jealousy. I was quite natural; I thought only of myself; I declined all invitations to dance, declaring that it was so long since I had tried an English country dance, that I dared not expose my awkwardness. French country dances were mentioned, but I preferred conversation. At last L---- persecuted me to try a Polish dance with him--a multitude of voices overpowered me. I have not the talent which some of my countrywomen possess in such perfection, of being obstinate about trifles. When I can refuse with grace, ‘tis well; but when that is no longer possible, it is my principle, or my weakness, to yield. I was surprised to find that L----danced admirably. I became animated. You know how dancing animates me, when I have a partner who _can_ dance--a thing not very common in this country. We ended by _waltzing_, first in the Polish, and afterwards in the Parisian manner. I certainly surpassed myself--I flew, I was borne upon the wings of the wind, I floated on the notes of the music. Animated or languid in every gradation of grace and sentiment, I abandoned myself to the inspiration of the moment; I was all soul, and the spectators were all admiration. To you, my Gabrielle, I may speak thus of myself without vanity: you know the sensation I was accustomed to produce at Paris; you may guess then what the effect must be here, where such a style of dancing has all the captivation of novelty. Had I doubted that my _success_ was complete, I should have been assured of it by the faces of some prudes amongst the matrons, who affected to think that the waltz was _too much_. As L---- was leading, or rather supporting me to my seat, for I was quite exhausted, I overheard a gentleman, who was at no great distance from the place where Leonora was standing, whisper to his neighbour, “Le Valse extrême est la volupté permise.” I fancy Leonora overheard these words, as well as myself, for my eyes met hers at this instant, and she coloured, and directly looked another way. L---- neither heard nor saw any thing of all this: he was intent upon procuring me a seat; and an Englishman can never see or think of two things at a time. A few minutes afterwards, whilst he was fanning me, a young awkward peasant girl, quite a stranger in this country, came up to me, and dropping her novice curtsy, said, “Here’s a ring, my lady, I found on the grass; they tell me it is yours, my lady!” “No, my good girl, it is not mine,” said I. “It is Lady Leonora’s,” said Mr. L----. At the sound of her name Leonora came forward. The girl looked alternately at us. “Can you doubt,” cried Colonel A----, “which of these ladies is Mr. L----‘s wife?” “Oh, no, sir; this is she, _to be sure_,” said the girl, pointing to me.