had better fit quiet, and recover your felf." Then foftly flipping towards the door that opened into the drawingroom, the gently pushed it so far open, as should secure her a speedy retreat, in cafe Julia, whom fhe now faw to be quite light-headed, fhould fuddenly become outrageous.

Julia on her part confidered the behaviour of Mrs. Villers as no lefs unnatural and extraordinary. Many and various were the descriptions she had read of the behaviour of parents on discovering a long-lost child, but nothing to equal the conduct of Mrs. Villers occurred to her recollection. She could by no means account for it.

I hope, Madam,' said fhe, after a short pause, you will not deem my curiosity impertinent, if I confefs I am anxious to know by what means this interesting discovery has been effected."

By means of Lady Page," replied Mrs. Villers, happy to fee her beginning

U 2

" and I hope,

ning to talk rationally;
Mifs Delmond, it will ferve as a warn-
ing for you in future to be extremely
careful of making acquaintance with
people while ignorant of their family
and connexions; for I am now well
convinced that you would not willingly
have brought this man to Caftle-Villers,
you had really known him to have
been a hair-dreffer."

if

A hair-dreffer!" repeated Julia, who in her turn began to fufpect the brain of Mrs. Villers to be a little affected, • I know nothing of any hair dreffer, I never was in company with a perfon of that defcription in my life.'

"Do you not know, then," returned Mrs. Villers, in astonishment, “ that Mr. Vallaton is a London hair-dreffer, a common frifeur, a fellow who-good heavens ! that fuch a fellow fhould ever have the impudence to fit at my table! He richly deferves that my fervants fhould kick him down ftairs."

< Mr.

Mr. Vallaton a hair-dreffer!' exclaimed Julia, it is a grofs deception, a most egregious mistake! His whole life has been devoted to the fublime pursuits of philofophy. His writings have enlightened the world; and his virtues are the moft illuftrious comment on the glorious doctrine of perfectibility. Is this, then, the discovery you have made? And are you yet ignorant of the interesting myftery of his birth P

Indeed, I neither know, nor defire to know, any thing of the birth of such a perfon," faid Mrs. Villers, dryly; it is enough for me to be convinced that Lady Page cannot poffibly be mistaken, as he dreffed her ladyfhip every day for a whole feafon."

Her ladyfhip does, however, most affuredly labour under a very great miftake!' returned Julia. • Mr. Vallaton is the adopted fon of a lady of great rank and fortune, who. bestowed upon him an education fuited to the fuppofed

dignity

dignity of his birth, which, from the circumstances of his infant drefs, the cafket of jewels which was depofited in the fatin-lined basket in which he was laid; above all, from the elegant covering of pelong, with the letters A. V. richly embroidered in every corner, which ferved as a canopy to the whole, was evidently of no vulgar origin. There can be no doubt that he is the offspring of fome noble but unhappy pair, who may yet live to glory in their accomplished fon!'

Julia, all the time she spoke, kept her eyes ftedfastly fixed on the countenance of Mrs. Villers, which, to her great furprife, betrayed not the leaft emotion at her lively and animated detail; to which the coolly replied, "All this, Mifs Delmond, might make a very pretty ftory in a romance, but I believe fuch things very feldom happen in real life; but as you affure me Mr. What's-hisname has had the education of a gentle

man,

man, I must fuppofe Lady Page has made some mistake, and shall be glad to convince her of it. But pray who introduced this gentleman to your father?"

No queftion could poffibly have been more mal-a-propos to poor Julia. She was totally at a lofs for an answer, and looked to the fervant, who most seasonably entered to announce her carriage, as to a deliverer from the worft of punishments. She inftantly arofe to take leave, and though Mrs. Villers now condescendingly intreated her to stay to tea; fhe refolutely refused the invitation, and with a firm but modeft dignity perfifted in her immediate departure.

She found Mr. Vallaton, who had been informed by the servant of her intention, at the bottom of the stairs. He handed her into the carriage, placed himself befide her, and from the rate at which he drove, feemed no lefs eager than herself to lofe fight of Castle, Villers.

CHAP.