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 *quaintance, observed to her, that she wore the prettiest hat she had ever seen. "Where did you get it?" said she.—The question was a master key to Lady Dartford's thoughts:—caps, hats and works of every description were as much a solace to her, in the absence of her husband, as the greek language, or the pagan philosophy could ever have been to Lady Mandeville, under any of her misfortunes.—"I got it," said she, "brightening up with a grateful look, at the only enquiry she had heard, that was at all adapted to her understanding, at Madame de la Roche's:—it is the cheapest thing you can conceive:—I only gave twenty guineas for it:—and you know I am not reckoned very clever at making bargains." "I should think not," answered Lady Augusta, adverting only to the first part of the sentence.

Calantha entered at this moment. "Oh my sweet soul," said Lady Augusta, embracing her, "I began to despair of seeing