liked that Mr. Hervey very much--I liked him from the first day I saw him.
What a number of entertaining things he told us at dinner! We used to
call him the good-natured gentleman: I like him very much--I wish he was
here this minute. Did you ever see him, Miss Portman? Oh, yes, you must
have seen him; for it was he who carried Helena's gold fishes to her
mother, and he used often to be at Lady Delacour's--was not he?"

"Yes, my dear, often."

"And did not you like him very much?"--This simple question threw Belinda
into inexpressible confusion: but fortunately the crimson on her face was
seen only by Lady Anne Percival. To Belinda's great satisfaction, Mr.
Vincent forbore this evening any attempt to renew the conversation of the
morning; he endeavoured to mix, with his usual animation and gaiety, in
the family society; and her embarrassment was much lessened when she heard
the next day, at breakfast, that he was gone to Harrowgate. Lady Anne
Percival took notice that she was this morning unusually sprightly.

After breakfast, as they were passing through the hall to take a walk in
the park, one of the little boys stopped to look at a musical instrument
which hung up against the wall.

"What is this, mamma?--It is not a guitar, is it?"

"No, my dear, it is called a banjore; it is an African instrument, of
which the negroes are particularly fond. Mr. Vincent mentioned it the
other day to Miss Portman, and I believe she expressed some curiosity to
see one. Juba went to work immediately to make a banjore, I find. Poor
fellow! I dare say that he was very sorry to go to Harrowgate, and to
leave his African guitar half finished; especially as it was intended for