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This was indeed a day of enjoyment to Agnes. The King shortly entered upon the parade. How happy, thought Agnes, must be such a King, surrounded with such a people; with what cheerful hearts, what sincere affection, what ardent loyalty is he received by the thousands around him. Happy monarch, happy people.

self to an officer amongst the company, told him to take the head of the table. One of the company inquired after the health of Sir George.-"I expected him to dinner," replied Lady Beachcroft, “for he was invited; but he is gone elsewhere I suppose." Agnes could not but stare."This is indeed the mode," said she.

The greater part of the company were

cording to custom, when in her proper sphere, was the life and soul of all around

Several gentlemen rode up the carriage with compliments to Lady Beach-in high spirits, and Lady Beachcroft, accroft upon her return to town. Amongst these her Ladyship made a party to dinner after the review, and the play in the even-her. Agnes, Miss Beachcroft, and herscif ing. Agnes could scarcely repress her sur- were the only ladies. This appeared someprise at the unrestrained manner in which what strange to Agnes.-The conversation Miss Beachcroft gave and returned their was still more strange and scarcely in some railley. A young officer, in particular, of its parts intelligible, so full was it of the seemed so peculiarly gratified with her re-jargon of the day. appearance in the world, that Agnes almost imagined him her fover, only that she scarcely knew how to reconcile this conjecture with her declared engagement to Sir Tony.

It was not till a late hour that they left|| the Park. Agnes had the envied honour of peculiar notice from more than one of the royal family. The royal carriage, passing that of Lady Beachcroft, Agnes, in the eagerness of youthful curiosity, regarded it with such fixed attention, that the King could not avoid looking in turn at the lovely girl, and remarked her uncommon beauty to the general officers who rode by his side. Every one, as if by one motion, looked in the face of Agnes, who perceiving herself an object of this general gaze, was sinking to the ground in confusion. It was necessary to mention this circumstance, as, however trifling in itself, it added to the importance of Agnes in the beau monde, as from that moment she was distinguished by the name of the Cornish beauty.

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“Who was that d-d figure of a tun,” said Captain Gorget, (a Captain in the Guards,) addressing himself to Miss Beachcroft; "that witch of Endor, in the next coach to your Ladyship's mother's?Damme, if her looks did not petrify me to stupidity. I could not shut my mouth for wonder, by G-d."

"For shame," said Miss Beachcroft with an encouraging smile, "why, that lady is the Duchess of M--, she whose charities are as far-famed as those of the Man of Ross."

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Why don't she shut herself up in one of her old castles then," continued Gorget, "and not come forth to frighten us honest fellows. The d-1 brimstone me, if I bave recovered myself yet. But what have you done with little Tony, hey,-d-n him, bas he broke his neck off one of his horses yet."

Agnes sat fixed in amazement that Miss Beachcroft would deign to answer such mingled impiety and impertinence.

purity of conversation, one must take up with a boy from the plough. I must own they swear a little too much, but then the mode is to be afraid of nothing, and least of all of Heaven,

"Lord bless me, my dear," said she in In her invitation to her guests, as an ex-reply to a whispering reproof, “the men of cuse for the shortness of the notice, Lady || fashion are all alike, and if one wants Beachcroft had told them to expect only a family dinner. It was with some surprise, therefore, that upon descending to dinner Agnes beheld arepast of a luxury, splendour, and variety, to which she had been but little accustomed.-Lady Priscilla had preferred a simple plenty to the epicurean profusion of a London table.

It was with almost equal surprise that Agnes observed that Sir George was not present. Lady Beachcroft addressing her

"But what do you think of that Gentleman, Agnes," continued she; I have seen him look at you more than once in a very earnest manner?"

"Who is he "said Agnes; "he seems ta me a very bold confident looking man."

"And I can assure you, my dear, he does not at all belye his looks. Why, that is the famous Sir Harry Mirabel, one of the finest men, and if report says true, the most accomplished and successful of rakes. His opinion is the standard of beauty, elegance, and fashion. Let him only declare that you are beautiful, and you in the same instant almost become a toast. His fortune is very ample, and enables him to support his character with a good equipage, which is almost every thing.-He has only one fault, I think, he is so intolerably bold, so abominably false, and so inconceivably vain. As I am alive here he comes to exchanged chairs with Gorget."

"I pity him, indeed," said Agnes, "has his banker broke?"

"No, not that," said Lady Beachcroft. "It seems an old friend, and school-fellow of Sir Harry's, invited him down to spend a month or two at his house; and the wife of this old friend happened to be a woman of some beauty, and so Sir Harry seduced her. They say the husband is one of those sentimental boobies who talk of injured peace, violated friendship, rights of hospitality, and so forth, and he has unluckly enough persuaded the jury to be of the same opinion, for seven thousand pounds damages have been given against Sir Harry. And Sir Harry, to do him justice, has paid them without a murmur, but with the perfect grace of a man of the mode."

"I do not wonder at that, mamma," said Miss Beachcroft, "for they say the lady is

Indeed she had scarcely concluded this character or eulogy of him, before he seated himself, and staring Miss Beachcroft full in the face with an opera-glass, though not three feet asunder, at length exclaim-very handsome, and the success of this ed, "Thus cherubs grow to angels. Efaith, child, you have not visited Cornwall in vain, for your beauty is no less improved than the fashions of the present day."

"Nonsense," said Miss Beachcroft, striking him somewhat smartly with her fan, you are as extravagant as ever."

“As just you mean, I presume," replied be; “nay, I appeal to this lady,-madam," continued he, addressing himself to Agnes, "is it not more just to feel and acknow. ledge the power of all sovereign beauty, than to withhold from it its merited tribute of general adoration?"

As Agnes did not understand him, she was somewhat embarrassed in what manner to answer, but was saved from that necessity by Miss Beachcroft, who continued the dialogue with equal flippancy. Agnes saw that Mirabel was one of those coxcombs, who abuse an excellent understanding to the purposes of general gallantry, and who content themselves with the easier fame of being a fop, when nature has intended them for far superior characters.

Upon the ladies withdrawing to the drawing room, Lady Beachcroft repeated to Agnes the question of her daughter, what she thought of Mirabel. "But you do not now see him in his full spirits, as he has lately had a great loss, seven thousand pounds at once."

intrigue has gained him I can assure you a no inconsiderable degree of reputation."

The conversation was here interrupted by the entrance of Mirabel. The surprise of Agues was great that the knowledge of his character did not render him less wel

come.

"Lord bless me, my dear," said Miss Beachcroft in reply to a remark upon this subject, "how intolerable would the world of fashion be, if it were governed by the same prejudices as you good country folks. How is Mirabel less agreeable to us because others have found him the most agreeable

of men?

Every one acknowledges that he is the most accomplished of men, and as to his being a profligate, what is that to us? Evil communications, may be a good maxim in the country, but in the fashionable world would cut every one off from their next door neighbour."

The coaches were now at the door, and

accompanied by Mirabel, the party departed for the theatre. The mind of Agnes was as yet so occupied with the novelty of her situation, that it was less open than it otherwise would have been to extraneous observation."

Upon entering the theatre, Agnes was dazzled with the splendour of the lights, painting, and profusion of decoration; and when the music struck up, in her confusion she was scarcely sensible of her

situation. The play was The Trip to Scar- turned round, and again encountered the borough. Agnes was astonished at the looks of the stranger. Agnes again trembled, licentiousness of the plot, of which Mira-and refixed affrighted to the back part of

bel himself appeared sensible, as he endeavoured, for purposes best known to himself, to fix her attention upon the most exceptionable parts. Agnes only replied by averting her head another way, but Miss Beachcroft, who was a perfect girl of fashion, smiled, blushed, and rebuked him with slight taps of her fan.

"It is no wonder," thought Agnes, " that the town should everflow with libertines, when such comedies as this are presented at the theatre.-What is the hero of every comedy but a Mirabe!? It is in vain that conjugal infidelity is so justly punished in our courts of law, when it is so scaudalously propagated by the seductive example of the theatre."

Whilst Agnes was making these remarks, Miss Beachcroft, in compliance with the mode, was talking so loud, and with such evident disregard of the performers, as had already excited the indignation of her less fashionable neighbours in the gallery.Turning to Agnes rather abruptly, "I congratulate you, my dear, upon your conquest," said she.

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Yes," said he, "when I am in the humour."

"Then I wish you would commit that fellow to gaol for six months."

"What has he done?" demanded the Baronet.

"Why, he stares so impudently," said she, "he has put Miss Harrow by out of countenance."

"I am afraid," replied Sir Harry, "that I can do nothing in this affair, for there is no act of parliament against looking at a beautiful woman. However, you may have your revenge on him; for you have only to look on him in return, and strike him blind by your overpowering ¡adiance." "The fellow is so ugly," said she, “or [ might try what I could do.”

In the mean time the play was over, and as the farce was a most vile one; Lady Beachcroft arose to depart. Agnes again cast her eyes into the pit, and again for a third time encountered those of the Upon my conquest ?" said Agnes. stranger. Her terror was now so great, "Yes," continued Miss Beachcroft, that she was compelled to support herself "there is a fellow in the pit has had his by the arm of Sir Harry, who, enraptured eyes on you the whole night, I scarce-with this unexpected concession, made no ly know what to make of him. He sits on the third bench from the orchestra, and almost exactly in the middle. You cannot fail to see him for his eye is not a moment off you."

inquiries into the cause, and Agnes herself was too much confused, to explain. Her affright was increased when Miss Beachcroft whispered her that her admirer, as she pleasantly called him, had arose, and was following her out of the theatre.

Agues cast her eyes on the pit, and with some confusion met the glance of the Every moment did Agnes expect to see stranger, who gazed on her unmoved. him approach and address her, and so terAgnes withdrew her eyes but not before sherified was she by the ferocity of his looks, had impressed on her mind the singular image of the man. His dark countenance was evidently that of a foreigner, his eyes were black and piercing, and the tout ensemble of his demeanour was that of a villain. Agnes shuddered as she encountered his

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that she was almost ready to sink with the apprehension of seeing him nearer her. She gained the coach, however, without any interruption, though she had scarcely taken her seat, before she saw him appear; he appeared evidently to have lost sight of her, and the coach drove off without her being again seen by him.

[To be Continued.]

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TUNICATUS, from tunica, a garment. 1. Membranis vestitus.-LINNUS. 2. Clothed with membranes.-MARTYN. 3. Wrapped in, or consisting of many coats. BERKENHOUT.

4. Not in LAMARK OF BRISSEAU-MIRBEL.

XXVIII. CHINKY, CHINKED, RIMOSE (rimosus), abounding with cracks, clefts, or chinks, as Quercus robur.

NOTES.

SUBEROSUS, from suber, a cork.

1. Cortice exteriore molli elastico indutus, LINN EUS.

2. Not in MARTYN, who explains suberosus as if a little eaten, or guawn, nor has he the word suber, or cork, in his language of botany.

3. If I had not found this term applied to leaves, I should have been apt to derive it from suber, a cork, and not from sub and erodor, to be eaten into, and explained it accordingly. When applied to the stem it certainly means that the bark is soft and elastic like cork. BERKENHOUT.

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4. Not in SMITH.

5. Not in LAMARK or BRISSEAU-MIRBEL.

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