all these graces. In vain :-he saw nothing but the Miss Grafton he knew; she clung to his thoughts, and pursued him in his dreams. It was seldom that he entirely forgot her, and some recurrence to beauty or agreeableness perpetually dispersed that forgetfulness, and presented her to his recollection in all the coldness, the vapidness, the reserve, and the mediocrity, of which he had left her in possession at Beverley-Hall.

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My father's letter!" thought he ;"neither his definition of le beau nor of l'utile would describe the eccentric Miss Grafton of Lockhart's acquaintance, nor the still more eccentric Miss Grafton of mine!-And what is Kate Lockhart?"

CHAPTER VI.

WHAT Catherine Lockhart was, Beverley had soon the means of attempting to discover.

On his first introduction to her, he was powerfully struck with the extreme contrast between her and Miss Grafton. There was life and motion, even to restlessness, in every feature, in every limb. It was impossible that the mind could seize any particular expression of her countenance, for it changed continually. There was a certain fancifulness in her maniére d'être, which perpetually attracted attention, and frequently admiration. Albert was interested by her, because the difficulty of dis

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covering the spring from which her actions flowed excited his curiosity; -and besides, she, possessed the universally acknowledged means of inspiring interest, extreme beauty. She had a cultivated taste, and gradually she became intimate with Albert Beverley. Whilst there was a frankness, even to freedom, in her general manner, it was impossible not to perceive that there lurked behind, a feeling of conscious superiority that derided the beings to whom she condescended to speak on terms of equality. Sometimes this feeling was more visible than at others, and the uncertainty of her manner gave her the appearance of caprice, of which the world complained, whilst it still remained the sport of it. Albert detected the real position of her mind; he saw, that its apparent

levity, was the result of a haughty and careless superiority, which was sometimes even openly avowed. Her animation and the bursts of genius which, at intervals, flashed from her, were the more conspicuous and dazzling from their extreme variety and uncertainty. Often when it seemed that her whole soul was displayed to the view of others, a shade came across it, which declared, at once, she had been acting a part, and amusing herself with having so well deceived spectators.

The anniversary of Lockhart's birthday was celebrated as usual by a splendid gala. It was impossible not to be struck by the gloom of Miss Lockhart's appearance, which contrasted so forcibly with the gaiety of Towards every one around her.

the evening, however, it gradually

dispersed; and a more than ordinary brilliancy played over her, as, leaning on the arm of Beverley, she entered the saloons where the guests were already assembled.

Sometimes Albert admired her genius, and, at others, he recoiled from her eccentricity. The union of these qualities in her character resembled two powerful chemical substances of opposite quality, which being mingled, produce one neutralized mass. In proportion as the first attracted, the other repelled him. It was, as if she directed her shafts at him, whilst she herself presented the shield, that defended him from their attacks.

She courteously noticed the guests in general, without distinguishing any individual. She had been in the