LOVE'S PROVOCATIONS.

who seemed rather a brick in his way. (Freder- and, at eleven o'clock, I walked to our usual ick is particularly low-life in his expressions.) trysting-place, with a beating heart, for I was un"So I reached out some clays and a box of weeds certain whether dear Walter would meet me.and sat Paddy down to them, and asked him if He soon came, however; his dark locks upon his he'd prefer half-and-half to grog. As I imag- head. "This is generous! this is noble!" he said, as ined, he voted for a drop o' the crathur; and boiling-water being all handy, he brewed for himself he pressed my hand. "I have been tortured a pretty stiff glass of my primest whiskey. I with the most agonizing doubts, and racked with saw old Paddy's eyes twinkle as he sniffed the the conflicting passions of the most consumperfume: "Faith," said he, " an' it remoinds me mate despair!" of the air of me own swate Imirald Oil." But the remembrance of private friendship seemed to check the crowding memories of the patriot, for, said Paddy, " An' hwhat's yer reply, sir, to me frind's letther?" Well, Paddy had just, with a great display of science, completed the filling of his pipe, and was looking about for a spill wherewith to light it; so I twisted up Mr. Vernon's letter, set it blazing, and gave it to my queer friend Paddy, saying, "There is my answer, Captain O'Bang!

hair; though nearly all the gentlemen were cruel enough to laugh at the contrast which his head of closely-cut flaming red hair presented to his blue-black whiskers, which we now perceived must have been dyed to match the color of the wig. But we had no opportunity for wonderment; I had not even time for a fit of hysterics; for Mr. Vernon, crying in a terrible voice to Fred, "You shall hear from me in the morning, sir," dashed out of the room, amid a peal of laughter from the majority of the party.

I felt ready to sink through the floor; and I don't know whether I should not have done so, had not dear Madge taken me quietly into the orangery and tried to comfort me. But I was quite heartbroken; "to think," as I said, "that I had bestowed my love on a man with red hair, a color I abominated. And," I sobbed, "if Mr. Vernon can be false to me in one point, he can in all; and when he told me that he would have died for my sake, I little thought that he referred to his whiskers." And the carriage just then coming for me, and Mrs. Trotman being on the stairs, I slipped out, and wished her good-night, and told her how very much I had enjoyed her most delightful party and then I jumped into the carriage, and had a downright good cry.

ing Mr. Vernon now underwent a decided change. I thought it very hard to attack an absent person, and to cover him with ridicule, because nature had given him hair of a color that we did not happen to admire; and I therefore felt that it would be a chivalrous act in me to speak up for Mr. Vernon. The more bitterly, therefore, that Frederick aspersed his character, the more gallantly I defended it; my spirit of opposition was roused by my brother's conduct-as at length he discovered, for he took himself off to his chambers in high dudgeon, leaving me the mistress of the field.

66

But when he came home to dinner in the evening, our contest was renewed. As I had expected, Mr. Vernon had not let Frederick's conduct to him on the previous evening pass by unnoticed; and we we were favored with an aecount of what had occurred during the day"The beggar," said Frederick (by which low expression he meant to designate Mr. Vernon)the beggar had the impudence to write me a note, and send it me by Paddy." (By "Paddy," he meant Captain O'Bang.) "And as Paddy seemed rather to wish it, and as I was curious to see what the beggar had got to say for himself, I did him the honor to read his note. Guess what he said, sir!" (Fred was speaking to papa.)Why that the affection he felt towards a near I NEVER was so provoked in all my life! nev-relative of mine-meaning, of course, Pollyer, I am sure. Although he had given me cause to be deeply annoyed, and to cast him off for ever; yet that was no reason why others should set their faces against him-especially one who ought to have regarded him as a man and a brother; and who, instead, behaved most cruelly and provokingly.

PROVOCATION THE FIFTH.

prevented him from noticing what he called the public insult I had offered to him, in any other way than by demanding an apology for the same; on the receipt of which, by Paddy-that is to say, the bearer-he would rest satisfied, and would, I suppose, forward me his forgiveness and blessing through the penny post."

"And what did you do when you had read the note, Frederick!" asked mamma; who, like all ladies, thought she could hasten on the tale by interruptions.

"I should hope," I observed, as a sort of hint for what he ought to have done-"I should hope that my brother was too much of a gentleman to do anything else than apologize for his rude conduct." But Frederick went on with his narrative without noticing my remark.

As soon as I had arrived at home from the Trotmans' party, I at once went up stairs to bed; and, when Sarah had left me, I sat by my bedroom fire, and thought over the events of the evening, and the disastrous way in which the nightcap-and-| umbrella dance had been brought to a conclusion. When I reflected that Mr. Vernon had not only deceived society at large (which was nothing to me), by appearing in a wig of raven locks, when his own hair was of the brightest scarlet; but (which was a great deal to me) that he had cruelly imposed upon me, by allowing me to admire his w-w-wig, and that he had made me make a simpleton of myself, by permitting me to cherish a lock of hair, which was nothing but a deception; when I thought of this, I confess that I almost shed tears of disappointment and vexation. Taking the hair out of the locket (which I thought I might as well preserve for poor Edward Sweeting's sake), I cast it into the fire, and "I thought," interposed papa, with a laugh, saw its shrivelled ashes whirl up the chimney.-"that you were anxious to hear what Fred did "And thus," I soliloquized-" thus perish all when he had read the note." thoughts of Walter Vernon."

"Well, mother, I happened to be smoking at the time, "my custom of an afternoon," as you are aware"Indeed I am, Fred!" said mamma; " and how often have I begged of you to let me persuade you to give up such an expensive and filthy habit; which must cost you a great deal of money, and spoils all your teeth, and your curtains, and-"

"And so I was, dear," said mamma; "but I am desirous to see all persons give up vicious courses-especially my own children; and smoking is a bad vice, which

Having in this way relieved my mind, I went to bed, and slept very peaceably. But the next morning, when Frederick purposely lingered over his breakfast, in order that he might, in my pres- "Which is more palatable than advice," inence, give mamma and papa a full account of terrupted Fred; "though very often advice, like the preceding evening's entertainment, with the a cigar, is only taken to be made light of. Well, addition of any absurdity that he was able to in- as I said, when I read the note, I happened to be vent, I must acknowledge that the feelings that smoking, so I said to Paddy, "Will you blow a I had entertained on the previous night regard-cloud?"-"With all my harrut!" said Paddy,

who seemed rather a brick in his way. (Freder- | and, at eleven o'clock, I walked to our usual ick is particularly low-life in his expressions.) trysting-place, with a beating heart, for I was un"So I reached out some clays and a box of weeds certain whether dear Walter would meet me.and sat Paddy down to them, and asked him if He soon came, however; his dark locks upon his he'd prefer half-and-half to grog. As I imag-head. ined, he voted for a drop o' the crathur; and boil. "This is generous! this is noble!" he said, as ing-water being all handy, he brewed for himself he pressed my hand. "I have been tortured a pretty stiff glass of my primest whiskey. I with the most agonizing doubts, and racked with saw old Paddy's eyes twinkle as he sniffed the the conflicting passions of the most consumperfume: "Faith,” said he, “ an' it remoinds me mate despair! (Dear Walter uses such elof the air of me own swate Imirald Oil." But egant and heroic language; just for all the world the remembrance of private friendship seemed like the lovers do in those nice novels.) "I to check the crowding memories of the patriot, feared that the painful scene of the evening befor, said Paddy, "An' hwhat's yer reply, sir, to fore last would have alienated your affections, me frind's letther?" Well, Paddy had just, with and have caused you to banish from your heart a great display of science, completed the filling one who confesses that his conduct towards you of his pipe, and was looking about for a spill requires some explanation, although it has been wherewith to light it; so I twisted up Mr. Ver- dictated by the deepest and sincerest love." non's letter, set it blazing, and gave it to my queer friend Paddy, saying, “There is my answer, Captain O'Bang!"

Papa burst into a laugh as though he enjoyed the anecdote; but I felt quite disgusted with Fred's frivolity and want of feeling, and I did not trust myself to speak.

"It does indeed require explanation," I murmured. "Oh, Walter, how could you-how could you deceive me! How do I know that you would not deceive me in other things besides the w false hair?"

"It was weak, it was foolish in me," said Mr. Vernon, "to allow the sensitive part of my na"Well," continued Fred, (just as though it ture to obtain a momentary triumph over my were well), Paddy did not seem to be at all taken common sense; and my allegiance to you ought aback by this, for he took the paper and applied to have prevented me from practising any deit to his pipe, and when, with one or two puffs, ception towards you, however slight and tempohe had kindled the tobacco into a glow, he threw rary it might be. But, in a moment of weakinto the fire the blazing fragment of his friend's ness, knowing the antipathy that exists in this letter. Then, turning to me, and gazing upon country to hair of a color similar to mine, and me in a remarkable leery way, he deliberately thinking that this antipathy might be entertainwinked his left eye twice, and said, "The poipe ed by you, I determined, for a time, to conceal of peace, me frind! the poipe of peace!" Hav- that despised color of my hair, and to assume ing said which, he plunged his nose into his tum-locks of a more popular hue. I did so, and I bler, and refreshed himself with its contents." "And was that all?" asked papa.

shall ever regret it; but it was love for you, dearest Polly, that prompted me to this conduct.And though you may justly regard it as folly, yet I must beseech you to remember, that when a man is as madly in love as I am, he is not as fully accountable for the wisdom of his actions, as he might be at another time."

"That was all. Paddy said no more about his friend, or his friend's letter, but made himself quite at home, and smoked a great many pipes, and drank a great many tumblers of whiskey, and told me a great many lies-I mean storiesabout his Irish ancestors, and their Irish estates, "I have often heard, I said, as I smiled sweetand their Irish deeds, and their Irish impudence; ly upon my companion, "that love was folly; and, finally, took himself off in a somewhat fud-but, of course I am not wise enough to give an dled state, after assuring me, with the tears opinion-though, if it is folly to be in love, I am streaming down his cheeks, "that I was a foine afraid that--" And there I paused, and fellow-that Ould Oirland would have been modestly hung my head. proud to have called me her son-and that he "It is a sweet, charming folly," said dear Walwould be deloighted to see me at some outland-ter with enthusiasm; a folly which all the wise ish-named place, for that his harrut warrumed men were guilty of, and from which the sages of towards me." And Paddy tramped down the antiquity were not exempt. The knights of old stairs, where he made a most profound reverence performed their rashest acts in the cause of love; to my clerk, who was just coming up them.-and it was the same tender sentiment that inAnd that was all." duced me to perform my rash act of concealing "And quite enough, too," said papa. "I can from you the real color of my hair. Having, as easily imagine that this Mr. Vernon must have I described to you, contracted a fever in visiting felt excessively chagrined at finding his deception a rich dependent of my father's, my hair was made public; but that he should call upon you obliged to be cut off. When I recovered from to apologize for your accidental discovery of his the fever, my hair had not fully grown; and, as imposition, is nothing less than sheer impudence I was about to visit London, and keenly felt the which you did well to pass over unnoticed. Help odium in which my colored hair was held by the yourself, and pass the decanter." English ladies, I thought it a favorable opportunity (for our family physician said it was necessary for me to wear a wig for a time, lest I should catch cold, and again bring on the fever)-I thought it a good opportunity to assume a wig of a color that was not despised. I did so ; and

And thus they dismissed the subject; at least no more was said about it in my hearing, for mamma and I left the dining-room, and I went off early to bed, under the plea of a headache.

The next day was one of our park mornings,

LOVE'S PROVOCATIONS.

you know the consequences. should I not be proud of my hair? its hue was that they informed me it was their wish that all And yet, why worked upon my too-soon-persuaded parents one of the characteristics of my family. My an- intimacy with Mr. Vernon should be dropped cestors, as you are aware, dearest, came from the forthwith, and that the servants had orders to North. There, their hair was a part of their na-say "Not at home" to him and his friend Captain tionality; it was one of their glories, for it proved O'Bang, if they presumed to call to renew the acthe pureness of their descent. My great-grand-quaintance. father's grandfather, the MacVernon Beg, was surnamed Coila Baubeen, or the scarlet-haired cano ready to burst into flames! But I thought When they said this, I felt-oh! so like a volwarrior; and the peasantry of the Lowlands still it best to smother my indignant emotions, and, sing the ballads that describe his warlike deeds, without committing myself to any reply or proand the terror that his scarlet hair ever brought mise, to seek the retirement of my own room, to the enemy. His portrait is preserved in our and there commune with myself on what was family, and strangers are struck with the great best to be done. But failing to decide upon any resemblance it bears to me. -proud of my ancestry!" I feel proud of this plan of action, I went across to dear Madge, to ask her counsel.

"Of course you must be," I said: "it must be charming to have had an ancestor who really lived a long while ago, and had scarlet hair, and was so brave, and was called by such a dear, funny name; it must be delightful! How I should like to see the portrait!"

a moment, and gave me (I am sure) the very Dear girl! as usual, she made matters clear in best advice. For she told me, that I ought to know my own feelings best-much better than pa and ma did; and that I ought to pursue whatthat I should not be doing right to Mr. Vernon ever course my love prompted me to follow; and if I broke off the engagement at the caprice of a third party; and that if we loved each other("If!" as I said; "why, of course we do!"that was all that we need look to; and that if my parents would not receive me as Mrs. Vernon, no doubt his parents and friends would be glad to do so; and that I could go and live on very

"And so you shall, some day, dearest Polly," murmured my companion, "for it shall hang in our own house; and I will take you to my ancestor's estates, and you shall hear the Lowland peasants sing of my great-grandfather's grandfather, the Mac Vernon Beg-Coila Baubeen, the scarlet-haired warrior. You will find that they will almost reverence my hair, for they will hail me as the true descendant of my warrior ances-his property in the North. tor. And now, dearest Polly, do you forgive me for the foolish little deceit ?"

Of course I did! How could it have been otherwise? In fact, now that I had been put in possession of the foregoing facts, I quite grudged that dear Walter should still wear the w-g of the raven locks, of which I had lately been so proud. I saw, in his red hair, a proof of his high descent-a proof that he was the greatgreat-(oh, ever so many greats!) grandson of that dear, romantic old gentleman, the Coila Baubeen. How delightful (I thought) it would be to be married to some one who had real ancestors, much more such an ancestor as a Coila Baubeen that they made songs about! I determined that I would get those interesting Lowland peasants to teach me the songs, and that I would play them on their national musical instrument; at least I thus determined, until I remembered that I should, in that case, have to play the bagpipes, which were not adapted for ladies or drawing

rooms.

So, as this was what I wanted to be advised, I dear girl's superior judgment (as I called it), and of course allowed myself to be guided by the said that I would follow her advice, and would not consent to cast off dear Walter.

give me anything (even his blessing) to marry As I said to Madge-" Even if papa will not upon, I shall have quite enough to enable us to live in a pretty little cottage, because I have got that five thousand pounds that Aunt Wilmer left me; and Walter says, that with that, and the interest or something of the sort, we should be able to live very happily and comfortably for a little while; and that then his property, which somebody has locked up somewhere, will be unlocked, and he will be able to get at it; and then we can take a larger house, and keep our carriage, and have everything nice and proper. But, just at the first, we have both determined that we shall not be above hiring a cab when we want to ride; and that we shall be able to put up with a cottage-of course, a cottage ornee." And Madge kissed me, and said, "What a pru

In short, how many castles in the air did I not build? In how many day-dreams did I not in-dent little housekeeper it will be!" dulge? I quite forgave dear Walter everything; and when we parted, I had promised to love him dear Walter in the park, where she thought I As mamma knew nothing about my meeting more sincerely than ever. And thus a fortnight walked for my health, I was enabled to see him passed away. there, and to tell him all that had been agreed

I never knew whether Frederick discovered upon between me and Madge. He told me that anything about Mr. Vernon's relatives and pro- she had given me the best advice I could have perty. Very probably he never made any dis-had, and recommended me always to fly to her covery at all, but only indulged in groundless and when I was in a difficulty. spiteful surmises; but he said enough to mamma about my five thousand pounds, and said, that it and papa to poison their minds, and put into was not the filthy dross he looked to, but the He then spoke to me their heads the most unjust and unkind suspi- means to supply me with those comforts and luxcions concerning dear Walter; and his insidious uries in which I had been brought up; and remarks, coupled with the disaster that had be- that, as I had no power over the money until I fallen Mr. Vernon at the Trotmans' party, so was twenty-one years of age, we had better defer

our union for four months, until my twenty-first to the effect, that he presumed the donor of the birth-day had come, when I should be mistress of my own property, and that then we could be united, despite of all opposition.

present had "thrown Mr. Vernon over," and had usurped his place in my affections, and several other remarks of a similarly disagreeable nature. To this I gladly agreed; and Walter then bade From one thing Mr. Joseph proceeded to another, me a fond adieu, for he was going to the North appearing to be quite jealous that I should refor a month, to look after his property; and he ceive presents or attentions from any one, even said, that he thought we had better not corres- from so old a friend of papa's as Mr. Brum was; pond with each other during that time, lest we so I said to him, "I should have thought, Mr. Joshould be discovered. His absence (he said)seph, that I could have accepted a trifle like this would disarm all suspicion, and mamma and without your saying all sorts of unkind things papa would imagine that I had obeyed them; about it!" and then I began to cry at least I and this would make it all the easier for us af- buried my face in my handkerchief, and sobbed, terwards. So we parted, promising to meet at which did quite as well. that spot on that day month.

I little thought of the cause that would vent me keeping my appointment!

PROVOCATION THE SIXTH.

"I-oh! dear-Miss Polly," cried Mr. Jopre-seph, confused in his turn, and quite grieved at my tears "I did not mean to hurt your feelings, I only meant (sob) "oh! don't cry, Miss Polly! I'pon my honor, I would n't offend you for the world!" (sob, sob.) Oh, Polly! dear Miss Polly! really, now, I care for you more than I do for any one!" (Whatever is coming now? I thought. But I still hid my face in my handker. chief, and pretended to sob). "I-'pon my word, I idolize you, I really do! I (sob) — Ĭ, dear Polly, I love you! 'Pon my word and honor I do! and I should like to marry you."

I never was so provoked in all my life! never, I am sure. That one who had been my bosom friend for years, and to whom I had confided the dearest secrets of my heart, should betray that confidence, is conduct which one might have expected in an ungrateful viper, but not in one of that class which dear Mrs. Ellis so patriotically calls "the daughters of England." But let me explain the cause that led to this sad estrange

ment.

Good gracious! here was an offer from Mr. Joseph. I cannot say that it was altogether an unThough dear Walter was forbidden our doors, expected one, for, even before that evening when yet Mr. Brum (my elderly admirer, as I called he had behaved so disgracefully in the Trotmans' him) still continued to be a frequent guest at orangery, I had perceived that he was rather smitour house; and, one morning, when I was quite ten with me; and I have no doubt but what I might alone, and very busy at my embroidery-frame, soon have led him on to make me an offer (a manhe was turned loose upon me, evidently in a fu-ufactured article, than which none can be more rious state of affection. Although he talked eagerly coveted by young ladies), if I had not about all sorts of newspaper topics, yet I could been too much taken up by my affair with Mr. see that he had something weighing upon his Vernon. But Mr. Joseph's offer had come at last, mind. At length he disburdened himself, by tak-at a time when I was not looking for it. ing out of his pocket a packet carefully screwed I was just considering in what way I had best up in crown paper. It was a jewel-case, contain-reply to him, when he prevented me by saying: ing one of the sweetest lockets, and the tiniest "Dearest Polly, we have known each other ever little wee of a neck-chain, that I think I ever so long; and now it's all off between you and Mr. Brum had, really, not at all a bad that Mr. Vernon, I hope you'll think of me taste in jewelery. more than you've done lately, and will try to reOf course, I could not refuse his natural re-turn my love. I do, upon my word and honor!" quest that I would allow him to hang it round and Mr. Joseph looked as though he really meant my neck, and see how it would look there. So what he said. he slipped the chain over my head; and, as he did so, he said, in what he meant to be an insinuating, winning manner,, "May I, MissPolly ?" While I was patiently undergoing the ceremony due to him, I heard a noise behind me; and, instantly starting round, whom should I see but Mr. Joseph Whinney, staring like an idiot, as he is! He had the privilege of entrée to our house, and had thus come in unannounced and most inopportunely.

saw!

"Good morning, Miss Polly. I am afraid that I am intruding," said Mr. Joseph, though with no more feeling than if he were Paul Pry. Poor Mr. | Brum was so dreadfully confused, that, after tumbling out some agitated words about "an important engagement in the city," he made his adieux, and departed.

Of course, the dear little wee of a neck-chain was still where he had placed it, and Mr. Joseph's attention was soon directed to it. The young gentleman was pleased to tender some observations,

Well, I could not love him, at least as long as there was a chance of securing dear Walter; but, as I was not altogether averse to having what is called "two strings to my bow," I thought I would not decisively reject Mr. Joseph, but just give him a little bit of encouragement (it was kind in me to do so, because if I had rejected him, it would have been a great disappointment to him); so I said: "You have taken me so much by surprise, that I can scarcely give you an answer. I can hardly tell what my feelings are towards you. I have so long looked upon you only as an old friend, that I have perhaps never thought of you as being anything more than a friend. This is so sudden, that I can scarcely tell what answer to make to you."

"At any rate, Polly," said Mr. Joseph, who seemed glad to grasp at any straw of hope — "at any rate, you do not reject me?"

Oh, no, Mr. Joseph," I replied, "I would not be so cruel."