eau--idle to itself. I always had to reply, when
they got down upon their knees to me, and squeezed my hands, that I
could not force my sensations; and though I should ever esteem them
as friends, I could not change my condition of maiden meditation and
exculpation for the agitation of matrimonial engagements. I need not
say that now my feelings have changed, and you, Mr. Verty, have become
the idle of my existence. You are yet young, but with a rare and
intrinsic power of intellect. In future, you will not pay any more
intention to that foolish little Reddy, who is very well in her way,
but unworthy of a great and opprobrious intelligence like yours. She
is a mere child, as I often tell her, and cannot love.

"Come to your devoted Sallianna immediately, and let us discurse the
various harmonies of nature. I have given orders not to admit any
of my numerous beaux, especially that odious Mr. Jinks, who is my
abomination. I will tell Reddy that your visit is to me, and she will
not annoy you, especially as she is in love with a light young man who
comes to see Fanny, her cousin, Mr. Ashley.

"Come to one who awaits thee, and who assigns herself

"Your devoted,

"SALLIANNA."

Jinks frowned a terrible frown, and ground his teeth.

For a moment, he stood gazing with profound contempt upon the
letter which he had just read; then seizing his shears, snipped the
unfortunate sheet into microscopic fragments, all the while frowning
with terrible intensity.

The letter destroyed, Jinks stood for a moment with folded arms,
scowling and reflecting.

Suddenly he strode to the other side of the room, kicking off his
slippers as he went, and hurling his night-cap at the mirror.

"Yes!" he cried, grinding his teeth, "I'll do it, and without
delay--perfidious woman!"

In ten minutes Mr. Jinks had assumed his usual fashionable costume,
and buckled on his sword. A savage flirt of his locks completed
his toilette, and in all the splendor of his scarlet stockings and
embroidered waistcoat, he issued forth.

CHAPTER XXIX.

INTERCHANGE OF COMPLIMENTS.

O'Brallaghan, as he passed through the shop, requested to be informed
where Mr. Jinks was going.

Jinks stopped, and scowled at Mr. O'Brallaghan, thereby intimating
that his, Jinks', private rights were insolently invaded by a coarse
interrogatory.

O'Brallaghan observed, that if Mr. Jinks was laboring under the
impression that he, O'Brallaghan, was to be frowned dow