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“I will tell you,” replied we, “that which has been thought fully to explain its intention. This insect female, in common with her sisters, has hitherto been privileged to lead a life of entire indolence and pleasure. A few days since, having risen from her lowly birth-place on those discarded pinions, we might have seen her disporting in the air with some gay and gallant companions, of inferior size, but winged like herself. But now her career of pleasure, though not of happiness, being at an end, her life of usefulness is about to begin, and, in character of a matron, she is called to the performance of such domestic duties as will henceforth confine her to the precincts of her home.

“Of what use now, therefore, are the glittering wings which adorned and became her in her earlier youth? Their possession might only, perchance, have tempted her to desert the post which Nature, under Divine guidance, has instructed her to fill. Obedient to its teaching, she has thus despoiled herself of the showy pinions which (essential to her enjoyment in the fields of air) would only have encumbered her in the narrower but more important sphere of home.”

Emily listened in silence to our lecture on Entomology, which must have been delivered, we suppose, with peculiar clearness, as she did not, according to her usual custom, follow it up by any further inquiry or comment. We soon afterwards bid adieu to the insect community, and wended our way homewards.

F–returned from London the same evening; but availing ourselves of an old friend’s freedom, we had retired to bed before his arrival.

Next morning ushered in the day, “the great, the important day” of the fancy ball–neither “heavily” nor “in clouds;” yet greatly did we fear that the pleasant sunshine which greeted our opening eyes would be met with no answering beams at the breakfast-table of our friends.

How agreeably, therefore, were we surprised, when, on entering the parlour, we at once perceived an expression of more perfect serenity on the countenances both of F–and his pretty wife, than had been worn by either since the day of that confounded invitation.

“Ah!” thought we, “it’s pretty plain how the matter is ended; that wicked little fairy has wrought her charms for something–has carried her point–and will carry her willing captive to the ball. What poor weak fools fond husbands are! Thank heaven that–Well! perhaps better so than worse.”

Breakfast proceeded; chat in plenty; but not a syllable about the fancy ball; till, bursting to know how the case, so long pending, had really ended, we ventured on a pumping query–“At what hour, Emily,” said we, “does Lady Forrester come to take you to the ball?”

“I have written to prevent her calling.”

“Oh, then, you are going under other escort?” and we looked slyly at F–.

“I am not going at all,” said Emily.

Here she put in ours her little white hand, and looked up archly in our face,–“I am not going, for I have laid aside my wings!”

“My good fellow!” said F–, as he took our other hand; “you deserve to be made President of the Entomological Society.”