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lamented grandmother! to her I owed all the information I possess."

"But I warrant you, my lady," thought Alice, "the old Baroness did not tell you half of what I could say about the rogues that have caught your eye."

Her flippant soliloquy was interrupted by observing the lady Dulsibella dissolved in tears. She would have offered the best consolation she could think of, but Dulsibella hastily retired to her bower, beckoning Alice to follow. She heard the old men and women ascending to the balcony, and wished to shun them. These domestics sincerely loved their young lady, yet they repined that she was not of the other sex, and her father's behaviour emboldened them to consider her as their prisoner, or rather as a child committed to their watchful control. With mild dignity she avoided coming into contact so wounding to her self-respect, and with feminine delicacy, yet firm resolution, taught them to bend before her just claim to superiority. As they reached the balcony, they murmured aloud their grievances. "You gave us a comfortable dinner, Mrs. Housekeeper," said the steward; "and if my lord had not taken a stingy fit and carried off the keys, I should have crowned the feast with flowing cups of his best wine."

"The saints forefend that I should say my