e their ideas. But an acquaintance, as I am, only an
acquaintance, a miserable acquaintance, unless I speak or listen, I
have no business to be here; unless I in some degree contribute to the
amusement or the convenience of my companion, I degenerate into a bore.'

'I think you are very amusing, and you may be useful if you like, very;'
and she offered him a skein of silk, which she requested him to hold.

It was a beautiful hand that was extended to him; a beautiful hand is
an excellent thing in woman; it is a charm that never palls, and better
than all, it is a means of fascination that never disappears. Women
carry a beautiful hand with them to the grave, when a beautiful face
has long ago vanished, or ceased to enchant. The expression of the
hand, too, is inexhaustible; and when the eyes we may have worshipped no
longer flash or sparkle, the ringlets with which we may have played are
covered with a cap, or worse, a turban, and the symmetrical presence
which in our sonnets has reminded us so oft of antelopes and wild
gazelles, have all, all vanished, the hand, the immortal hand, defying
alike time and care, still vanquishes, and still triumphs; and small,
soft, and fair, by an airy attitude, a gentle pressure, or a new ring,
renews with untiring grace the spell that bound our enamoured and
adoring youth!

But in the present instance there were eyes as bright as the hand, locks
more glossy and luxuriant than Helen's of Troy, a cheek pink as a shell,
and breaking into dimples like a May morning into sunshine, and lips
from which stole forth a perfume sweeter than the whole conservatory.
Ferdinand sat down on a chair opposite Miss Temple, with the extended
skein.

'Now this is better than doing nothing!' she said, catching his eye with
a glance half-kind, half-arch. 'I suspect, Captain Armine, that your
melancholy originates in idleness.'

'Ah! if I could only be employed every day in this manner!' ejaculated
Ferdinand.

'Nay! not with a distaff; but you must do something. You must get into
parliament.'

'You forget that I am a Catholic,' said Ferdinand.

Miss Temple slightly blushed, and talked rather quickly about her work;
but her companion would not relinquish the subject.

'I hope you are not prejudiced against my faith,' said Ferdinand.

'Prejudiced! Dear Captain Armine, do not make me repent too seriously a
giddy word. I feel it is wrong that matters of taste should mingle with
matters of belief; but,