hen, drawing a candle close to his elbow, he gathered all the drawings
to himself, as well what he had seen as the others, and muttering, 'I
must look at both sides now,' he eagerly commenced an examination, which
I watched, at first, with tolerable composure, in the confidence that his
vanity would not be gratified by any further discoveries; for, though I
must plead guilty to having disfigured the backs of several with abortive
attempts to delineate that too fascinating physiognomy, I was sure that,
with that one unfortunate exception, I had carefully obliterated all such
witnesses of my infatuation. But the pencil frequently leaves an
impression upon cardboard that no amount of rubbing can efface. Such, it
seems, was the case with most of these; and, I confess, I trembled when I
saw him holding them so close to the candle, and poring so intently over
the seeming blanks; but still, I trusted, he would not be able to make
out these dim traces to his own satisfaction. I was mistaken, however.
Having ended his scrutiny, he quietly remarked,--'I perceive the backs of
young ladies' drawings, like the postscripts of their letters, are the
most important and interesting part of the concern.'

Then, leaning back in his chair, he reflected a few minutes in silence,
complacently smiling to himself, and while I was concocting some cutting
speech wherewith to check his gratification, he rose, and passing over to
where Annabella Wilmot sat vehemently coquetting with Lord Lowborough,
seated himself on the sofa beside her, and attached himself to her for
the rest of the evening.

'So then,' thought I, 'he despises me, because he knows I love him.'

And the reflection made me so miserable I knew not what to do. Milicent
came and began to admire my drawings, and make remarks upon them; but I
could not talk to her--I could talk to no one, and, upon the introduction
of tea, I took advantage of the open door and the slight diversion caused
by its entrance to slip out--for I was sure I could not take any--and
take refuge in the library. My aunt sent Thomas in quest of me, to ask
if I were not coming to tea; but I bade him say I should not take any
to-night, and, happily, she was too much occupied with her guests to make
any further inquiries at the time.

As most of the company had travelled far that day, they retired early to
rest; and having heard them all, as I thought, go up-stairs, I ventured
out, to get my candlestick from th