he.

"Vulgar, to invite a man to a good dinner?" interrupted

"Consider his rank," said Clotilda. "He's not proud," urged her father. -Lissborough.'

"Look at his letter

There isn't a word about his title; he

ignores it altogether."

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True; but he would not like you to ignore it, papa." "Nor should I, 'Rina. I fancy I know how to address a nobleman; and, as Solomon, in 'The Stranger,' remarks, 'I know the respect due to exalted personages.'

"I do not doubt your respect, papa," said 'Rina; "but there are certain little points of etiquette to be observed, of which you may not be aware."

"And do you mean to tell me, that to ask him to dine with us would be against the rules of etiquette." "Yes, papa; at least I think so.”

"I should have meant it as a compliment to him; and should have thought it would have been so considered by him."

The reader will not be surprised at Julius's ignorance, though his daughters were. 'Rina feared the coming morrow; and, much as she was flattered by the duke's admiration, she would willingly have given up the honour of his purposed visit, rather than see her father expose his ill-breeding. She mused over her mother's quiet and gentle manners, and the charming delicacy of her conversation, through which good sense and pure womanly feelings shone with grace and modesty. How she longed to have that mother near her now; for 'Rina's vacillating mind required a better counsellor and guide than her father.

Clotilda spoke to her sister of Paul; and 'Rina's cheek grew deadly pale as she listened to Clo's mild arguments in favour of the absent lover.

"It would kill him were he to know he was forgotten," Clotilda said; and a shade of displeasure passed over her brow.

'Rina muttered something, and covered her face with her hands. After a while Clo' saw tears, and heard sobs; her kind heart then melted towards her sister, and, as of old, they wept together, Clo' mentioned Paul's name no more that day.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE morrow came, and the sisters rose, anxious and weary; for both of them had passed a sleepless night. 'Rina was taciturn-almost moody; and with a languid air she carelessly performed her morning toilet; she then listlessly proceeded into the apartment which served as their dining and sitting room, where Julius was lolling in a chair, perusing a Sunday newspaper.

'Rina was confounded-struck dumb at her father's appearance.

His hair, which was thin, lank, and streaked with silver threads, had been tortured into little spiral curls; which were set in prim rows around his bullet-shaped head. His whiskers and moustache (dancers, unlike actors, are permitted to wear those manly appendages), were also crisp and curly. A neckcloth, of vivid brightness, into which was stuck a pin of questionable lustre, encircled his throat. His waistcoat of purple silk velvet, with showy buttons; his drab trowsers, strapped tightly under his boots, together with that crowning mark of vulgarity, in morning costume-a dress coat-completes the description of Julius Cave's singular garb on this memorable morn.

The sisters made no observation on their father's outré costume, which he doubtless considered perfection. They would rather have seen him in mean and shabby attire, than thus, like a sparrow decked out in peacock's plumage. "Holloa!" he exclaimed, looking up from his newspaper; "you don't consider yourselves dressed, do you? You never intend to receive his grace in those cotton frocks!" "These are our morning gowns, papa," said Clo'.

"For goodness' sake! go directly, and take 'em off!" "After breakfast certainly, papa.”

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pop

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No, no; now this moment! fancy, if his grace were to in upon us now, and

What, at nine o'clock in the morning! papa, you are dreaming!" said Clotilda a; no calls are made till past twelve, so Mrs. Trenmore has informed us."

"What! won't his grace be here till twelve?" asked Julius, in a disappointed tone; "then I might as well have let my hair alone, for it will be all out of curl by that time.'

There are some men, and women too, who, when moving in their own spheres, are quiet natural beings, unmarked by any peculiarities of manner: but remove them into an atmosphere of society superior to their own, and they become at once changed in manner-they endeavour to ape the style of those around them; and in so doing are often metamorphosed into awkward blunderers, whose ridiculous behaviour is offensive to common sense.

Julius was so altered that his daughters could not recognize their father in the fussy, over-dressed man he had suddenly become.

How he watched the time-piece on the mantle-shelf: with what nervous longings he listened to every sound in the road. He could not read the newspaper-he had not perused a single paragraph, though he had apparently pored over its pages for upwards of an hour.

At length the finger of the time-piece pointed at a quarter to twelve; and 'Rina and Clotilda, attired in neat silk dresses, entered.

"Well!" said Julius, flinging down the paper and looking at his daughters for a few seconds; "well! I don't call that being dressed fit to receive a duke-who I believe ranks next to royalty: couldn't you have worn low dresses and short sleeves?

"Oh dear no, papa!" said Clotilda, blushing at her father's ignorance; "such are only worn for dinner or

evening dress."

he.

"Ah! another of Mrs. Trenmore's odd notions!" sneered

Why, you told me that all the ladies who go to see Her Majesty go bare shouldered and bare armed; with trains and jewels and feathers in their heads."

too;

"Yes, yes, papa; that is on drawing-room days," explained Clo'.

"Isn't this a drawing-room? Stuff! you think I know nothing, because I've never before been in London! I insist upon your putting on low frocks with short sleeves:

you're regularly smothered up in the things you have on; there's only half of you visible."

Clotilda bit her lips, and tears gushed into her eyes; while 'Rina stood pale and motionless.

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"Am I to be obeyed?" he asked, growing angry.

"We cannot obey you, papa," answered Clotilda, miłdly ; our evening dresses are white silk, trimmed with tulle and daisies, and would be quite unsuited to the present occasion."

"Put 'em on! Anything would be more becoming than those dowdy things!

Clotilda looked appealingly at 'Rina, whom she knew to be the only being who possessed influence over Julius's stubborn nature.

'Rina spoke almost hastily concerning the matter in debate; and her father sullenly yielded to, what he termed, his daughters' new-fangled notions.

'Rina would now willingly have made any sacrifice to have avoided that interview which a few hours before her vanity had tempted her so ardently to desire. Her conscience smote her for her broken promises, and her neglect of Paul's letters. She shuddered as she reflected on the hopes that had stolen into her heart, and the wild dreams that had bewildered her senses. She loved Paul truly; but her entire devotion was for her mother; for her who had suffered so much, and who had borne all her trials so patiently.

At length a brougham-a plain dark vehicle-stopped before the house. Julius, who was ensconced behind the window-curtain, darted forth, exclaiming

"He's come! his grace is come; but his carriage has only one horse, and-"

"Please sit down, papa," said Clo'.

"Hadn't I better go down stairs and receive his ?”

asked he, getting red in the face.

grace

"I don't know what to

do; I've quite forgotten the speech I'd made up."

Hush, papa! he's here," said 'Rina.

The door was opened, and the servant-girl of the house, in a scared tone, announced the visitor's name.

The Duke of Lissborough entered, and Julius immediately placed himself in the "first position."

'Happy to meet your grace-" stammered he present

ing his hand to the duke, who merely bowed, and appeared not to notice the extended hand-" most happy to have this honour, I assure your grace. Will your grace take a seat?”

"Will you do me the pleasure of presenting me to these ladies ?" said the duke, stiffly.

"Of course, your grace," said Julius, growing more confused. "I beg your grace's pardon. My two daughters -I've only two daughters-but I've three sons in Birmingham. Your grace, perhaps, knows Birmingham-capital razors made in Bir

"We will not talk of razors before the ladies," said the duke, seating himself by 'Rina.

They won't mind it a bit; they'

"I am delighted to have the opportunity of making your acquaintance," said the noble visitor, addressing 'Rina in a low tone. "How kind of you to grant me this felicity."

She slightly inclined her head; and he proceeded to make inquiries respecting her health, her professional duties, and the members of Mr. Trenmore's company, in whom he seemed to take a particular interest.

Julius at first endeavoured to edge in a word now and then, but the duke's easy manners discomposed and confounded him; therefore he was forced, somewhat unwillingly, to content himself with listening to his grace's questions, and in fidgetting about 'Rina's replies, which were always, in his opinion, quite correct-the very words which he himself would have used. He was astonished at her collectedness-why she talked to the duke as if he were a nobody; and little Clo', too, she wasn't a bit fluttered, but conversed in a steady, quiet tone, as if, through all her life, she had been accustomed to the society of the great. This was very wonderful to Julius, and for awhile almost beyond his comprehension. At last, however, he arrived at a conclusion: this admirable behaviour on the part of his daughters was the result of the very excellent mode in which he had reared and educated them.

The duke was more charmed than ever; for 'Rina's beauty bore investigation. The varied expression of her face, together with her sweet voice and soft manners, ren