Thaddeus immediately answered, "none in the world." "Then," replied her ladyship, greatly relieved by the manner in which he had received her proposal; "I will now tell you, that about a week ago, I paid visit to Lady Dundas, the widow of Sir Hector Dundas, the rich East India Director. Whilst I was there, I heard her talking with her two daughters, about finding them a proper master to teach them German. That language has become a very fashionable accomplishment among literary ladies; and Miss Dundas being a member of the Bluestocking Club, you instantly flashed across my mind. Lady Dundas was making a thousand objections against the vulgarity of various teachers whom the young ladies proposed; and I, deeming it a favourable opportunity, told her ladyship, that if she could wait a few days, I would sound a friend of mine, who knew, if he would condescend to take the trouble, would be the most eligible person imaginable. Lady Dundas and the girls gladly left it to me, and I now propose it to you."

And I," replied he, with a thousand thanks, accept the task."

"Then I will arrange every thing," returned her lady. ship," and send you the results."

After half an hour's farther conversation, Lady Tinemouth became more impressed with the unsophisticated delicacy and dignity of the Count's mind. And he, more grateful than utterance could declare, left his respects for Miss Egerton, and took his leave.

CHAPTER XV.

THE next morning, whilst Thaddeus was vainly ex plaining to his poor old friend, that he no longer possessed a regiment of horse that he could order out to try the suc cess of some manoeuvres which he had been devising, little Nanny brought a letter from the coffee house, to which he had given Lady Tinemouth the direction. He opened it and found these contents:

My dear sir! So anxious was I to terminate the af fair with Lady Dundas, that I went to her house last night. I affirmed it as a great obligation, that you would undertake the trouble to teach her daughters; and I insist, that you do not, by any romantic ideas of candour, invalidate what I have said; I know the world too well not to be convinced of the truth of Doctor Goldsmith's maxim," if you be poor, do not seem poor, if you would avoid insult, as well as suffering."

"I told Miss Dundas, that you had undertaken the task solely at any persuasion: therefore, I could not propose other terms than a guinea for each two lessons that she and her sister would receive. They are rich enough for any expense; and they made no objections to my demand, besides presenting the enclosed by way of entrance money. Thus; I have settled all preliminaries, and you are to com mence your first lesson on Monday, at two o'clock." But before then pray let me see you.

"Cannot you dine with us on Sunday? I have informa. ed Miss Egerton of as much of the affair as I think necessary to account for your new occupation. In short, good girl as she is, I thought it most prudent to set her and Lady Sara on the same scent that I have the Dundasses; therefore, do not be uneasy on that head,

"Come to-morrow, if not before, and you will give re al pleasure to your sincere friend,

ADELIZA TINEMOUTH. "Saturday morning Grosvenor place."

Truly grateful to the active friendship of the Countess, and looking at the general, who appeared perfectly happy in the prosecution of his wild schemes, Thaddeus exclaimed to himself, "by this menns I shall at least have it in my power to procure all the assistance your melancholy state requires."

On opening the enclosed which her ladyship mentioned, he found it to be a bank note for ten pounds. He felt uncomfortable both at the present, and its amount: not hav ing done any service to earn it, he regarded the money more as a gift than as a bond of engagement. Howeve he found that these feelings, with many other painful

pugnancies, must at this moment be laid aside; and with out farther self torment, he consigned the money to the use for which he was aware the Countess had intended it, namely, to provide himself with an English dress.

During these various reflections, he did not leave Lady Tinemouth's letter unanswered. He thanked her sincerely for her zeal, and declined dining with her next day, on account of leaving his poor friend so long alone; but promised to come in the evening, when he should be retired to rest. This excuse was felt by none more than Lady Sara Roos; who, having heard from Lady Tinemouth on Saturday morning, that she expected the company of Mr. Constantine to dine on Sunday, had invited herself to be one of the party. She had now seen him constantly for near a month, and to her amazement found, that in seek. ing to entrap him, she had only ensnared herself. Every word he uttered, penetrated to her heart; every glance of his eyes, shook her frame like electricity. She had now no necessity to affect softness; a young and seducing passion, imparted to her voice and countenance, all its be witching pathos.

Thaddeus was not insensible to the enchantment which this intoxicating power threw around her, but it did not reach as far as she intended. He felt she was a lovely woman, who might have affected his senses, had she been free, and his heart been as in happier days. He knew that she was a married woman; and, as he believed her to be a virtuous one, he could not credit the evidence of his feelings, which would have often whispered to him, the Janguage which her ladyship wished to convey.

When Lady Tinemouth mentioned to Lady Sara and Miss Egerton, the great favour she had conferred on the Miss Dundasses, by prevailing on Mr. Constantine to undertake the task of teaching them German, Lady Sara could hardly conceal her vexation. She was angry at the Count for his acquiescence, and hated Lady Tinemouth for having made the proposal.

Miss Egerton laughed at the scrape into which Lady Tinemouth had brought his good nature; and declared that she would tell him next day at dinner, what a mulish air of misses he had presumed to manage.

It was the youngest of these misses, that excited Lady Sara's displeasure. Euphemia Dundas, was very pretty; she had a large fortune at her disposal; and what might not such united temptatious effect on the mind of her favorite? Torn with jealousy, she caught at the mention of his coming to dinner on the morrow; and offering to be one of the party, resolved to put on all her charms, that she might make one more essay on the hitherto insensible soul of Thaddeus, before she beheld him enter scenes so likely to extinguish her hopes. Hopes, of what? she never allowed herself to inquire. She knew that she never had loved her husband, that she now hated him, and was devoted to another. To be assured of a reciprocal passion from that other, she believed was the extent of her wish. Thinking that she held her husband's honor safe as her life, she determined to do what she like with her heart. Her former admirers were now neglected and to the astonishment and admiration of the graver part of her acquaintance she relinquished all those dissipated assemblies in which she had so recently been the brightest attraction, and secluded herself whole evenings by the domestic fireside of the Countess of Tinemouth.

Thus, whilst the world were admiring a conduct which they supposed would give a lasting happiness to hersel. and her husband, she was cherishing a passion in her bosom that might prove the destruction of both.

On-Sunday evening, the Count Sobieski entered Lady Tinemouth's drawing room, just as Miss Egerton had seated herself before the tea equipage. At the sight of him she nodded her head, and called him to sit by her. Lady Tinemouth returned the grateful pressure of his hand. Lady Sara received him with a palpitating heart; and stooped her head, to remove something that seemed to incommode her foot; but this was only a feint to hide the blushes that were burning on her cheek. No one observed her confusion, so common it is for those who are the constant witnesses of our actions, to be the most ignorant of their expression and tendency.

Thaddeus could not be so completely uniformed. The frequent falling of her eye, when it met his; the unequiv ocal intonation of her voice, and sometimes the framing of

her speech, often made him shiver. He gladly obeyed a second summons from the gay Maria, and drew his chair close to hers.

Lady Sara observed his emotion with a jealous pang that she could not conceal; and pulling her seat as far on the opposite side as possible, began in silence to sip

her tea.

"Ye powers of gallantry!" suddenly exclaimed Miss Egerton, pushing away the table, and lifting her eye-glass to her eye. "I declare I have conquered! look, Lady Tinemouth; look Lady Sara! If Mr. Constantine do not better become this English dress, than his Polish horribles, drown me for a false prophetess!"

"You see I have obeyed you, madam," returned Thaddeus bowing.

"Ah! you are in the right. Most men do it cheerfully, when they know they will gain by the bargain. Now you look like a christian; before you always reminded me of some stalking hero in tragedy."

"

Yes," cried Lady Sara, forcing a smile, and ready to weep with mortification, "yes and now he exhibits a striking resemblance to George Barnwell."

Maria, who did not perceive the anger and sarcasm couched under this remark, good humouredly replied.

"True Lady Sara, but I don't care for his being in black: obedience was the thing I wanted, and I have it in his present appearance."

"Pray Lady Tinemouth," asked her ladyship, seeking to revenge herself on his alacrity to obey Miss Egerton, the cause of which her jealousy misapprehended," what o'clock is it? I have promised to be at Lady Sarum's concert by nine."

"It is not yet eight," returned the Countess, "besides this is the first time that I have heard of your engagement. I had hoped your ladyship would have spent all this evening with us.'

"No," answered lady Sara, "I cannot," and ringing the bell she rose.

"Bless me, Lady Sara," cried Miss Egerton, "you are not going? Don't you hear that it is only eight 'clock