home!" she eagerly vociferated. My dear aunt, that will not do for her, cried the eldest sister; for she will ask for us all in turn, and inquire where we are, that she may go after us."66 True," said the other," and if we admit her, she is so severe and methodistical, that she will spoil all our enjoyment." "However, in she must come," observed the aunt ; for, as she is an old friend, I should not like to affront her."

66

Sandford was just going to say, "If she be an old friend, admit her, by all means;" when on looking at Lydia, who had been silent all this time, and was, he flattered himself, of his way of thinking, he saw her put her finger archly to her nose, and heard her exclaim, "I have it! there, there ; go all of you into the next room, and close the door!" she then bounded gracefully down the avenue, while Sandford, with a degree of pain which he could have scarcely thought possible, heard one of the sisters say to Byrome, "Ah! Lydia is to be trusted; she tells a white lie with such an innocent look, that no one can suspect her." "What a valuable accomplishment," thought Sandford," in a woman! what a recommendation in a wife !" and he really dreaded the fair deceiver's return.

She came back," nothing doubting," and, smiling with great self-complacency, said, " It was very fortunate that it was I who met her; for I have more presence of mind than you, my dear sisters. The good soul had seen the Ds; and hearing my aunt was ill, came to inquire concerning her. She was even coming on to the house, as she saw no reason why she should not ; and I, for a moment, was at a loss how to keep her away, when I luckily recollected her great dread of infection, and told her that, as the typhus

fever was in the village, I feared it was only too possible that my poor aunt had caught it!". Capital!" cried the aunt and Byrome!" Really, Lydia, that waseven out-doing yourself," cried her eldest sister. "Poor Carthewy! I should not wonder, if she came at all near the house, that she went home, and took to her bed from alarm !".

Even Byrome was shocked at this unfeeling speech; and could not help observing, that it would be hard indeed if such was the result, to a good old friend, of an affectionate inquiry. "True," replied Lydia," and I hope and trust she will not really suffer; but, though very good, she is very troublesome; and could we but keep up the hum for a day or two, it would be such a comfort to us! as she comes very often, and now cannot endure cards, nor any music but hymnsinging."

"Then I am glad she was not admitted;" said Byrome, who saw with pain, by Sandford's folded arms and grave countenance, that a change in his feelings towards Lydia had taken place. Nor was he deceived: -Sandford was indeed gazing intently, but not as before, with almost overpowering admiration, on the consciously-blushing object

of it.

No; he was likening her, as he gazed, to the beautiful apples that are said to grow on the shores of the Dead Sea, which tempt the traveller to pluck and eat, but are filled only with dust and bitter ashes.

"But we are losing time," said Lydia; "let us begin our French game!" Sandford coldly bowed assent! but he knew not what she said; he was so inattentive, that he had to forfeit continually; he spoke not; he smiled not ;-except with a sort of sarcastic expression; and Lydia felt conscious that she had lost him, though she knew

not why; for her moral sense was too dull for her to conceive the effect which her falsehood and want of feeling, towards an old and pious friend, had produced on him. This consciousness was a painful one, as Sandford was handsome, sensible, and rich; therefore, he was what match-seeking girls (odious vulgarity!) call a good catch. Besides, Byrome had told her that she might depend on making a conquest of his relation, Henry Sandford. The evening, therefore, which began so brightly, ended in pain and mortification, both to Sandford and Lydia. The former was impatient to depart as soon as supper was over, and the latter, piqued, disappointed, and almost dejected, did not join her sisters in soliciting him to stay.

"Well," said Byrome, as soon as they left the house, "How do you like the beautiful and accomplished Lydia ?"-" She is beautiful and accomplished; but that is all."-" Nay, I am sure you seemed to admire her exceedingly, till just now, and paid her more animated attention than I ever saw you pay any woman before."-" True ; but I soon found that she was as hollow-hearted as she is fair."-" Oh! I suppose you mean the deception which she practised on the old lady. Well; where was the great harm of that? she only told a white lie; and nobdy, that is not a puritan, scruples to do that, you know."

"I am no puritan, as you term it; yet I scruple it; but, if I were to be betrayed into such meanness, (and no one perhaps can be always on his guard,) I should blush to have it known; but this girl seemed to glory in her shame, and to be proud of the disgraceful readiness with which she uttered her falsehood."-"I must own that I was surprised she did not express some regret at being forced to do what she did, in order to prevent our

pleasure from being spoiled."-"Why should she? Like yourself she saw no harm in a white lie; but, mark me, Byrome, the woman whom I marry shall not think there is such a thing as a white lie ;-she shall think all lies black; because the intention of all lies is to deceive; and, from the highest authority, we are forbidden to deceive one another. I assure you, that if I were married to Lydia, I should distrust her expressions of love towards me ;-1 should suspect that she married my fortune, not me; and that, whenever strong temptation offered, she would deceive me as readily as, for a very slight one indeed, she deceived that kind friend who came on an errand of love, and was sent away alarmed, and anxious, by this young hypocrite's unblushing falsehood! Trust me, Byrome, that my wife shall be a strict moralist.""What! a moral philosopher ?”"No; a far better thing. She shall be a humble relying christian;-thence she will be capable of speaking the truth, even to her own condemnation;-and on all occasions, her fear of man will be wholly subservient to her fear of her Creator."

"And, pray, how can you ever be able to assure yourself that any girl is this paragon ?"— "Surely, if what we call chance could so easily exhibit to me Lydia L in all the ugliness of her falsehood, it may equally, one day or other, disclose to me some other girl in all the beauty of her truth. Till then, I hope, I shall have resolution enough to remain a bachelor."" Then," replied Byrome, shaking his head, "I must bid you good night, an old bachelor in prospect and in perpetu ity!" And as he returned his farewell, Sandford sighed to think that his prophecy was only too likely to be fulfilled; since his observation had con

vinced him that a strict adherence to truth, on little as well as on great occasions, is, though one of the most IMPORTANT, the RAREST of all virtues."

CHAPTER VII.

ON LIES OF INTEREST.

THESE lies are very various, and are more excusable, and less offensive, than many others.

The pale ragged beggar, who, to add to the effect of his or her ill looks, tells of the large family which does not exist, has a strong motive to deceive in the penury which does ;-and one cannot consider as a very abandoned liar, the tradesman, who tells you he cannot afford to come down to the price which you offer, because he gave almost as much for the goods himself. It is not from persons like these that we meet with the most disgusting marks of interested falsehood. It is when habitual and petty lying profanes the lips of those whom independence preserves from any strong temptation to violate truth, and whom religion and education might have taught to value it.

The following story will illustrate the LIES or INTEREST.