Julia assured us she was at that moment actually in expectation of being arrested; and she entreated that Fanny or I would make an application to some of her noble relations, which she promised to do. This point being decided, she again talked of Graham's beauty, wondered where he was, and anxiously inquired whether I was sure that he had taken a fancy for me. "Not a bit sure," I replied. "I know nothing at all of the matter, neither do I care." Fanny then related all about my last meeting with my stranger and his dog to Julia, who seemed to understand my sensations much better than Fanny did. "Oh, _mon Dieu_?" interrupted I, "there is in that box next to Lady Foley's, a man--no, it is still handsomer than my stranger! and yet" (the stranger turned his head towards our side of the house)--"Oh!" continued I, taking hold of Fanny's hand, in a fit of rapture, "it is he! only his hat, till now, concealed that beautiful head of hair." "Where? where?" cried out they both at once. "Oh! that some one would come into our box now and tell us who he is!" I exclaimed. "How provoking you are," said Julia. "Why do not you point out the man to us?" "It is that man, who is laughing.--Oh! I had no idea that his teeth were so very beautiful!" "Dear me, how tiresome," observed Fanny, quietly. "If you will not tell us which is your man let us talk of something else." "He is there," replied I, "next to Lady Foley's box, leaning on his arm." Julia put her glass to her eye as usual; being remarkably short-sighted she could distinguish nothing without it. "I know him," said Julia, after fixing him for some time. "Not much?" I observed, almost breathless. "Did you ever speak to him?" "I have met him in society, when I was a girl," continued Julia; "but I was intimate with a girl, to whom, when young, he proposed. Her wedding clothes were made; she used to sleep in my room, with his picture round her neck. She adored him beyond all that could be imagined of love and devotion, and within a few days of their proposed marriage he declared off. His excuse was that his father refused his consent." "For many years," continued Julia, "my friend's sufferings were severe; her parents trembled for her reason. No one was permitted to name her former lover in her presence. She is now Lady Conyngham." "And his name?" said I. "Lord Ponsonby, who is supposed to be the handsomest man in England: but he must now be forty, if not more," replied Julia. "I wish he were sixty," I answered. "As it is, I have no chance: but indeed I never thought I had. He is a sort of man I think I could be wicked enough to say my prayers to. I could live in his happiness only without his knowing me. I could wait for hours near his house for the chance of seeing him pass or hearing his voice." Fanny laughed outright. Julia only exclaimed, "Well done, Harriette! You are more romantic than ever I was at your age, and I thought that was impossible."