illustrious houses in France: but as is generally the case with the superfluous branches of great families of that nation, he was possessed of no other patrimony than his high birth, a graceful person, and his sword.
THE church and the army are the only provisions which seem to be designed for the cadets of the noblesse. To the latter our young soldier of fortune applied himself, and soon obtained a genteel post there. In this situation the then duchess dowager of H— saw, and was captivated with our young hero.—Though her age more

than doubled his, her person was still pleasing, and her fortune so infinitely superior to his most sanguine hopes, that he did not long hesitate to accept such a splendid establishment.
THEY passed some years together, with that polite indifference, which distinguishes the married couples of high rank, in that gay nation. At length, the duchess began to grow weary, of treading the same dull circle, for so many years, and proposed, to the general they should visit one of her estates in Languedoc, and pass a summer there. Though he was by no means tired of the grande monde, nor could possibly form any very delightful idea of retirement, with such a companion as her grace, he politely assented to her request.
WHEN they had been some time in the country, the duchess hinted a desire of sending for a young lady, who was a distant relation of her first husband's, and whom she had formerly placed in a convent. This proposal was perfectly agreeable to the general. The most desirable tetes a tetes, sometimes grow languid: but the intervension of a third person in such a situation as theirs, was most devoutly to be wished for.
HER grace set out the next morning, for the convent de—, which was about five leagues from her seat, and returned in the evening, accompanied by the too lovely Charlotte D'Etree.—The general though well accustomed to the power of beauty, became suddenly captivated.—Never had he beheld such a face and form before—such simple elegance, such unaffected grace, the beauties of Venus, with Dian's modesty.
WHILE the lovely Charlotte felt at least as much surprize at the sight of him. We have already said his person was remarkably graceful, his air at once engaging and commanding; nor

was any outward ornament neglected, that could put off such a form to the best advantage.—What an amazing effect must such a figure have upon a girl not yet seventeen! who had been bred in a cloister, and had never seen, or at least conversed