and Theodosia to their playroom; and poor Maria dared not express her wish to accompany them, for the protection of the frightened child. But on finding herself tête-à-tête with her sister-inlaw, Mrs. Molyneux's pleasant manners and cheerful voice soon obliterated her anxieties. As a mere acquaintance, Emma was as agreeable as is usually the case with people of whom tact is the leading characteristic. Had she married Mr. Harpsden, the Curate of Harrals,

-so disastrously matched with her sister, an invalid in body and mind,―her energies of nature would, perhaps, have converted her into an active parson's wife. At all events, had her own rash marriage been delayed, the routine of respectability maintained at Harrals would have imparted some consistency to her volatile mind. As it was, she had married at eighteen, before her principles were formed; and, under the influence of Gerald Molyneux, had degenerated into an inferior being;—one of those glittering molecules developed by a factitious order of society.

Her husband had enjoined her to spare no pains to conciliate the wife of the brother, whose miraculous affluence had suddenly become the talk and marvel of the day; and it was no small comfort to find the rustic sister-in-law she was required to take to her heart, as free from vulgarity as guile. Maria satisfied her prying questions with the artlessness of a child.

"It is really unlucky," observed Emma carelessly, "that

"that your mourning, and the lateness of your arrival in town, will prevent your being presented at court this season."

"Presented at court?" repeated Mrs. Woolston, uncertain whe her she had heard rightly.

"When settled in town, you will find it indispensable. My mother-in-law, Lady Dinton, will, I am sure, be delighted to present you."

"I hope that John will make up his mind to reside in the country," rejoined Maria.

"Of course. Every body resides in the country, when the London season is over. And

pray who supplies your diamonds ?-For John

must really give you some.

My mother's,

though good enough for the wife

baronet, are quite unequal to splendid fortune.".

of a country

your present

"I have never even thought of it," replied Maria, a little shocked by the hardness of her tone. "I often wonder why people care so much for jewels."

"Because you have not moved in the sphere to which they are appropriate.-You will learn to prize them in time.-Have them, you must."

Mrs. Woolston was beginning to think these numerous "musts,"-this indispensable house in town and suit of brilliants,—a sad and singular drawback on wealth and independence. Again, she expressed a hope that John would be induced to settle in the country.

"He is about to purchase a place, then ?—Or did old Wraysbury leave estates on which he can build?"

"I have never inquired. My husband is so

harassed with business of all kinds, that I do not trouble him with superfluous questions."

Mrs. Molyneux had hardly supposed that such supine stupidity as that of her new sister, could be incarnate in female nature.

"Just now," added Maria, finding that she did not reply," he is occupied at the College of Arms, about the registration of our change of name.'

It was now the turn of Mrs. Molyneux to reiterate" Change of name?—What change?”

"I should have said addition to our name. By his uncle's will, my husband is required to adopt that of Wraysbury."

"Of Wraysbury ?-Of an all but shopkeeper ?"—

"Such were the old gentleman's conditions. And few people would grumble at them, when accompanied by a legacy of more than a million and a half of money."

Mrs. Molyneux sat dumb and motionless. It was her first intimation of the enormous amount

of her brother's inheritance. It was her first certification of the shabbiness of her own legacy.

"My brother may not grumble at them," said she, unwilling to betray the origin of her disturbance. "But what will be my father's feelings?-Such an insult to the Woolstons of Harrals!-The old title to be merged in the obscure name of a Liverpool drysalter!”

"If we should never have another son," said Maria, timidly, "I understand that the title and estate of Harrals devolve upon some distant cousin of Sir Harry?"—

"Yes, the Wiltshire Woolstons. But you will have dozens of sons!"

'Even, in that case," rejoined her sister-inlaw, smiling at her prediction, "the family title would remain uninjured. The Wraysbury estate and name descend only to a second son or failing one, to our eldest daughter."

"To Janetta?-Little Netta actually heiress to nearly seventy thousand a year ?—I bespeak her for Edgar!" cried Mrs. Molyneux, resuming