"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower which smiles to-day,
To-morrow may be dying."

"I AM quite tired," said Laura, seating herself in her boudoir, after dinner, as she rang for her maid, Angelique, to consult about her dress for the coming ball.

"Oh, Mademoiselle Laura, the news has already reached us in the servants' hall, through Mrs. Bell, that you are going to the ball; et je suis charmée de l'entendre; and how pretty you will look, vous avez tant de gaieté de cœur."

..

Oui, oui, Angelique; mais vous savez bien, que je n'aime pas la flatterie. You must arrange a pretty, simple dress. Mamma wishes it to be white."

"I shall do my best, Mademoiselle, à vous contenter."

"Have you seen Mr. William Catchstraw, the lawyer's son, since last Sunday? Do tell me, Angelique, what he said when you told him how my nights were

C

disturbed by the braying of his donkey. I get so little sleep that I am wholly unfit for any occupation by day."

“He remarked having received some lines, and he is quite sure they came from you, Mademoiselle, they are so clever. I hear that he considers you only can be the author.”

"Well, Angelique, he is quite correct in his suspicions, and having kept a copy of them, you may read them to me."

Oh, Donkey! donkey! do not bray,
But mend your pace and trot away;
Indeed, I cannot bear your roar,
So go, good ass, to your master's door.

For your loud noise I get no sleep,
You wake me ere the sun doth peep;
So I'm resolved to go to law,
E'en though your master find a flaw.

I would you were a poor man's ass,
Obliged to labour for your grass;
We should by day, at least, have rest,
And you would be far less our pest.

But now I've done; poor ass, adieu !
I send these simple lines to you;
But should you offer them at large,
I will not six-and-eightpence charge.

"They are so good, Mademoiselle Laura," said Angelique, "that even Joe, the gardener, would laugh at them."

"Well, is there anything so strange in a smil from Joe?" inquired Laura.

"Oh, no! Mademoiselle, only-only-that-that -poor Joe does not often smile.”

"I hear strange news about you and Joe," said Laura, "and that we are likely to have a rural wedding some day, Angelique. Surely you will never marry a man so much older than yourself, with poverty to crown all ?"

"Oh, Mademoiselle!" said Angelique, "C'est l'amour, c'est l'amour;" and she courtesied, and left her young mistress to ponder upon the various changes which were about to take place even in a cottage. Laura knew her own heart was not insensible to the many pretty things Major Spencer had at various times said to her; and though he was so much her senior, yet she felt a preference for him. she had not dared to acknowledge even to herself.

"I hope Laura will fully realize all she has anticipated," said Mrs. Lockyer to Ellen, as the carriage drove off to convey the happy débutante to Mrs. De Tracy's, who was with her young charge awaiting the joyous girl's arrival. Laura's entrée into the ball-room made quite a sensation.

"What an air enjouée has that fine girl with such luxuriant golden hair," said Captain Selby to Mrs. De Tracy, when they had been some time in the ball-room. "I am determined to dance with her. I should like to be in her train. She has such fine sleepy eyes, faultless features, and moveless sym

metry; and then her frank, equalizing manner and good-natured style of conversation are very pleasing and must charm."

"Of whom are you speaking in such raptures? inquired Maria De Tracy. "Of Laura Lockyer? She is a fine girl, but beware! The on dit is, that she is all but engaged; so keep your heart safely guarded!"

Mrs. Lockyer and Ellen had determined to await Laura's return from the ball. The latter, addressing her mother, observed, that in her opinion that night would decide Laura's choice for life.

"Indeed, my dear! you surprise me. What do you mean?" said Mrs. Lockyer.

"Oh, nothing more than I am sure Major Spencer admires Laura, and she has no objection to him, and his handsome person; 'Besides, £15,000 per annum is not to be despised in our days.' This we have all heard her say in badinage; but I have known to whom she has alluded. Again, Major Spencer has often spoken to me of my sister, and I have as often evaded his inquiries."

"She is far too young for love notions," said Mrs. Lockyer; "and I have a higher opinion of Major Spencer's judgment and prudence than to suppose he will strive to win the affections of such a child by comparison to his age."

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Why, mamma dearest, you were married at Laura's age."

"Yes, but in my day girls were earlier introduced, and were made useful members of society when very

young. And again," continued Mrs. Lockyer, “I had no kind mother to watch over and counsel me; I was left wholly to guardians, and passed my youthful days mostly at school; I was, as you may suppose, glad enough to fly from such constant restraint. I am inclined to send Laura from home for twelve months, before she comes out into general society."

"I fear you cannot carry out this desire," said Ellen, "for you well know how disappointed dear old aunt Dorothy would be if her favourite niece and god-child were absent on her arrival; and also how indispensable Laura will be to her comfort, inasmuch as she can be her aunt's companion, when you and I have each our various occupations, incident to our relative positions in life.”

"True, true, my love; and when I offered your dear father's sister my home, it was with a sincere desire to make her happy, and to alleviate sufferings peculiar to her malady and old age."

"She was a very favourite sister of my dear father's, I believe?" added Ellen. "I remember he often spoke of aunt Dorothy as a superior being very clever and extremely lovely in early days; at twenty-eight she was to have been married to an officer in the army, who was killed at Waterloo. She has never really recovered the shock her nervous system sustained; many have sought her hand, and met with a refusal."

"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Lockyer, "and I hope she will now end her days with us at the Retreat."