CHAPTER IV.

The she-bear dwells with me,

And she hath cubs, one, two, and three.

SOUTHEY'S Thalaba.

ONE morning Julia found, upon the breakfast-table, a note, stylishly folded, containing the following words :

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Eugénie Coquelicot, just returned from Paris, announces to the noblesse of Rothbury, that she has brought with her an assortment of millinery and dresses, which she trusts will entitle her to a continuance of their favours, and which may be viewed at her Magazin de Modes on Wednesday next."

However

However unusual the phenomenon of a French milliner in the wilds of Cumberland, Julia felt no anxiety to obey her summons; and the note and its contents would soon have been forgot, but for a visit from her kind and officious little friend, Miss Nelthorpe, who came, a few days afterwards, to urge her to go and see what was to be seen, assuring her, that it was always the custom at Rothbury to flock to madame Coquelicot's the moment that, after any of her soi-disant transmarine excursions, she made her reappearance among them. Accordingly the two ladies set out.

This temple of fashion was easily distinguished, by the name of the owner over the door, in gold letters of uncommon gaudiness and size, to which were most judiciously added the words, "from Paris," the fair owner having never been at Paris in the course of her life. Madame Coquelicot was originally, in fact, a Jersey smuggler; and having, in consequence of

various

various circumstances, at length settled in a remote country town in the North, availed herself of her amphibious French, and her skill at purchasing advantageous bargains, to set up for a milliner of first rate taste and elegance.

They found la belle Eugénie, a little thin woman of about fifty, with a vellum skin and a brick-dust complexion, in the centre of a "chair-lumbered closet, just twelve feet by nine," which she dignified by the name of magazin, and surrounded by stands, on which were displayed a va riety of gandy and fantastic articles, but none which, to our heroine's discerning eye, bore the stamp of fashion. On each side was a supporter, well qualified for the office she filled; Miss Mildmay, a fine show face, and Miss Popham, a little sharp, shrewd woman, with a tongue that never tired.

The moment madame Coquelicot perceived Miss Nelthorpe, she flew at her, in a style of rather indignant eloquence→→ "Madame,

"Madame, did you not receive my note? It is one, two, tree days since my magazin have been open to all de noblesse. Indeed dat is no using of me well, Miss Nelthorpe. I don't like ladies to come when all my best tings are sold.”

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Indeed, madame, I beg ten thousand pardons," answered Miss Nelthorpe, goodhumouredly; "I know I ought to have preferred your magazin to every other engagement; but really.

“Oh, ma'am!” interrupted madame Coquelicot, sharply, "tis your own loss. Dere was de new white satin Henri: Quatre, and de Gabrielle ruff, and de: Echarpe à la Duchesse de Berri-all, all gone!" lifting up her hands; "and den de new floss trimming, and de garniture de Tulle dat lady Doncaster admire so; and I have had all de noblesse de Miss De Rosses, and”

Here Eugénie stopped; but whether from a relenting disposition, or from the difficulty of finding another noble name, I

am

am unable to determine. Miss Nelthorpe however gaily replied-" Come, come, madame Coquelicot, don't tell me of lady Doncaster's visits; for you know, if she came at all, it must have been through the window, after breaking loose from durance." This was, in fact, the unfortunate mad lady mentioned in the first chapter.

Rather, now I am here," continued Miss Nelthorpe," shew me some of your nou-> veautés."

Madame Coquelicot prepared to com ply, though she could not forbear still muttering between her teeth-" Gabrielle. -Ruche de Tulle-Miladi Doncastrehonourable Miss De Ross," words of which none could trace the connexion who had; not heard the previous dialogue.

Miss Somerville, who had been very much amused by it, found that this arbitrary priestess of the Graces took it as a heinous offence, if her provincial customers did not immediately obey her sum-. mons, and promised to herself a morning's

diversion,