ook up no little time. To determine which she
should keep and which return, where all was so attractive, took up still
more. After numberless vicissitudes and fluctuations of racking thought,
it was at length decided she should take the whole. The milliner
withdrew; the lady went up--Toinette had just expired.

I found her manners no less fascinating than her person. With all her
modish graces, there was a tincture of romance and an appearance of
softness and sensibility which gave her the variety of two characters.
She was the enchanting woman of fashion, and the elegiac muse.

Lady Belfield had taken care to cover her work-table with Fanny's
flowers, with a view to attract any chance visitor. Lady Melbury admired
them excessively. "You must do more than admire them," said Lady
Belfield, "you must buy and recommend." She then told her the affecting
scene we had witnessed, and described the amiable girl who supported the
dying mother by making these flowers. "It is quite enchanting,"
continued she, resolving to attack Lady Melbury in her own sentimental
way, "to see this sweet girl twisting rose-buds, and forming hyacinths
into bouquets." "Dear, how charming!" exclaimed Lady Melbury, "it is
really quite touching. I will make a subscription for her, and write at
the head of the list a melting description of her case. She shall bring
me all her flowers, and as many more as she can make. But no, we will
make a party, and go and see her. You shall carry me. How interesting to
see a beautiful creature making roses and hyacinths! her delicate hands
and fair complexion must be amazingly set off by the contrast of the
bright flowers. If it were a coarse-looking girl spinning hemp, to be
sure one should pity her, but it would not be half so moving. It will be
delightful. I will call on you to-morrow, exactly at two, and carry you
all. Perhaps," whispered she to Lady Belfield, "I may work up the
circumstances into a sonnet. Do think of a striking title for it. On
second thoughts, the sonnet shall be sent about with the subscription,
and I'll get a pretty vignette to suit it."

"That fine creature," said Sir John, in an accent of compassion, as she
went out, "was made for nobler purposes. How grievously does she fall
short of the high expectations her early youth had raised! Oh! what a
sad return does she make to Providence for his rich and varied
bounties. Vain of her beauty, lavish of her money, careless of her
reputation; ass