I had, my dear Mrs. Selby Never has any length of time, any variety of scene, at all effaced the dear idea, though she died many years ago. She never married; but that was not her own fault. She was addressed when near twenty, by a young gentleman of unexceptional character. She received his ail-dresses, on condition thatboth their friends approved of them. She was a visitor m town. The relations of both lived in the country. The young couple loved each other; but neither of their families, when consulted, approving the match, to the great regret of both, it was broken olF. The gentleman married, and was not unhappy. In three or four years, an-other worthy man made his addresses to Mrs. Eg — gleton. All her friends approved. She found hiiu deserving of her affection, and agreed to reward his merit, lie vvas to make one voyage to the Indies, on prospects too great to be neglected, and on his return th^‘y were to be married. His voyage was prosperous to the extent of all his wishes. He land-ed in his native country; Hew to his beloved mistress. She received his visit with grateful joy. It was his last visit. lie was taken ill of a violent fever; died in a i’cw days, delirious, but blessing her.

She and I have talked over the subject we arc upon a hundred times. In those days I was young, and had my romantic notions.

Indeed, madam! said Patty Holies. Indeed, ma-(1am! said Emily Dear, dear madam, said Kitty Holies, if it be not too bold a request, let us hear what they were.

The reading in fasliion when I was young, v,as ro-mance:—. You, my children have in that respect, fallen into hapjiier days. The present age is greatly obliged to the authors of the Sjjeetators. But tiifl became accjuainted with my dear Mrs. Ejijc-leton, wliich v.MS about my sixtecr.th year, I was over^ run with the absurdities of that unnatural kind of writing.

And how long, madam, did they hold?

Not till I was quite twenty. That good lady cured me of so false a taste: but till she did, 1 had veryhigii ideas of first impressions; of eternal constancy; of love raised to a pitch of idolatry. In these dispositions, not more than nineteen, was ni^y dear r>Tr. Shirley proposed to me, as a person Avhose character was fauitless; his offers advantageous. I had seen him in company two or three times, and looked upon him merely as a good sort of man; a sensible man iiut vihat was a good sort of man to an Oroondates? II chad paid no addresses to??;e. — he applied to my friend.s on a foot of propriety and pru-dence. They laid no constraint upon me. I con sulted my own heart But, my dear girls, what a temptation have you thrown in the way of narra-tive old age!

All of us most eagerly be sought her to go on.