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sence would create; and the plain and simple dress her sister wore, attracted her attention much more than the affectionate manner in which she addressed her.

After answering the enquiries that Mrs. Stanley thought it civil to make, Mrs. Irvin expressed a wish to be introduced to the children. -"Would you see them directly?" said Mrs. Stanley, with indifference. "I doubt whether

they are dressed or not:" and ringing the bell, she ordered a servant to tell Martin to bring the young ladies to her. This was a summons so new to them, that it was with difficulty they could be persuaded to enter the room; where, they were told, "a lady that was come to stay with their Mamma, wanted to see them."

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At length, two sweet little girls made their paulaur duvi, attended by an elderly servant, on whom they seemed to depend for direction and support. The countenance and the dress of each were nearly alike; and Mrs. Irvin looked at them with pleasure, though she could ill conceal her feelings of regret, when she perceived that they seemed equally fearful of approaching their mother, and herself, to whom they were quite unknown.

"It is, as I have told you in my letters," said Mrs. Stanley, with an air of unconcern,

"that nobody but their maids are allowed to come near them: Martin, do you lead them to their aunt."

Martin obeyed her order; and Mrs. Irvin rose to meet the little strangers." My dears," said she, "I am your aunt; won't you let me kiss you?" And she took a hand of each."They are sweet children," said she to her sister; "which is Ellen? and which is Anna, my namesake?"

"Upon my word," said Mrs. Stanley," you almost puzzle me."

"I am Ellen," said the little blushing girl, who still retained her hand in that of her aunt, while her sister had withdrawn hers, and was endeavouring to hide her face in Martin's gown; "I am Ellen Stanley," added she, as she received an affectionate kiss from her delighted

aunt.

"This then is Anna," said she, drawing the other child towards her; "come, my little namesake, you must let me kiss you likewise:" and she took the trembling child on her lap. Ellen approached also, and while she held the hand of her sister, they both appeared to receive pleasure from the caresses of their new friend.

"You are highly honoured," said Mrs. Stanley, not a little chagrined at the preference the children had given. "I dare say I could

not get either of them to sit on my knee:—will you come to me, Ellen?" added she, stretching out her hand.—The little girl looked at Martin with surprise; and reading in her looks what she ought to do, she walked towards her mother with a mixture of fear and diffidence, that made her still more interesting. Mrs. Stanley received her complacently, and kissed her cheek with an appearance of more affection than she had ever shewn before. Ellen was delighted with this unexpected mark of favour from her mother, and looked towards her sister, as if she wished it could be bestowed on her also. For this purpose, Mrs. Irvin put her off her lap; and no sooner did she find herself at liberty, than she returned to Martin, who, taking her hand, seemed to direct her to approach her mother, that she might also receive the long-withheld token of her regard.

"What! must I kiss you also?" said Mrs. Stanley, not displeased at her coming towards her: "come along then; why, child, do you look so frightened?" observing the tears in her eyes; "do you think that I shall eat you?"

Anna had no sooner received the kiss so strangely offered, than she again returned to Martin, looking towards the door, as if wishing for their dismissal.

"You may take them away, Martin,” said

their mother: "I can see they are impatient to be gone; they are never happy out of their nursery; I never saw such shy children in my life."

Good-b'ye, my dear children," said Mrs. Irvin, "I hope we shall soon be better acquainted."

"As she once more kissed the glowing faces of the little girls, her voice and manner were so much kinder than what they had been used to, that they already began to feel a pleasure in her company, and seemed less inclined to leave the room, till Mrs. Stanley again repeated her commands. They made their curtsies and retired, pleased with the notice their aunt had taken of them.

As soon as they were gone, Mrs. Stanley wished to talk on some other subject, and instead of enquiring her sister's opinion respecting them, she began to give her an account of the numerous acquaintance she could introduce her to: but Mrs. Irvin paid very little attention to the long list of names she ran over; and repeated the pleasure she felt in seeing the children."They are much more sociable than I expected," said she, "confined as they are to the nursery: do you often visit them there?"

"I did,” replied Mrs. Stanley (with a countenance expressive of some confusion at the

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question)" before Martin had the care of them, as often as my numerous engagements would allow but now she takes so much care of them, that my attendance is not necessary: she dresses them properly enough, and makes them very well behaved. Their shyness, I believe, never will be gotten over; and there is no pleasure in going to see them, when it appears to give them such uneasiness.'

"Perhaps that might be removed, if they were more accustomed to your company," said Mrs. Irvin, much hurt at the indifference which her sister expressed.-The ladies now separated, to dress for dinner; at which time, Mrs. Irvin was introduced to Mr. Stanley; who welcomed her to his house with great politeness, in that softened manner, which is too often adopted to Such in his conceal contempt and dislike. heart did Mr. Stanley feel for his guest, though he had afterwards reason to acknowledge himself under infinite obligations to her, for relieving him when most distressed: for, on the very next day, he found that the situation of his affairs could no longer be concealed; and with the utmost indifference, he told his wife, that, "Unless she could obtain assistance from her sister, they were utterly ruined."-For any one to live beyond their income, is now become so fashionable a folly (not to call it by a harsher name),

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