embracing Lady Annandale à la Française, said she hoped that, as an old friend of Lord Annandale, and a still older friend of la chérie Caroline Mon Tresor, as she always calls me, la belle Lady Annandale would not consider her a stranger. The glance-half menace, half reproach-which sa seigneurie bestowed on Annandale, when she thought herself unobserved, unfolded their whole position, past and present, to me, as fully as if it had all been written in legible characters: and it was comical to see him, in order to conciliate la comtesse, looking as compunetious as possible for having wedded a lovely

woman.

It strikes me that Lady Annandale is more beautiful than ever, and I can already perceive that she creates a wonderful sensation here. I can also perceive that madame la comtesse has been the love of Annandale, who has per

suaded her, I'll be sworn, that his marriage was one of convenance; and she, who has vanity enough to believe all that administers to its gratification, has taken his statement au pied de la lettre. I fancy her saying to her friends, 66 ce pauvre cher Annandale: il m'adore toujours, mais il est forcé de se marier, pauvre homme! Comme cela doit le chagriner! elle n'est pas du tout jolie. Il m'a avoué, enfin, qu'elle est bien laide, mais très riche." Don't you fancy her repeating this to all her coterie - and then, the brilliant beauty of Lady Annandale breaking on her without any preparation! I would not be milord at the next interview for something; as notre frau grafinn is apt to be energetic in her demonstrations of dissatisfaction, when deceived by any of her adorers.

She has not grown younger since we saw her last; au contraire, she looks haggard, and

fanée; but, all that she loses in natural charms she endeavours to supply by artificial substitutes, and resembles a piece of mosaic well put together. I, rather spitefully, talked of some of her admirers at Vienna; and in that tone of badinage in which you have sometimes flattered me I excel. She looked abashed; for she has, I conclude, been persuading Annandale that he alone has ever stood high in her good graces. I can per

ceive that it is the fashion attached to her position, and not her charms, which has won his homage; but this is not a rare occurrence here, Englishmen being more vain of the preference of a dame à la mode, however plain, than of that of the most perfect beauty who is not en vogue. What a contrast is there between the young and blooming Augusta, with her sylph-like figure, graceful movements, and

sparkling countenance, and this mature Teu

tonic Calypso!

La comtesse affects a grande tendresse for me; so I conclude that she wishes to make

use of me in some way or other: we shall see, by and by. The laissez-aller of her manners seemed to astonish more than please Lady Annandale, who drew up with an air of offended dignity, very like that usually resorted to, on similar occasions, by her prudish friend, Lady Delaward. Notre frau grafinn was, however, quite insensible to this assumption of matronly decorum; - she regards as little as ever the opinions which others may entertain respecting her. I think, that to this open and contemptuous indifference as to whether she conciliates their esteem, or respects their prejudices, she owes her popularity with my compatriots; who are, in gene

ral, prone to yield their suffrages to those candidates who appear the least eager to obtain them. Of that unreformed borough, "good society," the most effective members are often those who are most independent of the electors. La comtesse is, consequently, at the head of the most fashionable, if not reputable, circle. Pleasure is the order of the day, which they enter into, here, with a business-like sort of perseverance in the pursuit, that proves they have indefatigable energies, if not wisdom. Amusement (as our social efforts to repel the enemy ennui are conventionally denominated), which on the Continent is partaken of gaily and airily, is here a very serious affair; and laboriously occupies the attention of those who, in place of abandoning themselves to it with the cheerfulness of foreigners, pursue it, much as sportsmen do a fox, with no little risk, and still less enjoyment.