of a future life, and suitable comparisons between the things of eternity and those of the present state of being.

"There is, perhaps, no study which conveys such adequate ideas of the instability of human greatness, as that of history; especially when we connect with it a view of prophecy, and of those representations which the Scriptures give us of the kingdom of Christ, where the true glory is exhibited; in comparison of which, all the pomp and pride of earthly things appear but as the painted toys and baubles of early childhood. The feeling which I have described above, continued rather to increase than to diminish, till I was nineteen years of age; but I have no reason to suppose that my real character was ever suspected by any one about me.

"At this time my uncle said to us, one morning at breakfast, that he expected a young gentleman to visit him in a few days, the son of a respected friend, whom he had not seen for many years; adding, that he hoped we should be prepared to make the house agreeable to him.

"And what are we to call him?' said my cousin Agnes, smiling; for it would not be polite to seem ignorant of his name, when he bestows upon us the honour of his company.'

"Clarence Fitzgerald,' replied my uncle; he is the son of my old friend, General Fitzgerald, of whom you have often heard me speak.'

My cousin, who had great simplicity of mind, received this command of her father's, as she did every other, without making any comment upon it; but I began instantly to consider whether there might not be something more in this proposed visit than my uncle would have us suppose, and, after turning the matter over and over again in my own mind, I at length made out that this Mr. Clarence Fitzgerald was the intended husband of my cousin; and then my imagination went to work to embellish this chosen youth with all the desirable qualities of a partner for life for one so highly gifted and endowed as my cousin Agnes, and, when I had considered the matter for a while, I became more and more inflamed with envy, and more and more ready to inveigh against the justice of Providence towards myself.

"While these things occupied my mind, my cousin Agnes,

VOL. VI.

who never enjoyed very good health, was taken ill, and was obliged to confine herself to her room, and then the idea occurred to me, that I could not advance my own interest more effectually than by availing myself of the opportunity, which I hoped to have, of securing the young gentleman's affection to myself-should fortune so far favour me as to continue the illness of my cousin for some time after the arrival of the expected visitor. I say fortune, in order to accommodate myself to the mode of thinking I then indulged; for I did not then consider that there is no such thing as chance, but that such affairs are ordered and regulated by the Almighty Ruler-without whom, not even a sparrow falleth to the ground.

"I was sitting alone in our common parlour, when I was apprized, by a loud ringing at the outer court, of the arrival of Mr. Fitzgerald. Persons who are full of projects and views of self-interest, are ever liable to fearful apprehensions, which persons of more simplicity are not troubled with. Now the moment approached which I had so long desired, I began to tremble, and looked around me in haste, considering what would be the effect of the first coup d'œil which was to break upon the young man on his entering the room. The parlour was, for that period of time, an elegant apartment, being large and high, and wainscoted with oak, having a cornice composed of a running pattern of the same wood, whereon were represented many delicately-shaped birds, resting on leaves and branches of trees. The floor was brightly polished, and the furniture covered with fine chintz, a large folding glass door was open to the garden, and on each side of this door were couches, with tables before them, on which I had scattered my drawings, my books, and some specimens of fine needle-work. I contrived to seem engaged with my guitar at the instant in which hasty steps in the hall advertised me that the visitor was near at hand, and I only laid it down at the moment when Mr. Clarence Fitzgerald entered the room, and presented a figure which more than answered all my preconceived ideas of him.

"I had perhaps never seen a young man who so entirely answered my notions of the perfect gentleman, as the person who then entered the room; he was, moreover, particu

larly well-looking. But all this ought not to have influenced me as it did, persuaded, as I was, that he was the intended husband of my cousin.

"I affected some surprise at seeing him, apologized for my uncle's absence, (for he happened not to be at home,) called for refreshments, and did all in my power to render myself agreeable to my guest.

"I was soon aware that the young gentleman took me for my cousin, and I resolved to keep him under the delusion as long as circumstances would admit. I saw that, from time to time, he looked at me with a particular interest, and I had some pleasure in thinking that he seemed far from dissatisfied with my appearance. Refreshments were spread before him, but he was too much occupied to partake of them; and, when the servants were withdrawn, he removed from his seat by the table to one on the sofa by me, and, looking me full in the face, (though, in a manner sufficiently respectful,) he spoke of the anxiety he had long felt to see me, adding something highly gratifying to my vanity, relative to the perfect satisfaction he had derived from the sight of me. I passed this over, pretending not to hear all he said, and we fell into an easy discourse on indifferent subjects, in which I flattered myself that I did myself much credit; at least, I plainly saw that I succeeded in interesting my auditor, and was fully aware, that, if my unhappy cousin was out of the way, there would have been no objection made by Mr. Fitzgerald to have taken me in her stead: for, in case of her death, I was the rightful heiress to her father's es

tates.

"Mr. Fitzgerald and myself had been together for more than two hours, and no explanation had taken place, when my uncle came in from his ride. He welcomed the young gentleman with much cordiality, adding, 'I hope that my niece has done the honours of my house in my absence, as she ought to have done.'

"Your niece, Sir!' said Mr. Fitzgerald, evidently much discomposed, and blushing up to his very forehead.

"Yes,' returned my uncle. Why, who did you take her for ?'

"Your daughter, certainly,' replied the other.

"My daughter! Why, Matilda, how could you?' said the old gentleman.

"I was not aware of the mistake,' I replied.

"But did you not tell Mr. Fitzgerald that poor Agnes is ill ?'

"Mr. Fitzgerald had a book in his hand, which he dropped at that moment, and he leaned down to pick it up. It was natural that his face should be highly flushed after having stooped; notwithstanding which, I had reason to hope, that there was some other cause for this violent glow besides that which was apparent.

"At dinner our party was augmented by a visitor, whose habit it was to sit long over the bottle. I, however, left the dining-room soon after the table-cloth was removed, and, having visited Agnes, who enquired after Mr. Fitzgerald with as little interest as she would have done after any other stranger, I took a turn in the garden, where I had not been many minutes before I was joined by Mr. Fitzgerald, who had made his escape from the diningparlour. He proposed a walk in the park, having carelessly, though politely, enquired after the health of my

cousin.

"It was a lovely afternoon in the beginning of summer, and we prolonged our walk till the sun had set, concluding it with a visit to the mount which faces my closet-window, where we sat down for a while under the shade of yonder elm, whose leaf still flourishes with undiminished verdure, although generations have passed away since first it formed the glory of the forest.

"During our walk nothing particular had passed between me and my companion, although I thought that his manner had been attentive and even tender; but when we were seated, and all the lovely prospect seen from those heights was spread before us, while our senses were regaled with the odour of thyme and marjoram, and other fragrant herbs; after we had remained silent for a time, he suddenly turned to me, and, taking my hand, said, 'Tell me, fair lady, is your cousin like yourself?'

"No, Sir,' I replied, 'not in the least. Agnes is fair, and I am, as you see, brown as a nut.'

"Brown!" said he, 'no;' and he passed some high compliments on my complexion, my hair, and eyes, and again

said, But does not Agnes resemble you in any one respect?'

"No, Sir,' I replied, 'I do not presume to resemble Agnes in any thing. Her very delicacy of constitution gives her a beauty, to which I, who am all rude health, cannot aspire.'

"And how long, my charming Matilda,' he answered, ' how long have you been in the habit of considering sickliness a beauty?' and I thought he sighed.

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"I remember little more of this conversation, but it was not interrupted till the old clock in the turret tolled the hour of nine, which, being my uncle's supper-time, we hastened back.

"When we withdrew to rest, our old housekeeper, who had known me from a child, came up to receive some orders from me, and, before she left the room,' Miss Matilda,' said she, that Mr. Fitzgerald is a fine young gentleman, and I am glad of it for my dear young lady's sake.' "Your young lady's sake!' I said; and what has she to do with Mr. Fitzgerald ?'

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'Why, do you not know, Miss,' replied she, 'that this Mr. Fitzgerald has been destined to marry Miss Agnes from her infancy?'

"What! whether she likes him or not?' I asked.

"And why should she not like him? I am sure he is a very fine young gentleman.'

"But, perhaps he may not like her,' I rejoined.

6

"Not like her! not like our sweet Miss Agnes!' she exclaimed, lifting up her hands and eyes, and giving me a searching look. But, however, Miss, I have told you. what has been planned by the old gentlemen on both sides, and now you know it.'

"What then?' I asked.

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Why, you will know how to behave to the young gentleman,' she replied.

"And do you think I did not know that before?' I said. "How should you, Miss?' returned the housekeeper. 'If you were not informed that he was bound in honour to another, you might, very innocently, have set your heart upon him; and so I thought, as you have no mother to give you a caution, there could be no harm in my just telling you how matters stand.'