a Mrs. Smithson, who had formerly been Emily's governess; and our heroine was still young enough for the attraction of friendship, to recall with rapture her first readings of Matilde and the Corsair, and to remember with delight her first essay as confidante. Miss Hughes being in love at the time, had only left Arundel Hall to become the wife of Mr. Smithson; a gentleman whose station and salary now authorised his taking a house and a wife, and, at forty-five, instituting a new search after happiness.
Mrs. Smithson entered the room, and received Emily's welcome and embrace evidently a little disorganised by the latter; not but that she was very glad to see her former pupil, but it is very trying to have the drapery of one's shawl destroyed. A few moments; and they were conversing with true feminine fluency. Emily had to mention the curate's marriage, the death of the apothecary, and to say how well both uncle and aunt were. Mrs. Smithson had to state that she had three children—to wonder Emily had grown so much—and each had to rejoice over meeting with the other. Besides, there was a most interesting subject to be discussed: Mrs. Smithson had enchanted the world with a novel—not a person less than
