graceful they look bending over their embroidery frames, consulting over
the arrangement of a group, or the colour of a flower. The panniers and
fanciful baskets, overflowing with variegated worsted, are gay and full of
pleasure to the eye, and give an air of elegant business that is
vivifying. Even the sight of employment interests.

Then the morning costume of English women is itself a beautiful work of
art. At this period of the day they can find no rivals in other climes.
The brilliant complexions of the daughters of the north dazzle in
daylight; the illumined saloon levels all distinctions. One should see
them in their well-fashioned muslin dresses. What matrons, and what
maidens! Full of graceful dignity, fresher than the morn! And the married
beauty in her little lace cap. Ah, she is a coquette! A charming character
at all times; in a country-house an invaluable one.

A coquette is a being who wishes to please. Amiable being! If you do not
like her, you will have no difficulty in finding a female companion of a
different mood. Alas! coquettes are but too rare. 'Tis a career that
requires great abilities, infinite pains, a gay and airy spirit. 'Tis the
coquette that provides all amusement; suggests the riding party, plans the
picnic, gives and guesses charades, acts them. She is the stirring element
amid the heavy congeries of social atoms; the soul of the house, the salt
of the banquet. Let any one pass a very agreeable week, or it may be ten
days, under any roof, and analyse the cause of his satisfaction, and one
might safely make a gentle wager that his solution would present him with
the frolic phantom of a coquette.

'It is impossible that Mr. Coningsby can remember me!' said a clear voice;
and he looked round, and was greeted by a pair of sparkling eyes and the
gayest smile in the world.