to have visited Italy. The recollection of the project produced a slight sigh, but the disappointment was now nothing to them they had learned to bear heavier griefs. The ser vants had respectfully assembled in the hall to take leave of them on their departure. As they passed through it, they thanked them all in broken accents for their kindness and attention; and affectionately shook hands with the elder ones, who had watched their progress from infancy, and, with a natural partiality, had destined them to the proudest stations in life. As the last act of their service, they attended them to the carriage. As it began to move off, they looked up eagerly for a moment at the house which had been the beloved home of all their happy years, and then convulsively pressed their hands over their eyes, and left it to strangers and the law.

I had protracted my stay to this period, for they had expressed themselves consoled by my presence. But they were now going to share the hospitality of friends who would perform my office more effectually, and here we therefore parted. Circumstances carried me for a time to a distance, and on returning I found their unhappy affairs drawing to a settlement. I was sitting with them one evening when R- came in in

better spirits than I had lately seen him; he had that day obtained his certificate. The candles had burnt long as we had been talking, and as he cheerfully snuffed them, he told me he was beginning life again."

A PUN-NOT A MISS.

A lady, whose charms were beginning to fade,
A testy old widower seem'd to upbraid

With, Pardon me, Sir, but I think, to be plain,
You'll not do amiss, if you marry again."

The gentleman shrugg'd up his shoulders, and said,
In reply-" "Tis a chance if again I shall wed;
But you need not take pains to convince me of this-
If I marry again-it will not be a Miss!"

THE SCIENCE OF GLOVEOLOGY:

A PARISIAN SKETCH.

The pretty and lively Marquise de St. Hilaire had not appeared at the brilliant ball given by the Comtesse de Courville, and consequently the next day her hotel was thronged with visitors. All came avowedly to inquire after her health; but many, at least among the ladies, were anxious to know whether indisposition, pique, or jealousy had kept her from joining the brilliant party given by the comtesse, who was known to have been an old attachment of the marquis, and was generally regarded as his lady's rival in the ranks of fashion.

The favoured few who were admitted, found the marquise reclining on a sofa iu a most becoming deshabille. She looked pale, and complained of having had a violent nervous attack, but declared that she felt quite recovered; and, if we may judge from the conversation I am about to transcribe, ber illness had not diminished that playful vivacity which procured her the character of the most piquante causeuse in

Paris.

Madame Valmore (addressing a lady who sat next her)— Did you ever see any thing so ridiculous as the dress of Madame de Parvenue? every part of it, from her béret to her slipper, so strangely bedizened with gold!

Madame St. Pierre-With her mahogany face and squab figure, she really resembled a piece of gilt gingerbread. Even the very seams of her gloves were embroidered in gold.

Vicomtesse Versae-Apropos of gloves, how singular it is that in such cold and gloomy weather, the gentlemen are so fond of light gloves? I have observed that during some time past they do not wear any others.

Marquise de St. Hilaire-Don't you know the reason, my dear vicomtesse? are you not aware that since our gentlemen have been bitten by the mania of political economy, they carry the system of retrenchment into private life, and even the most minute details of the toilet are subject to it? Thus, the gloves which a man of fashion wears at a ball, instead of becoming directly afterwards the property of his valet, are condemned, for some days at least, to do duty in common. Is it not so, gentlemen ?

Some of the beaux laughed, others protested that the marquise was too severe, but nobody denied the charge.

Marquise-I am surprised that in this age of ologies, no learned professor has introduced gloveology; it would, I fancy, be as rational a study, and a much more amusing one, than craniology.

Colonel St. Clair-But in what manner, madame, is this new science to be studied? What can you know of people by looking at their gloves?

Marquise-A great deal, colonel, I assure you. I fancy now I could give a pretty shrewd guess at the manner in which each of you, gentlemen, have passed the last evening by an inspection of your gloves.

Captain de Tournon-Truly, madame, from the air of confidence with which you speak, I begin to have great faith in this new science; suppose you give a course of lectures upon it, beginning with one this evening. How say you, gentlemen, can we put madame's skill to the proof? have you got the gloves you wore last night?

There was a general answer in the affirmative.

Marquise-Well, then, let us begin. Suppose, colonel, you lead the forlorn hope?

Colonel (holding out his hands)-With all

my heart. Mademoiselle de Valmy-Without being a witch, one may tell by those gloves that the colonel has not danced.

Colonel- Is not this an indirect reproach, my pretty cousin? You forget, child, that I am past the age of dancing.

Marquise-You would not say so, colonel, if you did not like cards better.

Colonel-Nay, my dear marquise, how can you supposeMarquise-1 suppose nothing; I have proof positive before me.

Your gloves say very plainly, in their language, that their rumpled condition arises from the many times that your adversary turned the king, or won the vole. And then that morsel gnawed from the finger of your left-hand glove, that shows you must have lost a great deal.

Colonel-The gloves are too tight.

Marquise-Were it your right-hand glove, the excuse might serve; but as your left hand is smaller than your right

Colonel-Say no more, I am your convert; as far as respects me, your science is infallible.

Monsieur D'Arlincour-1 present myself at your tribunal with confidence, for I have no reproaches to fear.

Marquise (regarding the gloves earnestly on both sides)Perhaps not, but have you also no discovery to apprehend? M. D'Arlincour-Discovery, madame!

Marquise-Yes, sir; these gloves tell me that you have danced a great deal, and they add that you seldom changed partners.

M. D'Arlincour (blushing and hesitating)-But, madame what makes you think

Marquise-Nay, if you will force me to come to the fact, look at this stain on the fingers of the right-hand glove; do you see any thing of the kind on the left?

M. D'Arlincour coloured still more deeply; but his blush was pale to that of Mademoiselle de Valmy, whose neck and face crimsoned as she hid her hands under her scarf. The good-natured Marquis de St. Hilaire, who was seated next her, hastened to withdraw the attention of the company from her, by holding out his hands to his wife.

Marquis-Come, my dear, let us hear what my gloves have got to depose against me.

The marquise began smilingly to examine them, but as she looked attentively at them, she changed colour, and a seriousness, approaching to gloom, overspread her pretty features.

Marquis-Confess, most learned professor, that your science fails you.

Marquise-We shall soon see that. The gloves tell me you have neither danced, nor played at cards. Marquis-They tell the truth.

Marquise-They add that you have talked a long time, and with a lady.

Marquis (rather embarrassed)—Really they are very communicative; perhaps, too, they tell you what I said.

Marquise-No; they content themselves with telling me what you did. Your left hand was employed in playing with the smelling-bottle of the comtesse-(don't be frightened, I shall not name her, though I could do it)-while your right hand pressed her's.

Marquis (with some warmth)-This is the strangest fancy

c 2

Marquise-Fancy! let us interrogate your gloves. Look at this black circle round the finger of the left one; well, that has been occasioned by twirling the top of the smellingbottle; and those marks on the right glove were caused by its being trod upon while you kept the hand of the comtesse in yours.

Marquis-Confound the gloves! if they tell the truth, they ought to tell all the truth; and then they would assure you that a moment of idle gallantry cannot diminish my love for the beautiful sorceress who has cast her spells round me for life.

The marquise made no reply, but the radiant smile which lighted up her expressive countenance, showed that she did consider the speech as a mere compliment.

Captain de Tournon (holding out his hands)-Truly, marquise, you have put us upon hard duty, mounting a breach is nothing to it; there, at least, one may gain glory by being knocked on the head, but here- Come, give me the coup de grace.

Marquise-Not so, captain, your gloves cry loudly in your favour; they tell me you have danced, but not a great deal, and with different partners; you have played, but have neither lost nor gained much.

Captain de Tournon-Vive le gantologie! it is worth all the rest of the ologies put together.

Marquise And now for you, Monsieur de Refrain.

Madame St. Pierre- Oh, M. de Refrain does not dance; he had an attack of the blue devils when he was last in Loudon, and he has not got over it.

Marquise-Mercy upon us! what a dreadful complaint this English disorder must be, to oblige one to eat such a quantity of cakes, fruit, and sweetmeats; and to wash them down with so much punch!

M. de Refrain-Give me leave, madam, to say that you are mistaken.

Marquise-And give me leave, sir, to prove that I am not mistaken. Look at those different coloured stains upon your gloves, and observe how strongly they smell of punch; and then lay your hand upon your heart, and say whether they do not bear witness against you.

M. de Refrain-I am afraid I must plead guilty; but indeed you are too hard upon us, marquise.