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nearly spent, (alas! spent to what purpose?) the papilia comes forth in May-day glory, flies through a round of fashionable visits, or alights among the flowers in her drawing-room, to hold her court at home.

Mr. Belmont returns from his business to a late dinner, and finds that some of Melinda's friends have dropped in and been invited to remain. A tête-à-tête repast with her husband is an event of rarest occurrence. Anything so prosy should naturally be avoided; and would it not be absurd to waste such an elaborate toilet on him? However negligent her morning costume, she is now attired with faultless taste. Everything she wears becomes her a merveille. Her dress evinces the most exquisite perception of les nuances—for she never accidentally shocks a fastidious eye by the inharmonious mingling of color. At table she has more the air of a guest than hostess, but her husband does the honors with evident pleasure; no wonder, it is almost the only occasion upon which he ceases to be a cipher, if he does not positively "make a figure."

In the evening she has generally some engagement; she has arranged to attend a concert, the opera, the theatre, a lecture perhaps, or a ball, or a reception. Her husband, if not too much wearied by the duties of the day, accompanies her; but it is not upon his arm she leans; that would be outré, and so ridiculously Darby-and-Joan like!