Varying her cheeks by turns with white and red;

The driving colors, never at a stay,

Run here and there, and flush and fade away;

Delightful² change! thus Indian ivory shows,

With which the bordering paint of purple glows,

Or lilies damasked by the neighboring rose.”—Dryden.

The wished-for night at length arrived, and Amanda arrayed herself for it with a fluttering heart. The reflection of her mirror did not depress her spirits; hope had increased the brilliancy of her eyes, and given an additional glow to her complexion³. Ellen, who delighted in the charms of her dear young lady, declared many of the Irish ladies would have[Pg 166] reason to envy her that night; and Fitzalan when he entered the parlor⁴ was struck with her surpassing loveliness. He gazed on her with a rapture⁵ that brought tears into his eyes, and felt a secret pride at the idea of the marchioness beholding⁶ this sweet descendant of her neglected sister—

“Into such beauty spread and blown so fair,

Though poverty’s cold wind, and crushing rain,

Beat keen and heavy on her tender years.”

“No,” said he to himself, “the titled Euphrasia, if she equals, cannot at least surpass my Amanda—meekness and innocence⁷ dwell upon the brow of my child; but the haughty⁸ marchioness will teach pride to lower upon Lady Euphrasia.”

Amanda, on reaching Grangeville, found the avenue full of carriages. The lights dispersed⁹ through the house gave it quite the appearance of an illumination. It seemed, indeed, the

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