cent arrival of Mrs. Compton might not render the admission of company inconvenient.

Mrs. Hubert changed colour as her eye glanced upon the card.

"Who is it, Agnes?" inquired the general. But Agnes, instead of answering, gave back the card to the servant with a silent movement of the head, which indicated that it was to be handed to his master.

There could hardly be a greater proof of the high consideration in which Mrs. Compton was held, than that General Hubert coloured also as he read the same; but he rallied instantly, and said, "This is Mrs. O'Donagough's card, my dear madam. Perhaps we had better send down word that we are engaged? You are too recently arrived to wish for company."

"Decline seeing Mrs. O'Donagough on my account, General Hubert!" said the old lady, with a smile of ineffable sweetness. "Oh! no-I would set off for Compton Bassett again instantly, if I believed such a thing possible. I do assure you I shall be delighted to see her. I consider her coming just now as peculiarly fortunate." "Desire Mrs. O'Donagough to walk up, "said the general.

"This is quite an unexpected pleasure," said Mrs. Compton, turning towards Agnes. "I assure you I feel quite curious to see her." This was said so naturally, and moreover it appeared so very likely that the old lady might feel curious to see her travelled niece, that Mrs. Hubert was perfectly restored to composure by the assurance, and rose to receive her aunt and cousin with as little repugnance as if she had been alone.

This entire composure was, however, a little shaken by the ardour of Mrs. O'Donagough's approach, who rushed forward with the same warmth of rapture that marked the first interview with her beloved Agnes upon her arrival; and it required very considerable self-command on the part of Mrs. Hubert, to endure, without wincing, the long close hug bestowed upon her, conscious the while that aunt Betsy's eye was fixed upon her, and the capacious mass by which she was enveloped. At length, however, she was released; and then, with the sweet gentle gracefulness which could not forsake her, even when withdrawing from the arms of Mrs. O'Donagough, she said, "Give me leave, Mrs. O'Donagough, to introduce you to our aunt Compton. It is so many years since you met, that it is probable neither would now recollect the other."

Mrs. O'Donagough started a little, but immediately put herself in an attitude of great dignity, while, probably to the astonishment of all parties, Mrs. Compton rose from her chair, and placing her hands before her, made the lowest possible courtesy, saying, as she did so, with a most courteous smile, "You wrong my memory, niece Agnes; and, as I should surmise, that of Mrs. Barnaby O'Donagough also. We are neither of us cast in moulds so common as to be easily forgotten. For myself, at least, I can declare with all sincerity, that I should have recognised this lady as the daughter of Miss Martha Disett in any part of the world."

"Well, ma'am, and I believe I can say as much for you," replied Mrs. O'Donagough, ceremoniously returning the courtesy.

"You should have known me for Miss Martha Disett's daughter!" retorted the old lady, in her gayest voice.

"No, ma'am, certainly not," replied the swelling Mrs. O'Donagough, filling a good-sized sofa with her presence as she spoke. "I could hardly have mistaken you for my mother's daughter, I think. But I should have known you for my father's sister any where."

"I thought so, I thought so. And pray is this beautiful young lady your daughter, ma'am?" said the whimsical spinster, fixing her looks upon Patty with a mixed expression of wonder and admiration.

Mrs. O'Donagough looked for a moment as if she did not quite know what she would be at; but her internal conviction of Patty's extreme beauty, and the indisputable glory of maternity which she knew attached to herself, and which now, for the first time, was displayed before the (of course) envious eyes of her old aunt, speedily restored her complacency, and she replied with an air that perfectly enchanted the old lady," Yes, ma'am, this young lady is my daughter, Miss Martha O'Donagough; as remarkable, I beg to assure you, for the accomplishments of her mind, as for the beauty of her person. Though I bring her up with the very greatest care, to prevent any thing like vanity entering her head, I don't scruple to allow that she is handsome before her facebecause she well knows that handsome is as handsome does. Her excellent father, who is one of the best and most thoroughly gentlemanlike men in the world, has always taught her to understand that beauty is of no consequence whatever in comparison to good behaviour.'

"What a treasure she must be !" cried Mrs. Compton, gently but fervently; "and so beautifully dressed too! It is easy to perceive, Mrs. Barnaby-O'Donagough I mean, that she is a young lady of great fortune."

Yes, ma'am, thank God! The days are gone and over with me when I wanted any body's help-Mr. O'Donagough is a man of fortune, and in every way a gentleman."

"Indeed, ma'am, it seems to me that you are the most fortunate lady in the world," said Mrs. Compton, gravely.

"And so I am, ma'am, and no thanks, I must say, to any body but my own good conduct and knowledge how to conduct myself. However, I am willing, if other people are, to let bygones be bygones-and only to remember that my relations are my relations, without raking up any disagreeable old stories about what's past."

"I am sure, Mrs. O'Donagough," replied the old lady in what might be almost called a voice of contrition," I am sure we must all be very wicked people indeed, if we returned such generosity on your part with ingratitude. I am grown older, and I hope wiser than I was, Mrs. O'Donagough, when I saw you last, and I hope my conduct will give proof of it.'

46

Well, ma'am, it is never too late to mend," replied the large lady, bestowing a sort of encouraging nod upon the little one, whose figure, by comparison, hardly seemed to exceed the proportions of a fairy; "I dare say we shall get on very well together. And as you took such a fancy to my niece Agnes, because she was pretty, it's likely enough you may do the same by my daughter; and if you do, you will find her every thing that a gentleman's daughter ought to be, and as kind and civil to you as if you were as handsome and smart, and young as herself. Go over, Patty, and kiss your aunt Compton."

The young lady rose, and so did the old lady also; but no one, save Mrs. Hubert, in the least degree, comprehended her feelings.

"No, no, young lady!" she said, waving her off with her hand, and walking with a quick step towards the door as she spoke. "No, no, no! I know better than to let the kisses of a young beauty be wasted on a little hunchbacked old woman like me! You must let me look at you, and admire you, which I am sure I shall do without ceasing. But as to kissing-no, no, no!—the young lady knows better than that."

With these words she slipped out of the room, and took refuge in one on the same floor, to which she had been already introduced as her own.

"What a funny old woman!" cried Miss Patty, a little before the door was closed after her.

66

"Hold your tongue, child!" said Mrs. O'Donagough, rather sotto voce ; as we have made up all our old quarrels so well, I shan't let you put your own nose out of joint by any pertness, remember that. How wonderfully well the old lady takes care of herself!" continued Mrs. O'Donagough, addressing Mrs. Hubert. "I declare I think she looks better than ever she did in her life. By the by, my dear Agnes, what was all that stuff she told us, about her being as rich as a Jew? Don't you remember? I suppose it was all a joke, wasn't it?"

"Mrs. Compton is too generous to be very rich," replied Mrs. Hubert, gravely.

"What, she stills gives away all her little substance to beggars, does she? She need not have lived like a toad in a hole in her own farmhouse as she did, if she hadn't turned her back upon her own relations, and given all she had to make herself a name among the poor. Your wife comes of a very good family, General Hubert, little as that queer old soul may make you think so."

"I am fully aware, Mrs. O'Donagough, of Mrs. Elizabeth Compton's claims to respect in every way," replied General Hubert, with some stateliness.

"Oh! dear me! I didn't mean to doubt it, sir-I know too well what a gentleman is, to have any question of it. My own Mr. O'Donagough will, I am quite sure, conduct himself towards her exactly upon the same principle. But it is quite right, nevertheless, for the credit of the family, that you should, both of you, know that notwithstanding her unaccountable queer looks and ways, she is a born gentlewoman."

"Believe me, madam, I have never doubted it," replied General Hubert, rising as if to leave the room.

"Will you excuse me, aunt," said Agnes, rising also, "if I leave you now to go to Mrs. Compton? She is but just arrived from town, and may require some attention after her journey."

"To be sure, my dear, you are quite right. I never preach what I don't practise. Let us all be attentive to the poor old soul. I am sure, if she behaves but decent, I don't want ever to quarrel with her again. Come along, Patty. We shall find our party at the library, I suppose. I hope, my dear Agnes, that you, and the general, and Elizabeth, will all give us the pleasure of your company to tea and a sandwich some evening. Aunt Betsy seems so mighty brisk, that perhaps she may