if the current account is to be credited, is almost—for nobody it seems can be quite—as bad as yourself.
Fear not however but some good will work out of this. I shall be upon my guard, and I am very much mistaken if I do not know of whom to be watchful. I only remark at present, that as it was said of ALEXANDER the best trait in his fortune was the choice of his tutor, so I most sincerely believe that you would, at this moment, have been thought immaculate if the same could be said, with the same truth, of yours.
I am, sir, Your very sincere friend, EMMA DISTICH.
P. S. I have this moment heard that your brother is to be married in a few days, and that Mrs. O'Shocknesy, who assumes the title of Lady Dowager Hazard, is coming to live with the happy pair.

'This girl,' said Figgins, 'with her whimsical style, has more good sense than all of them put

together. Her reading has been like the progress of a bee; she has selected all the sweets, and left the poison behind: and it proves that her intellects are remarkably strong, for she seems to have gathered as much mundaine knowledge by inference as others from worldly commerce; and this is well exemplified in her being too cunning for Mr. Gloss, who indeed seems to be the director of this plot. I wonder upon what terms he and the Lady Dowager are.'

'She is a very good girl,' said Charles, 'and I am afraid her solicitude for me will deprive her of her place.'

'I fear so too,' said Figgins, 'for she does not disguise that she dislikes Gloss, who will take advantage of her being upon a false scent to get rid of her; for her suspicions of Mr. Standfast, notwithstanding his scandalous letter, are surely ill grounded. This will be found out, and she will be turned away as a mischief-maker. But for this mistake, the remarks in her letter would have been very shrewd and sensible; but her dislike to Standfast is of ancient date. He made pretty brisk love to her when he was in the family of Major Malplaquet, and, upon her resisting his

inclinations, he did not place in her virtue that implicit belief that it merited.'

'I should think that would inspire her contempt,' said Charles, 'rather than her revenge. However, I cannot help thinking as you do that Mr. Standfast has given no assistance to