cheek, trembling lip, and tearful eyes, prevented even my giddy self from attending to aught else. The children of the school that Mary founded here, all attended at the church, headed by their mistress, and in their Sunday clothes, each carrying a bouquet. The clergyman who performed the ceremony is the same who baptised Mary; and he read the service most impressively. She repeated the words in a clear and firm voice, as if she wished all present to hear her; and when Lord Delaward placed the ring on her finger, she looked at the monument of her mother, as if to beseech the blessing of her whose remains are reposing beneath it. Tears were continually stealing down the cheeks of Lord Howard; his thoughts appeared to be divided between the wife he had lost, and the child he was then resigning.

When we left the church, the children presented their bouquets to Lady Delaward, and our carriages were nearly filled with flowers, as, followed by the blessings of the poor, who all assembled to see their benefactress, we returned to Howard Castle.

The déjeuner, though a very splendid one, was little honoured by the appetites of the guests. The father and daughter were too much affected to admit of any thing like cheerfulness in those around them. When the repast had terminated, and Lord Delaward's carriage was announced, Mary affectionately reminded my father and mother of their promise to remain at Howard Castle, until the day her father is to set out to join her at Delaward Park, where we are also invited.

The parting between Lord Howard and Mary was truly affecting, and the more so

all

that it was evident each had endeavoured, for the sake of the other, to suppress manifestation of emotion. When the carriage of the bridegroom drove away, Lord Howard entered his study, followed by my father and mother, who shared his grief, if they could not remove it; and they are all three, at this moment, talking over the happy prospects of the new-married couple. The tenantry and the poor have been plentifully regaled in the park; so that, while within the castle all has been melancholy, the greatest hilarity prevails without.

I have now written you an epistle as large as the Times newspaper with a supplementary sheet, for which you ought to be very thankful, as I heve not been in an epistolary mood. I must be present at the marriage of some madcap like yourself, to remove the impression produced on me by that which I have

just witnessed; and to bring me back to the comfortable belief, which you have tried to inculcate, that it is only a ceremony established to give ladies the power of obtaining homes and wardrobes, diamonds, and new carriages, and various other delightful things, too numerous to name: and all this good only taxed with the appendage of ahusband. Your affectionate friend,

AUGUSTA VERNON.

MISS MONTRESSOR TO THE LADY A. VERNON.

Your

Do you know, ma chère, that you are growing quite romantic and sentimental. whole description of the marriage of your sober-minded friend was worthy of some lachrymose novel, and not at all like your usual léger style; which I am candid enough to acknowledge that I prefer. Lord Dela

ward seems to be a sort of modern copy of Sir Charles Grandison; and presents himself to my imagination in a court-dress, with a chapeau-bras. I am sure that he and his bride will be models of domestic felicity, doing all the good in their power, and avoiding all the evil; superintending their household, establishing charity-schools, setting the best examples, and, content to "live in decencies for ever," arrive at a good old age, the slaves to what they call their principles; but, which, in dear France, where my happiest days have been past, we designate by another and a better name

prejudices.

I almost begin to despair of making any thing of you, chère Augusta, while you are so easily influenced by those around you. You resemble the chameleon, which is said to take the colours of whatever it is brought in contact with. This must not be. Influence