Selina's impatience to reach the end of her journey made her consider it tedious in its progress, notwithstanding the velocity with which Lady Eltondale always travelled; who was too much a woman of fashion not to increase as much as possible her own consequence along the king's highway, by the trifling exertion of keeping the poor goaded animals which had the honor of drawing her vehicle at their utmost speed, thereby endangering the lives of such of his majesty's peaceful subjects as happened to approach them. As to Lord Eltondale, he seldom found leisure to reflect on the consequence attending any direction her Ladyship pleased to give; and even had he reflected, he would scarcely have ventured to dissent, so confirmed was his habit of passive acquiescence. Indeed, poor man, he was in a situation something similar to the coronet on his own equipage,—an external appendage to Lady Eltondale, which, while hurried along under the direction of her caprice, gave her a dignity in the eyes of the many, who merely look on the outside of every thing, but, in reality, totally disregarded by all those who were admitted into the interior.

At last, from a little eminence on the road, the first view of London broke on Selina's delighted eye. And yet such had been the exaggerated picture of this queen of cities, which her vivid imagination had drawn, that the coup d'oeil almost disappointed her. It is true, a long line of smoke darkened the whole horizon, yet she could scarcely believe, the towers she saw so pre-eminent in the distance were really the St. Paul's, and Westminster Abbey, she had so long wished to see. Judgment must be corrected by experience, before it can form a true scale for grandeur either moral or physical. However, as by degrees Selina discovered the immensity of the parts, she formed some idea of the comparative magnitude of the whole; and as she approached the metropolis, the throng of passengers of every rank, the crowd of carriages of all descriptions, the protracted suburbs, and the bustling scene altogether, nearly overcame her agitated spirits; and, at last, when the carriage was suddenly stopped, and for some minutes detained in Bond Street by the concourse of people, her heart became oppressed with contending feelings. She experienced that worst pang of solitude—a consciousness of being alone in a crowd; and, leaning back in the carriage, she burst into tears. This was, however, but a momentary depression; her elastic spirits soon recovered their spring; and when the barouche stopped in Portman Square, she bounded out of it, and gaily followed Lady Eltondale into her new abode.

For a moment she paused to look round the splendid drawing rooms, as if to ascertain that the scene was real, and no fleeting vision of her fancy. Then darting forward, she roamed from room to room, admiring every thing, examining nothing: the china, the mirrors, the statues, the lamps, the chandeliers, all in turn caught her attention, and all were in turn abandoned;

At last she noticed the balcony, that "rifled all the breathing spring," and flew to the open French window, expressing aloud all her admiration.

"All that does vastly well, my dear Selina, now we are tÊte a tÊte," quietly said the Viscountess, who, in the mean time, had been looking over the cards that nearly covered one of her tables. "But, pray child, don't be too naÏve. You must learn to suppress your feelings; indeed, my dear, you must. If you choose to adopt the ton of natural manners, do so, cela vous sied bien; but make the proper distinction between simplicity and ignorance. I will never act the chaperone to La contadina in corte." Then perceiving her rebuke had, at the moment, all the effect she desired, she took Selina's arm, and familiarly leaning on it, "Come, my love," added she, "let me introduce you to your own apartments: I feel you are so much my child, I quite forget to play the Lady Macbeth, and kindly bid you welcome." Lady Eltondale knew so well how to soften the asperity of reproof, without weakening its effect, that, perhaps, there were no moments in which her fascinating powers were more displayed, than when she finely touched a string a less skilful hand would jar: and, having once hinted to Selina that possibility of her unrestrained emotions being construed into the affectation of naÏvetÉ; she knew the diffidence that suggestion would occasion, would have the effect of making her still more pliable to her well versed instructress in the arts of fashion.

Selina's toilet was soon made, and she repaired to the drawing room, long before her aunt was dressed. Here she prepared to renew, at leisure, her entertaining examination; and, for this purpose, leaned on a marble table, to admire the perfection of bijouterie, as it was fully exemplified in a French clock that it supported. She had not long remained thus employed, when she was disturbed by a voice close behind her ear, exclaiming, "Beautiful! enchanting! divine, upon my soul!" and turning round, she perceived a gentleman, who, in the mean time, had been as attentively, and, to all appearance, not less delightedly examining her. She colored, but made him a slight curtsy, to which he returned a bow, as obsequious as he could accomplish without withdrawing his eyes from her countenance; whilst his own was intended to express the most reverential admiration: but so little obedient were his features to his feelings, that their expression bordered on the ludicrous, and thereby served as an antidote to his ardent, and almost impertinent gaze. The ceremonious salute was prolonged by both, to enable each to assume a proper, though different, control over their features: but Selina, finding her risible muscles moved almost beyond the power of restraint, turned towards a chair, which her spell-struck admirer presented to her in silence, and with protracted admiration.

The figure that thus offered incense at her shrine was one, that would more properly have served as a prototype to a Silenus than a Cupid. He was habited in the very extreme of fashion, apparently unconscious that his ill-proportioned limbs, and corpulent form, "made by nature's journeymen," were but ill adapted to the exhibition of a tailor's art. His head, which was immense, rose out of a filleting of neckcloth, that seemed to impede his respiration; at least such might be inferred from the deepened color of his swoln cheeks. In one hand he held a newspaper, and in the other a glass, which he always applied to his eye when he meant to recognize an acquaintance, always saving and reserving to himself the privilege of "cutting" an old friend on the plea of short-sightedness.

He had neither the graces of youth, nor the respectability of age; and yet, merely because he had become, nobody knew how or why, the ton, he was a welcome inmate of every fashionable mansion. His recommendations, such as they were, consisted in a capability of relating a good story in the best possible manner, and of submitting patiently to a hoax from his superiors, always knowing how and when to return the compliment with interest: besides,

He was, in truth, a living Almanac des Gourmands, and could withal play well, and bet high at every game. Being a professed old bachelor, he took the liberty of paying to ladies such undressed compliments, as, however acceptable they may be from some, it is not the etiquette to listen to from all. And perhaps from this assumed license, which he owed chiefly to his own ugliness, did he derive that privilege of which he was most vain, an undisputed right to decide on all claims to female beauty.

Such was the character and appearance of Sir James Fenton, whom Lady Eltondale, on entering, formally introduced to Selina: adding, in a manner half ironical and half serious, "This is my niece, Miss Seymour, for whom I bespeak your patronage, Sir James; I expect you will make her your first toast all this next month." Sir James acceded to her Ladyship's request with all possible seriousness; and leaning over the chair of the Viscountess, while he continued his scrutiny of Selina, lavished on her beauty the most rapturous praise in an audible voice, and, in a tone of criticism, concluding, as he conducted Lady Eltondale to the dinner room,—

Selina scarcely knew whether to be most offended at Sir James's effrontery, or entertained by his originality. She had not an opportunity to decide on this important question afterwards, as he did not make his re-appearance in the drawing room.

Lord Eltondale had accidentally met him in Bond Street, as he strolled down towards the Royal Institution; and Sir James had accepted his casual invitation to dinner, for the sole purpose of seeing "the beautiful heiress;" and being able to anticipate the judgment the connoisseurs were to pass on her title to admiration. For Lady Eltondale had not been idle during her stay in the country: she was well aware, that there was no way by which a woman could better secure the admiration of any one man, than by convincing him she had obtained that of the rest of the world; and having gained "the beautiful heiress" for Frederick Elton, she wished to enhance the gift in his eyes, by increasing her value in those of others.

She knew that Selina's beauty was above praise, and that, even had she been less lovely, an heiress was always transformed into a goddess, in the pages of a newspaper. She therefore had written, previous to their arrival in town, to about twenty of her confidential friends, making very slight mention of Selina's person, but giving a most minute detail of her property; and thus prepared the paragraph in the Morning Post, which next day met Selina's eyes, describing herself as

Lady Eltondale was excessively entertained at the surprise and confusion of Selina, at reading this unexpected compliment to her own charms, the real existence of which she was totally unconscious of. As the time had arrived when Selina had promised to lay aside her mourning, they determined to commence the pleasing toil of shopping that very day, and accordingly visited in turn all the jewellers, milliners, mantua-makers, corset-makers, and shoemakers, and all the et cetera, that disputed the palm of fashionable praise. While Lady Eltondale gratified at once her love of extravagance and exquisite taste, as she directed that of her lovely charge, at the same time she indulged Selina's very natural curiosity, by taking her through the different parts of the metropolis; for the wary Viscountess was anxious that Selina should not be produced to the world's eye, while she was herself too new to its wonders; well knowing that all her care and all her instructions, would scarcely suffice to check the first warm effusions of an unpractised heart.

Some days passed in this manner; and at last the decorations of Selina's lovely person being decided on, the embellishment of her mind was next to be attended to, at least so Lady Eltondale termed the cultivation of her talents; for with her mind she, in truth, little interfered, however much she wished to direct the expression of her feelings. To perfect her in all the accomplishments of the day, the first masters were engaged to attend her. Selina, in her usual lively manner, wrote to Mrs. Galton an entertaining description of her various avocations, alleging that she was already introduced "to the whole dramatis personÆ of the Bourgeois Gentilhomme," consisting of "un maitre de musique, un maitre À danser, un maitre tailleur, plusieurs laquais" and that she hoped "les hommes du bel air would soon make the entrÉe du ballet."

A beautiful boudoir was resigned to Selina by the Viscountess for her morning room, as it by no means was a part of her Ladyship's plan, that Selina should be À portÉ to the train of idle visitors that formed her usual levee. She knew the world well enough to be aware, that even beauty might grow familiar, and "pall on the eye;" and the more Miss Seymour was found difficult of access, the more would her society be sought. Therefore in acceding to Selina's entreaty to be allowed to pass her morning, as usual, in employment, while apparently only yielding to her wishes, she in truth pursued her own. Selina, with gratitude and delight, took possession of her little Paradise, for so she deemed it; into it she speedily removed her books, her drawing materials, and her magnificent new harp, which had been one of her first purchases, and there did she devote many hours to practising the lessons she daily received; particularly attending to the improvement of her naturally fine voice, which she could already accompany tolerably well on her new instrument; and often did she find her toil amply recompensed by a silent reflection of "how delighted Augustus and aunt Mary would be to hear me now!"

Nearly a fortnight had elapsed since their arrival in town, and Lady Eltondale became tired of remaining so long in private; for though she had, in truth, been out every evening, she had not yet gone to any large assembly, not wishing to appear in public without Selina, and choosing that her dÉbut should take place at her own house. She therefore sent out her cards for "a small party, with music;" and in the selection she made of her intended guests, took care that nearly all the leaders of ton, of both sexes, should be invited, whose fiat could at once impress the stamp of fashion on her protÉgÉe, for of their award she felt well assured, as her own silence on her beauty indicated. In the mean time she was most assiduous in preparing Selina for the exhibition. An easy but beautiful duet was practised and repractised with Mademoiselle Omphalie, who declared her full approbation of her quick adaptation of her style. Another was "got up," in which Selina was to accompany Madame —— on the piano forte, with just as many full chords on the harp as would show her beautiful figure to advantage, and impress the company with an idea of her manifold accomplishments; and a popular air, with brilliant variations, was selected for her performance on the piano forte, which was, in truth, the only part of the scene in which poor Selina felt the least assurance of success. At last the evening arrived, and Selina attended her aunt to the drawing room in a tumult of contending feelings: she stood on the threshold of pleasure—hope danced in her eyes, whilst the blush of timidity flushed her cheek. The magnificence of the apartments, the splendor of the lights, the perfume of the flowers, at once dazzled and delighted her. All the rooms were opened, and all shone in one blaze of borrowed day except the favourite boudoir: it too was open, and in it still sweeter flowers charmed the sense. But its simple, though beautiful, decorations, were more obscured than shown by the pale light of lamps, which shed almost a moonlight around, as they darted their tempered rays through vases of transparent alabaster. It seemed like the retreat of luxurious elegance receding from the world's glare; and Selina herself appeared like the goddess of this blest abode. Her dress had been entirely superintended by the Viscountess, as Selina neither understood nor valued the arts of the toilet; but her well versed aunt, knowing that the reputation of Selina's immense fortune was already sufficiently extended, had determined to consider nothing in this her first appearance, but how best to heighten her natural loveliness. The style of her dress was of the chastest simplicity. Her luxuriant hair, "when unadorned adorned the most," shone in no borrowed ornament, but every tress was arranged by the nicest hand of art, "then best exercised when least displayed." No jewels shed round her their meretricious glare; her gown of pure white seemed as spotless as the robe of innocence—but its beauty was not the effect of chance: no fold was unimpressed with the finest touch experienced taste could bestow; and, as Lady Eltondale turned her eyes on the beautiful girl, thus moulded, to all the external perfection she could have desired, she smiled at the anticipation of the triumphs that awaited her.

The frequent knocks, and rapidly repeated succession of names, announced to Selina that the Ides of March were come. Lady Eltondale took her station in the most conspicuous part of the rooms, for the purpose of receiving her guests; and never was the fascinating elegance of her manners more conspicuously displayed than on such occasions. At first she kept Selina leaning on her arm, for the purpose of showing her blushing charms to all, and of actually introducing her to a favored few. But the rooms rapidly filling, and the music being commenced, Lady Eltondale left Miss Seymour under the peculiar protection of the old Dutchess of Saltoun, whose countenance showed how truly she was delighted with her young acquaintance. But Lady Eltondale, in withdrawing from Selina, did not cease to observe all her motions. Nor was she a little gratified at the universal murmur of applause her appearance excited, thus bursting into view in all the heightened effect of unexpected beauty. All the fashionable beaux in the room crowded round the new star, expressing, in all the variety of tones and gestures, their admiration of her loveliness: at last, their profuse compliments confusing, rather than gratifying Selina, she looked anxiously round for her aunt, and perceived her standing in earnest conversation with two gentlemen, in one of whom, with equal surprise and pleasure, she recognised Augustus, and the other she rightly conjectured to be Lord Osselstone.