"Most undoubtedly, Lady Templedale,” answered our hero, "I have to solicit, as a personal favour, the compliance which you urge so well."

"But what do you think Lady Helen would say?" objected the still irresolute Cécile.

"I am her representative for to-night, Miss Argument, and, as such, I command you to begin at once."

A second more, and St. Edmunds's arm encompassed the waist of the Saint, his hand closed upon hers, and Lady Templedale's orders were fully carried out. Nor had she any reason to regret their imperious enforcement, for never were two more appropriate partners united in that fascinating dance. Upon St. Edmunds's reputation, which was long before established, we need not dwell; but it was singular to observe how surpassing was the excellence of Cécile's début. Each shade, and strain, and modulation of the music seemed ever blending, in electric harmony, not only with her step, but with every gentle wave of her hair, of her dress, of her pliant figure, until all present doubted whether Terpsichore herself had not visited, for one fleeting hour, her votive throng.

Guardsman, when adjured by his breathless companion to pause for a second, "I have valsed with a pretty considerable number of young ladies, but never with such a partner as Is it possible that Conny has been your only instructor?"

you.

Yes, or rather, my only accomplice, as Lady Helen does not much approve of valsing."

"Some people, you know, are six whole months before they can even learn the step."

"Indeed? They must be rather obtuse, I should think," replied the laughing Cécile. "I never could see the difficulty of learning any dance."

"You have been to a ball, sometimes, of course ?"

"Once only."

"And did you not enjoy it ?"

"Oh! more than I can say."

Then, why did you never go to another." Because," replied Cécile, smiling, “because Lady Helen thought that I had over-excited myself, and that one who is not stronger than I am, had much better stay at home."

"I wish we had you out in London for a season, that's all. But I suppose you have

never thought of such a thing as that, Miss Cécile ?"

Oh! no, never," replied she, laughing. And again they started, and again they moved round as gracefully, even more gracefully than before, until the music ceased, and they were constrained to cease likewise.

Later in the evening, Cécile was obliged to accept another partner from the hands of Lady Templedale, but young Thornhill's rustic aptitude was only such as to convey to her a first impression of the disappointments from which even a ball-room is not wholly exempt. Ere long, she had most unfeignedly to declare that she was too much tired to continue, and her disconsolate danseur had the not very unusual satisfaction of standing by her chair until the music was silenced again.

Our hero, who much to the detriment of his moustache, had been intently scrutinizing these proceedings, now approached her again, and seating himself at her side, entered into a detailed account of the different and conflicting charms attributable to the leading London beauties. Cécile listened with undisguised interest as the varied loveliness of Lady Emily de

Burgh, Lady Adeliza Howard, or Lady Clementina Villiers was contrasted with the more majestic beauty of Lady Maidstone, Lady Waterford, or Lady Douro; the ever attractive dignity of Lady Ailesbury with the retiring gracefulness of Lady Newport. There is a nameless fascination in the more exalted circles of all society which, while those who have forsaken them, cannot wholly forget, those who are as yet strangers to them, will themselves experience. As St. Edmunds spoke, it seemed to Cécile, the serious, the reflective Saint Cecilia herself, as if a new world were expanding before her, all radiant with the halo of distinction and of fashion; and so far was she insensibly borne into the dream-land of her fancy, that she scarcely distinguished her neighbour's words as, with a not unfaltering voice, he whispered, in conclusion to his aristocratical synopsis :

"Yes, I have seen the exterior form of beauty often enough in London; but I had never known its full enchantment until I came to Redburn."

"I am not at all surprised to hear it," replied his artless neighbour. Though our Conny is a match for any or all of them in a ball-room,

no one can tell half her charm until they have seen her at home."

'Oh! to be sure, to be sure," resumed St. Edmunds, hastily recurring to his moustache as if surprised, and yet relieved also by this assent to what, no doubt, may have been the purport of his former observation; "nobody is prettier or better in a way than Constance, and yet

"And yet," interrupted Cécile hastily, her beaming but tremulous eye well denoting that some sudden and startling consciousness had broken upon her absent mind, "and yet, see the infliction which is awaiting her. Lord St. Edmunds, you cannot, you must not allow her to valse with Mr. Thornhill. Surely you have neglected her immoderately to-night.'

"Not so much as you may think, Miss Cécile, for I have received her distinct commands to pay my respects more particularly to you, and you know that my foremost duty is to obey orders."

"Then I trust that you will comply with mine, and rescue your luckless cousin at once from her present emergency."

There was something so earnest in the