be ashamed of her, except that she did not choose, and could not afford to dress like them, and was not, according to their ideas of gentility, genteel. At present she was visiting a relative of her deceased father, the next door to Judge Lacy's. They had been duly informed of her arrival, consequently they could not apologize for any neglect, by appearing to be ignorant of her being in the place.

Of Mrs Lacy I have forborne to speak, because enough has already been told of the daughters, (believing as I do, that the errors of young ladies can often be accounted for in the faults of the mother) to prove she was no model for any of my readers to copy. In the above conversation she took no part, and after a long reasoning of the daughters among themselves, they concluded to admit their awkward country cousin, as they called her, to their party and abide the consequences, however mortifying, with as much fortitude as possible.

The long anticipated and much dreaded evening to the Lacy's, had at length arrived, and a splendid party was already closing in. The door bell rang once more, and presently a stranger lady entered the decorated apartment. There was a slight diffidence in her air that might have been construed to awkwardness. Courtesying in rather a hasty manner as she entered, and glancing her eye over the company, her cheek reddened, and she hurriedly dropped into the first vacant seat. Soon, however, her confusion and embarrassment passed away, and she smiled and spoke as gracefully as though she had been a city belle. Not so the confusion and perplexity her presence had occasioned the Misses Lacy; for it was no more or less a personage than Susan Heyward. Despite their secret hopes and better calculations, she had come and made just

such an entrance as they would not for the world she had made. Mary's naturally pale face was crimsoned with mortification, and in the flutter and confusion of her feelings, she changed her seat, leaving a very important interrogation unanswered, that the gentleman who sate next her had that moment made, uttered nonsense to divert the attention of another from the door, laughed when there was no occasion, and, in fine, made herself appear more awkward and ridiculous than the person who had been the cause of her confusion; and through the whole evening she assumed an unnatural and embarrassed air. Ellen's cheek also reddened with shame, and she felt troubled at her cousin's presence, the more, as her reputed lover, Monroe, (alias, Capt. Monroe of his Majesty's 76th, then quartering on the British frontier, and youngest son of Lord M. of London,) then deeply engaged in conversation with her, made a 'full stop,' when, according to the strict rules of punctuation, nothing more than a comma was required, and threw his large searching eyes upon the form that entered, scanning every feature of the face, and noticing the whole exterior, till he seemed riveted in admiration, and thus finished their discourse. Emeline's lip curled in scorn, and with a contemptuous toss of the head, muttered in a low feathery voice between her teeth, ridiculous!' and then turning to a lady who sate near, loaded with French filagree, cameo, and coral, in an under tone the daughter of a distant relative of my father out of respect to the acquaintance could not avoid inviting her had no idea she would come but the ignorant, you know, are always impudent, and make their way by fastening on the skirts of the better sort, who from some secret policy are obliged to notice them.'

'Yes,' replied the lady,' any one might know by her dress that she could not be much, and that some apology of that kind could explain her being here this evening.'

Now the dress of Susan Heyward had nothing in it either odd or mean, in the strictest sense. On the contrary, it was in perfect simplicity, which, in her station, was perfect taste, and would have passed among gentlemen, that class which ladies so much seek to please, for real elegance. It had no unbecoming variety of colors, no glaring contrast of black, and white and red, no redundancy of ornament, nothing unsuitable or unreasonable, but possessed a delicate and unstudied uniformity of colors, with neatness and carelessness combined. Her pale blue silk, instead of being clipped to the fashionable

length, the better to display a beautifully turned foot and ancle, or, to gratify some still more foolish whim, answered well to those of

Troy's proud dames whose garments sweep the ground.'

Her hair was arranged in true classical style, with here and there a tress carelessly straying from the fillet that bound it. Her form, by nature elegant, was free from all the bracing of art, hence her motions were unpinioned, easy and graceful. True, she was dressed unlike in many respects, the fashionables of the day, for this terribly mortifying scene to the Lacy's occurred at a recent period, but it certainly had for its sanction, richness of material and a true and refined taste, and therefore could not be called mean or ridiculous, though the tinsel and the show of fashion were wanting. And then there was a something in her manners that betrayed a gentility of heart, and showed her spirit held no communion with the things that pass with the usage.

The pause that for a moment succeeded her entrance was again closed by conversation, laughter, and merriment, but our poor unassuming heroine was obliged to sit in silence for most of the evening, because her more fashionable cousins could not brook the mortification of introducing her, except to a few of their more undistinguished guests. At length, however, Monroe took occasion to inquire of Mary Lacy, what young lady that was who sate so mute and yet so dignified?

"The daughter of an acquaintance of my father,' was the scarce articulated reply.

Suppose then, you just take the trouble of introducing me,' said he.

'Since I am invited I must do it,' thought Mary, but what motive on earth can he have in wishing it,' and then audibly, certainly, sir' and she led him across the room, 'Miss Heyward, Capt. Monroe,' bows and kind looks were exchanged, and Monroe took his seat beside the awkward country girl, as she had more than once that evening been styled. Mary turned to walk away. Cousin' Mary,' said Susan, 'take this seat,' at the same tine moving a vacant chair near her.

An indignant smile might have been seen curling the lip of Monroe, as he chose to remark, 'your cousin, then, Mary.' With an embarrassed and mortified air she replied, 'yes, yes, my cousin,' and took the proffered seat. A few common place observations, and they seemed acquainted. They con

vassed subjects and talked of 'men and things,' compared tastes and gave judgment. Monroe became eloquent, and Susan always eloquent and interesting in conversation, for she had a soft voice and sweet smile, never appeared so well in her life; it was, indeed, her happiest effort, and Monroe, to the utter neglect of all politeness and etiquette, and the great distress and mortification of Ellen, kept his seat beside the country cousin, till the party broke up.

*

6

Who would have thought,' said Emeline Lacy, after the company had retired, that Susan Heywood would have joined our party this evening, after all the hints we gave her yesterday?'

Who would have thought,' replied Mary, that Monroe would have waited on her home?'

'La, me,' said Ellen, how could he avoid it. She held him in durance almost the whole evening; and when they rose to go, she stuck fast to his elbow, as though she were pinned to the skirts of his coat; and pray what else could be do in politeness or civility but offer to accompany her.'

'Surely, he could not be pleased with her,' again answered Mary. Her bluestocking manners, and then her dress was so queer, so countryfied, all blue from head to foot except her stockings, and not a rose or jewel in her hair, of any description. And did you notice her sleeves? oh, bless me, I know they were not half the size of mine, and no stiffening, I dare say, nothing but a little starched cambric to give them effect; and no stays, I'll venture to say; and then her shoes, dear me, did you mind them; they were absolutely the old fashioned round toed shoes!'

'Don't describe her,' said Ellen, chagrined at the recollection; for I presume Monroe will make himself merry tomorrow, at her expense.'

'I don't care if he does,' said Emeline, you might have listened to me, and not invited her.'

So saying, they severally sought their chambers, overcome with envy, jealousy, wounded pride, mortified vanity, and disappointed love, though they did not dare to acknowledge it to each other.

Monroe, after bidding his fair charge good night, retired to his lodgings, and had any one listened to his soliloquy, as he

sought his pillow, they had learned that his attention to Susan Heyward that evening, was very far from having been compelled. 'What could have been the reason, said he to himself, that Mary Lacy was unwilling to acknowledge her cousin, Miss Heyward? I noticed that the young ladies, through the whole evening, were particular to call her Miss Heyward. Certainly they could not have been ashamed of her, for she appears far better than either of the three. So unassuming in her manners, and apparently so regardless of trifles. And then what a pretty form she has; so elastic and so free from that stiffness and fixedness common among young ladies! I wonder if she had on stays; I never saw a lady without, so I cannot judge, but certainly she looked admirably.

She did not seem to be made up like a doll of whalebone, wadding, and cords. And her dress, how beautiful it was so delicate and free from all vulgarity of taste. True, her shoes were rather of the older style, but then they are certainly the handsomest; and showed she was no slave to fashion. I wish all ladies would take her for a pattern, especially in the length of their dresses and their adaptation of colors. They certainly would please us better; though we are obliged in compliment to them to admire everything they choose to wear. Neither is it so very strange, that those ladies who have not brothers who may speak freely and without compliment, fall often into the ridiculous. But Miss H. seems to have avoided it. But where is the use in denying it to myself; I have seldom seen a lady I thought possessed of so much good sense, and so much amiability of heart. Ellen Lacy, in the comparison, shrinks to a mere cypher. I wonder I could have ever thought her pretty, so fond of outside show. Ladies who think so much of dress, and attach so much importance to things of no consequence, are generally weak and trifling themselves. This shall henceforth be the criterion by which I judge.'

With this he fell asleep. But from that night the Lacys daily saw less and less of him; and in a few months his marriage with Susan Heyward was publicly announced, and he with his devoted wife, the awkward, neglected, country cousin of the proud and fashionable Lacys, were on their way to

London.