Blanton appeared in a pink silk, very low and with short sleeves; she wore a set of emeralds, several serpentine bracelets, and a heavy chatelaine. Therese was dressed in a thin white muslin, very soft and delicate, cool, and most artistically arranged, which seemed to float about her like a snowy summer cloud. This effect was heightened by a long illusion scarf, which half concealed her beautiful arms, and wreathed about her pure white neck like vapor, and was most coquettishly worn. Mrs. Blanton wore no jewelry at all; on her bosom she had a white rosebud, and geranium leaf, gallantly given by Robert.

Papa and mamina complimented the ladies, hoped they were refreshed, said a great many kind things, and exerted themselves to be agreeable. Robert, exquisitely dressed, put on airs, looked careless and indolent-seemed rather to tolerate papa and mamma-and gave people to understand that they were really very good sort of folks in their way.

Dashwood, handsome and fastidious, was "spreading himself out," to use my brother's expression, to conquer the whole company at one sitting. Never was mortal man so brilliant and delightful before dinner, as was Dashwood on this occasion. Master Alphonse, who was dressed out quite fancifully, had a passage at arms with his "bonne," as he called the severe yellow person who presided over him. This skirmish, at first very unpromising, ended in quite a tender scene between Robert and the widow; he begging permission to dismiss the "bonne," and to assume the whole responsibility of Alphonse, and Therese earnestly declaiming that he knew nothing about managing children, and could do nothing with Alphonse at all, while the little boy ran to Robert and clung to him, as though with childish instinct he had already recognized in that gentleman his natural protector.

I say this was a tender scene, rendered with great effect, and considerably heightened by a dark background, composed of Mr. Blanton, in a pair of tight boots, looking savage, scowling, and distressingly uncomfortable. In a few minutes Therese, without any apparent effort, had her brother-in-law by two of his stiff fingers, telling him a string of anecdotes in her voluble, earnest way, while he began visibly to thaw under her genial smiles.

It is impossible for my pen to follow the graceful movements of this gifted and select company. My eyes were completely fascinated by this easy, natural, and coquettish little creature, Mrs. Blanton. She seemed to have the warmest heart, the most jocund smile, the archest ways, and

the most untiring little tongue in the world. Circling about, easy, and without the slightest effort, saying naive things with the naivest of airs, she was a very witch of a little woman. Her presence was like a charm; and people loved each other better, and had more charity for their neighbors, and their hearts were warmer, when she was in their midst.

"I say, mamma, may I ride the pony?" began Alphonse.

"The pony would run away with you, and then poor mamma would have no dear little Alphonse," said the little woman.

"No, he wouldn't; I would just hold him so, sir, and draw him this way, and saw him just so, and Sap says he would pace like the very deuce, mamma," said the little fellow, with great animation, gesticulating all the while most admirably.

Sap says! and pray who is Sap, Alphonse ?"

"Sap; why don't you know Sap? don't you know a yellow man, mamma, who lives here? He makes faces at little boys, and he says he ate up a little boy just about my size once. I tell you, mamma, he talks exactly like this Mr. Rushton; not like the dark Mr. Rushton, but like the one that sits by you so much."

"Thank you, Alphonse," said Robert, laughing.

"You are not polite, sir," said Miss Blanton.

"Well, aunty, he does talk like Mr. Rushton, and when he walks, he steps just so, exactly like Mr. Rushton."

Here every body laughed very much at Alphonse, who was walking across the room like that pink of valets, Sap.

I say every body laughed, but mamma did not laugh, for she was painfully uneasy about dinner, and actually afraid to leave the room, because Robert would not like it. He said fashionable ladies never attended to their own dinners, indeed seldom knew what was on the table till it was uncovered. Poor mamma had unbounded confidence in her son's knowledge on all subjects. She therefore sat, endeavoring to smile, while her thoughts were with the dinner, which, for aught she knew, might at that very moment be spoiling in the kitchen. Divining her forebodings, indeed, beginning to feel somewhat alarmed myself, I glided out, and found the housekeeper in a stew over the soup. She declared it was not fit for a dog to eat. She brought me a spoonful to taste, and it was awful stuff. I could liken its taste to nothing but a decoction of turpentine. I ran to mamma's room and gathered all the authorities I could find, Miss Leslie, Mrs. Randolph, and

others, and returned to the kitchen armed to the teeth.

"Have you pepper in that soup? ?" I inquired, glancing over the receipt. "Yes, missis," ejaculated the cook, wiping her face with her apron and fanning violently. "And celery seed pounded?"

She shook her head and the housekeeper revived.

I now took the unfortunate soup in hand, and before I was done with it, I am sure it was dark enough, and highly enough seasoned for the most blasé epicure. I had the satisfaction, in ten minutes, of bringing it to a clear purple color, while it emitted an odor of great fragrance. I fancy few young ladies, of a literary turn, could have finished off that unpromising soup as artistically as the humble authoress of these pages. While I stood, cookery book in hand, exulting over my soup, the dining-room servant rushed upon us to say, that Robert said it was dinner time. People never could be free and social until after dinner, and Mr. Robert Rushton desired his compliments to the housekeeper, and cook. This report spread dismay and consternation in our ranks. Every idea in the cook's head immediately took flight, and the housekeeper put men, women and children to confusion. The spirit lamps burned blue, and then expired. The soup threatened to grow cold, and poor mamma was enduring torture in the drawing-room. Having got the soup off safely, I began to exhort the discomfited housekeeper and cook to keep calm, as the worst was over. I went into the dining-room, and found matters progressing finely here. After this, I went into the back parlor to await the summons which was to test my soup. Here I found only Alphonse, riding about on papa's walking-stick, on which he seemed determined to practise until he learned enough of horsemanship to be promoted to the pony.

Dinner was announced, and Robert came through the back-parlor with Mrs. Blanton on his arm, to look after Alphonse. I followed them into the dining-room, determined to take a seat where I could be of service to somebody during the weighty ceremonies of dinner. I sat by Mr. Blanton, who wore a forlorn and benighted look, and was likely to require assistance I thought.

To my surprise Mrs. Blanton exclaimed, "What delicious soup!" and Dashwood, charming man, responded "Capital!"

The Virginia housewife, if so notable and estimable a personage should deign to read these pages, can appreciate my feelings on this occasion. She, and only

she, can know the instant relief felt by poor mamma, and the light bound which my heavy heart gave, as these delightful guests made the above remarks. I could have hugged Mrs. Blanton, and squeezed Dashwood, so grateful was I for their tribute to my culinary qualifications. Mamma gave me a bright glance, and verily I had my reward.

While we were discussing this royal purple, and most delicious soup, and papa and Mr. Blanton were talking of tobacco, Mr. Farren, our bachelor neighbor, was announced. Miss Blanton bridled up, and grew very red at the mention of his name, and Dashwood looked at Louise. The servant came in to say that Mr. Farren had dined. "What an amazingly industrious man he is," said Dashwood. "He rises by day," said Robert, "goes fox-hunting to earn an appetite for his breakfast; breakfasts on cream, boiled eggs, and cold bread; walks over his plantation until twelve; dines precisely at three, after which he visits the ladies, and amuses himself." "You have not mentioned half," said papa; "I am an oldfashioned man, and have lived full fifty years, and I have seen, in my half century, enough to know that these are the men who control the destinies of nations. These early-risers, hard-workers, strongminded, independent country gentlemen, are not bound by any clique."

"Confined by no pent-up Utica,” remarked Miss Blanton.

"Exactly," said papa, with a bow; "they are the bone and sinew of the country; they put their shoulders to the wheel, these sturdy, educated, wealthy country gentlemen, and are, in fact, the great propellers of the ship of state."

My brother looked at the servant, who changed the plates.

"Tom Farren can do more in one day," said papa, now fairly launched, and forgetting to help to fish, "than any young man of my acquaintance. I say young man, because old men work more nowadays than young ones."

"Mrs. Blanton will trouble papa," said Robert.

"I beg a thousand pardons, madam," said papa, helping neatly to fish. "May I give you fish, Miss Blanton? Mr. Dashwood, pray allow me, my dear sir, take a bit of the head-ahem-and by this great bodily exercise my young friend, Thomas Farren, stimulates his mind, and builds up, if I may so express myself, the mental and physical fabric together."

"He makes enormous crops, I understand," remarked my neighbor, Mr. Blan

ton.

"And invariably gets the highest prices.

He has, I suppose, on his plantations, upwards of three hundred slaves, who are most kindly and most admirably managed. He will be sent to Congress, sir; he must be sent to Congress, sir; we want working men in our Legislative bodies, sir; he is the kind of man we need in our high places, sir," said papa, regardless of etiquette, ladies, and Farren's position as a suitor of our sister's, and all Robert's interruptions.

"I should like to see him," said Therese, "he is quite a catch, is he not, Louise?"

"I do not know, indeed," replied Louise, blushing; "he is very handsome, and very fascinating."

"Fascinating?" inquired Robert and Dashwood in a breath.

"Yes, I should say so," said Louise, "he is somewhat reserved, but I understand he is uncommonly fascinating, and can please any body when he chooses."

"When he chooses. Oh, perhaps sohe never chose to fascinate me, Miss Louise," said Dashwood, in an under tone, to my fair sister.

"Nor me, I declare, but,"

"I wonder if he will choose to fascinate me ?" asked Therese, pouting beautifully. "I wish somebody would take the trouble to fascinate me, really."

This provoking little speech being taken by Robert altogether to himself, he began to be very mysterious indeed, and to ask Mrs. Blanton if she had ever seen a snake charming a bird. If so, she must have observed how still, and drooping, and powerless the poor bird was under the snake's all-charming eye. And she could easily imagine how delighted the poor bird would be, had he only the power to charm his charmer back again. Whereupon, Mr. Blanton dropped his fork, and savagely remarked that he had yet to learn how his sister-in-law could possibly resemble a snake in any particular.

"Brother, you have not tasted your wine!" returned Therese, laughing very much, and trying her best to reach her brother's foot, under the table. Thinking she had succeeded, this dear little woman bore down upon my unoffending toes with great strength. At the proper moment, mamma obeyed a look from Robert, and rose to leave the table. Mr. Rushton, junior, pressed the widow's hand, and saw her to the door.

CHAPTER III.

ROMANCE AND NONSENSE, WHICH, IN OLD VIRGINIA, ARE SYNONYMES.

We returned to the drawing-room, and, of course, were agreeably surprised to find

Mrs. Barbara and Mr. Farren sitting together, the old lady regaling her favored guest with some racy old anecdotes, which she always reserved for great occasions. After a highly interesting introduction of all parties, Miss Blanton selected an isolated seat, and by an adroit manœuvre, forced Mr. Farren to attach himself to her. This interesting couple sat at arm's length, Miss Willy "laying herself out" to secure Mr. Farren by every art she possessed, and Mr. Farren literally shocked at the bare idea of her attempting such a thing. Grandma's keen eyes, lifted above her spectacles, were circling around the room. She noticed the widow's bare shoulders, and exceedingly low corsage, which was only partially concealed by her cloud-like vapory scarf. She noticed the scarcely perceptible sleeve, and perfect dimpled arm, and asked me, in a whisper, if she was going to a party? "In my days," said grandma earnestly to me, girl would disgrace her family by dressing out in that way!"

"Indeed!"

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"Master Alphonse," I answered.

"Upon my word, that's a figure to bring into a gentleman's drawing-room! a varstly fine figure. I should say, that unruly lad had broken away from his nurse only harf drest. I should be constrained to surmise, in all charity, that his jacket had yet to be put on. Bless my soul, what are widows and the rest of mankind coming to !"

The gentlemen now entered, and poor Farren brightened up at the prospect of a release from Miss Blanton. But Mr. Thomas Farren was evidently sold to the lady with the emerald-eyed serpents. In vain he looked around upon those he had deemed his friends, nobody came to the rescue. They sat apart, cruelly partitioned off from every living creature, and conversation was getting low. Mr. Farren began to learn to his dismay, that he was "touching bottom." He had discussed the last new novel, the watering places, and the spring hats. He had admired the baubles on her chatelaine, and done every thing that mortal man, of iron nerve, could do under the circumstances, and Miss Willianna still hung on.

"Poor Tom Farren!" said Dashwood to Louise.

"Why poor Tom Farren ?" asked Louise, shrugging her white shoulders.

"Because he is getting to be so desperate. His glances this way are soul-harrowing. I declare Bob ought to go to his relief, and allow unhappy Blanton a word with his sister-in-law. I would take Miss Willianna myself, but--I am so fastidious in these matters you know."

Yes, I know."

"So painfully fastidious, that an hour's conversation with that interesting creature in pink, would unfit me for the remainder of my visit, nay, perhaps for life, for any rational pleasure under the sun.”

Fate had grouped the company in one drawing-room. She had given Farren over to Willianna, and Dashwood to Louise. She had perched me, diabolically, vis-à-vis to speechless Mr. Blanton, across a table of bijouterie--and she had ensconced the favored Robert snugly in an alcove with Therese. It was painfully evident to me that my vis-à-vis had only eyes and ears for his brother's fascinating relict. I had seen her trying to mollify him, by hanging about him in her half childish affectionate way; calling him brother-ever brother, and looking up to him, starch-necked and stern as he was, as her brother, her only brother. She had a way of trying to soften him by taking his hand familiarly into her little velvet palm; and stretching his long fingers one by one, over the length and breadth of her little hand, and then laying her other hand gently over it, as she talked away earnestly to him, which lapped the monster brother-in-law in Elysium. He adored her, he had adored her for years, and she was kind, and attentive, and soothing to him, because of his years of suffering and untiring love. Mrs. Blanton had a gentle woman's heart, returning ever love for love. Nobody could be kind to her without gaining her whole heart. Nobody could be in trouble without this little woman's crying as though her very heart would break. She was not brilliant, or witty, but so thoroughly good. She was coquettish, fond of dress, volatile, and childish ; but this was only from an excess of kindness, a thorough woman's nature, and a happy light heart. She could not bid her brother cease to love her, and frown upon him and turn away, and leave him in his trouble. She thought rather to turn the current of his love, and by all gentleness, and sincere affection, to make him look upon her as a sister. She knew, that while she listened to Robert's pleasant talk, he was looking intently upon her charming shoulder, and dimpled elbow, which were the only points visible from the recess, and she would have comforted him if she could.

A splendid scheme now entered my head. I determined to rescue these sufferers, Blanton and Farren! I determined to play a waltz, and thereby change every body's position, and make every body happy. I felt that it devolved upon me to play the part of the good fairy, and thus to thwart the diabolical arrangements of fate. I accordingly struck up an animated and heel-inspiring waltz, which no lover of waltzing could ever hope, even under the most fortuitous circumstances, to resist. My beloved reader, I had the supreme satisfaction of seeing Robert take Therese in his arms and wheel away with her. Then, Dashwood, with his consummate grace flung his arm about Louise, and off they went; leaving Mr. Blanton stark and stiff, sitting bolt upright in the middle of the room, like a shipwrecked man for life. I need not say that this unhappy man served also as a target for grandma's wonder, amazement, and intense scrutiny. Really, I had amused Messrs. Blanton and Farren capitally! From their countenances, I should say it was a highly hilarious amusement, to see a couple of faultlessly moustached, magnificently-limbed youngsters, flying about with their adorables in their arms.

"Do you waltz?" poor Farren asked of his pink tormentor.

"Yes, sir; with those I with particular friends."

"Do let us take a turn."

She yielded, and he took her respectfully by the tips of her elbows, and whirled off with her. The desperate Farren and the chary Willianna were dangerous navigators. They seemed to steer at random. They soon brought Robert and Therese to a dead halt, and made Dashwood and Louise wheel away for dear life. They bore down upon that rock-bound and stranded man, Blanton, and to the lookers-on he was in imminent danger. Finally, they cleared the circle, and caused grandma to open her eyes, and gather up her skirts. When they had distinguished themselves sufficiently by their performance, Mr. Farren released his pink partner, and took occasion to deposit her in a more thickly-settled part of the room, which I regarded as the most sensible part of the performance.

There was a whisper going the round of the saloons, that Miss Blanton loved Tom Farren, and that he could get her for the asking, which, I dare say, was highly probable. Her open display of preference, her silly smirking way, made Tom Farren perfectly miserable. He admired shy, retiring, modest ladies, and demonstrations unbalanced him. He was a young man of sound judgment, much

modesty and discretion, and was really hurt by Miss Blanton's attentions. Her great riches, and distinguished relations, could not tempt him. She should have bestowed them upon that handsome supercilious fellow, Dashwood, who, of all things, wanted money enough to take him to Europe.

"Pray, who is this Mr. Dashwood?" Miss Blanton inquired of me.

He is

"Mr. Dashwood," said I, " is one of the most talented young men I know. my brother's particular friend, and likely to distinguish himself some day." "Indeed! I thought him only a dandy, you know."

"On the contrary, he is anything else." "Dear me, how odd these geniuses are! One never can keep the run of them. Sometimes they are exquisites, then again they are slovens. They should adopt a uniform, for there is no telling them from other people. I slighted a lady, who, it seems, was one of them, the other day. She was so pert and disagreeable, and put on airs which I really did not think her appearance justified, and I cut her. We Virginians are so particular, you know; so I quietly gave her to understand my position, and who do you think she was? Why, Mrs. Haller, the great authoress, who was making a tour for the express purpose of studying Virginia, and the Virginians. I shall be down in her next book. I feel that I am doomed to be slaughtered by that woman's pen.

“Dreadful!" I exclaimed.

"Horrible! wasn't it? But pray, how is one to know them? I would not willingly slight them, but how am I to know them ?"

"By consummate effrontery, and unbounded assurance," said Mr. Farren, bitterly.

"Not always," said I, "sometimes they are diffident; indeed I may say they are always diffident, until they are spoilt by flattery, for which other people should have to answer."

"One thing I know," said Miss Blanton, "I shall never slight a lady with a gray shawl, large foot, mashed bonnet, and long nose again. I shall know she is a genius. Do you write poetry, Miss ?" she said, turning to me.

I quickly said "No."

"Yes, you do, now-indeed you do. Will you write me an acrostic? do oblige me, will you ?"

"You must call on Mr. Dashwood," said I.

"Mr. Dashwood, Mr. Dashwood!" cried the pink female, trying to be childish, like Therese, "will you write me a piece of poetry ?"

"I, madam! I am thunderstruck; upon my word I am thunderstruck at your request," cried Dashwood, running his fingers through his hair, and putting on a favorite porcupine look of his; "but I will confidently assert, and stoutly maintain, that if I am ever to write poetry, if there be a spark of poetry in me, such a request would instantly cause spontaneous combustion."

At this little Mrs. Blanton was seized with an uncontrollable fit of laughter, for which nobody could reasonably account.

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"But they tell me you are a poet," urged the lady, drawing a chair near him. "Long, long ago," commenced Dashwood, with a low intense voice, and a glittering vibratory eye, when first my heart shook off its swaddling clothes, I was foolish enough to dream I was a poet." I looked around me upon the heavens and the earth, and lo! the old familiar hills shone with a newer fire, and the sun's track deepened and gleamed, and the arrowy beams vibrated intensely, and there was a fervor and a glow come over creation; and still I dreamed-oh, foolish dream!-that I was a poet!"

"Did you?" ejaculated the lady in pink.

"I dreamed," continued Dashwood, his face lighting up, "that I saw with no common eye, and that I felt with a deeper and a stronger power I was not all clay, nor like this one, and that one, whose eye had none of the soul-light of mine. Oh, this blessed, intense, quivering, blissful dream! Sweeping o'er the waking heart-strings, and bringing music from the vasty deep; and there was music, gushing, swelling chords, and aerial bounding notes, floating o'er this blessed, mournful dream! Then budding thought was bursting, and latent powers were awaking, and hidden feelings were revealing; and I hugged to my heart, and guarded from the dull, unsympathizing world, my great and wondrous gift from God. I tramped on, and on, jostling the soulless, and pushing on, that I might lay my gift upon the altar. I felt neither hunger nor thirst. The body was a fetter I despised, detaining me from my great end. I longed to throw it aside as unceremoniously as I would my overcoat upon a summer's day, Miss Blanton, and press on! Herculean fellows, who hungered, and slept, and ministered to their bodies like slaves, pushed me aside. Ladies of great mental balance and bodily strength looked at my frantic efforts with a sneer, and passed proudly on, heralded by Fame. Poets, with eyes glowing with fire,-my own fire, I knew it at a glance,-followed in their wake. Fame was up at auction,