displaying his wealth to advantage, he regarded not expense; and to outvie the neighbouring gentlemen in endeavours to attract the rich young baronet, whom all the young ladies would, he supposed, be aiming to captivate, he purchased magnificent furniture and carriages, and promised ulia a great addition to her wardrobe, whenever Sir Frederic Mortimer should take up his abode at his seat.

Julia heard with a beating heart that the baronet was expected. She had been several times in his company at a watering-place, immediately on his return from abroad, and had wished to appear as charming in his eyes as he appeared in hers; but she had been disappointed. Modest and retiring in her manner, and not showy in her person, though her features were regularly beautiful, Sir Frederic Mortimer, who had only seen her in large companies, and with very striking and attractive women, had regarded her merely as an amiable girl, and had scarcely thought of her again.

One day Julia, accompanied by her father, went to the ishop of a milliner, in a large town, near which they lived; and as winter was coming on, and her pelisse, a dark and now faded purple, was nearly worn out, she was very desirous of purchasing a black velvet one, which was on sale; but her father hearing that the price of it was twelve guineas, positively forbade her to wish for so expensive a piece of finery; though he owned that it was very handsome and very becoming.

"To be sure," said Julia, smiling, but casting a longing look at the pelisse, "twelve guineas might be better bestowed:" and they left the shop.

The next day Mr. Beresford went to town on business, and in a short time after, he wrote to his daughter to say that he had met Sir Frederic Mortimer in London, and that he would soon be down at his seat, to attend some pony races, which Mr. Hanmer, who had a mind to show off his dowdy daughter to the young baronet, intended to have on a piece of land belonging to him; and that he had heard all the ladies in the neighbourhood were to be there.

"I have received an invitation for you and myself," continued Mr. Beresford; " and therefore, as I am resolved the Miss Traceys, and the other girls, shall not be better or more expensively dressed than my daughter, I enclose you bills to the amount of thirteen pounds, and I desire you to -go and purchase the velvet pelisse which we so much ad

mired; and I have sent you a hat, the most elegant which money could procure, in order that my heiress may appear as an heiress should do."

Julia's young heart beat with pleasure at this permission; for she was to adorn herself to appear before the only man whom she ever wished to please; and the next morning she determined to set off to make the desired purchase.

That evening, being alone, she set out to take her usual walk, and having, lost in no unpleasing reverie, strayed very near to a village about three miles from home, she recollected to have heard an affecting account of the distress of a very virtuous and industrious family in that village, owing to the poor man's being drawn for the militia, and not rich enough to procure a substitute, she therefore resolved to go and enquire how the matter had terminated. Julia proceeded to the village, and reached it just as the very objects of her solicitude were come to the height of their distresses.

The father of the family, not being able to raise more than half the money wanted, was obliged to serve and Julia, on seeing a crowd assembled, approached to ask what was going forward, and found she was arrived to witness a very affecting scene; for the poor man was taking his last farewell of his wife and family, who, on his departure to join the regiment, would be forced to go to the workhouse, where, as they were in delicate health, it was most probable they would soon fall victims to bad food and bad air.

The poor man was universally beloved in his village; and the neighbours, seeing that a young lady enquired concerning bis misfortunes with an air of interest, were all eager to give her every possible information on the subject of his distress. "And only think, Miss," said one of them, "for the want of nine pounds only, as honest and hard-working a lad as ever lived, and as good a husband and father, must be forced to leave his family and be a militia-man, and they, poor things, go to the work house!"

"Nine pounds!" said Julia, "would that be sufficient to keep him at home?"

"La! yes Miss; for that young fellow yonder would gladly go for him for eighteen pounds!"

On hearing this, how many thoughts rapidly succeeded each other in Julia's mind! If she paid the nine pounds, the man would be restored to his family, and they preserved perhaps from an untimely death in a workhouse. But then she had no money but what her father had sent to purchase

the pelisse, nor was she to see him till she met him on the race ground. And he would be so disappointed if she was' not well dressed! True, she might take the pelisse on trust; but then she was sure her father would be highly incensed at her extravagance, if she spent twelve guineas, and gave away nine pounds at the same time; therefore she knew she must either give up doing a generous action, or give up the pelisse, that is, give up the gratification of her father's pride and her own vanity.

"No, I dare not, I cannot do it," thought Julia, "my own vanity I would willingly mortify; but not my father's -No, the poor man must go!"

During this mental struggle the by-standers had eagerly watched her countenance; and thinking that she was disposed to pay the sum required, they communicated their hopes to the poor people themselves, and as Julia turned her eyes towards them, the wretched couple looked at her with such an imploring look. But she was resolved-" I am sorry, I am very sorry," said she, "that I can do nohing for you; however take this." So saying, she gave them all the loose money she had in her pocket, amounting to a few shillings, and then, with an aching heart, walked rapidly away but as she did so, the sobs of the poor woman, as she leaned on her husband's shoulder, and the cries of the little boy, when his father, struggling with grief, bade him a last farewell, reached her, and penetrated to her heart.

"Poor creatures," she inwardly exclaimed; " and nine pounds would change these tears into gladness, and yet I withhold it! And is it for this that heaven has blest me with opulence? for this, to be restrained by the fear of being reproved for spending a paltry sum, from doing an action acceptable in the eyes of my Creator! No; I will pay the money. I will enjoy the delight of serving afflicted worth, and spare myself from, perhaps, eternal self-reproach !"

She then, without waiting for further consideration, turned back again, paid the money into the poor man's hand; and giving the remaining four pounds to the woman, who, though clean, was miserably clad, desired her to lay part of it out in clothes for herself and children.

The next morning was the morning for the races. The sun shone bright, and every thing looked cheerful but Ju lia. She had scarcely spirits to dress herself. It was very cold; therefore she was forced to wear her faded purple pelisse; and now it looked shabbier than usual, and still

shabbier from the contrast of a very smart new black velvet bonnet.

Mr. Beresford was there before her; but what was his mortification when his daughter appeared pale, dejected, the worst dressed and most dowdy looking girl in the company! Insupportable! scarcely could he welcome her, though he had not seen her for some days; and he seized the very first opportunity of asking her if she had received. the notes.

"Yes, I thank you, Sir," replied Julia.

"Then why did you not buy what I bade you? It could not be gone; for, if you did not buy it, nobody else could, I am sure.'

"I-I-I thought I could do without it-and-"

"There now, there is perverseness!—when I wished you not to have it, then you wanted it; and now-I protest if I do not believe you did it on purpose to mortify me; and there's those proud minxes, the Miss Traceys, whose father is not worth half what I am, are dressed out as fine as princesses. I vow, girl, you look so shabby and ugly, I cannot bear to look at you!"

What a trial for Julia! her eyes filled with tears; and at this moment Sir Frederic Mortimer approached her, and hoped she had not been ill; but he thought she was paler than usual.

"Paler!" cried her father: "why, I should not have known her, she has inade such a fright of herself."

"You may say so, Sir," replied the Baronet, politely, though he almost agreed with him; "but no other man can be of that opinion."

At length, to Julia's great relief, they were summoned to the race ground; the Baronet taking Miss Hanmer under one arm and the elder Miss Tracey under the other."So," cried Beresford, seizing Julia roughly by the hand, “I must lead you, I see; for who will take notice of such a dowdy? Well, girl, I was too proud of you, and you have contrived to humble me enough."

There was a mixture of tenderness and resentment in this speech, which quite overcame Julia, and she burst into tears. "There,-now she is going to make herself worse, by spoiling her eyes.-But come, tell me what you did with the money; I insist upon knowing."

"I-I-gave it away," sobbed out Julia.

"Gave it away! monstrous! I protest I will not speak

to you again for a month." So saying, he left her, and carefully avoided to look at, or speak to her again.

The races began, and were interesting to all but Julia; but at length they finished, and with them she flattered. herself would finish her mortification; but in vain. The company was expected to stay to partake of a cold collation, which was to be preceded by music and dancing; and Julia was obliged to accept the unwelcome invitation.

As the ladies most of them were very young, they were not supposed to have yet forgotten the art of dancing minuets, an art now of so little use; and Mr. Hanmer begged Sir Frederic would lead out his daughter to show off in a minuet. The Baronet obeyed; and then offered to take out Julia for the same purpose; but she, blushing, refused to comply.

"Well, what is that for?" cried Beresford, angrily, who knew that Julia was remarkable for dancing a good minuet." Why cannot you dance when you are asked, Miss Beresford ?"-" Because," replied Julia in a faltering voice, “I have no gown on, and I cannot dance a minuet in my-in my pelisse."

"Rot: your pelisse !" exclaimed Beresford, forgetting all decency and decorum, and turning to the window to hide his angry emotions, while Julia hung her head, abashed; and the Baronet led out Miss Tracey, who throwing off the. cloak which she had worn before, having expected such an exhibition would take place, displayed a very fine form, set off by the most becoming gown possible.

Charming! admirable! what a figure! what grace!" was murmured throughout the room. Mr. Beresford's proud heart throbbed almost to agony; while Julia, though ever ready to acknowledge the excellence of another, still felt the whole scene so vexatious to her, principally from the mortification of her father, that her only resource was again thinking on the family rescued from misery by her.

Reels were next called for; and Julia then stood up to dance; but she had not danced five minutes, when, exhausted by the various emotions which she had undergone during the last eight and forty hours, her head be came so giddy, that she could not proceed, and was obliged to sit down.

"I believe the girl is bewitched," muttered Mr. Beresford; and to increase her distress, Julia overheard him.

In a short time the dancing was discontinued, and a con