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diff --git a/old/55745-0.txt b/old/55745-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9842147..0000000 --- a/old/55745-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7435 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Exclusives (vol. 2 of 3), by Charlotte Campbell Bury - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Exclusives (vol. 2 of 3) - -Author: Charlotte Campbell Bury - -Release Date: October 13, 2017 [EBook #55745] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EXCLUSIVES (VOL. 2 OF 3) *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Whitehead and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -/* -THE -EXCLUSIVES. - -VOL. II. -*/ - - - - -/* -THE -EXCLUSIVES. - -IN THREE VOLUMES. - -VOL. II. - -SECOND EDITION. - -LONDON: -HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY, -NEW BURLINGTON STREET. - -1830. -*/ - - - - -/* -LONDON: - -Printed by J. L. Cox, Great Queen Street, -Lincoln's-Inn Fields. -*/ - - - - -THE EXCLUSIVES. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE CLOSING SCENE AT RESTORMEL. - - -On the evening previous to Lord Albert's -departure, while Mr. Foley and Lady Hamlet -Vernon were intently engaged in playing at -chess, Lord Albert announced to Lady Ellersby -his intention of leaving Restormel, and -paid her the usual compliment of thanks for -the honour she had done him in inviting him -there. - -"You have lost your queen," cried Mr. -Foley, addressing Lady Hamlet Vernon, -"now in two moves I will give you checkmate, -lady fair. But see--what is the matter?--she -is ill--she faints--lend assistance -for heaven's sake!" Lord Albert flew towards -the spot, and caught Lady Hamlet as -she was falling to the ground. The usual -remedies were applied; and when sufficiently -recovered, the sufferer was carried to her -room, apparently still unable to speak. - -"I hate all scene-makers," said Lady -Boileau; "if there is a thing I cannot bear, it -is the getting up of a sentimental catastrophe.--Don't -you, Mr. Leslie Winyard?--Don't you -think it is the acmé of bad taste?" - -"Oh! most undoubtedly; nothing argues -a decided _roturièrism_ more than allowing -your feelings, if _real_, to get the better of you -in public; and if feigned, nothing is so easily -seen through as counterfeiting them, therefore, -either way, it is at best a _mistake_." - -"One don't look well when one faints--that -is to say, _really_ faints," observed Lady -Ellersby; "it is surely best to avoid doing so." - -"One may always command one's-self," -observed Lady Baskerville. - -"Oh!" said Lady Tilney, who now and -then really thought and felt right, "it is very -easy to distinguish between a _feint_ and a -_faint_; and I believe every body would ridicule -the first, and nobody would like to do -the latter; because, as Lady Ellersby observes, -no real fainting, or crying, or any of the convulsions -produced by the feelings, are the -least graceful, except in the _beau ideal_ of a -Magdalen, or on a painter's easel; and secondly, -because nothing is less likely to produce -interest than these kind of physical -causes; for, as some great author says, 'all -physical sufferings are soon forgotten even -by the sufferer, when they are past, and by -our friends certainly never remembered beyond -their immediate duration, if so long;' -consequently I believe Lady Hamlet Vernon -did faint _tout bonnement_: she had probably -_une indigestion_; poor Lady!--but she will -soon be well again." - -"Spoken like an orator," said Mr. Spencer -Newcombe; "and not only an orator, but a -philosopher." - -"Par drivers moyens on arrive à pareille -fin," said the Comtesse Leinsengen; "and -providing one does what one wants to do, -that is all that _sinifies_. One person faints, -another talks, another dresses, another writes, -all in order to get what they wish. On the -success depends the wisdom of the measure." - -"Agreed," cried Mr. Spencer Newcombe, -"and conceived like a _diplomate du premier -grade_," he whispered to Lady Baskerville; -then aloud, "if Tonnerre had been here he -would have said--" - -"I will bet you ten to one," cried Mr. -Leslie Winyard, "that Lord Albert D'Esterre -does not leave Restormel to-morrow." - -"Done," said Mr. Spencer Newcombe.-- - -"Done," said Lord Baskerville; "ten to -one he does; for I never knew a more obstinate -fellow in my life; one who prizes himself -more _on decision of character_--and when -he says he will do a thing he will do it, however -little he may like the thing when done." - -"I don't think he will go," said Lady Ellersby, -gently. - -"Why not?" asked Lady Tilney. - -"Lady Hamlet Vernon will not let him." - -"C'est tout simple," rejoined Comtesse -Leinsengen, with a shrug of her shoulders. - -"It appears to me," said Lady Baskerville, -"that if he does go he will not be very -much missed. I never knew so dull a member -of society; he never speaks but to lay down -the law, or to inculcate some moral truth: -now really when one has done with the nursery, -that is rather too bad." - -"Providing she don't drive away George -Foley," said Lady Boileau, "she may reap -the fruits of her fainting here." - -"Mr. Foley," replied Lady Baskerville to -her dear friend, "is the man in the world -who will do whatever suits him best; and I -particularly admire _his_ manner and his ways: -they are all perfectly in good taste; and I -have already promised him that he shall be -my _cavaliere servente_ for the season." - -"Promised!--well, dear Lady Baskerville, -I thought you were too prudent to make such -promises. What will Lord Baskerville say?" -lowering her tone to a whisper. - -Lady Baskerville, speaking aloud--"Oh, -dear! la! I should never have thought of -asking him what he likes upon such an occasion;--we -live too well together to trouble -each other with our little arrangements.--Is -it not true, Lord Baskerville? do we not do -exactly as we choose?" - -"I hope your Ladyship does," he replied, -in all the airs of his exclusive character; "I -should conceive myself vastly unhappy if you -did not?" Lady Baskerville looked significantly -at her dear friend Lady Boileau; who -knew, as well as herself, that this ultra-liberalism -of her Lord in regard to the conduct -of wives, whatever it might be in respect to -husbands, was entirely assumed on Lord Baskerville's -part. - -While this conversation passed in the drawing-room, -Lord Albert and Mr. Foley were -discoursing in their apartment above-stairs. -They had each expressed great interest about -Lady Hamlet Vernon's indisposition; and -after waiting some time to hear accounts of -her from her female attendants, they fell into -other conversation of various kinds, during -which Lord Albert D'Esterre found himself -unfeignedly amused and interested with the -talents, taste, and refinement of Mr. Foley; -and the more so, as he spoke much of -Dunmelraise and its inhabitants, and was -lavish in his praise of Lady Adeline. - -"There is only one point," he said, "which -however is hardly worth mentioning, for of -course it only arises out of the seclusion and -the monotony of her present existence; but -certainly Lady Adeline, _pour trancher le mot_, -is a _little_ methodistical--the sooner you go -and put that matter to rights the better." -Lord Albert's manner of receiving the latter -part of this information, proved to Mr. Foley -that he had mistaken the character of the -person he addressed, and he added, - -"But indeed Lady Adeline Seymour is so -perfect, that it matters very little what she -does--every thing _she does_ must be right."--The -conversation then took another turn, -and they parted. - -Lord Albert D'Esterre was not what might -be called a jealous man; but no man, no -human being can be without the possibility -of feeling jealousy--neither was he naturally -suspicious, but nothing is more apt to generate -a suspicion of the fidelity of another's -conduct, than the consciousness of any -breach in the integrity of our own. He -pressed his hand to his heart--he sat down--rose -up--paced his chamber, and still repeated -to himself the praises which Mr. Foley -had uttered of _his_ Adeline. "_My_ Adeline," -he said, and then again stopped; "but is -she _mine_? do I deserve she should still be -_mine_, when I have so neglected her? no!"--His -servant came into the room with a note, -the well known shape and colour of which -he could not mistake. It was placed in his -hand--he opened it carelessly and was about -to cast it away, when the name of _Adeline_ -caught his eye; then he hastily read the -following words. - -"It is not for myself I mourn--it is not -the threatened loss of your society, however -much I value it, which has occasioned my -being so overpowered--it is the knowledge of -a secret which pertains to another, and in -which your fate is involved, that has quite -mastered me--this much I must tell you. I -must see you before you go, I must prepare -you for your meeting with Lady Adeline -Seymour." Twenty times he read over this -note. "What can it mean? can its meaning -be that Adeline loves Mr. Foley, at least that -he thinks so? and I, what have I been doing? -into what a sea of troubles have I plunged -for the enjoyment of the society of a person -that in fact affords me none--for the empty -speculation of recalling the chaotic mind of -one (comparatively a stranger to me) to a -sense of reason and religion, fool that I was -for the attempt." Then, after a considerable -pause, and after deep reflection, he burst -forth: - -"Prepare _me_ for a meeting with Adeline!" -as his eye caught again the last line of the -note. "_Prepare me for a meeting with -Adeline_--I cannot bear the phrase; but I -must know what she means--I must drag this -secret from her:"--and he rang the bell -violently!--"I shall not want my horses -till one o'clock instead of seven to-morrow -morning." - -The night Lord Albert passed was one of -feverish anxiety. He sent to inquire for Lady -Hamlet Vernon at an early hour the next -day; and hearing she was much recovered, -he besought her to grant the interview she -had done him the favour to offer as soon as -she possibly could. She replied, that in that -house it would be reckoned a breach of all -decorum, if she received him at any undue -hour; but that as soon as the earliest part of -the company breakfasted, which was about -one o'clock, she would be sure, notwithstanding -her indisposition, to be in the breakfast-room -at that time; when she would avail -herself of some opportunity to give him the -information which had come to her knowledge. -This short delay seemed an age to -him. Every one knows, when suspense -agitates the mind, what a total anarchy -ensues, and the hours which intervened -before meeting Lady Hamlet Vernon seemed -to Lord Albert interminable. When they -_did_ meet, the intervening moments ere an -opportunity occurred of Lord Albert's drawing -her aside, appeared in their turn so many -more ages of suffering. - -At last the company rose from the breakfast -table, and as Lady Hamlet took Lord Albert's -arm, and walked out on the terrace under the -window, she said, "This is kind of you to -have listened to my request:" and then as -they walked from the house, proceeded in a -graver tone to add, "I am aware, dear Lord -Albert, that my note of last night must have -surprised you, and that the subject connected -with it, on which I am about to touch, is one -of the utmost delicacy, and one which upon -the very verge of the attempt I shrink from; -but you have evinced so much real interest in -the state of my wayward mind, and have -said so much to me with a view, I am certain, -of placing my happiness on a more secure -and steady foundation than I had ever -any chance of before, that I should be ungrateful -in the extreme, if a corresponding -wish for your comfort in life did not in turn -actuate me. I cannot be ignorant of the engagement -between yourself and Lady Adeline -Seymour, the fulfilment of which will not, I -presume, be long delayed; unless, indeed--" - -Here Lady Hamlet Vernon's voice faltered, -and for a moment she paused; but, as if -making an effort to subdue her emotion, she -added in a lower and firmer tone, and with -an expression of something like intreaty in -her countenance as she looked up at Lord -Albert, "Unless I, dear Lord Albert, shall -prove the happy instrument of saving you from -too precipitate a step in this matter. May I -continue to speak to you thus unreservedly?" -Lord Albert made no answer, but bowed his -head in token of assent, while he walked by -her side like one lost in a perturbed dream. -She continued, - -"I wished, before you went, for this opportunity, -because I was aware that it was the -only one left in which what I am about to -impart would ever be of use; for, lovely as -Lady Adeline is, possessed of charms of person -which would indeed draw any heart towards -her, of the warmest and most enthusiastic -disposition, deeply enamoured of _you_ as -well as sacredly alive to her engagement to you -(and I know her, from a source which cannot -mislead me, in person, in mind, in heart, and -in determination, to be all that I describe -to you)--how could even your judgment, -Lord Albert, which is stronger than many -of twice your years, but yield to such -united influence, and be tempted to decide at -the moment on making so much perfection -irrevocably your own. But with all these -transcendant charms of person and of character, -Lady Adeline, I am grieved to say, -and know, has been unhappily betrayed into -views of life and of the world, which must -unfit her to be the partner of any one who -does not think in accordance with her on -these subjects. From what cause or under -what influence the peculiar turn of mind she has -taken has arisen, I know not, but (and again -I must repeat, that I _know_ the too-sure truth -of all I say) it has been gradually and fearfully -on the increase, and is now become a -fixed principle with her. - -"She loves _you_, as I have said, and she -looks upon the coming union with you as -the fulfilment of a sacred engagement, and -a duty she has to perform; but with this -she views the rank you hold in society, -and in which she will be associated, -only imposing on herself obligations of a -higher and severer order, and calling for a -stricter conduct and a greater self-denial on -her part. She condemns what she calls the -dissipations and wicked employment of time, -in the world of fashion; she holds dress, beyond -the plainest attire, to be a misapplication -of the gifts of fortune; she laments over the -worldly career of any one whom she hears -talked of with applause, or whose talents raise -them to distinction in the public eye: she -has even, I understand, wholly abandoned -her music and her drawing, as too alluring -and dangerous an occupation, wasting the -time which ought to be devoted to serious -reading, and an acquirement of that spirit -which has already cast such a gloom over her -existence. The only active employment in -which she indulges herself beyond her books, -is in making clothes for and visiting the poor -in her mother's domain. In short, she is what -the world calls a methodist, a saint; I know -not exactly what these words mean, but I know -they are terms applied by people of sense to -an ultraism in religious matters." - -Lord Albert shuddered, and a sigh was the -only interruption he gave, as Lady Hamlet -proceeded. - -"Conceive yourself, my dear Lord Albert, -united to a person of this character, however -amiable in herself, with your talents, with your -views, which are" (and she looked at him steadily -as she spoke) "tinctured with ambition. -With your temper and your tastes for the elegancies -of life, how would you brook a wife -who was praying and singing psalms all day -long? who would consider all _your_ actions, -when not in accordance with her own, as so -many positive sins, and whose moments, such -at least as were spared from the offices of her -enthusiasm, would be passed in the cottages -of your tenants, and in making baby-linen for -every expected increase in their families. - -"Now let me beseech you, and believe me -to speak from the most disinterested feelings, -that when you meet Lady Adeline, you will -not betray yourself into a too hasty arrangement -for your union. See her--see her, by -all means. Judge for yourself; use your -own eyes, hear with your own ears, and -be the arbiter of your own cause, but do -nothing rashly. Time is necessary for all decisions -in momentous questions; and what -can be more momentous, and in what is there -more at stake, than in an union for life? Can -too much deliberation be given to the subject? -Alas! I know, from my own fatal experience, -what misery must ensue where no tastes, no -principles, no objects exist in common between -those united. I owe to this cause a great -portion of my present unhappiness; for the -misery I endured, and the constant efforts I -made to bear up against the tenfold wretchedness -of my marriage with Lord Hamlet Vernon, -impaired my intellectual powers, and -prevented my turning the energies of my mind -to any useful or profitable purpose. Hence I -have become what I am, dependant on the resources -of the hour, to enable me to pass -through life with any thing like composure." - -Lord Albert had listened with feelings -which it would be impossible to describe -to all that had fallen from Lady Hamlet -Vernon; and in the emotion, which her communication -and her entreaties produced, he -could find no words for utterance, no answer -to her appeals. He was like one dumb, and -deprived of sense; and he stood for some moments -rooted to the spot when the voice of -his counsellor had ceased. - -"See her! yes, I will see my Adeline," he -at length said in a deep agonized tone, as -if communing with himself. "Yes, I will -see her." - -"Lord Albert, I entreat you, I implore -you," cried Lady Hamlet Vernon, with an -emotion that made her words quiver on her -lips, "I beseech you forgive me, if"--the -window of the library was at this moment -thrown hastily up; and Lord Albert D'Esterre -heard his name called by Lord Ellersby, -who held in his hand a letter. - -"D'Esterre," said he, "here are your letters." -Lord Albert hastened forward mechanically -to receive them, and one he gazed -upon more intently than the rest, as he looked -them over--it was from Adeline. - -Who is there who has not recognised, even -in its peculiar folding, the letter of a beloved -object? and whose heart has not throbbed -with delight ere even the seal were broken? -Such was the emotion of Lord Albert, awoke -up from the paralyzing influence of Lady -Hamlet Vernon's communication to new life -by the letter he now pressed to his bosom; -and regardless of what had passed, he hastened -to his room, and read as follows:-- - -/# -"DEAREST:--My mother has been gradually -growing worse and worse these two -months, and I have persuaded her to go to -town for a consultation of her physicians. - -"It is so long since I have heard from you, -Albert, it is painful for me to write, scarcely -knowing how far you may be interested -in what I have to communicate--but -I try to still my uneasiness--let me but -see you, dear Albert, all will be forgotten, -all will be forgiven; for I am your own true -and affectionate - -/*[5] -"ADELINE." -*/ - -"P.S. You will find us at Mamma's house -in town." -#/ - -A letter like this, breathing such trust and -love, and so replete with genuine expression -of delight in the prospect of meeting him, -was indeed sufficient to make Lord Albert -forget at once the poisonous theme which -his ears rather than his reason had imbibed in -his interview with Lady Hamlet. Impelled -more by the eager anxiety of affection to -behold the object of his late disquietude, than -to see her for the purpose of convincing himself -of her errors, he leapt with alacrity into -his carriage, and drove towards London, -without casting a thought on those he left -behind. - -The mortification which Lady Hamlet -Vernon felt was severe, in proportion as -from its nature it admitted of no sympathy. -She was, of course, ignorant of the cause of -Lord Albert's destination being so suddenly -changed from Wales to London; but in the -blindness of her increasing passion, she resolved -in the first moment of her despair to -follow him thither. A cooler judgment, however, -made her recollect that if she lost Lord -Albert she had other friends to retain, a position -in the gay world to lose, and that, at all -events, it was not by pursuing him at that -moment that any thing was to be gained; she -therefore determined on remaining some days -at Restormel, and making herself as agreeable -as possible to the party that continued -there. To one of Lady Hamlet Vernon's disposition -this was no easy task. Violent and -impetuous as she was by nature, left as she -had been without any control, it was a very -Herculean work to hide all the warring passions -of jealousy and disappointed love beneath -the semblance of a cool indifference--a -disengaged mind. - -"What have you done with Lord Albert?" -was Lady Baskerville's first question to her -after the morning's salutation; "I hear he -departed in violent haste at an undue hour this -morning. He looks of such an imperturbable -gravity, one does not understand his ever -being brought to do any thing out of measure -or rule." - -"I done with Lord Albert? my dear Lady -Baskerville, you confer too much honour upon -me to suppose that _I_ have any influence with -him. I did not even know that he was gone; -but if you are very much interested in his -departure, perhaps Lord Ellersby can tell us -something about it." - -She thought by this means to discover the -cause of his sudden disappearance, and gratify -her inquiries as being the curiosity of -another.--"Lord Ellersby," she said, "Lady -Baskerville is desirous to learn what wonderful -event can have called Lord Albert away -from us so very suddenly." - -"I do not know," said Lord Ellersby, "unless -he is going to be prime minister; don't -you think, Winyard, he has the dignity of -office on his brows already?" - -"In his own opinion, I make no doubt, he -stands a fair chance for the highest situations; -but we have quite exploded all that sort of -fudge now-a-days, and I think, unless we were -to have a bare-bone parliament, and a cabinet -of puritans, his very consequential lordship has -not much prospect of success in that line." - -"No," said Lady Tenderden, taking up a -newspaper, "I think this paragraph in the -Morning Post will rather explain the secret -of Lord Albert's going away:-- - -/# -"'We understand Lady Dunmelraise, with -her beautiful daughter Lady Adeline Seymour, -is shortly expected in town, and are sorry -to add that Lady Dunmelraise's ill health -has hitherto caused her absence from the gay -circles of fashion.'--This is put in by herself, -or some of her friends, you may depend -upon it." -#/ - -"Dear," said Lady Baskerville, "those vulgar -newspapers are always filled with trash of -that sort; nobody attends to such nonsense. I -dare say this Lady Adeline is some awkward -raw girl, enough to make one shiver to -think of; however, she may do very well as -a wife for Lord Albert, and he may be gone -to meet her." - -"Oh, I do assure you," cried Lady Tilney, -"that the public papers are the vehicles of a -great deal of good or evil; and that not only -political discussion, but the discussion also of -the affairs of individuals, is constantly promoted -by the freedom of the press." - -"For my part," said Lady Baskerville, "I -think it is quite abominable that those vulgar -editors of newspapers should be allowed to -comment upon what we do." - -"Not at all, my dear Lady Baskerville; -allow me to assure you that we are much -more known--much more distinguished--much -more _répandus_ by being all named occasionally, -never mind how or in what manner, -in the public papers. Besides, on the -freedom of the press hangs all the law and the -prophets; and if some few suffer by it occasionally, -the multitude are gainers; and I can -never repine at the glorious spirit of public -liberty which the papers and the press maintain. -Don't you agree with me, Lord Ellersby?" - -"I like it all very well when it does not -interfere with me," he replied, yawning; "but -I think it is very disagreeable when these vulgar -fellows, the news-writers, say some impertinent -thing, for which I cannot give them -a rap over the knuckles." - -"La, what does it signify," rejoined Lady -Ellersby; "nobody thinks of any thing above -a very few days, and except some dear friend -or other, no person of good breeding mentions -the subject to one, if it be disagreeable, -so that I cannot really say it disturbs -my tranquillity for a moment, let them -say what they will. As to this puff about -Lady Adeline Seymour, I agree with Lady -Baskerville, there are always a set of would-be -fashionables, who pay for the putting in of -such paragraphs about themselves, _et l'on sait -parfaitement à quoi s'en tenir_ respecting them." - -"Nevertheless," rejoined Mr. Foley, who -had just laid down his book, "I do assure you -that, puff or no puff, Lady Adeline Seymour -will astonish you all, for she is a very extraordinary -person." - -"Then I am sure I shall not be able to -suffer her," said Lady Baskerville. - -"_Je déteste les phénomènes_," said Comtesse -Leinsengen. - -"Mr. Foley seems to be paid too," rejoined -Lady Tenderden, laughing, "for making the -young lady notorious; and we shall see him -with a placard stuck on his shoulders, setting -forth the beauties and perfections of the wonderful -young lady." - -"These _miracles_," cried Comtesse Leinsengen, -"are only fit to be shewn for half-a-crown -a piece; if you interest yourself very much in -her benefit, remember, I promise to take -tickets." - -Mr. Foley smiled as, he replied: "I shall -leave it to time to prove to every one of you -how very much you are mistaken." - -"By all that is romantic," cried Mr. Winyard, -"Foley is caught at last; he is positively -going to become a lackadaisical swain, -and write sonnets to his mistress's eyebrows." - -"Perhaps even so. It is amusing to take -up a new character now and then; it is like -changing the air, and is equally beneficial to -the health, moral and physical. Nothing so -fatiguing as being always the same, both for -the sake of one's-self, as well as of our associates--don't -you think so, Mr. Winyard?" - -"I have always shewn that I did so think. -Few persons have acted up to their principles -in this respect more conscientiously than myself." -Mr. Foley did not press this matter -further; he knew when to retire from the -field, and always cautiously avoided a defeat. -This conversation was at once a key to Lady -Hamlet Vernon, and much as it pleased her -to have discovered the truth, she resolved to -carry on the deception; but Lady Hamlet -Vernon felt that her total silence might be -construed into an interest which, however real, -she by no means wished should appear to exist -in its true colours, and therefore she forced -herself into saying, with apparent indifference, -"I understand Lord Albert D'Esterre's marriage -is shortly to take place; and whatever -people may do _after_ marriage, they must be a -little attentive _beforehand_; so I doubt not -that the arrival of Lady Dunmelraise in town -is really the cause which has deprived us of his -society; and you know I am one of those who -hazard a favourable opinion of Lord Albert, -notwithstanding Lady Baskerville's dissentient -voice." - -This speech she conceived to be one of unprejudiced -tone and feeling that would lull all -suspicion to rest, had any existed, as to the -nature of her real sentiments; and it at least -prevented the expression of that ridicule, -which would otherwise have been her portion. -In this society there was a general system of -deceiving on the one hand, and detecting on -the other, which constituted its chief entertainment -and business; and in the present -instance it formed, as usual, one of the main -springs of the interest that filled up the -remaining hours spent by the party at Restormel. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE BRIDE'S RETURN. - - -The approaching gaieties of London, after -Easter, were pronounced likely to be of a -more brilliant description than they had been -for years, as is always the case, according to -the interests and wishes of the persons who -raise the report. One of the earliest arrivals -in the scene of _ton_ was that of the Glenmores, -who had returned from Paris, whither they -had proceeded, it will be remembered, shortly -after their marriage. - -London, however, was still empty; a considerable -part of the _élite_ remained at Restormel, -and others of their corps were not yet -reunited; while such as had in fact nothing -to do with them, were nevertheless sufficiently -foolish to regulate their movements by those -of the exclusives. - -It was in this interval between the two -assignable points of a London season that -Lord Glenmore, turning the corner into the -still deserted region of Hyde Park, met there, -to his surprise, Lord Albert D'Esterre, who -sat his horse like one careless of what was -passing around him, and seemingly so absorbed -in his own thoughts, that the exercise -of riding had the appearance at that moment -with him of a mechanical habit, rather than -a thing of choice. So deeply occupied was he -in reflection, that Lord Glenmore was obliged -to call several times, and at length to ride -close up to him, before he could attract his -attention. - -"D'Esterre," said he, as he held out his -hand, "I rejoice to meet you; and this unexpected -pleasure is the greater, as I thought -you had been too fashionable a man to be yet -in London, at least for a day or two to come. -But how ill you look! what is the matter -with you?" - -Lord Albert was not in a mood to bear -interruption from any one, or exactly able, -without putting a force upon himself, to meet -any inquiry with a courteous answer. But -Lord Glenmore was, perhaps, one of the -very few exceptions in whose favour something -of this feeling was abated, for their -intimacy had been of long standing; and Lord -Albert's regard and respect for his character -was, as it deserved to be, of the highest -kind. - -As soon, therefore, as the latter was roused -from his reverie by the kindly voice of his -friend, he greeted him with answering -warmth, and inquired after Lady Glenmore -with that cordial interest which he felt for -the wife of his friend; he at the same time -endeavoured to laugh off Lord Glenmore's -observations on his own personal appearance, -which were nevertheless well-founded--for -his mind was labouring under an anxiety -which visibly displayed itself in his countenance, -and which, as his first emotion of -pleasure in the near prospect of meeting -Lady Adeline subsided, the mysterious words -of Lady Hamlet Vernon's note were too well -calculated to give rise to. This state of uneasiness -was by no means diminished by the -delay of Lady Dunmelraise's arrival in town. -At her house Lord Albert's hourly inquiries -had for two days been fruitless; and he was -returning from South Audley Street, with -the expression of increased disappointment -painted in his looks, when he met Lord -Glenmore. - -After some conversation of a general nature, -and inquiries into the events which had -arisen in the fashionable world during his -absence, and which the latter confessed himself -to have been too happy to have thought -about before, he asked Lord D'Esterre, with -a manner implying more interest, what were -his own views and intentions. - -"I hope you are not thinking of returning -abroad," he added, "for we want you at -home, and then you must marry." Lord -Albert sighed as his friend approached the -subject so near his heart, but which he was -little inclined to discuss with him at that particular -moment; while the other, without -remarking the grave expression that had -returned over Lord Albert's countenance, -continued:-- - -"Allow me to speak to you as a man who -has lived a little longer in the world than -yourself, and to whom you formerly communicated -what were your views and wishes in -life. You told me you would aim at diplomacy -and at office; I am sure in both from -noble motives, and because you felt it to be -your bias, which in all our pursuits is half -the battle in ensuring success. Now you must -permit me to tell you that, however great or -powerful in point of interest a man may be, -he can never with these objects be too much -of the latter. Above all things, then, keep -this principle before you; and, in any alliance -that you may form (for you will marry soon, -depend upon it: the ladies, if there were no -fears from yourself, will not allow you to remain -long in single blessedness), endeavour -to remember my advice, and look round you -before you take the leap which is to break -the neck of your liberty, and do not throw -away the advantages which your situation (to -say nothing of yourself) give you of selecting -where you choose, and where you think your -pursuits will best be promoted. - -"Now there is one, _par parenthèse_, among -the many desirable parties I could name -to you--which is Osbaldeston's daughter. -His interest is great; but he has taken -through life the most foolish of all parts -in politics--that of being of neither party; -and, as an independent peer, is alternately -hated and caressed, abused and praised, -despised and sought after by both. You -know, since the death of his eldest son, -all his affections centre in this daughter; -and I am persuaded that any one united to -her, may make all Lord Osbaldeston's interests -his own. I do not mean to force this -match upon you," smiling as he spoke; "but -I allude to it as a sample of what, as your -friend, and one thinking with you in politics, -and pretty much the same in all other matters, -and having your interest, my dear D'Esterre, -much at heart, I would rejoice to see you -assent to. _Enfin_--the Osbaldestons dine with -us to-day, and if you will join us, you will -have an opportunity of judging for yourself." - -Lord Albert, as if he thought himself -doomed to undergo violence on all sides in -regard to Lady Adeline, replied with more -petulance in the tone of his voice than he -was ever known to give way to-- - -"My dear friend, you forget that I am an -engaged man." - -"Oh, if you mean to allude to Lady -Adeline Seymour, I had understood that it -was only that sort of engagement which -might be dissolved or not, as the parties -chose when they came to years of discretion; -and as I had heard it whispered that -Lady Adeline was attached to a young man -who was much at Dunmelraise, and a _protégé_ -of her mother's, a certain Mr. George Foley, -who turned all the women's heads about two -years ago in London (Lady Hamlet Vernon's -among the rest, by the way), I could not suppose, -seeing you very quietly here, that your -heart was much engaged; and I thought I -knew you too well to believe that you would -ever marry (however much I hope you will -make a prudent alliance) where love and -esteem do not constitute a part of the compact." - -"My dear Glenmore, I see your kind intention, -through this apparent carelessness -of my feelings; but allow me to assure you, -you are misinformed--a purer, truer, or more -innocent creature does not exist than Lady -Adeline Seymour; and though I have been -separated lately from her, yet from my correspondence -with herself, and from the invariable -accounts I have received from others, I feel -assured that the ingenuousness of her character -would never allow her to have a -thought concealed from her mother or myself -in the momentous question between us. Oh -no; when I look back to her every letter, the -recollection brings conviction along with it -of her heart being unchanged." - -Lord Albert spoke with an inward agitation -which corresponded little with the confidence -which his words expressed. His outward appearance, -however, was calm; and Lord Glenmore, -supposing he had been led into a very -pardonable error, and wholly innocent of intentionally -wounding his friend's feelings, -proceeded-- - -"Well, if it is thus, D'Esterre, you are -already a married man, I conceive; but be it -so, that does not prevent your dining with me -to-day--pray come." - -Lord Albert declined, saying gravely, "no! -that cannot be; for I am in hourly expectation -of Lady Adeline's arrival with her mother, -who, I am sorry to add, comes to town on -account of her health." A momentary pause -ensued in the conversation; and Lord Albert, -seemingly little inclined to renew the last -topic or enter upon any new one, seized the -opportunity of bidding his companion farewell, -and they separated. - -From the somewhat cold and reserved manner -of his parting, Lord Glenmore, when -alone, began to think he had committed a -mistake in treating his friend's engagement -with Lady Adeline lightly, and condemned -himself for what had escaped him on the subject. -For Lord Glenmore was a man of honourable, -as well as kindly feelings; and in giving -the counsel of a _prudential_ marriage to Lord -Albert, was at the same time the last person -to think that, in an union for life, happiness -ought to be sacrificed to interested views: -the furthest also from his thoughts would have -been any design to interfere between, or to -disunite any two persons who were attached -to each other. Perhaps the world in general -might not have given him credit for this amiability -of feeling, or for the strict principle -which he really possessed, from seeing that he -lived in constant intercourse with a class, -where, if similar worth of character did exist -at all, it certainly never was looked up to as a -merit in the possessor. It must be allowed -that Lord Glenmore was any thing rather than -a fitting member of such a class; for in addition -to warmth of heart, natural affection, and -good principles, he possessed talents of a very -superior kind, and held opinions quite at -variance with the received creed of his companions. - -He believed, for instance, that life was given -for other purposes than to be spent in accident -alone, or that a perpetual course of frivolous -pursuits, without any higher aim or object, -should be suffered to govern human existence; -but that, on the contrary, every action should -tend to some useful purpose. If Lord Glenmore -was ambitious (and he was so), his -ambition was of a noble kind; and while he -sought power, his uprightness of character -could never suffer him to abuse its exercise. -He was called proud by some: but although -impressed with a sense of the dignity of the -aristocracy to which he belonged, it was not -a blind and foolish estimate of rank which -made him value it, but a conviction of the -importance and responsibility which every one -placed in the higher grades of society possesses, -while fulfilling the duties of the sphere -in which Providence places him; and if in -society he sometimes appeared reserved, and -joined not in all the empty, uninteresting topics -that make up the conversation of most of the -coteries of _ton_, it was--that his mind was -filled, even in the buzz of the vapid talk -around him, with matters worthy of the reflection -and study of an intellectual being. - -He owed his admission, consequently, -within the line of circumvallation drawn -by the _ultra_ leaders of fashion, to a dread of -the important consequence of his remaining -aloof from their circle, and the preponderating -influence which even his neutrality would afford -(for Lord Glenmore was not a man to lend -himself to either side in such a frivolous warfare -as the decision of who were, or who -were not, worthy members of the _corps élite_). -Although the exclusives, therefore, one and -all, considered him to fall short of a due proportion -of that species of merit necessary to -their order, yet still they united in one common -effort to retain him on their side. They -could have wished him, no doubt, allied to -one of their own peculiar choosing, and had -heard with dismay proportionate to the consequences -which might frustrate their plans -respecting him, the announcement of his -marriage with his present wife. - -Determined, however, to make the best -of the unpropitious event, they had from -the first decided on the general policy of -endeavouring to retain Lord Glenmore's influence, -by admitting Lady Glenmore (however -much she might be considered inadmissible) -amongst them; and thus to secure -in the opinion of the world the sanction of -her husband to live on terms of intimacy in -their set. - -It was this motive which in some degree -influenced the ladies who were present at -Lady Melcomb's ball, and subsequently at the -marriage, to risk the loss of _caste_ by being -seen in the motley collection of that lady's -assembly: though the ties of relationship, in -one or two instances, would have led them to -the re-union on such a happy occasion. Yet -with Lady Ellersby and Lady Tenderden these -were impulses, which were only to be acted -upon when the laws and dogmas of exclusiveness -permitted such a proceeding. - -When Lord Glenmore returned from the -Continent with his young bride, the news of -his arrival quickly spread through the exclusive -circle, and called for some decisive measure -on their part, to ascertain how he might -be induced still to remain, under the circumstances -of his new connexion, in the same degree -of intimacy with them. It was therefore -time, on the part of the exclusives, for bringing -to bear these intentions at the moment -of their re-assembling in London, and more -particularly on that of the individuals who -composed the party at Restormel. - -Lady Tilney, whose activity was ever on -the alert, ordered her carriage before the -morning show of London began, that she -might catch all the chiefs of her party at -home. The first house she visited was Lady -Ellersby's, who was not yet risen, but she was -admitted to her bed-side. - -"_Reveillez-vous belle endormie_," said Lady -Tilney, kissing her on both sides of her face, -"for what do you think I am come about?" - -"I cannot imagine: has Lady Hamlet -Vernon gone off with any body, or do the -ministry totter, or has Newmarket proved -unsuccessful, or, in short, tell me what _has_ -happened!" - -"No, my dear, nothing of all that; but the -Glenmores are come back from Paris, and -now or never must the question be ultimately -decided whether we are to retain Lord Glenmore -amongst us or not. You know we were -agreed on the general policy of doing so soon -after his marriage, and the first step to take -will be to tutor the young Georgina, so that -she may not on the outset of her _début_ do -any thing to disgrace us. But although I considered -the matter as settled, I would not -take any decided step till I consulted you. It -is on this account I am come at so early an -hour, lest we should not have acted in concert -on this point; for as I always say, it is the -disagreement in the cabinet between their own -members which always breaks up the administration; -so society is, or ought to be, precisely -a type of the government of a state: -don't you agree with me?" - -"Perfectly," replied Lady Ellersby, suppressing -a yawn, for she did not, to do her -justice, understand one word of the political -jargon in which her friend always talked, whether -the conversation ran on the choice of a -new cap or the admission of a new member -to their society. Lady Tilney observing her -dear friend's absence of mind, told her that -she looked so beautiful in her night-cap, she -quite made her forget her errand. - -"But, nevertheless," (she added) "I must -remind you, that it _is_ one of no small importance, -for you see what a vast field of interests -the Glenmore himself includes. There are -the Melcombs, and the D'Esterres, and the -Osbaldestons--a perfect host. _Some_ of them -may play a card in politics: _all_ of them are -good tools, and I promised Lord Tilney not -to lose sight of that consideration. So if we -exclude la petite Glenmore, we shall be incurring -great risks; whereas, by making -her _one of us_, we shall have a vast addition of -strength added to our party, and we can always -take care that the vulgars belonging to -her, who are only good for certain uses, -shall not come in her train." - -Lady Ellersby, whose attention had been -effectually awakened by the admiration of her -night-cap, now sat up in her bed and said, -"Ah! there indeed is the difficulty--how will -you manage that?" - -"Nothing easier: we will, as I said, explain -to her what an advantage it is to belong -to us, and the necessity of our confining -our members to a very small circle, and then -tell her that we will always let her know whom -she is to invite to her parties, and whom she -is to go out with. Thus we shall take care -that, from the very beginning, she does not -_compromise_ us. One or other of us must -always be at her right hand, and by flattering -Lord Glenmore, and endeavouring -to make him believe that Lord Tilney is -wavering, and may possibly come round to -his side in politics, we shall easily get that -sort of power established with both, which -it is quite necessary to obtain if they are to -belong to us; and that they are so to do -is, as I have already explained to you, -equally necessary. Not that I, for the world, -would make any body do what he did not -like to do: no one is more for perfect freedom, -as you well know, than myself, but you -must feel that not to belong to us, is in fact to -be nobody, so that we are doing them a favour, -the greatest possible favour indeed; and -I am sure I would not take all this trouble -were it not that I am convinced it is doing -good." - -"Oh yes, you are so good-natured, you -are always trying to oblige. And what then -would you have me to do?" - -"Why I would have you call upon Lady -Glenmore to-day, and you may tell her how -she ought to dress, and to demean herself in -public. And when she is in public, you may -take care that no one speaks to her but -those whom we approve of; and should any -of her vulgar relations by any accident affect -to get near her, you can contrive to draw her -away, and carry her off to some other place. -Thus, my dear Lady Ellersby, I think, after -having explained this business so far, I need -say no more, though I could talk for hours -on the subject," Lady Ellersby yawned instinctively; -"but the line of conduct I wish -you to adopt has been so minutely pointed -out, that I think you cannot possibly misunderstand -it. And now I will go to Lady -Tenderden and the rest, and I flatter myself -no _diplomate_ ever played his part with more -skill. Depend upon it I will continue to -do my utmost endeavour to succeed in this -affair, which I feel persuaded is of considerable -consequence to our society. Not, as I -before said, that I would ever, either in great -or little matters, stoop to contrivance. I like -to persuade people for their good, and would -have all the world act with a liberal and free -exercise of their own rightful powers; the -right of reason which every individual ought -to exert and use in his own behalf. Ah, if -all governments could but be persuaded of -this, and be ruled in their determinations by -this noble motive of action, how differently -things in general would be managed from -what they are! Kings would no longer -be puppets of state, but be obliged in self-defence -to become rational people, and not to -depend on their ministers and favourites; -and ministers would not depend on each -other as they do, but every body in his own -sphere would be doing all he could to tend -to the public weal." - -Lady Tilney had once again got on her -favourite theme; and on these occasions she -never found out that the one part of her -discourse generally contradicted the other, -and that her _meaning_ virtually did so where -her _words_ did not, for it was always herself -who was to be the mover and law-giver. -But this was all matter of moonshine to her -present auditress, who at length shewed -unequivocal symptoms of inattention, and -even hinted that it was time for her to rise. -So at length Lady Tilney, reiterating the part -she assigned to her respecting Lady Glenmore, -took a tender leave and departed. - -Her next visit was made to Lady Tenderden. - -"Ah!" she said, on meeting her, after -the first greetings, "what a relief it is -to have to converse with a rational being, -one who understands the meaning of things -in general. I have just been talking to poor -dear Lady Ellersby, who is, between ourselves, -become more than ever thick, and -indolent--she actually cannot understand any -thing _consecutively_; however, I have, I think, -at last put her in a right track upon the subject -which I must now discuss with you." - -"I know," said Lady Tenderden, interrupting -her (for patience was not her _forte_) -"what you would say. The Glenmores are -arrived, and--" - -"Exactly; and it is necessary we talk the -matter over, and settle precisely the _marche -du jeu_." - -"Oh! by all means, take _la petite Georgina -en main, et l'affaire est faite--je m'en charge_." - -"That is precisely what I wished;--nobody -is better calculated for that office. In the -multiplicity of things which I have to do," -said Lady Tilney, "it is not possible that I -should pay that sort of attention which she -will require, for she is very childish, perfectly -ignorant of the ways of the world, almost a -simpleton, and our society might be entirely -broken up and destroyed, if we allowed her, -without proper caution being previously -observed, to come in amongst us. At the -same time, I think it is of such consequence -that we should not altogether lose Lord -Glenmore, I mean politically as well as prudentially -speaking, that it does appear to me -to be quite worth while to take the trouble -of forming that little wife of his, and making -her one of us." - -"Oh, _certainement_," replied Lady Tenderden. -"Besides, Lord Glenmore is charming; -_il fera fureur_, when he becomes a little -more polished, and I shall with infinite pleasure -_consacré_ some hours to the instruction -of _la petite ladi qui seroit à ravir si elle n'avoit -pas l'air d'un mouton qui rève_." - -"Exactly," cried Lady Tilney, "but that -is of no consequence." - -"Oh, none in the world," responded Lady -Tenderden. - -"Well then, my dear, that is finally arranged, -and I shall now only have to go to -the Glenmores to-morrow; but if it be possible, -_you_ had better see her to-day, and -above all things secure her coming to the -Ellersby's party, and Lady Hamlet Vernon's -on Sunday, and to our own party on the -water on Monday, and to the Opera with you -on Tuesday, and so on; in short, taking care -only that not one day shall be lost or misapplied." - -"Depend upon me; and now then farewell, -my dear Lady Tenderden. We meet to-night?" - -"Of course. _Soyez toujours séduisante -comme à present; cette capotte jaune est délicieuse; -elle vous va à ravir._" - -"_Flatteuse_," rejoined Lady Tilney in a tone -of languishing satisfaction, and so they parted -mutually pleased. Lady Tenderden, true to her -promise, drove straight to Lady Glenmore's, -and found her at home. Having expressed -her satisfaction at this fortunate circumstance, -one too of such rare occurrence, she -praised every part of her dress, and inquiring -of the Paris fashions, thus proceeded: "And -now, my fair queen, you are truly an enviable -personage--_you_, if any body ever had, -have really _beau jeu_, every thing that can make -a woman's life truly desirable; a great establishment, -magnificent equipages, jewels, -and the consideration which attaches to a _haut -grade_ in society, a distinguished title, _tout -enfin qui peut embellir la vie_; truly, _je vous -en félicite, ma belle amie_. But you cannot -occupy so enviable a position without exciting -the most active envy. Now allow me, as -a sincere friend, to put you _au courant_ of some -things, in respect to the true nature of which -you may be deceived. There are a certain -set of persons, who will very naturally pay you -court, and endeavour to obtain your ear; such -as the Duchesse D'Hermanton, the Ladies -Proby, and Ladies How, and all that tiresome -concourse of old dowagers; but be upon your -guard against these, and without giving open -offence to any body, be sure that you get rid -of them in their very first onset."--Lady Glenmore -stared. "_Vous ouvrez des grands yeux, -ma chère_, but you will soon learn the use of -these cautions. If the people I have named -send their names, as they will certainly do or -visit you, be a long time before you return the -call; they are an old-fashioned set, who pique -themselves on politeness, and _veille cour_ attentions, -and feeling affronted by this neglect on -your part, they will not so readily or familiarly -accost you in public. When they do -(for some of them are vulgarly good-natured -enough not to take the hint)--when they do -accost you, take care to look as if you did not -know who they were, and to answer them -by monosyllables, if you answer them at all. - -"Above all things, never go to their wearisome -_At Homes_; but if they attack you with -one of their downright speeches,--sorry not to -have had the honour, &c. &c.--hoping you had -received a card, &c. &c.--curtsey, and say you -were vastly sorry, but you forgot the day, -or----no no, say _mistook_ it; yes, _mistook_ it, -that is best, because it is a loop-hole that answers -for dinner as well as any other party; -yes, a mistake of the day is the best recipe I -know, for any invitation which you may -chance to hesitate about, and perhaps think -it possible you might like to accept, and -then having done so, repent of it when the -time comes--a mistake in the day sets all -right. You are _au desespoir_, and _they_ must -believe you, or make themselves appear ridiculous; -it may indeed cost you a note or two, -but that is the worst of it, and then _vous en -êtes quitte pour la vie_." - -Lady Glenmore, who had been so astonished -hitherto that she could not reply, now -found herself called upon to make some answer, -as there was a pause on the part of -Lady Tenderden. - -"You have told me so many things," she -said, "my dear Lady Tenderden" (smiling -as she spoke), "that I am afraid I shall never -remember the half of them, particularly as -they are upon subjects which, to tell you the -truth, do not interest me much, if at all. One -thing you said, however, that was very kind, -and kindness is not lost upon me I can assure -you, which was the cordial expression with -which you wished me joy of my happiness. I -should indeed be ungrateful if I did not feel -warmly obliged to you; only you omitted in the -catalogue of my felicities, that, without which -there would be no felicity for me--I mean -my being the wife of Lord Glenmore; who, -had he not possessed any of the adventitious -advantages you enumerated, I should equally -have preferred to the whole world." - -"Oh! _cela va sans dire_, of course such a -young and handsome husband is taken into -the account; but, my dear young friend, _vous -ne voulez pas vous donner des ridicules_, much -less render your husband the laughing-stock -of all the world, by setting yourself up with -him _en scène de Berger et Bergere_; besides, -permit me to say, that is just the way to lose -him. If you are always at his elbow, watching -him _en furet_, depend upon it he will soon -think you are jealous, and following him out -of curiosity. Now there is nothing a man can -so ill bear as the idea of being watched, particularly -by a wife; besides, all his male friends -would avoid him if they saw he had such an -Argus--for, beautiful as you are, you must not -have an hundred eyes, to spy out every thing -your husband does; no no, my dear, when -you are _en tête-à-tête_, it is all well enough, this -new-married fondness; but it will soon evaporate, -take my word for it, and then you -will be dying to break the troublesome habit -_de part et d'autre_, and will not know how to -set about it: take great care, _ma chère ladi_, to -begin as you mean to go on." - -"Certainly," replied Lady Glenmore, "I -have but one meaning, one intention--that is, -to love and be loved; and I shall never, I -hope, do any thing which can run counter to -that prime business, that prime duty of my -life." - -"Oh!" cried Lady Tenderden, perceiving -she had gone too far, "it is quite delightful -to hear you. You are, I am sure, destined to -be a phœnix" (sneeringly); "and proud indeed -must any woman be to view one of her -own sex so well calculated to be a glory and -honour to it. I was only warning you against -certain appearances, certain misapprehensions, -which persons of your turn of mind are -liable to fall into, and which might be the -very means of depriving you of that which -you are so anxious to retain. I know the -world, believe me, my dear young friend, -and there is nothing in it I can so ill endure to -see, as an assumption of a happiness which is -out of the common line. If you enjoy such a -superlative felicity, _tant mieux pour vous_, but -do not make an _étalage_ of it, for either its -reality will be questioned, or they will take -care it shall not long be one; whereas if you -do as other people do, you will be allowed to -go on quietly, and you may perhaps carry on -this sort of romantic view of life much longer -than persons in general do." - -Lady Glenmore, who had listened with -painful earnestness to this insidious advice, -now felt her heart swell, and the tears bursting -from her eyes. "And must I really," -she said in a voice of suffocation, "pretend -to be indifferent to my husband, in order to -retain his love?" - -"Certainly, my dear child; _peut on être si -enfant_" (observing her emotion), "as to allow -yourself to be thus moved about such a trifle; -take my advice, and you will never lose that -sort of hold over his affections which it is so -charming, I allow, to possess. Shew him -that you can have other men at your feet--that -you are not, in short, dependent upon -him for any thing _faites vous un sort_, in short, -_et vous ne vous en répentirez pas_." - -"And pray, how am I to set about this -sort of life?" - -"Why nothing so easy; simply, go constantly -out, and take care to have one or two -young men _de la première volée_ always about -you; never be reduced to be handed out or into -any public place by Lord Glenmore; only -now and then _pour faire beau voir_, and to -shew that you have _des procédés honnêtes_ -one to the other--or else _par hasard_, but -never as a thing of course. Another point -is, you must establish an apartment of your -own; for you cannot think between married -persons how necessary that is, and what an -independence it gives to both. It is so very -disagreeable to have the exact moment of -our going in and coming out commented -upon." - -"Dear no, pardon me, not at all. I am always -glad when Lord Glenmore says, 'Where -have you been so long, Georgina?' because -that shews he misses me." - -"Oh, of course," said Lady Tenderden, as -she always said when she did not know what -to say; and inwardly she thought what a -world of nature must here be overturned, before -any thing artificial can be sown in such a -soil! "Well, my dear Lady Glenmore, you -come to the Hamlet Vernon's to-morrow -night?" - -"Yes, I believe so; that is to say, if Lord -Glenmore is disengaged." - -"Now really we shall all be afraid of such -a paragon of love and obedience; or what is -worse, we shall all laugh at you if you give -_tête baissé_ into that sort of ultra propriety. -What can Lord Glenmore's engagements have -to do with your coming or not coming to -Lady Hamlet Vernon's?" Lady Glenmore -blushed, and confessed that she did not wish -to go out if Lord Glenmore did not. - -"Well, my dear, I see the terrible re-action -in perspective which must succeed to all this -red-hot love; and it is mighty well for the -moment; only you are laying up, _croyez moi_, -a store of discontent and dissatisfaction for -yourself." - -At this moment a servant entered, and laid -a visiting card on the table. "Oh, Mr. Leslie -Winyard," said Lady Tenderden, taking it up, -"a vastly agreeable creature: you will let -him in of course." - -"No," answered Lady Glenmore, "the -only thing Lord Glenmore does not wish me -to do, as a young married woman, is to receive -young men as morning visitors, and I -have no wish to disobey him; therefore Mr. -Leslie Winyard has been included in the general -order I gave to that effect." - -"_Je tombe de mon haut_; well, certainly, I -never should have guessed that Lord Glenmore, -that handsome, young, gay Lothario, -would have turned out such a tyrant; and to -commence before the honey-moon be well -nigh over to shew the cloven-foot of _husbandism_, -is really putting a seal to that tyranny -with a vengeance! And he--he too, of _all persons_, -to pretend--but I believe that is always -the way, these men _à bonnes fortunes_ do always -make the most insufferable husbands." - -"I am sure," replied Lady Glenmore, with -an air of offended dignity which astonished -Lady Tenderden, "I am sure Lord Glenmore -desires nothing of me but what he conceives -is for my own happiness; and I am perfectly -willing to obey him in every thing, far less -in such a matter of indifference as this." -Her cheeks here grew redder and redder during -every word of Lady Tenderden's insidious -speech. The melancholy, uneasy expression, -nevertheless, which in despite of herself -threw a cast of restless inquiry into her countenance, -as though she would have asked "to -what do you allude?" did not pass unobserved -by Lady Tenderden, and she conceived it to -be a good time to let the poison work which -she had thus insidiously distilled; so she arose -to take her leave, and with apparent carelessness -said, "_Au reste_, remember," and she -spoke in a soothing tone of commiseration, -as if she wished, were it possible, to have -withdrawn, or at least to soften the words she -had uttered, "remember, Lord Glenmore is -not a bit worse than other men, they are all -alike; and really I think him singularly agreeable, -so do not let any thing I have said give -you a moment's uneasiness." - -She knew the rankling arrow was in Lady -Glenmore's heart. "You have nothing to do -but to take your own way, and keep it well -in mind that all husbands take theirs, and -my word for it, if you only follow this counsel, -you will live _en Tourtereaux_, and lead a very -happy life." - -"I have no doubt I shall do that," said -Lady Glenmore, half-crying. - -"Believe me, _cher enfant_, whenever you -feel the least melancholy or uneasy, send for -me, and I shall put all to rights for you in a -moment; you are a delightful, an unique -creature; I really love you, and him too; you -know, he was my play-fellow when we were -children, therefore I take a particular interest -in you both, and am alike the friend of each. -Come, dry these beauteous eyes, whose brightness -ought not to be dimmed by a tear; come, -take a drive with me in the Park." Lady -Glenmore hesitated as she replied: - -"I expect Lord Glenmore every moment; -he promised to drive me in his phaeton. He -was to have been here an hour ago" (looking -anxiously at the clock). - -"Well, then, if he is an hour after his -appointment, you would not surely wait for -him any longer? Depend upon it he has been -engaged by some business, or it may be love -of virtù or politics, _que sçai-je_--come let us go -and look for him; my life for it we shall meet -him in the Park." - -"Perhaps so," said the youthful Georgina -with a sigh, who evidently assented to Lady -Tenderden's proposal for no other reason than -that the hope might be realized;--and ordering -the servant who answered her bell, to -tell her maid to arrange her shawl, she followed -her _friend_ to her carriage. - -When they reached the Park her eyes -wandered from one figure to another in quest -of Lord Glenmore; in vain--the admiration -of the passing throng who courted her attention -had no attraction for her, she saw -not the only object she wished to see, and -returned wearied and dispirited, notwithstanding -all Lady Tenderden's endeavours to -amuse and dissipate her thoughts. The moment -she came home, however, she had the -satisfaction of finding her husband already -there, and she scarcely waited to say adieu to -Lady Tenderden before she flew up stairs to -him. After her first greeting, he asked her -where and with whom she had been; and on -telling him, he said, "I am glad, love, that -you like Lady Tenderden, for she has a thousand -good qualities;" (_a façon de parler_ by the -way, which is often taken upon trust from -one month to another, and frequently bears -no true meaning.) Lord Glenmore continued: -"Yes, she has a thousand good qualities, and -is very clever and agreeable in her way, and -has that perfect _usage du monde_ which has -so much charm, and which besides may -be of real advantage to a young person -like yourself entering on the scene; I am -quite rejoiced that she is your friend. It is -true she sometimes overpasses that line of _retenue_ -which I might like my young wife to -observe; yet she has never been charged with -any real fault, and in adopting what is best, -you can leave out such parts of her manners -and conduct as may not exactly suit your -age and taste. In short, I think she is a very -useful acquaintance, and you may safely listen -to her advice respecting your conduct in the -world; but after a little experience, my sweet -Georgina, you may make your own choice of -intimates, and I am sure that selection will -always be well and wisely made." - -Lady Glenmore listened attentively to her -husband, and sighed as she recalled to mind -the nature of the advice which she had -already received; but thought, "well, then, -Lady Tenderden was right after all, and I -must not tell Glenmore. How childish and -silly I was in having been so vexed about his -not coming home this morning,--still less -must I tell him of her cautioning me against -pursuing him, for should he know that I had a -thought of doing so, it might probably produce -the effect she predicted." - -With this idea thus unfortunately impressed -upon her mind by what her husband had -unthinkingly said, Lady Glenmore remained -silent. The hour of dressing now called them -to their toilette, and the subject was not at -that time renewed. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -JEALOUSY. - - -After Lord Albert had parted with his -friend in the Park, he returned again to Lady -Dunmelraise's house; but still in vain--they -came not. The agony of suspense, when prolonged, -is perhaps the severest which the -human mind can know; but like all chastisements -or corrections, it is never sent without -a meaning, and if entertained as it is mercifully -intended it should be, we shall reap the -fruits of the trial. - -In the present case, Lord Albert's disappointment -brought back a livelier sense of -the attachment he really felt for Lady Adeline, -and awoke all those tender fears and reminiscences -which cherish love, but which a too -great security of possession had for the present -blunted, or at least laid in abeyance. -He now wondered how he could have -suffered so much time to elapse without -writing to her. He wondered, too, that he -had not heard from her; she had not then -missed the blank in his part of the correspondence; -and it was evident some other -interest had supplied that one in her heart.--He -looked at her picture, as if he could read -in that image an answer to these various -surmises; but it was placid, and serene--it -smiled as was her wont, and he felt displeased -at the senseless portrait, for an expression -which he could not have borne her to wear, -had she really known what his fears and -feelings were. He shut the case and pushed -it from him;--he felt angry--and then -ashamed--for conscience goaded him with its -sting, and in turn questioned him, as to his -right of indulging one such sensation against -_her_, whom in fact he knew he had neglected: -but all this process of mental analization -was salutary, and as he came by degrees to -know himself better, he was enabled to form -a truer estimation, not only of the amiable -person to whom he was bound by every tie -of honour, but of the true nature of real -worth. - -At length, on the fourth morning from that -on which he met Lord Glenmore, he found in -North Audley Street a note from Lady Adeline. -"A note only!" he said, hastily breaking -the seal. It was written from an inn on the -road; it informed him that Lady Dunmelraise -had borne the journey very ill, which had -occasioned them to stop frequently; but that -they would reach town she hoped on the following -evening. Lord Albert turned quickly -to the date, and found that it was of the preceding -day, so that he might expect their -arrival that very evening. A gleam of delightful -anticipation now shed joy over his -heart. We easily gloss over our own faults; -and Lord Albert found all his self-reproaches -for neglect and temporary coldness merged -in the fondness he actually felt at that moment, -and his present determination to abide -by, and act upon this feeling, silenced all -self-accusation. With a beating pulse, and an emotion -he did not wish to quell, he determined -on not leaving the house till he should once -more have seen _his_ Adeline. - -He seated himself, therefore, in the drawing-room, -and gave a loose to those pleasurable -sensations which now flowed in upon -him. The apartment had been prepared for -Lady Dunmelraise, and all the usual objects -in her own and her daughter's occupations -were set in their wonted places. He recognized -with transport a thousand trifling circumstances -connected with them, which -brought his love, his _own_ love, more vividly -before his eyes. As he carefully enumerated -and dwelt upon these, his eyes rested on a -vacant space in the wall near the piano-forte, -where a drawing of himself had hung; and -the enchanting thought that it had been her -companion in the country, came in aid of all -the rest to soften and gladden every sensation -of his heart. As his eyes wandered over the -apartment in quest of fresh food for delight, -they rested on a parcel of papers, and letters, -lying on the writing table. He turned them -over, hardly knowing why he did so, when a -frank from Restormel, directed to Lady Adeline -Seymour, gave him an unpleasant shock, -and he dropped it with a sudden revulsion of -sensation that was any thing but gentle. - -He again resumed the letter, turned it -round and round, looked at the seal--it was a -coat of arms, but the motto, "_for life_," was -a peculiar one. He wondered to what family -it belonged; he thought of consulting some -heraldic work in order to discover, when the -sound of a heavy laden carriage passing -in the street, drew off his attention. He -flew to the window--it was a family coach, -but one glance told him it was not that -of Lady Dunmelraise. Back he came to -the letter table; again _the letter_ was before -his eyes--_the letter_, for amongst many he -saw but one. - -"It is surprising," he said to himself, "that -Adeline should have a correspondent at Restormel, -and I not know of it; but shortly, -very shortly, this mystery shall be solved. I -will ask her at once--but carelessly, naturally, -who is her unknown friend at Restormel? -Ask her? no, she will of course tell -me, if she has formed any new acquaintance -with whom she is sufficiently intimate to correspond, -and if she does not of herself tell me, -I shall never _inquire_ into the matter--indeed -why should I? No, there is nothing renders -a man so silly as jealousy, or throws him so -much in a woman's power as letting her see -he is jealous." - -With these, and many such contradictory -reasonings as these, did Lord Albert continue -to pace the room along and across, and every -now and then stop and fix his eyes on the -offending letter; when again a sound attracted -him to the window, and though it was dusk, -and objects were indistinctly seen at a distance, -he recognized the well-known equipage. The -next moment he was in the street; and the -next it drove up to the door. He heard Lady -Adeline's soft voice cry out, "There's Albert!" -as she half turned to her mother, and -kept kissing her hand to himself. The carriage -door was opened, and she sprang out, -receiving the pressure of his hand with an -answering expression of fondness. - -"Dear Albert, how do you do? have you -not thought we were an age on the road? -But I hope you received my note." Ere he -could reply, Lady Dunmelraise's extended -hand was cordially presented to him, and as -affectionately taken; and while each rested -on his arm on entering the house, he felt in -the kindly pressure of both that he was as -welcome to them as ever. - -When he had assisted Lady Dunmelraise, -who moved feebly, to the drawing-room, and -placed her pillows on the couch, even in -this moment of joyous re-union, he could not -fail to observe what ravages sickness had -made in her frame since they last met; and -as he expressed, though in modified terms, in -order not to alarm her, the regret he felt at -seeing her so unwell, he observed the eyes -of Lady Adeline fixed upon him, in order to -read his real opinion on the first sight he had -of her mother; and before he could regulate -his own feelings on the subject, those of Lady -Adeline's overshadowed her countenance with -an expression of sadness she was not prepared -to command, while the tears rushed to her -eyes. Again holding out her hand to Lord -Albert, while a smile of mingled joy and -sorrow beamed over her features, and partly -dispersed the cloud, she said, - -"All will be well _now_; my dearest mamma -will soon be better--joy and happiness will -once again be our's." Lord Albert thanked -her with his eloquent eyes; and as he impressed -a kiss on her offered hand, he replied: - -"How fortunate that I received your letter -when I did, for in another hour I should have -been on my way to Dunmelraise." - -"Indeed!" said Lady Adeline, her eyes -sparkling with pleasure. - -"Yes; and I had, but for something which -detained me, been on my road there long -before your letter arrived." - -"That would indeed have been unfortunate," -said Lady Dunmelraise; "to have -missed you after so long hoping to have seen -you there in vain, would have doubled our -regret;" she spoke with a tone of something -like reproach, at least so Lord Albert took -it; and she added, with a melancholy smile, -"It is a bad omen that a letter from _Adeline_ -should have _prevented_ you from coming to -us." - -Lord Albert felt embarrassed; there was -something relative to the delay of his coming -which he knew he could not explain, and this -consciousness made him feel as if he were -acting a double part. At this moment Lady -Adeline perceived the letters lying on the -table, and taking them up, she glanced her -eye over them as she turned them round one -by one, saying, "this is for you, mamma--and -this--and this--and this, as she handed them -to Lady Dunmelraise--but this one is for myself." -Lord Albert's attention had from the -first moment of her taking up the letters -been riveted upon her, and now with ill-concealed -anxiety he watched every turn of her -countenance, while she broke the seal and -perused the letter. She read it, he conceived, -with great interest; and said, when she had -concluded, addressing Lady Dunmelraise-- - -"It is a kind word of inquiry for you, my -dear mamma, from George Foley." Lord -Albert changed colour as this name was -pronounced; but neither she nor Lady Dunmelraise -observed the circumstance, and this -gave him leisure and power to recover from -the confusion he experienced. Lady Adeline -again resumed, after a short pause, "You -must have met Mr. Foley at Restormel, Albert; -what do you think of him?" - -"I had little opportunity of judging of -him," replied Lord Albert, hesitating as he -spoke; "but he was only at Restormel for a -part of the time I was there. He had, however, -a strong recommendation to my favourable -opinion, from the warm terms of praise and -admiration in which he mentioned you, Adeline." -She smiled, and without any alteration -of manner went on to say: - -"I am afraid then he has _too_ favourable an -opinion of me; and if he has raised your expectations -so high of my improvement since -last we met, I shall have reason to lament -your having become acquainted with him; -but he is such an _adorateur_ of mamma's, that -he thinks every thing that belongs to her is -perfection!" - -Notwithstanding Lady Adeline's seeming -calmness while speaking of Mr. Foley--notwithstanding -the natural and ingenuous expression -of her words and countenance, Lord -Albert could not divest himself of the idea -that Mr. Foley had some undue power over -her affections. It is easy, perhaps, to shut -the door against evil thoughts; but when once -they are admitted, they obtain a footing and -a consequence which it was never intended -that they should have. Beware, all ye who -love, of admitting one spark of jealousy into -your breasts, without immediately quenching -the same by open and free discussion -with the object of your affections! But there -lies the difficulty--we are ashamed of harbouring -an injurious thought of those we love; -or rather, we are ashamed of _confessing_ that -we do so; and we go on in the danger of -concealment, rather than by humbling our -pride, and laying open our error, obtain the -probable chance of having it exposed, and -removed. While monosyllables of indifferent -import dropped from Lord Albert's lips, he -was in his heart cherishing the false notion that -had the letter, which gave him so much uneasiness, -been entirely of the import which -Lady Adeline represented it to be, it would -have been more natural to have addressed it -to Lady Dunmelraise herself. - -He did not, indeed, dare to impugn Lady -Adeline's truth: but he conceived that no -other man should presume to have an interest -in her--in her who _belonged to himself_ (every -man will understand this), which could entitle -him to hold a correspondence with her. He -consequently became abstracted, and there was -a sort of restraint upon the ease of his manner -and conversation, of which Lady Dunmelraise's -penetration soon made her aware, and -to which even the young and unsuspecting -Adeline could not remain wholly blind. - -In order to replace things on the footing -which they had been formerly, and which on -their first meeting they still appeared to be, -Lady Adeline turned the discourse to her pursuits -in the country, and spoke in detail of -her drawing, her music, her flower-garden, -and the families of the poor in their neighbourhood -whom she and Lord Albert had so -often visited together. - -"You remember," she said, "poor Betsy -Colville, who never recovered the loss of her -lover who was shipwrecked; she is still in the -same state. She goes every day to the gate -where they last parted, takes out the broken -sixpence he gave her at their last interview; -and having returned home, looks in her father's -face, and says '_to-morrow_.' She never -repines, never misses church--joins in family -worship; but her poor mind is touched, and -she can no longer do the work of the house or -tend on her aged parents. I have therefore -paid my chief attentions to that family--and -they are so grateful--so grateful, too, for what -you have done for them. The myrtle we -planted together, Albert, on the gable-end of -the house, now nearly reaches the thatch; -and in all their distress about their daughter, -the good old pair have never forgotten to tend -that plant. Mr. Foley and I rode or walked -there every day." - -The latter words of this discourse poisoned -all the sweetness of the preceding part; and the -idea of Mr. Foley became associated in Lord -Albert's distempered mind, with all the interest -and all the enthusiasm expressed by Lady -Adeline; so that he read in her descriptions of -her mode of having passed her time, and the -pleasure she had innocently enjoyed, nothing -but her love of Mr. Foley's company. - -Lord Albert became still more silent, or -spoke only in broken sentences; and a deeper -gloom gradually spread over each of the three -individuals, usurping the place of that cordial -outpouring of the heart, which had at first -rendered the moment of meeting so delightful. -After a silence, during which Lady Adeline -and Lady Dunmelraise appeared mutually affected -by the awkwardness which the change -in Lord Albert's manner had excited, yet -anxious to conceal from each other the knowledge -that such was the case--they felt relieved, -when he took up a newspaper, and -read aloud the announcement of an approaching -drawing-room. - -Lady Dunmelraise, glad of an opportunity -to find some subject of discourse foreign -to the thoughts which obtruded themselves so -painfully upon her, said, "Well, Adeline, that -is a favourable circumstance, _à quelque chose -malheur est bon_; had I not been so much -worse exactly at this very time, we had perhaps -not been in London; for though I have -for some months past wished you to be presented -at court, we might, ten to one, not -have had courage to leave Dunmelraise at -this sweet season; but as it is, the opportunity -must not be lost, and the only question is, by -whom shall the presentation take place--for -alas! I am not able myself to have that pleasure, -and I fear my dear sister Lady Delamere -will not either;" then pausing a moment, -she added, "perhaps, Lord Albert, Lady Tresyllian -will kindly take that office, if she is to be -in town." - -"I am sure she would readily comply -with any wish of yours; but I know my mother -has, in a great measure, given up the -London world, and has not been at any of the -drawing-rooms during the present reign; but, -perhaps, on such an occasion, she might be -induced to forego her determination of retreat." - -"Oh, I would not for the world," said -Lady Adeline, "torment Lady Tresyllian -about it; for," she added, smiling, "you know -how very little I care about such things." - -"It is well," said Lady Dunmelraise, "to -hold every thing in estimation according to its -due value. Most young persons are _too_ fond of -the gaieties and pleasures of the world; but -you, my dear Adeline, perhaps contemn them -in one sweeping clause of indifference, without -having properly considered to what advantages -they may tend when resorted to in due degree, -and in subordination to better pursuits. A -drawing-room I hold to be one of those very -few worldly pageants which are connected with -some valuable and estimable feelings; the attending -them is an homage due to the state of -the sovereign; they uphold the aristocracy of -the country, which is one of the three great -powers of government, now too much, too -dangerously set aside; and they ought to, and -do in great measure, keep up those barriers -in society, which prevent an indiscriminate -admission of vice and virtue, at least as far as -regards an outward respect to the _appearances -of decorum_. Whenever drawing-rooms shall -be abolished, you will see that much greater -licence in society will take place. The countenance -of the sovereign, the right to be in -his presence, is one which none would voluntarily -resign; and to avoid losing it, is a -check upon the conduct of many, who are -not regulated by better motives; while those -who are, will always duly appreciate those -honours which flow from monarchs, and -which form a part of our glorious constitution. -'Love God, honour the king,' is the -good old adage; and with this conviction on -my mind, and the remembrance of that loyalty -and attachment to the present House of -Hanover which your ancestors have ever displayed, -even to the sacrifice of their lives and -fortunes, my Adeline, I have set my heart on -your being presented to your king; and the -only consideration is, who shall be the person -to present you." - -"Well, dearest mamma," replied Lady Adeline, -"any thing you wish, I shall be delighted -to do, and I make no doubt you are perfectly -right; only I did not feel the least anxious, and -I wished to set your mind at rest upon the subject -of my going into public." Lord Albert said, -with an expression of melancholy and displeasure, -"It is quite unnatural for a young person -of your age, Adeline, to affect to despise the -amusements of the world; and unless you -have some _cause_ for doing so, best known to -yourself, I confess I do not understand it." - -Lady Adeline was too quick-sighted not to -perceive that something or other pained and -displeased Lord Albert, and had they been -quite alone, she might have asked him the -occasion of this change in his humour; but -as it was, she did not dare to question him; -and by way of turning the conversation into -another channel, she inquired, of whom -consisted the party at Restormel; if they -were clever, or distinguished, or agreeable; -and whether the mode of life there was to his -taste? Lord Albert seemed to awake out of -a sort of reverie into which he had fallen, -and his countenance was agitated by many -commingling expressions as he replied, - -"I really can hardly tell you; there were -the Tilneys, the Tenderdens, the Boileaus, -Lady Hamlet Vernon, Mr. Leslie Winyard. -At that sort of party there is little occasion -for the display of talent, and people are glad -to be quiet for a few days when they go to -their country houses; so that each individual -is thinking more of repose than of shining. -As to their mode of life, it was pretty nearly, -I think, what it is when they are in town." - -Though Lord Albert spoke this in a hurried -tone, he felt as though he had got well over -a difficulty. But the remark Lady Dunmelraise -made upon his answer, did not particularly -serve his turn at the moment:--"Either -the persons who I heard composed -that party, or Lord Albert, must be much -changed since I knew them, if they could be -in unison," and she fixed her eyes upon him;--his -embarrassment was visible, and did not -subside as she went on to speak particularly -of Lady Hamlet Vernon: "She remembered -her marriage," she said, and commented -upon those sort of marriages, saying, "that -all intriguing schemes were detestable, but -those respecting marriage were of all others -the most thoroughly wicked and despicable. -Lady Hamlet's conduct, too, after marriage -was not very praiseworthy: if a woman sacrifice -every other consideration in allying -herself to her husband for the sake of aggrandizement, -she must at least continue to act -upon that system, and if possible wash out -the disgrace of such an act (for I consider it -to be no less) by her subsequent mode of -behaviour, and the dignified uses to which -she applies her power. But in the present -instance this was far from being the case, -and she had allowed an apparent levity of -conduct, at least, to sully her character. In -one instance, I _know_, she has drawn a person, -in whom I feel great interest, into a manner -of life, and an idleness of existence, which, to -call it by no harsher name, is one of vanity -and folly; but I had hoped her influence was -over in that quarter." - -"As I do not know to what you allude," -rejoined Lord Albert, "I cannot exactly reply; -but certainly Lady Hamlet Vernon is -very handsome, very agreeable, and, for aught -I know to the contrary, leads now a very good -sort of life. She has a finely-disposed heart, -and, I should think, is better than half the -people who find fault with her. If, from having -married an old _roué_, she was thrown into -danger, which her personal charms rendered -very likely to have been the case, kindness I -am sure would at any time open her eyes to -avoid these; whereas undue severity might -make her rush headlong into them--for harsh -opinions in similar cases, nine times out of -ten, drive such persons from bad to worse." - -"I conceive," said Lady Dunmelraise, "that -this may sometimes be the case; but it is frequently -only an excuse for not choosing to hear -the truth told. However, there is a society, -of which Lady Hamlet Vernon is one, which -I hold to be the subverter of every thing estimable. -Its great danger is the specious ease -and indifference of those who compose it, -the system being without any system whatever. -The great gentleness of manner and -entire freedom, which seem to be its characteristics, -are its most dangerous snares. No -consecutive speech upon any subject, no power -of reasoning, no appeal to religion, are tolerated -by these persons. They have a lawless -form of self-government indeed, by which they -keep up their own sect and set,--but there is -a mystery in the delusions which they cast -around their victims, the more difficult to detect -since the whole of their lives is spent in a -seeming carelessness about every thing. - -"The warning voice of a parent can alone -put a young and unsuspecting member of -society on his guard against being drawn into -this vortex; but it is the young married -persons to whom such warning is more particularly -necessary. However, because there -are persons, who by artful intrigue arrogate -to themselves a certain consideration, -which they receive from the uninstructed and -unwary, and whose ways are certainly not -those of pleasantness or peace--we are not to -say but that there are others who to the -highest rank unite the highest principles, and -who reflect honour on the class to which they -belong--persons who consider their high stations -as being the gifts of God, and themselves -as responsible agents. Yes, the true nobility -of Britain will yield to none other of any -country for intrinsic worth; all the virtues -adorn their families, and religion and honour -stamp them with that true nobility of soul, -without which all distinction is but a beacon -of disgrace. - -"It is not, therefore, because a few worthless -or foolish persons, in the vast concourse -of London society, affect an exclusiveness -which rests on no basis of real worth or dignity, -but on the very reverse, that all intercourse -with the world is to be avoided, or all -innocent pleasure to be denied to young persons; -and I should be exceedingly disappointed -to see my Adeline retiring from her -state and station, and coming to have a distaste -for its amusements, because I feel certain that -so violent a re-action is not natural, and that -the real way to be of service to herself and -others, is to fulfil the rank and station of life -wherein she is placed, and in fact to do as our -great inimitable Pattern did--to go about -doing good." - -Lord Albert's feelings, while Lady Dunmelraise -was speaking, had undergone many -changes, but the last was that of pleasurable -approval at finding Lady Dunmelraise's opinion -so much in coincidence with his own--and -he said, in his own natural warm manner, -"I hope Adeline will feel quite convinced, by -your sensible manner, my dear Lady Dunmelraise, -of representing this matter, that there is -no virtue, nothing commendable indeed, in despising -or condemning the world _en masse_, and -that there is just as much real good to be done -by living in as living out of it. True virtue -does not lie in time or place--it is of all times, -of all places; and it is a narrow, bigoted view -of the subject alone, which partakes of monastic -rigour and hypocritical ambition under -the garb of humility, which would promulgate -any other doctrine." - -"My dear Albert, you know that I have no -wish but to please mamma and you; and I -need not pretend but that I shall be exceedingly -diverted by going to public places. All -I meant to say was, not to make yourselves -uneasy about finding a _chaperon_ for me, because -I am perfectly contented to remain as I -am--although I might be equally well diverted -in leading what is called a gayer life." - -Lord Albert's countenance relapsed into -brightness as he said, taking her hand and -putting it to his lips, "You are a dear and a -rare creature--is she not, Lady Dunmelraise?"--and -this appeal Lady Dunmelraise felt no -inclination to controvert; but, rejoicing in the -present disposition which she once more beheld -in her future son-in-law, she now dismissed -him for the evening, saying, "Adeline -and I require some repose, that we may be -fresh to-morrow for all the great events to -which we shall look forward with pleasure, I -am sure, as you seem to be quite of our way -of thinking respecting her _début_ in the great -world--and so good night." The wish was -reiterated kindly, warmly, by all parties, and -they parted happier even than they had met. - -As soon as Lord Albert reached his hotel, -he found a note from Lady Hamlet Vernon, -announcing her arrival from Restormel, and -requesting to see him. In an instant, as though -by magic, his doubts and fears respecting Lady -Adeline returned; for with Lady Hamlet Vernon -was connected the recollection of her -mysterious note at Restormel, on the morning -of his departure from thence--and with that -recollection George Foley was but too deeply -mingled. Then ensued a chaos in his mind, -one thought chasing another, and none abiding -to fix any purpose or decide any measure. -At one moment he determined--if such passing -impulse can be called determination--not -to go near Lady Hamlet; but the next he -thought she had shewn so much true interest -for him--she had listened so often to his -rebukes--apparently with more pleasure than -she did to praise from others--that he should -be ungrateful to avoid her _now_, because other -dearer interests filled up his time and his heart, -and he finally resolved on obeying her wishes, -and visiting her the next day. - -In the morning of that day, before he had -finished his late breakfast, and ere he was -prepared to deny himself, the door of his -apartment opened, and Mr. Foley was close -to him ere his servant had time to announce -his name. - -"I am come," said the latter, with his -polite and honeyed phrase, "to bring you -pleasant tidings, which I trust will apologize -for this my early intrusion. I am just arrived -from South Audley Street, where I had the -happiness of finding our friends pretty well; -Lady Dunmelraise, indeed, was not up, having -been fatigued by her journey; but Lady -Adeline is blooming in beauty--I do not know -when I have seen her looking better." Lord -Albert bowed, and in his coldest manner replied, -"he was very happy indeed to hear that -Lady Adeline Seymour was so well, and he -hoped, when he should make his personal -inquiries, to find Lady Dunmelraise in the -drawing-room." - -Mr. Foley was too penetrating not to see -that this information, as it came from him, -conveyed no pleasurable feeling; but affecting -not to observe this, he went on to talk of the -late party at Restormel--spoke of Lady -Hamlet Vernon as being a delightful creature, -and drew a kind of parallel _raisonné_ between -her character and that of Lady Adeline's. -Lord Albert was thinking, all the time he -spoke, of the impertinent assumption of Mr. -Foley's addressing him on the subject of Lady -Adeline, and discussing her merits, as though -he were not aware of them, and had not a -better right and ampler means to know and -to value them. - -Still there was a suavity--a delicacy even, -in Mr. Foley's mode of expressing himself, -which gave no tangible opportunity to shew -offence; and Lord Albert, though writhing -under impatience, was obliged to control -himself. As soon as he could possibly contrive -to do so, he changed the conversation, and -spoke of the Opera, the Exhibition, the topics -of the day--of all, in short, that was most -uninteresting to him; and carried on an under -current of thought all the time on the impropriety -Adeline had been guilty of, in receiving -Mr. Foley without her mother's presence to -sanction such a visit, and on going himself -directly to South Audley Street, in order that -he might disclose to her his opinion on the -inexpediency of such a measure, as that of her -receiving the visits of young men when alone. -But though the evident abstraction of Lord -Albert D'Esterre rather increased than diminished, -still Mr. Foley sat on, and sometimes -rose to make a remark on a picture--sometimes -opened a book, and commented upon its -contents. Similar provocation must have occurred -to every one at some time or other, -and it is in vain to describe what, after all, no -description can do justice to. A note arrived -for Lord Albert--it was from Lady Adeline--very -kind, but desiring him not to come to -South Audley Street till four o'clock--saying -she was going, by her mamma's desire, to see -her aunt Lady Delamere, who was confined by -a feverish cold, and could not leave her chamber -to come to them. - -Lord Albert's mortification was painted on -his countenance. "If you have nothing better -to do this morning, D'Esterre, and that your -note does not otherwise take up your time, -will you accompany me to Lady Hamlet -Vernon's?" Lord Albert felt, "what, am I to -be balked, dogged, forestalled in every trifling -circumstance by this man!" but he _said_, -hesitating as he spoke, "yes--no, that is to -say, I had an engagement, but it is postponed -for the present--therefore, if you please, I -will accompany you to Lady Hamlet's door;" -and Mr. Foley, evidently triumphing in having -foiled Lord Albert's real intentions, whatever -they might be, but maintaining still his quiet -composure, offered Lord Albert his arm, and -they walked together towards Grosvenor -Square, each talking of one thing and thinking -of another. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -AN EXCLUSIVE MORNING PARTY. - - -As they walked along between Lord Albert's -house and that of their destination, one idea -took the lead in D'Esterre's mind--it was the -hope of obtaining from Lady Hamlet Vernon -an elucidation of the mysterious expressions -contained in her note. He formed a thousand -plans how he should contrive to remain -alone with her, after Mr. Foley should take -his leave, for he made no question but that -he would be the first to end his visit; and he -settled it in his own mind that he would affect -to have some message to give Lady Hamlet, -which might afford him an opportunity of -procuring the interview he so eagerly desired: -but almost always, in similar circumstances, -none of these minor events occur as -we intend they should; and the first object -Lord Albert saw on entering Lady Hamlet -Vernon's drawing-room was Lady Tenderden, -sitting at a writing table, having taken off -her bonnet as though she had come upon -some particular occasion, and was fixed there -for a considerable time. - -"Ah! Lord Albert," said Lady Hamlet -Vernon, "and Mr. Foley too! Most welcome -both.--Restormel was quite dull without -you; and besides the comfort one always feels -at coming back to the dear dirty streets, -after having been banished from them a few -days, I am really charmed to find myself -once more surrounded by all my friends. Do -tell us the news, and sit down--you shall not -positively pay me a flying visit--though you, -Lord Albert, flew away in such a hurry from -Restormel, that we had not time, no not even -to say 'farewell;'"--(and she looked at him -very significantly as she spoke.) "So before I -shall have time now to speak to you, you will -be gone again--but if so, it is not _my_ fault." - -Lord Albert thought that he read the -meaning of this speech, and his impatience -and anxiety were increased in proportion. -It was with the utmost difficulty he could -bring himself to leave her side in order to go -to the other end of the room, in obedience -to Lady Tenderden, who called him every -now and then to ask some silly question or -other, which he hardly answered; and which -induced her, therefore, to beg him to come -and sit near her, that she might talk to him -comfortably while she was writing: two -things which she declared she could do quite -well at the same time. As soon as Lady -Tenderden had managed this contrivance, -Mr. Foley entered into (apparently) a very -interesting conversation with Lady Hamlet -Vernon; and Lord Albert sat on thorns as -his eyes were rivetted on them, while he contrived -to answer Lady Tenderden, although -it were as if he was playing at cross purposes. -Any change was a relief, and the announcement -of Lord Glenmore was a real pleasure -to him, for he thought his arrival must at -least break up the _tête-à-tête_ between Lady -Hamlet and Mr. Foley, which seemed to him -as if it never would end. - -After having paid his compliments to Lady -Hamlet Vernon and Lady Tenderden, Lord -Glenmore accosted his friend, and cordially -wished him joy in a sort of half whisper, on -Lady Dunmelraise's arrival. But, in Lord -Albert's present frame of mind, this congratulation -was not received with that open warmth -which Lord Glenmore expected; and he -dropped the subject, taking up those of the -common-place occurrences of the day. The -drawing-room was discussed; it was to be -fuller than any preceding one. Lady Tilney -had declared she would not go--so had Lady -Ellersby; "but, nevertheless," said Lord -Glenmore, with one of his good-humoured -smiles, "I dare say those ladies will not -have the cruelty to allow their absence to -be regretted when the time arrives; do you -think they will, Lady Hamlet Vernon?" - -"Most indubitably not, and I make no -doubt the _plumassiers_ and jewellers are all -at this moment in requisition in Lady Tilney's -boudoir. But, by the way, Lord Glenmore, -your fair lady will of course be presented on -your marriage--who is to have the pleasure of -presenting her?" - -"Who? why of course her mother, Lady -Melcomb." - -Lady Hamlet Vernon and Lady Tenderden -here exchanged the most significant glances, -and a silence ensued; which was first broken -by Lord Glenmore, who endeavoured to draw -Lord Albert into conversation by touching -alternately on politics, literature, and all the -subjects which he knew were interesting to -him; but to which he could only obtain some -short answer, that did not promote the flow -of the conversation. He began to ask himself -whether he could have given Lord Albert -any offence, or whether he retained any on -account of their interview in the Park; but it -was so unlike Lord Albert to take offence -where it never was intended to be given, -that he concluded (as was in fact the case) -that something painful was on his mind, of -which he could not divest himself. Having -vainly attempted, by raillery as well as by -engaging his attention, to get the better of -this abstraction and gloom, Lord Glenmore -let the matter pass, and addressed his conversation -elsewhere; but Lady Tenderden was -not to be diverted from her purpose, and she -took up the thread of discourse, requesting -to know if Lady Adeline Seymour had imposed -a vow of silence upon him, or what -other cause had so changed him since he was -last at Restormel? He pleaded total ignorance -of being changed; but the consciousness -that he was so, rendered his efforts at -disguise only more visible. - -Lord Albert rose and sat down; a hundred -times he looked at a French clock on the chimney-piece, -which of course did not go; and -at last requested Mr. Foley to tell him the -hour, as he had an engagement which demanded -his attention. Having found that it -was a full half hour past the time appointed -by Lady Adeline, he made his bow to Lady -Hamlet Vernon, and was about to leave the -room, when she called him back, and said, -"of course we all meet in the evening at -Lady Tilney's?" There was a glance and an -emphasis which accompanied these words, -which he could not fail to interpret as an -assignation, and one that he determined on -his part to keep. - -Could Lord Albert have known what was -passing in Lady Adeline's mind, while he was -thus misspending his time in a false anxiety -about a few mysterious words, written, it -might be, with no good intent, and indeed it -might be without any foundation, he would -have hastened away from this idle and unworthy -mode of passing his time long before -he did; but experience unfortunately must be -bought, and although we look upon the actions -of others, and comment upon them, it -may be with the calm wisdom of unmoved -breasts, yet in our own time of trial we are too -apt to prove that theory is not practice. One -would imagine that it was the easiest thing -possible to place one's-self ideally in the -situation of another, to feel as he felt, and -yet act diametrically opposite to the way in -which he acted, in certain circumstances -and positions; but this apparent facility of -transmigration into the identity of another's -being is mere delusion. It may be questioned -if any human creature really understands -another, and how much less likely is it that -he should argue justly on his neighbour's -affairs! Oh, if we were more merciful to -others, and more severe on ourselves; more -humble as to our own merits and more alive -to those of our fellow creatures; we should be -nearer the mark of justice than we usually -are. - -While Lord Albert, under the influence of -a tormenting incipient jealousy, wasted the -hour at Lady Hamlet Vernon's which he -should have passed in South Audley Street, -Lady Adeline had been with her aunt, Lady -Delamere, who, in a true spirit of affectionate -solicitude, had nevertheless opened up a -source of anxiety and doubt in the breast -of her niece, which proved the cause of -infinite distress to her. Lady Delamere, after -receiving her with all that glow of partial -fondness peculiarly characteristic of her family, -it might be too much so towards each -other, naturally spoke of Lord Albert D'Esterre. - -"Ah, my dear Adeline, now the time approaches -when, according to your father's -will, your final decision respecting the fulfilment -of your marriage must take place, my -anxious fondness suggests a thousand fears, -at least doubts, for your happiness. I beseech -you let these four intervening months at least -be given, not only to a serious examination of -your own heart, but to a clear and vigorous -elucidation of the disposition and principles -of Lord Albert." - -"As to my own heart," replied Lady Adeline -with quickness, "it has long not been in -my own keeping, for most fortunately, where -my duty was directed to place it, there my -choice seconded, nay, almost preceded the -arrangement. But why should you doubt that, -such being the case, my happiness should be -endangered? say rather, dearest aunt, confirmed." - -"It may be so--I trust it will be so, my -sweet Adeline, since your love is fixed; but -remember how very serious a step marriage -is; and before you are bound for life in the -holiest of all ties, again I conjure you to lay -aside, inasmuch as you can do so, all the -blandishments of love, and consider how far -the tastes, the pursuits, the temper, above all -the religious tenets of your husband, will be in -accordance with your own. Indeed, indeed, -people do not reflect seriously _enough_ on these -points. I ask not any long consideration, any -great trial of time or absence--they are both -circumstances which may deceive either way; -for things viewed at a distance, are not seen -in their true light; and one may be as much -deceived at the end of a year, as at the end of -a month--and life is short. The life of life, -the bloom of youth, should not be needlessly -withered in pining anxiety. What I ask of -you is, during the time you are now to be in -town, to go out with moderation into the -great world, to see what it has to offer, and -to know whether any other person might supersede -Lord Albert in your affections; this -is as yet a fair and honourable trial. You are -_not bound_ to each other, if either wishes to -break the tie." (Lady Adeline sighed heavily.) -"And should you, while together, discover -any flaw or imperfection which might make -you wish to dissolve the engagement, now is -the time; but after marriage, I need not say, -my Adeline, that one glance of preference for -another is guilt--one wish, foreign to your -allegiance as a wife, is _misery_." - -There was a pause in the conversation. -Lady Adeline felt sorrowful--she scarcely knew -why, except indeed it had never occurred to -her that any thing could step in to break off -her engagement with Lord Albert; and the -bare possibility of such an event seemed to -unhinge her whole being. - -The fact is, Lady Delamere had heard surmises -of Lord Albert's intimacy with Lady -Hamlet Vernon, and without informing her -niece of a report which, after all, might not -have any foundation, she yet conceived it to -be a duty to put her on her guard, and make -her ready to observe any alteration that might -have taken place in Lord Albert. She would -have told Lady Dunmelraise all that she had -heard without disguise; but at present her -state of health was such, that she could not -think of endangering her life by giving her -such information; for she well knew her sister's -heart was set upon the match, and that -she had long loved Lord Albert as though he -had been her son. However, she determined, -the moment Lady Dunmelraise was better, to -have no concealment from her. It had not -been without much self-debate that she had -brought herself even to hint any thing like a -doubt to Lady Adeline of Lord Albert's truth; -and even now, she only endeavoured to prepare -her to open her eyes to the conviction, -should such a melancholy change have taken -place, but without naming the real cause she -had for giving her such caution. - -As it was, it was quite enough to sadden -Lady Adeline; and her air was so dejected -when she returned home to Lady Dunmelraise, -that the latter feared something had occurred -to vex her. "Is my sister worse, -dearest child?--I pray you do not conceal the -truth from me." - -"Oh no;--be not alarmed," she replied, -"my aunt hopes, in a day or two, to be able to -come to see you, dearest mamma. It is not -that--but I have a bad head-ache, and have -undergone too much excitement." The look -of anxious inquiry which Lady Dunmelraise -could not conceal, lessened not Lady Adeline's -unhappiness; and as the time which -she had appointed for Lord Albert's visit -was now far passed, the whole weight of -the sad warnings she had received, seemed -doubled. At length the peculiar knock--the -quick footstep on the stair, told her he was -come, and she passed from her mother's bedroom -into the adjoining drawing-room to meet -him. - -They seemed mutually affected by some -secret cause; for there was not that cordial -clasping of hands--that beaming of eyes--that -joyful tone of greeting, which might have been -expected to mark their meeting on this occasion: -their hands touched coldly--and Lord -Albert made no effort to retain her's. - -"You have been very much later than I -expected, Albert." - -"Yes: I could not exactly obey the hour -named in your note, as you went out before I -could possibly come here this morning; and -as you put me off, I had another engagement, -which in my turn detained me; however, I -was happy to hear you were well from Mr. -Foley, who had the pleasure of seeing you, -I believe, very early." - -"Yes: Mr. Foley, you know, as mamma's -_protégé_ and _enfant de famille_, has the _entrée_ -at all hours, and I was drawing when he -came in; I thought it was you, and-- - -"Oh, dear Lady Adeline, you cannot suppose -I should take the liberty of inquiring -what you were doing--I hope Lady Dunmelraise -is better to-day?" - -Lady Adeline, under any other influence than -that which now influenced her, would have -said, "Albert, what is the matter with you? are -you displeased?" But her aunt's advice was, -"look well to the real state of Lord Albert's -affections, and do not allow your own to give -a colouring to his, which may not be the true -one, were his heart unbiassed by the flattering -predilection you so openly profess for -him." This advice sealed her lips; and, -checking the natural impulse of her heart, -she replied to his inquiries about her mother -more at length than she would have done, -in order to recover a composure she was far -from feeling; she allowed all further discussion -of her mode of passing the morning to -drop. - -Lord Albert's restrained, unnatural manner -increased, and they both felt relieved -when Lady Dunmelraise called from her -apartment to her daughter--who obeyed the -summons; but returning after a minute's -absence, she said, - -"Mamma hopes you will dine with us to-day." - -"Oh, certainly, if Lady Dunmelraise wishes -me to do so:" and as Lady Adeline made no -reply, but returned to her mother, Lord Albert -departed to dress. - -When they met at dinner, Lady Dunmelraise's -presence for a time prevented the -awkwardness they mutually felt; but she -soon found that the conversation was entirely -left to her, and could not be long -without perceiving that something had occurred -which altered Lord Albert's manner. -Hoping it, however, only to be one -of those fallings-out of lovers which are the -renewal of love, Lady Dunmelraise turned -the conversation entirely upon the coming -drawing-room, and the more interest she -seemed to take in her daughter's going into -the gay world, the more grave did Lord -Albert become: this was a contradiction to -what he had expressed respecting that measure, -and, as Lady Dunmelraise thought, a -caprice of temper, which she was sorry to -observe in him. She hoped, however, that -the thoughts which involuntarily arose in her -mind were groundless, and she determined -not to act precipitately; but felt glad that she -was come to town, where she would have an -opportunity of judging further, and of seeing -how matters stood from her own personal -observation of Lord Albert's conduct. She -considered that to probe her daughter's feelings -upon the subject, would be to excite them -so painfully, that they might destroy the power -of a cool judgment. She therefore resolved -to postpone any avowal of her own sentiments, -any positive declaration of her own -doubts, till the time, which was now fast approaching, -for Lady Adeline's ultimate decision, -should afford her a proper opportunity -of speaking her mind unreservedly to Lord -Albert; unless, indeed, circumstances of an -imperious kind relative to his conduct should -make such a step necessary before that -period. - -In this disposition of mind, the parties -could not enjoy each other's society. The -conversation was broken, interrupted, and in -itself devoid of interest; so that when Lord -Albert arose to take his leave about ten -o'clock, Lady Adeline almost felt it a relief. -"What, are you going to leave us so soon?" -said Lady Dunmelraise, with visible surprise. - -"I am sorry that a particular engagement -obliges me to go." - -"And may I ask," rejoined Lady Dunmelraise, -in her quick way when she was not -pleased at any thing, "may I take the -liberty of asking where you are going?" - -"Oh, certainly--to Lady Tilney's." - -"To Lady Tilney's _party_!" with a marked -emphasis on the last word; and then checking -herself, and resuming her usual dignity -of composure, she added, "I hope you will -have an agreeable _soirée_; when one lives out -of the world, and grows old, one forgets the -delights of these sort of re-unions; but, of -course, one must do in London as they do in -London; and I believe, like most other things, -the habit of attending them becomes a second -nature." Lord Albert smiled--it might be -in acquiescence, it might be in disdain; and -with many good-nights, he slightly touched -the hands of Lady Dunmelraise and her -daughter, and departed. - -There was a silence, an awkward silence; -neither liked to express the thought that was -uppermost in her mind, for fear of wounding -the other. At length Lady Dunmelraise -spoke: "It is strange," she said, "to observe -the sort of hold which foolish things sometimes -obtain over sensible men. The class of persons -with whom Lord Albert seems now to be -living, are not those I should have conceived -that he would ever have selected; but fashion -leads young people to do a thousand silly -things, which they repent when their ripened -judgment shews them in their true colours; -and to say truth, I think Lord Albert's manners -altogether have not gained by foreign -travel. But I suppose I must not express -such treason to you, Adeline?" Lady Adeline -tried to smile, as she replied: - -"I have hardly had time to judge;" and -Lady Dunmelraise turned the discourse rather -on the associates of Lord Albert than on -himself. - -"The persons," she said, "he named to -us as having been at Restormel, and with -whom he now appears so much engaged, are -those who live entirely for this world: and -not even for the most dignified employments -or pursuits of this present existence. Fortune, -health, and morals, are all likely to become -the prey of a voracious appetite for -pleasure; and when we live only to pleasure, -we lose all title to being rational souls, and -make a wreck of happiness. I am willing to -hope and believe, that many are ensnared -to tread this Circean circle who are in ignorance -of what it leads to; who see in it only a -brilliant phantom of amusement, a glittering -_ignis fatuus_ that pleases their fancy, but which, -alas! I fear, too frequently leads them on, -till some entanglement of fortune, or virtue, -levels them with its worse members; and from -which it is a mercy indeed if they ever escape." - -Lady Adeline had listened to her mother -with an interest that made her shudder. -"And is it, indeed," she cried, "in such a -set that Albert is thrown!" while the paleness -of her countenance expressed the anguish of -her mind. - -"I trust not, my dearest child. I do -not mean to say, for I have no right so -to say, that Lord Albert is habitually one of -this set;--heaven forbid!--but that he frequents -their society appears evident. However, -let us not think evil before it actually -occurs; let us judge dispassionately, and see -for ourselves. You are now, my love, to enter -into the great world under an excellent and -loving guide; and having warned you, I leave -your own good sense to do the rest." Lady -Adeline sighed heavily, and did not seem able -at all to rally her spirits. "Now, love, let us -turn to lighter matters," said Lady Dunmelraise, -"and consider the arrangements of -your presentation dress." - -"I should prefer its being as simple as possible," -said Lady Adeline, "and the rest I -leave entirely to your, and," she added hesitatingly, -"to Lord Albert's tastes." Her -mother shortly after proposed retiring for the -night, and trembled as she saw how deeply -her daughter's happiness seemed to depend -on Lord Albert, perceiving that she referred -every trifle to his arbitration. - -When he left South Audley Street to go -to Lady Tilney's supper party, Lord Albert -ran over again in his mind the occurrences of -the day, and in Lady Adeline's silence, her -manner, her looks, he thought he read an -indifference towards himself, which at once -piqued and wounded him. In all that had -fallen from Lady Dunmelraise, in all that he -could gather from _her_ manner towards himself, -he could not fix on any thing unkind or -unjust; but from the consciousness of his own -conduct not having been what it ought, his -heart was ill at ease, and he knew not with -what right he felt angry; but yet he did so -feel, and was tempted to inveigh against -the fickleness of woman, while a thought of -Mr. Foley obtruded itself among all the rest, -and shewed him an imaginary rival. - -"Can all this," he asked himself, "be only -preparatory to her breaking off her engagement -altogether?" - -Such was the mood of mind in which Lord -Albert entered Lady Tilney's drawing-rooms, -and as hardly any of the invited were as yet -come from the Opera, he had leisure unmolested -to walk through them. They were brilliantly -lighted, and filled with all the rifled -sweets of the green-house; sweets, which -seem but ill suited in their fresh purity for the -scene they were brought to adorn. - -While the apartments were still empty, he -had an opportunity of examining some of the -works of art with which they were decorated. -He stopped opposite to a Claude, which was -certainly a contrast to the feelings of his own -mind. The glowing sunrise, the dancing -wave, the palace of the Medici, the business -of a sea-port, conveyed him in idea to the -Pitti Palace. "Often as that subject has been -repeated," he said, turning to Mr. Francis -Ombre, "by the same pencil, it is always new, -always redolent of repose and pleasure; the -scintillating sunbeams are still emblematic -of that dancing of the heart, which in the -morning of our days gilds every thing with -beauty: no, there is no after-pleasure which -can equal the sunrise of existence; and if -ever picture conveyed a moral truth, the pictures -of Claude most assuredly have this -power." - -"Yes," replied Mr. Ombre, "I love to -sun myself at a Claude, it is the only sun one -does see in this climate." Lord Albert passed -on, sighing as he went, and his attention was -again arrested by an antique bust of Psyche: -"What refinement of tenderness in the eyelid; -what soul in the curvature of the lip! -how the line swells, and then is lost again in -the almost dimpling roundness of the chin! -how child-like, and yet how replete with -meaning, the turn of the head and neck! it is -at once the bud, the flower, the fruit of beauty -amalgamated and embodied in the marble." - -It was indeed an emblem of soul. And -of whom did it remind Lord Albert? Of -his own Adeline. His own! there was an -electric touch in the thought--was she _indeed -still his own_, or had he lost her for ever? -Lady Hamlet Vernon had stood unperceived -by him, watching him for some previous -minutes, and by that sense which -never fails to inform a woman in love, she -felt certain from his manner of looking at -the Psyche, that it conveyed more to interest -him than any mere ideas of _virtù_ could possibly -do. - -Her agitation was extreme, and she could -scarcely master it so as to wear a semblance -of composure; at length, though the part -she had to play was a difficult one, she determined -on fulfilling her assignation; and -having previously decided how she should -manage what she had to do, she went up to -him, and at the very moment he was asking -himself whether or not he had lost Adeline -for ever, a soft voice awoke him to a sense of -who and where he was: he turned round and -beheld Lady Hamlet Vernon. The recognition -of any one whom we believe has an interest -in us when the heart feels desolate, is a -powerful cordial to the spirits. - -Lord Albert greeted her with an animation of -pleasure that he was scarcely himself aware -of, and which elicited from her an answering -sentiment of kindness, that at once cheered -and gave him new life. "I have much to say -to you," he whispered; "let us sit down in -yonder alcove, which is unoccupied, and -where we may have an opportunity of speaking -unheard by others." He offered her his -arm, which she accepted, and they moved to -that part of the apartment. At the same instant -Lady Glenmore entered, leaning on her -husband's arm, and a crowd followed which -filled the room. Among these, Mr. Leslie -Winyard and Lady Tenderden were conspicuous -personages: but Lady Glenmore was -the _nouveauté du jour_. When Georgina Melcomb -was an unmarried girl, nobody looked -at her, or thought about her; but now that -she was to play a part, and in her turn become -a card to play in the game of fashion, all eyes -were fixed upon her. At this moment she -was the very picture of innocent happiness, -and in the countenance of her husband shone -the reflection of her own felicity. There is -something in that sort of happiness which -involuntarily inspires respect, and to all -hearts that are not dead to nature, there is -awakened a simultaneous sensation of pleasure. - -But yet there are serpents in the world, -who, envious of such pure bliss, seek only its -destruction. "Really," said Mr. Leslie Winyard -to Lady Tenderden, "that is a fine-looking -creature!" speaking of Lady Glenmore -as she stood talking with animation to -her husband, "and when she has rubbed -off a little of her coarseness, and become -somewhat less conjugally affected, I don't -know but what I may do her the honour to -talk to her sometimes myself." Lady Tenderden -laughed as she replied, - -"There is no saying how condescending -you may become--but when do you intend to -begin? don't you see that if she is allowed to -go on in this way, she will never get out Of -it? and as I have undertaken her education -myself, I do beg that you will by some contrivance -unhook her from Lord Glenmore, and -leave me to engage his attention while I make -my pupil over to you for the evening, _vraiment -ça vaut la peine_; only _la jeune Ladi est -tant soit peu maussade et il faut la mettre sur -le bon chemin_." - -"With all my heart; if you will only -begin the attack I will follow it up." - -"_Allons donc_," she replied, taking his arm -and going towards the Glenmores. - -The usual nothings of common-place talk, -the unmeaning greetings, and the self-same -observations on singers and dancers which -have been made a hundred times before, opened -the meditated campaign. "My dear Lord -Glenmore," said Lady Tenderden, "I have -long wished to consult you about a _changement -de décoration_" (and she looked at Mr. -Leslie Winyard) "which I purpose making in -my house in town, and I have some thoughts -of copying in part the Rotunda-room which -is here, only there are some objections to be -made to it, which I wish to avoid if possible, -and I am desirous that you should assist me -with your perfection of taste; have the kindness -for a moment to come with me--but I -could not think of giving Lady Glenmore that -trouble. There, Mr. Winyard, while I run -away with my lord, do you make the _preux -chevalier_, and defend Lady Glenmore from -all dangers." - -So saying, she passed her arm through -Lord Glenmore's and led him away. Lady -Glenmore looked for a moment as if she -intended to follow, and even half rose from -her chair for that purpose; but the lessons -Lady Tenderden had given her about -not seeming to pursue her husband recurred -to her, and she sat down again, blushing and -breathless, and evidently discomposed. Mr. -Leslie Winyard enjoyed the scene: "shall I -call Lord Glenmore back again?" he asked, -after fixing his eyes upon her maliciously, -"or will you allow me to conduct you to -him?" and he smiled, evidently in ridicule at -her awkwardness. But she was not a fool, -though ignorant of the ways of the world; and -in a few minutes she recovered herself, and -spoke uncommonly well on common-place -topics, to the astonishment of her hearer: -she even passed upon the set to which he -belonged some very stinging remarks, the -more so from their being uttered as if unconscious -that they were so, or that he was one -of the persons to whom they applied. - -"Do you know," said he, gazing at her with -looks of admiration, "do you know you are -a very extraordinary personage? Suffer me to -say that this is all very well in joke, but if -you are _serious_ in your opinions, we must -undergo a great revolution, or we shall not -be at all able to live with you. I do not pretend," -he said, "to decide who is in the right -or who is in the wrong, but I am very certain -of one thing, a change must take place -somewhere, if your ideas of things in general -are correct." Lady Glenmore replied, "that -she was very certain her ideas would _not_ -change;" to which he rejoined, "_nous verrons_." - -At that moment a move in the room -announced that every one was going to supper, -and the doors were thrown open into an -adjoining apartment, towards which there -was a general rush. Lady Glenmore again -cast her eye anxiously around, but in vain--her -husband was not to be seen. - -"Allow me," said two or three young men, -offering their arm to her, "to hand you to -supper," and in the confusion she took that -of Mr. Leslie Winyard. "But," he observed, -"you seem so uneasy, that if you will allow -me, I will merely see you agreeably placed, -and go in quest of this envied Lord Glenmore." - -"You are very good," she replied, "but -I cannot think of giving you that trouble." - -"Oh dear, I beg you will not mention it; -and the mission is so new a one, that I am -particularly proud to be employed in executing -it." - -"How, new? Is there any thing extraordinary -in wishing to know whether one's husband -chooses one should go home, or whether -he stays supper or not?" - -"Yes, Lady Glenmore! most new! most -wonderful! But I do not think it is a fashion -that will generally take. But here is -a table with some seats unoccupied. Will -you allow me to recommend your availing -yourself of it? It seems to be the choice of the -chosen; here is Lady Hamlet Vernon, and -Lord D'Esterre, and the Boileaus, and the -Ellersbys, and Mr. Spencer Newcomb; do -take this seat, and I will go in quest of your -lord and _master_. But see, he has not fallen -into any of the whirlpools or quicksands that -you seem to apprehend for him in these dangerous -regions, for by all that is fortunate -there he is next to Lady Tenderden." - -"Where?" cried Lady Glenmore, looking -eagerly around. - -"The third table from us, just behind -Lady Baskerville; however, if you are still -_uneasy_, you have only to command me." - -"No, it is his intention to remain for supper, -and all is well, for if he had wanted me he -would have sought for me." - -"Always depend upon that. And now what -shall I help you to?" Lady Glenmore, in -her own mind, was not at all satisfied as to -the danger of whirlpools and quicksands, -though they were of another sort from those -Mr. Winyard had passed his jokes on; but -again Lady Tenderden's advice recurred to -her, which had acquired consequence from -Lord Glenmore's opinion of that lady, and -she endeavoured to enter into the conversation -of those around her. It was a sort of -dead language as yet to her ears, but she -could perceive that, under disguise, many -allusions were made to herself, and to her untutored -behaviour, which checked her natural -flow of spirits, and she gradually became silent, -and could no longer conceal her anxious -impatience to be once more safe under her -husband's wing. The very first person that -arose afforded her an opportunity of doing so -likewise, and making a sign to Lord Glenmore, -she waited for him in the door-way. -He was not long before he joined her, and -with apparently mutual satisfaction they once -more found themselves together. This difference, -however, existed in their feelings, that -Lord Glenmore, though honourable himself, -and incapable of thinking really ill of others, -however he might consider them trifling, yet -from habit and the manners of the world, had -not an idea of watching his wife's conduct in -public. - -Lord Glenmore's character has been already -described; but it has not perhaps been sufficiently -explained how very much his guileless -unsuspecting nature laid him open to become -the prey of others who were the reverse. -Let no man cast a young wife (unprepared for -the dangers she will meet with) upon the -licentious intercourse of the world of _ton_, nor -leave her, unguarded by his presence and -authority, to stem the tide of vice which may -steal in upon her unawares. It is a husband's -duty to be the guide and support of his wife; -and, without tyranny, but with the determined -rectitude of tender solicitude, to watch over -their mutual interests. The maxim so often -quoted, that "the wife whom a man can doubt -is not worthy of his regard," is not always a -true one. Every mortal is liable to err--and -why should woman, the weaker sex, be cast -upon the world, and committed to its dangers, -without stay or support from her natural -guardian and protector? - -The fact is, it is a maxim often resorted to -in idleness or indifference, and is more frequently -an apology for bad conduct in those -who make it, than arising from any true nobility -of soul or any moral or religious principle. -Lord Glenmore, from living in the midst of -the world of fashion, and from never having -(a rare instance) been spoiled by such a life, -was less aware than any human being perhaps -of the danger to which he was exposing his -young wife. Had any body told him the terms -upon which she was to be admitted as one of -the _élite_ of _ton_, in plain language, he would -have started with disgust and horror from all -such association; but, like some few, deceived -as he was by specious appearances, he saw -nothing in the set but the airiness of fashion, -and the folly, at worst, of a few months during -the London season; whereas the truth stood -thus.-- - -The husband of an Exclusive must be exclusively -given to his own devices, without ever -making his wife a party at all concerned in -them; unless, indeed, they arrive at that _acmé_ -of exclusive perfection when they boast to -each other of the degrading license of their -lives, and tell of their different favourites, -comparing the relative merits of these with -that of others of the same society. Into the -mysteries of an exclusive _coterie_ no unmarried -woman, that is to say, no girls, are to be admitted--in -order that the conversation may be -unchecked. The more admirers a married -woman has, the higher her reputation amongst -them; and it is never quite complete till some -one _adorateur_ moving in the same circle is the -_ami preféré_. If the cavalier be a man of title, -power, and wealth, then the lady has _the -world--their_ world--at her feet. This arrangement -ensures the latter (whatever her husband's -fortune may be) the advantages of dress -and equipage, from which expense _he_ is then -exonerated; and while he has the credit of -keeping up a tasteful establishment, he is -exempted from all trouble or thought as to the -means by which it is so kept. But as in all -communities there are different degrees of -distinction, so in this,--those who commence -their career have a certain rubicon to pass -through before they arrive at such a height of -perfection. - -The first requisite for a newly-initiated -member to know is, how to cut all friends -and relations who are not deemed worthy of -being of a certain _coterie_;--the next, is to dress -after a particular fashion, talk a particular -species of language, not know any thing or -any person that does not carry the mark of the -coterie, and speak in a peculiar tone of voice. -To hold any conversation which deserves that -name is called being prosy;--to understand -any thing beyond the costume of life, pedantic. - -Whatever vice or demoralization may exist -in character, providing it exist with what they -call good taste (that idol of their idolatry), is -varnished over. If not approved openly, it is -tacitly assented to, and allowed to pass as a -venial error; whereas whatever takes place -contrary to this _good taste_, though in itself -perfectly innocent, tending it may be to virtue -rather than vice, is insufferable--not to be -named _among them_; and unfits the offending -parties from communication with the Exclusives. -Indignation expressed at crime is voted -vulgar; any natural expression of the feelings, -ill-breeding; and right and wrong, in -short, consists in being, or not being, _one of -the set_. To their choice meetings children -dare not invite parents, or brothers and -sisters of one another, except under their seal -and sign-manual. The husbands and wives, -who are members of the association, are -invariably persons who have separate interests, -separate views, and agree only in this -one point, namely, in being a cloak for each -other's follies or vices. - -It is to be hoped, and indeed may be asserted -with truth, that many are ensnared to -tread this Circean circle who are in ignorance -of what it leads to; who see in it only -a brilliant phantasm of pleasure and of pride; -an _ignis fatuus_ that pleases their fancy; but -which terminates too frequently in leading -them on, till some entanglement of fortune, -or virtue, levels them with its worse members; -and from which it is a mercy indeed if -they ever escape. - -An open defiance of received laws and customs, -a coarse career of vicious pleasure, a -bold avowal of any illegitimate pursuit, would -startle and astound many a wavering mind; -but the slow-sapping mischief of this love of -exclusiveness, the airy indifference with which -all the safeguards of conduct are broken -down, the cruel heartlessness which lies concealed -under apparently indifferent actions, -the artful weaning of the mind from all fixed -principle of conduct, these are the means -they use; and which, step by step, adulterate -the character, indurate the heart, pollute the -judgment, and are subversive of every thing -that is dignified or amiable in human nature. -It is precisely because the evil works so insidiously, -and under such a variety of masks -(under none more than a placid _insouciance_), -a fortuitous occurrence of accidents--that the -veil should be drawn aside, and that it should -be set forth in its native deformity and danger. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -A RURAL EXCURSION. - - -A brilliant water party had been arranged -among the exclusives, to go to Richmond, -merely to view the scene; it consisted of the -Glenmores, Baskervilles, Lady Tenderden, -Comtesse Leinsengen, Lady Tilney, Lord Boileau, -Sir William Temple, Lord De Chere, -Mr. Winyard, Mr. Spencer Newcomb, Comte -Leinsengen, and a few other young men of -their set. - -When the day arrived, Lord Glenmore told -his wife that as he was on a committee of the -House, he should not be able to accompany -her. - -"Then I would far rather not go myself." - -"Do not be so childish," he said; "for -as we could not, at all events, be together, -you might just as well be at Richmond -as here; and the day is beautiful, so that I -hope you will have a pleasant excursion." -Lady Glenmore sighed, and hung her head, -while a tear came into her eye. - -"What is the matter, love?--Has any -thing vexed you?--is it any thing which I -can remedy?--You know you have only to -speak, and your wishes are my laws." He -pressed her fondly to his breast as he said -this, and she replied: - -"Nothing; nothing vexes me, except that -we are hardly ever together, as it seems to -me--or never, but when in public; and I long -for the time when we shall be in the country, -and that all our occupations will be mutual; -when you are not with me, I find more pleasure -in music, or in reading, than in going to -parties: for nobody cares for me; and I am -sure I return the compliment." - -"Nay, my sweet Georgina, this is really -nonsense. Are you not courted and paid attention -to by every one in the most marked -manner?" - -"Do not mistake me," she replied; "I -have not explained what I mean. As to outward -attentions of politeness, oh! yes, I receive -them in abundance; but what I intended -to make you understand is, that the -things I take interest in, and the pleasures I -have in view, seem so entirely different from -those of the generality of the set I live in, -that there is nothing left for me to say; and -I often observe that when I do speak, my conversation -is either laughed at, or they stare at -me as if they did not believe I was serious." - -Lord Glenmore smiled, and loved his innocent -little wife a thousand times the more for -her unsophisticated sweetness; nevertheless, -as he was likely always to have a part to play -in the great world, he could not help wishing -that his wife should be able, without putting -any force upon her inclinations, to do so likewise. -He therefore said, and speaking rather -more seriously than he had done: "Retain -always, dearest Georgina, this youth and -purity of character; but, for my sake, learn, -my love, to endure an intercourse with others -who may be of a less pure nature than yourself; -but who are yet, from your situation -and circumstances, likely to be those with -whom you must naturally associate: to please -me, then, my dearest Georgina, begin from -to-day: put on all your smiles, and let me -hear that you are the envy of the women, and -the admiration of the men. Remember, love, -to _please me_." - -"Any thing to please you," she replied; -and she decorated herself with more than -usual care. Just as her toilette was about to be -completed, Lord Glenmore entered her room -with a quantity of lilies of the valley. "Here," -he said, "I have brought you your favourite -flowers; wear them, love, and let their fragrance -remind you of the donor." All this -lover-like attention enchanted the person to -whom it was addressed, and her eyes sparkled -with unwonted brilliancy, and her cheeks were -tinged with the glow of pleasure as she fastened -her _bouquet_ in her breast. Lord Glenmore, -proud of such a wife, as well he might -be, handed her into her carriage, and she -drove to Lady Tilney's, where the party were -to assemble to go to Whitehall stairs. - -When she entered the room she found nobody -yet arrived; a servant made Lady Tilney's -apology, saying she should be dressed -shortly. Having played a few airs on the -piano-forte, she took up a novel, and was -busily employed in its pages when Mr. Leslie -Winyard was announced. Lady Glenmore felt -embarrassed in his presence, she knew not -why, but there was something of fear and -flutter that came over her whenever he approached, -which she could not command. -She arose and curtseyed; and then, as though -she had payed him too marked a distinction, -she remained awkwardly standing, as though -she had taken that position by accident--not -in honour of him. - -All this was not unobserved by Mr. Winyard. -He was too well practised in the ways -of women's hearts not to read her's at a -glance. At least he occasioned emotion, no -matter what emotion. He was not to be seen -with indifference--that was enough for him; -and he despaired not of turning it to his own -advantage. This advantage, however, was -not, in the present instance, to be obtained by -a _coup de main_; and assuming an air of polite, -but frigid _nonchalance_, he accosted Lady Glenmore -with an expression of surprise at finding -her the first-arrived person; and then examined -one of the miniatures which hung in a -glass cabinet. Lady Glenmore soon recovered -her composure, and entered into conversation -by asking some of those questions which are -merely the opening of conversation. "Yes, -I like music," said Mr. Winyard, in answer -to one of her questions; "it is one of the very -few things which is worth giving one's-self any -trouble about. I once learned to sing; the -only thing I ever learned." Lady Glenmore -laughed; and as her own ingenuous manner -returned, she evinced that propensity to being -amused by the present moment, which is so -natural and so pleasing in youth. - -"Will you do me the honour to sing a -duet with me?" - -"Oh! certainly," she said; and turning -over some music which lay scattered on the -instrument, she added, "Oh! here is that -delightful little duet, '_Sempre piu_' which, -though not new, is always charming." Mr. -Leslie Winyard had a sort of shuddering at -the idea that, notwithstanding her general -elegance, she might excruciate his ears by an -open English pronunciation, and a drawl by -way of sentiment; but he had embarked in -the danger, and fortunately there was no one -in the way to hear if his own talent should be -marred. He therefore courageously opened -the music leaf; and Lady Glenmore, having -touched a few chords, gave an assurance that -better things were in store. Nor did she disappoint -the promise; her sweet, rich-toned -voice had been tutored by Italian taste, and -swelled or sunk to every intonation, with a -delicacy of feeling which could not be surpassed; -the _sempre piu t'amo_ was uttered in -the purest enunciation of the language; and -Mr. Leslie Winyard thought, if it were only -addressed to him, it would be a triumph, which -the world he had lived in had not yet afforded. -Lady Tilney entered the room while they were -yet singing. - -"I am glad to find you have not been -tired," she said, "waiting for me. I beg you -a thousand pardons, Lady Glenmore; but -really I had so many things to do to-day--notes, -those terrible time destroyers; and then -the last number of the Edinburgh Review, together -with Mr. Kirchoffer's last work, have -so entirely occupied me, I totally forgot how -the hours flew past, till Argenbeau told me -that you were arrived. However, I hope you -find the instrument in good order. Mr. Winyard -sings like an angel; and I make no doubt," -(looking at him, to ask how far she was right -in the assertion) "Lady Glenmore does so -likewise." - -Mr. Winyard said, "I assure you, Lady -Tilney, _que voilà ce que l'on appelle chanter_," -indicating Lady Glenmore with a movement -of his head, "I had no idea any thing not -of the Land of Song could sing in that manner." - -"Well, really, you astonish me; why Lady -Glenmore keeps all her perfections to herself! -But she must really be drawn out, and not -suffered to hide her talents in obscurity." - -At this moment Lady Tenderden and the -Baskervilles entered, and shortly after the -remainder of the company. "Well, it is time -we should be gone, if we mean to see Richmond," -observed Mr. Spencer Newcomb, -"though I believe _eating_ Richmond is fully -as interesting, and candle-light at any time -is better worth seeing than the sun-light; -are you not of my opinion, Lady Glenmore?" -He addressed himself in preference to her, -because he thought she was new enough to -be astonished, and astonishment was an homage -paid to his power which he well knew -he could not extract from any of the rest of -the company. - -"Both are good," replied Lady Glenmore, -"in their proper season." - -"A philosophical answer!" cried Sir William; -"you did not expect that, did you, -Newcomb?" - -"No, it is too wise for me," he said, "for -it leaves me nothing to say--it is a truism; -_messieurs et mesdames, je vous avertie_, that as -I do not like the evening fogs of the river I -cannot postpone my departure. Lord Baskerville, -Mr. Winyard, will you come with me? -I have a _voiture a quatre places_, and any -lady may come that likes." Mr. Leslie -Winyard bowed and whispered Lady Glenmore, -"would she go?" Lady Tenderden -whispered her on the other side, "by all -means go, my dear Lady Glenmore, and I will -arrange my party in your carriage." - -Lady Tenderden's advice was not to be -slighted, and Lady Glenmore accordingly accepted -Mr. Leslie Winyard's offered arm, and -followed Comtesse Leinsengen, who treating -her as nobody, as she was generally wont to -do every one whom she dared, she entered -her carriage and drove off. At Whitehall-stairs -they found their boat waiting, the best -barge, the most knowing bargemen, and all -things in exquisite order--they take their -places, and, a band of music following, glide -down the stream, and are, or appear to be, in -the most harmonious of humours. - -"What is become of Glenmore to-day?" -asked Lord Gascoigne. - -"I am sorry to say he was obliged to be -on a committee, and I feel so lonely without -him, half my pleasure is gone," replied Lady -Glenmore. The men looked at one another--the -ladies tittered; there was a pause, and -the speaker felt sadly embarrassed, she knew -not why. Lady Tenderden whispered to her -as they leaned over the boat-side: - -"That was a very injudicious speech of -your's, my dear; you must learn not to _affiché_ -these tendernesses; for if you really feel them -nobody cares, and people in general only imagine -you affect them by way of being singular." - -Poor Lady Glenmore made no answer; -but was again convinced that she should -never like a society in which she was to be -so perfectly unnatural. Mr. Leslie Winyard, -who saw at a single glance the truth and -freshness of Lady Glenmore's character, was -certain that it would not do to attempt to gain -her good graces by any common-place mode -of attack, such as flattery of the person, or -intoxicating representations of power, dissipation, -and pleasure. He therefore took -an opportunity, when the rest of the party -were engaged in their own conversation, to -approach Lady Glenmore, and having found -a seat next to her, he commenced a discourse -which he conceived would be more to her -taste. Music afforded him an opening; it -was a subject on which he spoke elegantly -and well, and she listened with pleased attention. - -"After all," he observed, "where science -and taste have done their utmost to produce -perfection, and without these guides certainly -nothing will do; even after they have lent -their assistance, there is a third ingredient -which is _given_ only, and cannot be _acquired_, -without which there will ever remain a flatness, -an _ineffectiveness_, if I may so speak, -which renders the whole vapid and inefficient--I -mean feeling; and there, indeed, -you must know, Lady Glenmore, that you -are not wanting." He fixed his eyes on her -with an expression which made her blush; -but she replied smiling: - -"How can _you_ know that, Mr. Winyard?" - -"Did I not hear you a short time ago sing -'_Sempre piu t'amo_'?" - -"Oh," she replied, "you judge by that?" - -"And can I appeal to a more convincing -proof of what I assert? But if I needed any -other proof, surely the words, and the look -which accompanied the words, when you expressed -your regret at Lord Glenmore not -being of the party to-day, would be an -undoubted corroboration of the fact." - -"Oh, that was natural," she said; "it -would have been odd could I have done -otherwise. But real feeling is a much deeper -seated quality than can be judged of by singing -a song, or a passing impulse, and I do -not own that you can know any thing about -me or my feelings." - -"Perhaps not," replied Mr. Leslie Winyard, -looking grave and humble; "may it be -my good fortune to know more of these, and -to have the honour and advantage of improving -my acquaintance with you."--Here a -louder laugh than was usual among the fastidious -in manners, interrupted this _tête-à-tête_; -"will you not allow us to benefit by the wit?" -asked Mr. Winyard. - -"Oh," said Lady Tenderden, "it is only -that Sir William Temple fell asleep, and asked, -when he was awoke, for some more maids -of honour."--"To be sure," he said, "what -does one go to Richmond for, but to eat those -exquisite compositions. If all maids of honour -were like them, I am sure their race would -be more in vogue than it is. I would give a -hundred or two to have the receipt, for notwithstanding -that I have brought my cook -disguised _en valet de chambre_ a thousand -times, he never could find out the secret; -neither has he been able, with all his art, to -produce any precise _fac-simile_." - -"Ah!" exclaimed Lord Gascoigne, "that -is the true spirit of philanthropy; a hundred -or two for a receipt to make cheesecakes! -while we have such men in the state we need -not be under any apprehension that the arts -and sciences will fail." - -"Yes, arts and sciences, my Lord Gascoigne; -for I affirm that the pleasures of the -table require one to be an adept, both in -order to procure and preserve them in perfection. -Who will deny that the cultivation -and use of the animals, and vegetables, and -elements, that are employed, do not include -all these, not to speak of the _main d'œuvre_." - -"I am not disputing the fact," said Lord -Gascoigne; "why did you address yourself to -me? On the contrary, I am so well convinced -of it, that I pay my cook a hundred a year: -but the rascal threatens to leave me if I do -not raise his wages." - -"I cannot be surprised at that," said Lord -Baskerville, "for I give mine two, and he is -only a second-rate performer." - -"It is vastly extravagant," cried Lady -Tilney; "however, one need not do it if one -does not chuse; and, after all, it is not too -much to pay a man to become a salamander." - -"Oh," cried the Comtesse Leinsengen, -"_ils son fait au feu ces gens-là_, they are good -for nothing else, and if you were not to yield -to them, you would have them for half de -money; but you are all _des dupes_ in England. -You think the more you pay, de grander you -are, that is the truth." - -"Well, my dear Comtesse," rejoined Lord -Baskerville, "that is all very well to say, but -I am certain that you never would get any -body to serve you if you did not pay him -well; and I must declare that I had rather -give a hundred or two more to my cook, than -to any other servant in my house; for one's -whole domestic comfort depends upon one's -cook, don't you think so, Temple?" - -"I was always of opinion that you were a -wise man, and I am now confirmed in that -opinion. Most indubitably one's cook is the -great nucleus upon which one's whole existence, -mental and physical, depends; for if -you eat of a bad greasy ragoût, the _physique_ -immediately suffers, and then bilious hypochondria -ensues, and one's friends are the -victims of one's indigestion; and all the economy -of life, in short, goes wrong, if there is a -failure in that department." - -"Nobody has ever denied," observed Mr. -Spencer Newcomb, "_que le bonheur est dans -l'estomac_, and that happiness depends very -much on what one eats--and what one -eats depends upon the cook. I hold it to be -an incontrovertible maxim, _que le bonheur des -bonheurs_ is to have a _cordon bleu_ at one's -command--even the ladies will agree with -me." - -"Certainly," said Lady Baskerville, "I account -it to be one of the requisites of life." - -"Yes," rejoined Mr. Winyard; "for a -lady ought to appreciate the beauty of every -thing, even of a _poulet santé aux truffes_; and -though I cannot endure a woman to have -what is vulgarly called a good appetite--a -sort of beef and cabbage voraciousness--I like -her to know the various flavours and high-wrought -refinements of the palate. Indeed, -I am sure she is always vulgar if she does -not. But here, we are nearly at the landing-place; -and now let us hope to put our theories -in practice, and find in this _rural_ retreat -a change of viands to recreate and stimulate -our somewhat palsied palates." - -As the ladies were gathering up their -shawls and reticules, Lady Glenmore stooped -down to arrange a part of her dress, and the -lilies of the valley her husband had given her -fell into the water. She made an exclamation, -and attempted to catch them, but a -breeze bore them beyond her reach. "Oh -my nosegay! I would not lose it for the -world," she cried. - -Mr. Leslie Winyard looking in her face, and -seeing that she was eager in her wish to recover -the flowers, hastily darted from another -part of the boat; and in making an effort to -catch them, lost his balance, and fell into the -water. As they were literally on the shore, -there was no sort of danger, besides that -of getting a ducking; but he thought it -might avail him something in Lady Glenmore's -favour: nor was he mistaken. Seeing -him floundering in the water, she cried out, -"for God's sake save his life!" and while -he made the most of the awkwardness of his -situation, he kept brandishing the lilies with -one hand, and would not suffer any body to -touch them till he delivered them safely to -her. She was exceedingly touched by this -effort to oblige her, and for the rest of the -evening, after he had made a fresh toilette, -he reaped the rewards of his gallantry, by -finding that Lady Glenmore listened to him -with a kind of favourable impression, that -he could scarcely have hoped to inspire her -with, had not fortune thus favoured him. - -During dinner nothing was talked of but -the merits of a Richmond party:--"there is -surely nothing in the world more beautiful," -said Mr. Newcomb, "than the view of Richmond -Hill; it is the only _riante_ landscape in -England; a perfect Claude; and for my part, -I never desire to go farther in quest of the -picturesque--it is quite a _gentle_ scene; no -horrors, no rugged rocks or torrents; but a -sweet, soft, sylvan composition." - -"Enlivened too," observed Sir William -Temple, "by stage-coaches, and mail-coaches, -and coaches of all sorts, in short; without -which I hold all views to be very wearisome -things _à la longue_." - -"Only made for the eyes of the vulgar, depend -upon it," was Lord Baskerville's observation. -"Except during the hunting season, -the country is hateful; but one may bear a -row to Richmond, especially in such company,"--and -he bowed to Comtesse Leinsengen. - -"The country is all very well," she rejoined, -"in a _grande chateau bien remplie de tout ce -qu'il y a de mieux en fait de société_; but it -makes me shudder to think of being in one of -your provinces, in a house in the middle of a -shut-up park, with a neighbour or two _pour -tout bien_; no no, I am perished with _ennui_ -but to think of it." - -"It makes me shudder too," said Lady -Baskerville, smiling at the Comtesse Leinsengen's -broken English; "but, in fact, it -is what nobody does now-a-days; either the -real or the pretended incapacity on the score -of fortune for living at the country-seats, as -they used to be called, gets rid of all that -sort of thing. People live very much now -as they used to do in France, I am told, when -Paris was the only place in that country which -any body lived in." - -"Yes," said Mr. Spencer Newcomb, "and -as long as the people don't find out that their -landlords forsake them, and rack them for -their money, which they spend any where -rather than in doing them any good, it is very -agreeable not to be bored with that sort of -useful virtuous life. Long may they continue -to administer to our pleasures--they ought -certainly to be made for nothing else; but, -unfortunately, there came a time in France -when these things were all changed, and the -vulgars took it into their heads that they were -to have their day; and off went heads, and -on went caps of liberty, and all things were -turned upside down, as every body knows. -I wonder now how Lord Baskerville would -like to turn groom, and rub down his own -horses!" - -"Ha! ha! ha!" was echoed around. - -"So long as you keep a good whip hand, -and de rein in both, you will not be in any danger," -cried Comtesse Leinsengen; "you have -only to keep down _de canaille_. What sinifie -all these schools of learning? dey are the most -terrible nonsense; good for nothing but to -turn the people's heads, and make them think -themselves wiser than their masters; we do -not do so in my country. When they learn to -sing, they only learn _one note_, so that no -single person is independent of anoder, and -yet they make excellent concerts; these sort -of people should be always kept dat way, so -you see dat keeps all quiet, and the country -goes on from one age to another all de same." - -"Capital," said Winyard, "that is worth -putting in print." - -"Oh, I am quite of another opinion," -cried Lady Tilney; "you must pardon me; -but I think that every thing which has not -freedom for its basis, must be wrong; let -every body have a fair chance of becoming -something; above all, let the light of learning -shine every where, in every thing; there will -always be ways and means of keeping people -in their several stations. A country may -have all the blessings of liberty, and yet a -certain set may exist who shall have a superiority -of its own, move in a sphere of its -own, and be kept quite apart from the vulgar -crowd; there is always a way of managing -these things. I uphold liberty and literature; -but that is not to say, that your authors -and your musicians are to mix with certain -societies--quite the contrary. The liberty -of the latter will always keep its ground against -the intrusion of the former, don't you think so, -Sir William?" - -"I think, Lady Tilney, that whatever you -say must be right; and when you command, -I feel always inclined to reply, as some body, -I forget who, did to the Queen of France, _si -c'est possible c'est déjà fait, si c'est impossible -ça ce fera_." - -"I have always thought," rejoined Mr. -Spencer Newcomb, "that that speech ought -to be the truest that ever was uttered, for -it is exactly the sort of thing a lady would -like to have said, and I am sure it is the -most ingenious that ever was contrived." A -walk was now proposed, previous to which -the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room. - -"Well," said Lady Tenderden, "I think -we have had a charming day, do you not Lady -Glenmore?" - -"Very much so," she replied, "and if -only----." - -"I will finish the phrase for you--if only -Lord Glenmore was here--now my dear, I -thought I had warned you not to indulge in -that infantine habit of saying always what -you think. You cannot conceive what strange -ideas men attach to these sort of declarations; -they are apt to suppose it is a hint to them to -make love to you." - -"Impossible!" said Lady Glenmore, colouring. - -"Oh, you do not yet know the world, my -dear Lady Glenmore. Be advised at first, and -then afterwards act for yourself." - -"I must beg of you, ladies," interrupted -Comtesse Leinsengen, coming up to them, "to -patronize a little _modiste_ who is newly -established, and whom I take under my special -protection. She has all her patterns from -Paris--dey are of the _premier goût_, and have -that particular mark of distinction about -them, which dose who are copied from the -_feuilles des modes_ never so attain. Mademoiselle -Dumesnil has promised me never to -sell certain things but to certain people; -so that one is quite sure of not seeing _le double_ -of one's own dress on Mrs. Hoffer, or Lady -Delafont, which is quite sufficient to make -one fall into a syncope, and put one in bad -humour for de whole season." - -The Ladies smiled, agreed with her, and -promised compliance with her wishes. "Mademoiselle -Dumesnil's story," continued Comtesse -Leinsengen, "_feroit un roman_; it is -quite touching, and" (she added in a whisper, -as the gentlemen entered the room), "its -hero, _le voilà_," pointing to Mr. Leslie Winyard; -then in a low voice she proceeded to -give the whole particulars to the two Ladies, -Glenmore and Tenderden, who sat next to -her. - -The gentlemen now expressed their wish -to know whether the ladies would not profit -by the beauty of the evening to walk out, -and the measure being agreed upon, the party -was so arranged that Lady Glenmore fell to -the lot of Mr. Leslie Winyard, and much as -she now felt averse to accept his arm, after -the particulars she had just heard from Comtesse -Leinsengen, it was impossible for her -to refuse without incurring, as she thought, -Lady Tenderden's animadversions. Lady -Glenmore's silence, however, as they walked -along, attracted her companion's particular -notice. Something, he conceived, must have -occurred, to change her manner so completely -since dinner; but Mr. Leslie Winyard was too -well versed in intrigue to augur from this -circumstance any thing unfavourable to his -wishes, because he knew that to have made -an impression _quelconque_, was the first step -towards attaining his end. - -Determined, nevertheless, to ascertain the -reason of this alteration in Lady Glenmore's -manner, he very cautiously, but very adroitly, -contrived to find out that something had been -said which she conceived was to his disadvantage; -and he could be at no loss to guess of -what nature it was, for the affair in which -his name had been mixed up, in Comtesse -Leinsengen's conversation, was of too recent -a date, and too _marquante_, to have escaped the -memories even of that thoughtless circle--it -was, in short, his last. - -With this just apprehension of the fact, -therefore, he turned the conversation upon -the subject of scandal, which he deprecated -bitterly; and, as if instancing the effects of it -in regard to a person intimately known to -himself, gave a totally different, but very plausible, -interpretation of the exact story, which -Lady Glenmore had heard detailed half an -hour before by Comtesse Leinsengen. - -Lady Glenmore had listened to this artful -language with considerable interest and -surprise. From the generosity of her nature, -she felt much pleasure in thinking that -the evil she had heard, and which made her -uneasy even to be in Mr. Leslie Winyard's -society, was totally without foundation. Her -manner, therefore, gradually relaxed in rigour -towards him; she seemed to have suddenly -recovered her spirits, and her conversation -flowed naturally without any constraint. - -The moment the party returned from their -walk she flew up to Lady Tenderden, and -referring to the previous conversation of Comtesse -Leinsengen, repeated that which she -had just heard from Mr. Leslie Winyard, and -which she conceived to be his interpretation -of his own story; commenting, as she related -it, on the injurious effects of speaking evil of -any person without a thorough knowledge of -the fact. Lady Tenderden foresaw, that were -all this carried back to Lord Glenmore, many -impediments would arise in fitting Lady Glenmore -for their exclusive circle, and bringing -her down to a moral level with themselves; -she therefore said, after a minute's pause, "I -make no doubt the Comtesse Leinsengen has -been exceedingly misinformed; but at the -same time the less that is said of these matters -is always best, on every account; and as Mr. -Leslie Winyard is my very particular friend, I -shall esteem it a favour, my dear Lady Glenmore, -that you do not mention this idle -story to Lord Glenmore, who might conceive -some prejudice against him, which -would make me very unhappy. It is, in -fact, of no consequence whatever; but when -things of that nature pass through various -mouths, they accumulate a consequence in -their passage which they have not in themselves; -and therefore promise me, dear -Lady Glenmore, that you will not mention -this matter to any one; besides," she added, -looking very mysterious, "you know Lord -Glenmore's great interests may be much -affected by the Leinsengens; and the knowledge -of her having retailed that sort of -story, and retailed it under a mistaken -point of view, might produce some coolness -between them; for you know Lord Glenmore -is vastly fond of Mr. Leslie Winyard." - -Lady Glenmore did _not_ know this, and -hardly comprehended any part of the speech; -in truth, how should she? But she remembered -her husband's having recommended her to -take Lady Tenderden's advice, and therefore -she determined so to do in the present instance. - -Shortly after this conversation, it was put to -the vote whether the party should return to -town by land or by water; and with the -exception of Princess Leinsengen and Lord -Baskerville, who preferred a close carriage -for fear of damp, the rest agreed to go as -they had come. It was soon quite night; -but a brilliant moon made the water look very -beautiful; and the soft language of Mr. Winyard, -as he sat by the side of Lady Glenmore -in the boat, fashioned in its phrase to the taste -of his hearer, appeared to her in unison with -the scene, and she thought him the only one -of the party who was at all amusing, or had -given a colouring of any interest to the hours -she had passed with them. - -Arrived at Whitehall, Lady Tenderden proposed -their adjourning to her house, where -supper was prepared; but Lady Glenmore, -uneasy at a longer absence from home and -her husband's society, determined for once to -be firm in her refusal; and stepping into -her carriage, which awaited her, drove at -once home. On her arrival there, however, -she was doomed to sustain an unexpected -disappointment, as she found a note from -Lord Glenmore, dated from the House; in -which he told her not to be uneasy if he were -late, for that the business of the morning was -likely to be followed by a protracted debate on -an important question. Lady Glenmore sighed -over this note as she perused it; and, tired -with the day's excursion, yet not sufficiently -composed for rest, she experienced that listlessness -of mind, which admits not of any -active exertion, and yet affords no satisfactory -contemplation whereon to dwell. - -Lord Glenmore's attention happened to be -at this moment directed to a high post under -government, which it was more than probable -he would attain. But could he have dreamt -that in this pursuit he was neglecting the -duties of private life, and casting forth an -inexperienced young person, unprotected, amid -all the dangers of a pleasure-loving world, -he would have left all else to guide her -through the perils to which he now so frequently -left her exposed. How often does it -happen, in various instances, that in the blindness -of human wishes, we hurry to the goal of -our desires--even those which we deem innocent -and praiseworthy; but which, when suffered -to lead us on, without a reference to a -higher power, never fail to _mislead_, and prove -fallacious when obtained. Yes, this is that -self-pride of reason, which, confiding too much -in its own merits, and not acting under the -reliance of a superintending Providence, even -when on the point of realizing its fondest -hopes, finds it has grasped at a shadow; and -to an ideal good, sacrificed a permanent happiness. - -Had Lord Glenmore paused to reflect, and -had recourse to that unerring light, which -never dazzles to betray--his steps would -have been guided by unfailing wisdom, and -he would have found his chief happiness in -his chief duty; whereas he pursued the phantom -ambition; he did not consider that the -necessary consequence which must follow an -official occupation, was his leaving his young -wife without a natural protector, amid scenes -that were any thing but safe; and he was -desirous that she, too, should play her part, -and by those graces and influences which -have such sway over the destinies of men and -of empires, take an interest and acquire a -power in that vaulting game of ambition in -which he himself delighted to engage. He -considered not how often he must leave her -through the day, and the greater part of the -night, to run this hazardous career, at an -age when caution sleeps and passions are -awake, and in the midst of a set which, though -certainly not wholly devoid of some unblemished -characters, was yet, generally speaking, -in its whole tendency perilous to the -pure and domestic virtues--a woman's only -true glory. - -Yet on this precipice was Lady Glenmore -placed, without one real friend to whom -she could look for genuine advice or succour. -Her mother's (Lady Melcomb) absence from -town prevented that natural tie, and had she -been there it would have proved the business of -the exclusives to have prevented that free and -happy intercourse, both on the principle of -not allowing any aged person to mar the -brilliancy of their set, as well as that of excluding -all those who might see through the -drift of the society. On Lady Melcomb's part -it was too early in the day to have any suspicion -of the work of mischief which was carrying -on to separate her from her daughter, -and thus was Lady Glenmore like a lovely -lamb amidst ravening wolves. - -Scarcely had she been received amongst -them, when Mr. Leslie Winyard, being at the -moment _desœuvré_, conceived that she was just -put in his way as a fit play-thing for the hour, -and without the least scruple he determined -she should swell the list of his conquests, already -as numerous as those of Don Giovanni -in all lands. He took no pains to conceal this -design from any one save herself, and his intentions -served many of the set as a topic of -conversation, a fit subject for betting on: -"how would Glenmore take the thing; -would he be a wise man or a fool--put on the -cap which fitted him with a good grace, or -make grimaces at it?" Such is the license -with which the most serious delinquencies -were talked over, and though when set down -on paper they may seem exaggerated, yet -certainly the fact is not in the least so; only -people start at things and actions when called -by their right names, which under the title -of venial errors, youthful indiscretions, and the -sanction of custom and habit, are certainly -tolerated, if not commended; _tacitly_ approved, -if not openly avowed. Ought not such a -desperate system to be analyzed? Ought not -language to pourtray in its strongest terms -those deeds and those manners which, under -the semblance of polite terms, and fictitious -representation, and deceptive elegancies, -pass current as being harmless or indifferent. - -Let those whose hearts have bled on the -shrine of fashion and of _ton_--who have mourned -the loss of all that was valuable in character, -or beautiful in mental existence, sacrificed -to the insatiable appetite of pleasure, -the degrading occupations of frivolous pursuit,--let -_them_ say if colours can be too deep, -or language too strong, to paint so destructive -an evil as that of the whole false, futile -system of the exclusiveness of _ton_. - -Lady Glenmore was evidently one of those -persons marked out to become its victim, and -when the character of Mr. Leslie Winyard is -taken into account, as being the man who -attempted above all others to lead her to her -ruin, it cannot be wondered at, circumstanced -as she was, that the pit of degradation yawned -at her feet. Mr. Winyard was one of those -who to the gentlest manners united the hardest -of hearts: he had not, perhaps, always -merited such a description; but the being who -lives entirely for pleasure, becomes gradually -hardened to every natural sentiment, and selfishness -is the invariable consequence of a life -of idle dissipation. From selfishness springs -every other evil, and as it is the meanest of all -principles of action, when considered in the -baldness of the term, so it is, perhaps, the -most common, and the one which above all -others no person will like to avow--no, not -even Mr. Leslie Winyard. - -Yet he was a man who, after having by -every sort of riot and debauchery ruined -himself, proceeded to ruin his own mother -and sister, bringing the grey hairs of the -one to the grave with sorrow, and leaving the -other to work out her existence in a situation -unfitting her rank, but far more honourable -and desirable than the one he filled; yet -this was a man, the beauty of whose personal -appearance, the refinement of whose manners, -the powers of whose understanding -and charm of fascination, were calculated -to destroy every innocent mind; and it was -difficult to arm against such a powerful -enemy--a very Proteus in the power of -becoming all things at pleasure, and suiting -himself precisely to the taste and habits of -the victim whom he was insidiously endeavouring -to undermine. - -What could protect an unsuspecting, -youthful mind against such an enemy? -Nothing but religion; nothing but that habitual -looking for wisdom, where alone it -may be found; and perhaps, Lady Glenmore -was in this only security fatally defective; -she was good and pure, in as much as -human nature can be said to be so. And -how totally valueless this goodness is, without -it rests on a firmer basis, may be -seen in her, as in every other person to -whom the same vital want attaches: for her -character was not built on that rock which -when the floods come, and the storm beats, -will remain unmoved by them: she had yet -the greatest of all lessons to learn, not to -depend on _self_. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -RETROSPECTION. - - -When Lady Hamlet Vernon drew Lord -Albert D'Esterre aside, at Lady Tilney's supper -party, it was, he conceived, with an intention -of explaining to him the words contained -in her note at Restormel alluding to Lady -Adeline Seymour--and he was confirmed in -this idea by the violent agitation which her -manner betrayed, although she strove to retain -that composure which the circumstances of -the time and place particularly demanded. -For several minutes after they had sat down, -she seemed labouring for breath; and Lord -Albert, notwithstanding his own anxiety -and impatience felt exceedingly for her distress. - -"My dear Lady Hamlet Vernon," he said, -"I beseech you be not thus agitated; remember, -whatever you have to say, however -painful it may be to me to hear, I am certain -that it must be from friendly motives -alone that you make such communication, -and I must always feel grateful to you for -your intention; but keep me no longer in -suspense I entreat, for I am prepared for -whatever you may have to tell me." - -"I have nothing to tell you, Lord Albert." - -"What do you mean? what, can you possibly -intend to disappoint me; and, having so -cruelly excited my feelings, cast them back -upon me to prey upon themselves? No, I -never can believe you so inconsequent; so -very--" - -"Stay, Lord Albert, and before you condemn, -hear me.--It is true I was on the -point of betraying a trust--of revealing a -secret--of becoming _really dishonourable_--for -what? for the sole purpose of befriending -you--for the sole purpose of snatching _you_ -from a danger which it was then time to -prevent your falling into; but since that moment -is past for ever--since it is now in vain -that I should prove useful to you by being -false to another, my lips must for ever be -sealed." - -"Strange and unaccountable mystery! -What, you will not tell me--you will not endeavour -to warn me against a danger which -hangs over me--is this friendship? How _can -you_ know that the time is past for pointing -out to me such danger? How can _you_ be so -thoroughly acquainted with the events of my -life--the secrets of my heart, as first to imagine -my fate _was_ in your hands, and then -suddenly be equally well assured it is so no -longer? No, I cannot conceive there is any -friendship in such conduct." - -"Ah," said Lady Hamlet Vernon, sighing, -"I see you are like all your sex; -you receive the devotion of a heart as a -thing of course; you take into no consideration -the pain, the remorse I felt, at the -idea of becoming false to a trust for your -sake, when I thought that by so doing I -might save you from misfortune. And now -that I tell you the time is gone by when I -might possibly have been of use, even by the -sacrifice of my own integrity, you still wish -for that sacrifice, although it can avail you -nothing:--is this generous?" Lord Albert -felt confused; he was even moved by the look, -the air, the words of Lady Hamlet Vernon, -but still the disappointment wrung his heart, -and jealousy, with every other feeling, goaded -him on to press for a disclosure of the -secret. - -"I am not ungrateful, indeed I am not; I -feel deeply the kind interest you take in me; -but if that interest does not sleep, or rather -if it is not extinguished, I still plead to be -made acquainted with a circumstance so very -nearly affecting my welfare; and when I say -that your disclosing it to me would be like -keeping it in another casket, surely, surely -you will not deny me." - -"In this respect, my dear Lord Albert, -I alone can be the judge, and even at the -risk of losing your good opinion, or rather -of losing your friendship for the time being, -I must persist in remaining silent." There -was a long pause, which was at last interrupted -by Lady Hamlet Vernon resuming the conversation. - -"Whatever may be your opinion of me, I -must, ere our intercourse altogether ceases, -touch upon one subject, which I believe to be -the prime object of your life, and that to which -all your views tend--I mean the noble career -which lies open to your ambition; may you -pursue it with unbounded success; but remember, -that you are not likely to do so if you have -any secondary interest to clog and drag you -back. If domestic troubles, at least domestic -cares, obtrude themselves upon your higher -aims, what a terrible hindrance to your plans -they must of necessity become. Think well, my -dear Lord Albert, of this--for _le roman de la -vie_ is soon over you know, but life itself goes -on to the end; and whatever women do, men -should look to that alone with a providing -care. We, who are creatures born to suffer -(at least all women who live as most women -do, the slaves of your sex), we indeed may -live upon that illusion, which destroys while -it delights; but it is not in your nature to do -so; public concerns--public applause--public -success--facts, not feelings, must fill up -the measure of a man's existence. Think, -then, what it is to have these great ends -marred, defeated, by some minor power that -corrodes and destroys in detail those thoughts, -those actions, which, if unshackled by petty -duties, would raise you to high consideration -and power; but if tied to a partner wholly -a stranger to your feelings and pursuits, she -must, however amiable in herself, ultimately -poison all your happiness." - -Lord Albert had listened to Lady Hamlet -Vernon without a wish to interrupt her, and -with deep and fixed attention, painfully dwelt -upon every word she uttered; he could not -remain in ignorance of the drift of her words, -and they pierced him like swords, yet still he -remained silent. - -"If," continued Lady Hamlet Vernon, "a -woman shares her husband's feelings, enters -into his views, goes along with him, not -merely from duty but from habit and inclination, -in all his interests, then indeed it is -possible such a woman might forward, and -not impede his prospects; but where habits, -principles, and prejudices, have all tended to -form a different character, and above all, -where bigotry has fastened chains on the -mind wholly destructive of any active or -useful pursuits, the probability is, that -wretchedness to both ensues." Lord Albert -no longer affected to misunderstand her, and -replied, - -"Every thing you have said has been in -allusion to my approaching union with Lady -Adeline Seymour, an engagement you cannot -be ignorant of, as it has been well known to -the world in general for some years past. -Tell me, I adjure you tell me, to what principles, -to what habits do you allude? There -is enough in your words to startle and confound -me; but there lurks yet an unpronounced -sentence in your mind, which I now -implore you to declare. If, indeed, the least -regard for my happiness ever swayed your -breast, be explicit now, for my destiny perhaps -hangs on your open sincerity." Lord -Albert's thoughts were one chaos of uneasiness -and pain; jealousy had fired the train, -which set his whole being in a state of -anarchy, and he lost all command over himself--all -presence of mind, or capability of -sifting truth from falsehood. Poor human -reason, how weak is it even in the strongest -minds! when the passions are roused, who -dares to answer for himself, unless a higher -power assist him in his hour of need? - -"Be composed, be calm," said Lady Hamlet -Vernon, "do nothing in haste; suffer me now -to drop this subject, and we may resume it at -a more favourable opportunity, when you -have considered fully the opinions I have now -expressed. All I wish you to remember is, -that when a man chooses a companion for -life, the chief thing to be considered is, not -her amiable qualities, but whether they are -of a kind which will assimilate with his. The -mere obedience which proceeds from duty, -will never satisfy a noble nature: no, it is the -devotion of a glowing heart which beats in -unison--a mind capable of sharing in the -plans and pursuits of an aspiring nature, unwarped -by prejudice, unobscured by fanaticism; -above all, a heart that is wholly and -undividedly its own." - -Lord Albert, in listening to these words, -unconsciously compared the happiness of -being united to such a woman as the one he -now heard and beheld, to that of the pure -but infantine mind of Adeline Seymour. "Besides," -he thought, "is she so pure? has no -preference for another, usurped the allegiance -which she owes wholly to me? Has George -Foley not become more necessary to her than -myself?" And while these imaginations, and -such as these passed rapidly to and fro in his -mind, his eyes were rivetted on Lady Hamlet -Vernon, whose exceeding beauty heightened -by the expression of an interest for himself -which he never before had seen so visibly betrayed, -made him say, in a tone and manner -not devoid of a similar feeling, - -"Oh! Lady Hamlet Vernon, you who -can paint happiness so well--you who know -to distinguish, with such enchanting delicacy, -those shades of felicity which my warm imagination -has figured to be the charm of -married life, do not with a pertinacity unlike -yourself, withhold from me the secret on -which my fate depends, and either be my -guardian-angel or--" - -"Hold, I beseech you in my turn; I have -already told you that I cannot fully impart all -I know--I may not, must not be explicit. -But this much I will reveal to you, providing -you swear to keep the secret, and never to -probe me further." - -"Oh yes, I swear I will never betray so -generous a friend; I will never search further -into what you wish that I should not know." - -"Well, then," Lady Hamlet Vernon replied, -after a pause, and trembling with excessive -emotion, "for the sake of the great, the deep -interest I feel for you, and have felt since -I first knew you, receive this pledge and -earnest of my friendship;" saying which, she -placed a ring in his hand, and added at the -same time in a low distinct voice, "you can -never be happy with Lady Adeline Seymour." - -There are blows and shocks which strike at -the very vitality of existence--who has not -felt these before he has numbered many -years? and such was the power of these -words on Lord Albert, that he remained for -some minutes motionless; their sound vibrated -in his ear long after the sound itself -had ceased; for strange it is, though true, that -we can sometimes endure to think what we -scarcely can bear to hear uttered. In the one -case the thought seems not to be embodied in -reality; in the latter it has received existence, -and appears actually stamped with the seal of -certainty. - -At length, however, he had summoned his -reason to his aid, and was about to speak further -to Lady Hamlet Vernon, when, interrupted -by the quick succeeding questions of many -of the company who were passing the room -in which they sat to go to supper, Lord -Albert offered his arm mechanically to Lady -Hamlet Vernon, and they followed in the -train of others. The noise and gaiety and -brilliancy of the scene could not for a moment -take Lord Albert out of himself; one idea, -one image engrossed him, and all the surrounding -persons and circumstances glanced -before his eye or came to his ear, with the -glitter and the buzz of undistinguishable lights -and sounds. He went through the forms of -the place and scene with the precision of an -automaton, and when the supper ended he -followed Lady Hamlet Vernon about like her -shadow, sometimes absorbed in the deepest -concentration of thought, sometimes endeavouring -to revert to their former conversation, -which had been so abruptly, and to -him so unopportunely broken off; eager to -renew its discussion, as well as to elicit a -disclosure (regardless of his solemn promise) -of that part of the subject on which she refused -all explanation. - -In both, however, he wholly failed; and -having been obliged, although reluctantly, -to part from her for that time, he handed -Lady Hamlet Vernon to her carriage -and bent his way home. He felt it a -relief to be alone, in order to take a review -more collectedly of what was passing -in his own breast: but yet, when he commenced -the task, he found a contradiction of -thoughts and feelings which were so involved -that for a time he yielded to them, -and they alternately swayed him in opposite -directions, without his being able to come to -any decision. - -On considering the length of time, and the -intimate footing on which Mr. Foley had lived -at Dunmelraise (notwithstanding the peculiar -circumstances in which he was placed, as the -son of Lady Dunmelraise's dearest friend, and -her own _protégé_), on recalling his descriptions -and praises of Lady Adeline when they -met at Restormel, he thought he saw a confirmation -of his worst fears. What, he asked -himself, could induce a young man to seek so -lonely and retired a situation but love? And -Lady Dunmelraise he thought must have approved -his views, or she would not have suffered -such an intimacy to subsist, even though -as her friend's child she received him under -her roof; at least it was evident that she -chose to give her daughter an opportunity of -turning her affections from that quarter to -which they had been originally directed. Adeline's -letters, too, so equable in their expression -of calm content, so lavish in Mr. Foley's -praise, so minute in her detail of his way of -thinking and manner of feeling, showed that -had she not been more than commonly interested -in him, she could not have thus busied -herself with analysing his character. - -"It is clear," he said, "Adeline does not -love me; and her mother is no longer anxious -in consequence that our union should take -place!" While this idea prevailed he was desirous -immediately to break off the engagement; -formed a thousand plans for doing this, -in such a way as to appear disinterested and -honourable in their opinion; and worked himself -up to a belief, for the moment, that he -was only acting with that refinement and generosity -due to his own feelings as well as to -Lady Adeline's, by losing no time in putting -this resolve into execution, and then she -would be free. But for himself, would the -same step afford him the same advantage? -Would his heart be really free? were there -no strong ties that bound him to Adeline? no -habit of attachment formed in his breast, -though she had broken through the one, and apparently -could never have cherished the other? -Would he, in short, be free, though she were? -Could he turn the current of his affections -at once towards another object; could he accept -the heart, even were it her's to bestow, -of the person who had shewn such an interest -in his welfare; of one whose beauty was enhanced -by the deep expression which played -over her features--whose manners, talents, -character, were alike formed--could he make -her his wife? Again he paused at that title--it -had never been associated with any save -Adeline, and when coupled now with another, -it made him start from his own thoughts, as -though he were guilty in indulging them. - -Struck at this idea, and with the conviction -of what would be the state of his own -mind were he indeed at once to let Lady -Adeline loose from her engagement, his feelings -and his reasonings took another course. - -"Should I be justified," he asked himself, -"in the steps I am proposing, without further -proofs of Adeline's inconstancy? My surmises -perhaps have ground sufficient, but something -more than surmise is due to her. It is true, -I am told I shall never be happy with her," -(and he shuddered as he repeated the words -to himself); "but I very much doubt if ever I -can be happy without her. My own conduct, -too, lately--what has it been? Has it not -carried with it proofs of coldness and neglect? -Why should I expect to receive that constant -and ardent devotion, which I have shewed no -anxiety to retain; and what, on my part, has -occasioned this passive indifference? Has it -not been a growing partiality for the society -of another--and was _this_ Adeline's fault?" -He dwelt on this idea for some moments, and -his self-reproaches were painful. Then again -he thought, allowing that all is as it was -between us, that she loves me in _her_ way, -and I her in mine, is that enough to constitute -lasting happiness? "_No, it is not._ I -should loathe the insipid homage of daily -duties pointedly fulfilled, and weary of a mind -which had not sufficient energy to think for -itself. If I saw that my wife did not enter, -from a similarity of tastes, into my occupations -and pursuits, I should feel no satisfaction -in her doing so to oblige me; and I certainly -have already observed, that Adeline's habits, -and even her principles, have led her to a life -of monotonous tranquillity and insipid cares." - -And here again Lady Hamlet Vernon's words -recurred to him with tremendous power. -Would it not then, after all, be more noble to -set her free from an engagement, which -would fail in producing the happiness -that they both had been led to expect? He -mused with painful intensity as his thoughts -rested on this idea; but in the exercise of -analyzing, comparing, and combining these -various views of his situation, his mind was -imperceptibly drawn to the single subject -productive of them--his early attachment to -Adeline; and he fell into a comparatively calm -reverie--that species of calm, which dwelling -upon _one_ feeling generally produces, after the -mind has been tossed about in various contending -conflicts. His youthful and first affections, -together with all the awakening recollections -of early tenderness--the development of their -mutual passion, ere yet they knew they were -destined for each other--the happy prospect -of bliss which had succeeded--all, all recurred -to him, and revived the dying glow of attachment -in his breast. He took out her picture -from his writing-desk--gazed at the well-known -features, yet thought he had never -before been aware of their full and perfect -charm, that union of intelligence with purity -which is supposed to constitute the being -of an angel, that perfect candour, mingled -with quick perception, which this portrait -conveyed, and conveyed but feebly in comparison -with the original,--set the seal to his -conviction, that no one could prove to him -what Adeline had been. - -In replacing the portrait, he lifted up some -loose papers, and it chanced that the lock of -Lady Hamlet Vernon's hair, which he had -kept (and never since looked at) on the night -when she had been overturned at his door, -dropped from the paper. He could not but -admire it; its glossy richness--its hue of gold -shining through the depth of its darkness: -it was certainly very beautiful, and he sighed -as he laid it down. "What if, indeed, her -words should be true, and how can they be -_true_ unless in one sense--in that of Adeline's -loving another? It must, it must be so!" and -this fatal conviction broke down once more -all the fabric of happiness which a moment -before he had erected: and in this revived -frenzy of feeling he passed the night. It was -broad daylight ere he could bring himself to -seek repose, nor did he then till worn-out -nature sunk in forgetfulness and sleep. - -When he awoke the next day--for morning -was far advanced--it was like one awaking -from the delirium of fever. He felt exhausted, -spent, as though a long illness had shaken -his being--so much will a few hours of mental -agitation unnerve the strongest frame. -The more he tried to collect his thoughts and -bring them to a final result, the less did he -find himself capable of the effort; the energies -of his mind seemed paralyzed; he appeared -to himself to be under the influence of -some spell which impelled all his actions in an -opposite direction to his wishes, as in paralytic -affections, the limb ever moves in a contrary -motion to that which the sufferer would -have it. He was perplexed, amazed, and saw -no clue to guide him through the labyrinth. -The object of all his wishes--she to whom all -his views and plans had had reference from -the moment he could feel at all--now appeared -to have been almost within reach of his attainment, -and yet, by some inimical power, -was placed at a greater and more uncertain -distance than she had ever been. Lord Albert -was not a weak character: but who is not -weak, while they admit passion, and not principle, -to guide their conduct. - -At length, after having run over the subjects -of his last night's perturbed reflections, -the decision to which he came was one, that -feeling alone, unaided by moral and religious -principle, was likely to conduct him to; and -he determined to pursue a middle course, -without making known his suspicions. He -resolved to miss no opportunity of observation, -till he should either have his fears dispelled -or confirmed concerning Mr. Foley. He -argued, that to speak openly to Lady Adeline, -would _not_ be to know the truth. Perhaps -she would not break from her engagement, -from a motive of delicacy as a woman, however -much she might wish to do so; and it -was left for him to free her from a chain -which was no longer voluntarily worn. - -The more he reflected the more he thought -the intricacy of the case required this delicacy -on his part. She may not, he thought, -be herself aware of the nature of the attachment -she feels for me; compliance with her -parent's wishes, habit, duty, the kindly affection -of a sister's love, may be all that she -has felt towards myself; and now, for the -first time, she may experience the overpowering -nature of love. This must be what Lady -Hamlet Vernon alluded to; and if it is really -so, I should mar her happiness as well as my -own, by leading her to fulfil such a joyless -engagement. Oh, if indeed Lady Hamlet Vernon -has saved me from the wretchedness -which a marriage, under these circumstances, -with Adeline, must have produced, what -do I not owe her--gratitude--friendship--He -hesitated even in thought--he hesitated -to pronounce the word love; but a glow of -feverish rapture passed through his heart as -he recalled Lady Hamlet Vernon's beauty, her -fascination, her evident partiality for himself. -Yes, I must sift this matter to the utmost; I -must have irrefragable proofs of Adeline's -unshaken truth; nay more, of my being the -decided and sole chosen object of her truest -affections: and in the interim I will see her -frequently--see her in the world as well as in -retirement--and not allow myself to be blinded -by the specious veil which hitherto habit, -perhaps, has rendered equally deceptive to -both. - -Could Lord Albert have known this to be -the self-same decision that Lady Adeline and -Lady Dunmelraise had come to in regard to -himself, it would have gone far to have settled -his determination at once, and to have -hastened a declaration which must have -confirmed his union with Lady Adeline. The -fatal security however of thinking that, under -all circumstances, Lady Adeline would keep -her engagement with him, whatever he might -ultimately decide upon, made him the more -apprehensive of owing her possession to any -motive save that of pure attachment; and -it may be also (for the heart is deceitful above -all things) that, resting on this very security, -he had allowed his feelings to betray him imperceptibly -into an aberration from their -natural channel, till at length he could not -distinguish truth from falsehood, and would -too certainly deplore his error when the remedy -was past his power. - -Under the false but specious reasoning, then, -in which he now indulged, he strengthened -himself in his determination to pursue the plan -he had laid down, namely, of watching the -feelings and conduct of Lady Adeline in silence, -and of endeavouring to elicit from -Lady Hamlet Vernon, in whose friendship -and interest he placed a fatal but implicit -confidence, some of the grounds upon which -her mysterious words rested. With this decision -he prepared to go to South Audley -Street. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -TRUE NOBILITY. - - -It must not be supposed that Lady Hamlet -Vernon admitted to herself that she was the -mover of _premeditated_ evil. Impelled by violent -impulse, it is true she hesitated not in -adopting means of any kind to attain her -wishes; for she invariably succeeded in reasoning -herself, however falsely, into a belief -that she had at least some apology to gloss -over, if not to justify, the measures she pursued. - -Whatever calm she had assumed in her -late interview with Lord D'Esterre, she suffered -in secret the most painful agitation: the -violence she had done her feelings, in concealing -the disappointment she endured on -Lord Albert D'Esterre's leaving Restormel, -and the restraint that those feelings had since -undergone before she found a favourable opportunity -of speaking to him, all contributed -(when at length that opportunity at Lady -Tilney's supper-party did present itself) to -render their indulgence more overwhelming. -When she returned home that night, the -sleepless hours of suffering she passed were -not less painful in degree than those in which -Lord D'Esterre shared; with this difference -only in their nature, that the anguish endured -by him was of a varied and mixed kind; -whereas the whole mass of Lady Hamlet's -wishes were centred in an uncontrolled -passion for him; a passion which, since -she had allowed it to wear its undisguised -character, she found a thousand plausible -reasons for admitting to control her every -thought. - -There was no cause, she argued, sufficiently -strong in Lord D'Esterre's engagement -with Lady Adeline to forbid the indulgence -of her love for him; _she_ had no relative -duties to sway her conduct--she was her -own mistress: and in the opinion of the -world--_her_ world at least--she would be -justified, where envy did not bias the -judgment, in endeavouring to form so desirable -a connexion. However Lord Albert -D'Esterre might have been ostensibly considered -by the members of the exclusive -circle as one of themselves, and however -much they affected to deride and despise his -principles and habits, yet as a man whose -talents promised to shine in the senate, and -whose interest was considerable, his actions -were not, in fact, quite so undervalued, or so -indifferent to the leading personages of that -body, as they might on a cursory view appear -to be. He was still, Lady Tilney thought, -too young, in her political way of viewing -every thing, and had not given sufficient -proofs of firmness, as a party man, for any -direct overtures to be made to him on that -score. But in as far as regarded his admission, -in the first instance, to society amongst -her coterie, he owed that distinction to his -youth, his personal appearance, and his high -rank; to his youth especially, as fitting him -to become, under clever tuition, an obedient -satellite; and when his very attractive exterior -and manners, which were at once dignified -and original, were added to the account, it -is not to be wondered that he was reckoned -a person worth courting, and a character -worth forming, which might be incorporated, -in due time, as one of their own. - -Still there was a probationary state to pass -through before any one was actually admitted -into the arena of that circle. Lady Hamlet -Vernon, however, who from his first appearance -had marked him with her peculiar approbation, -was very clear-sighted as to the -views which might be formed of others respecting -an appropriation of him to their own -purposes; and she thought she perceived, -almost from the first, in the politic and eager -attentions of Lady Tilney towards him, as -well as in those of her silent but not uninterested -lord, some ulterior object in obtaining -his favour and confidence, which she -imagined might also turn to her own account, -as affording herself means to acquire an influence -over him of another nature. - -It is surprising with what quick perception -women will discover the most hidden sentiments -of others, when they have the remotest -reference to the object of their favour and -predilection; and many a man owes his success -in life to the unceasing, and perhaps unknown -endeavours to serve him, of some devoted, -and it may be, unrequited heart. Who -will watch like a woman over those minute -details, which swell the aggregate of greater -means? Who can feel, as a woman can, -those vibrations of circumstances which may -enable her to seize upon favourable moments, -those _mollissima tempora fandi_, when the -current of success may be directed to the -object of her wishes. Lady Hamlet was well -skilled to do all this, and from the first of -Lord Albert's appearance in the circle in -which she moved, her most diligent attention -was ever awake to all that concerned him. -She perceived that whenever he was spoken -of, the Tilneys were particularly cautious -and guarded in giving their opinion; and -she was not mistaken in thence arguing -that they were aware he might become a -man of high consequence, in every sense of -the term, as well as in their own peculiar -acceptation of it. - -Lady Hamlet Vernon felt that in this they -had not formed an erroneous view of him, -for she read ambition in his character: and -though the species of that quality of mind -was certainly very different in Lord Albert -and in herself, yet its general nature was no -stranger to her, and she knew it to be too -powerful a lever in human actions to overlook -or disregard it in this instance. On the -contrary, she determined to use it in behalf of -her own views; and from this motive she dwelt -with energy on the subject of Lord Albert's -prospects for the future, while conversing -with him at Lady Tilney's. She then -found she was touching a master-key to open -the secret recesses of his mind and feelings. -In its very first application, she had found it -more than answer her expectations; and the -consciousness that the apparent harmony of -her sentiments with his on this point, had -established an interest in and obtained an -influence over the very main-spring of Lord -Albert D'Esterre's being, inspired her with -the liveliest hope. - -No mercenary views, it is true, no mean -love of power for little ends, actuated her, -but a violent and overpowering passion, -which, however, was equally subversive of -rectitude of conduct, since it was neither -guided by principle, nor restrained by moral -or religious control. It was not directly any -selfishness of motive that impelled her to -the course she was pursuing, for she would -have gone blindly forward in any plan the -most contrary to her interests, her habits, or -her feelings, which promised to draw her into -a union of sentiment with the object of her -passion; but those who suffer themselves to -be directed by such impulses, are under complete -delusion respecting the estimate they -form of themselves. Whenever passion obtains -the mastery, the effect is equally certain; -the wholesome freedom of a mind at liberty -is gone; and when once enslaved, it becomes -like a wave of the sea, tossed about in every -direction the sport of winds, and is as liable -to dash into ruin, as to use any power it may -possess to beneficial purposes. - -Whilst the fever of agitation swayed Lady -Hamlet Vernon, she gave herself up in -secret to the inebriating delight of dwelling -upon Lord Albert's looks and words, during -their last interview; she recalled the expression -of his eyes, as he gazed at her while she -was speaking; she still seemed to feel the -pressure of his hand thrill through her veins, -as when he received the ring she gave him -in pledge of friendship; but as these intoxicating -sensations subsided, she relapsed again -into fear, lest she should have gone too far at -first; lest any thing she had said or looked -might have appeared too violent, too plainly -have told the tale of her feelings, ere time -had ripened the moment when their disclosure -might be more in unison with his -wishes. Then again she hoped that her agitation -might have been attributed alone to the -caution which she had ventured to give him -respecting Lady Adeline; and that she gave -him such caution, she trusted would have been -ascribed to a friendly feeling for his happiness. -"Yes, his happiness!" she repeated -to herself; "for I could sacrifice my own to -secure that boon for him. It is not from -motives of jealousy that I did so warn him, -for I could bear to see him the husband of -another, providing that other were really -worthy of him, one who would share in his -views, his plans, his feelings; but to unite -himself with a woman wholly unfit for him--a -girl, a weak insipid girl, made up of puritanical -observances and prejudices--no, I could -not see him set the seal to his future misery -by allowing him to remain in ignorance of -a fact which is known to all the world except -himself." - -In this sophistical manner did Lady -Hamlet Vernon argue herself into the belief -that no selfish motive impelled her, but -that she was acting a noble part, and as -the end designed was good, the means she -thought were so likewise. In flattering -this belief, she recalled every look and -gesture of Lord Albert D'Esterre, and she -thought she had perceived that he entertained -a feeling of jealousy towards Mr. -Foley. "Perhaps," she said, musing on that -point, to which she had not before given her -full attention, "perhaps his jealousy is not -without foundation. Why is Mr. Foley so -much at Dunmelraise? The circumstance -of Lady Dunmelraise's protection of him -through life, is not sufficient cause. After -all, why should he not marry Lady -Adeline, if she likes him? It would be a -union much more consonant with Mr. Foley's -happiness (inasmuch as he would not care -what were her ways of thinking) than it -would be for the noble-minded, aspiring -D'Esterre." - -In this new point of view Lady Hamlet -Vernon found another specious argument in -favour of her own conduct, and her secret -wishes; and if indeed this latter assumption -of a fact were true, she would be doing a -doubly generous action, in forwarding the -wishes of her friend Mr. Foley, while she at -the same time saved Lord D'Esterre from -a step that would inevitably render him -unhappy. - -Such were the false reasonings with which -Lady Hamlet Vernon justified her feelings -and her conduct to herself, and under their -sway, she awaited with the utmost anxiety -and impatience for Lord D'Esterre on the -following morning. But it was late before he -came, and he was abstracted and silent when -he did arrive; unlike the animated being -whom she had witnessed speaking to her -with such force and expression of lively -feeling on the previous evening. The fact -is, Lord Albert D'Esterre had been at Lady -Dunmelraise's, where he had found Adeline -alone; and as, in her converse and presence, -there was a soothing calm, a persuasive assurance, -even in her silence, of her perfect -purity and truth, those feelings of jealous -doubt and mistrust that had preyed upon -him before his visit to her, had gradually -subsided while under the influence of her -immediate power. Above all, the interest -she expressed for him, the alarm she declared -she felt on beholding his haggard -look, and suddenly changed appearance, -awoke in his breast all those tender feelings -which it was a second nature for him -to cherish towards her. - -He felt indeed that he could have laid his -head on her breast, confessed his folly, and -wept out his fault in having for a moment -suspected her; "but then again," he thought, -"it will be time enough thus to humble -myself when I see proof that my suspicions -are indeed groundless; and I shall not be -acting up to my resolution, if I allow a moment -of tenderness to put it out of my -power to certify the truth of her's." - -Mr. Foley's name was not once mentioned -during his visit. Mr. Foley did not appear; -and for the time Lord Albert D'Esterre felt -happy. "We shall see," he said to himself, -"if this fair shew is real; a short time will -serve to prove its truth, and then my happiness -will stand on a secure basis." - -He took leave, therefore, of Lady Adeline -with a mind much relieved, and having -impressed her also with the sensation that -he felt towards her, all he had ever felt; but -no sooner did he quit her presence, than, -with that waywardness of spirit, which is too -often apt to embitter our best interests, he -was impelled to call on Lady Hamlet Vernon, -for the sole purpose, as he fancied, of -gathering indirectly from her conversation a -more clear insight into the subject of her -discourse. But in her presence, he in vain -endeavoured to lead her to it; she avoided -all reference, however remote, to the cause -of his inquietude, and when she touched on -the topic of his public career in life, Lord -Albert felt that it was done in so vague -and wary a manner, as to afford him no clue -whatever to what engrossed at that moment -all his thoughts, and he involuntarily became -silent, and manifested an indifference to -all farther converse. When he arose to take -his leave, if he was less happy than when he -had left Lady Adeline, he was not conscious -of any reason why it should be so; but that -of which he could not fail to be conscious, was -the sensation that a spell was spread around -him, whenever he approached Lady Hamlet -Vernon. - -To her inquiries if he would join her circle -in the evening, and if he were one of those -invited to the water-party the following day, -he answered with apparent indifference; and, -with a doubtful half-formed promise to attend -her in the evening, he left the house. -He was bewildered and uneasy; dissatisfied -with himself, and consequently with all the -world; and Lady Hamlet Vernon was miserable -on her part at witnessing his change -of manner, and remarking the serious and -preoccupied expression of his countenance, -which seemed totally at variance with her -wishes. - -That evening Lord Albert dedicated to a -few hours of quiet in his own apartments; -but the habit, of any kind, which has once -been broken through, is not so easily resumed; -and in particular the power of sober -application to serious pursuits is hardly by -any man to be laid by and recovered at will. -The mind which is suffered to float about, -driven by the winds of chance, becomes unfitted -for fixed attention to any one particular -point; and the effort is painful which must -be made before it can be brought to bear on -reflective subjects, after having been suffered -to follow the vague direction of the feelings, -or the yet more debilitating influence of dissipation. - -Lord Albert acknowledged this, as he had -recourse to various books for amusement. -His attention wandered; and now he was at -Lady Dunmelraise's, now at Lady Hamlet -Vernon's--but never was he on the subject -of the leaves which he vainly turned over; -and after an evening spent in vacuity, he felt -as fatigued, and more dispirited than had he -been deeply engaged in some mental effort. -The consciousness of this lowered state of -being was exceedingly uneasy to him. He -was one who, for so young a man, had -learnt thoroughly to know the value of time, -and when it was thus utterly lost or misapplied, -he could not forgive himself for the -irreparable fault. - -Lord Albert, too, had an impression fixed -indelibly on his mind, that when we are not -advancing we are retrograding in our mental -or moral course of existence; and fortunately -for him, he was yet keenly sensible to the -reproaches of conscience. His determination -at the moment, therefore, to redeem this -heavy loss was salutary and sincere; and he -felt a renovation in his whole being when he -took his early walk next day to Lady Dunmelraise's, -full of the good resolutions he -had formed the preceding day. To be in the -presence of Lady Adeline Seymour, was like -being in the sunshine of spring. There was -an habitual serenity about her, which seemed -to animate all around her; every thing and -every sentiment of Adeline's was in its right -place--no one took undue precedence of the -other; the harmony of her form and features -was a true reflection of her happily disposed -nature; but that nature owed its very essence -and continuance to the great ruling -feeling of her mind. Every thought, and every -action, were immediately or remotely under -the guidance of pious belief: the nature of -her happiness could not be uprooted by any -earthly power; she might suffer _anguish -here_; but she had a secret and secure joy -that those only know who, like her, fix the -anchor of their trust on an hereafter. - -Having spent the greater part of the morning -in such society, Lord Albert tacitly acknowledged -its superiority to that in which -he had lately lived, and the invitation he -received to dine in South Audley Street was -eagerly accepted. The party which he found -assembled at Lady Dunmelraise's consisted -chiefly of her family,--Lord and Lady Delamere, -their two sons and daughter, and a -few other persons who came in the evening. -Lord Delamere was a shy man, and his shyness -had sometimes the effect of pride; but -the estimable points in his character were of -such sterling value, that his friends loved him -with a zeal of attachment which spoke volumes -in his praise; and he was looked up to -by his family, not only as their father, but -their companion: nothing could be more -beautiful than the union which subsisted between -them; nothing more truly worthy of -imitation than the virtuous dignity with which -they filled their high station. - -Lady Delamere still possessed great beauty; -and the charm that never dies, the charm -of fascination of manner and of air, defied -the inroads which time makes on mere personal -beauty. She was one of those very -few women, who unite to feminine gentleness -the qualities ascribed to a masculine mind. -At the time she married, her husband's affairs -were so much involved, that nothing but the -utmost self-denial could possibly retrieve -them: and she entered into his plans of retrenchment -with an alacrity and vigour, -which proved her to be a wife indeed; not -the play-thing of an hour, to deck the board, -or gratify the vanity of the possessor, but a -companion, a friend, a helpmate, one who -in retirement possessed resources that could -enliven and cheer the solitary hour: who -knew she was loved, and felt she deserved to -be so, with that security of honest pride, -which the consciousness of desert never fails -to impart in married life, and yet whose -refinement and delicacy of feeling never lost -the elegancies of polished manners, because -there were no novel objects to excite a sickly -appetite for admiration. - -To please is certainly the peculiar attribute -and business of woman, in every relation -of life; and those who neglect to foster -and keep alive this power, reject one of the -greatest means which Providence has placed -in their hands to effect mighty operations of -good. But there is a false and spurious kind -of pleasing which must not be confounded -with the true. Every woman will know -how to distinguish these in her own conscience. -When the wish to please is a -mere gratification of vanity, when it lives -always beyond the circle of her own hearth, -and dies as soon as it is called upon for -exercise within domestic walls; then, indeed, -it may be known for what it is: but -when, as in Lady Delamere's case, this virtue -shone most splendidly confined to the sphere -of home, its price was above rubies; in -short it might truly be said of her, "the -heart of her husband doth safely trust in -her." - -At the time when Lord Delamere was -in the greatest difficulties, he did not, as -too many do, fly to a foreign country, to continue -the life of self-indulgence which he -could no longer maintain in his own; he -did not make it an excuse for forsaking his -patrimony, and the seat of his ancestors, -that he could not live there in that splendour -which he had formerly done; but with a -spirit of true pride he said: "the land of -my forefathers with bread and water, rather -than banishment and luxuries." He -made no secret of his poverty; and it was a -means of clothing him with honour: for -with patience in his solitude he found content, -and with content all things. His self-denial -enabled him to be generous to others: -and the very act of living on his estates, gave -bread to hundreds. Lady Delamere went -hand in hand with him in all his plans; and -they pursued, for some years, with untiring -step, the path of duty which they had marked -out. - -Meanwhile, their family grew up around -them, and every thing prospered--for a -blessing went along with them: they were -adored by their dependents; honoured even -by those who hated them for their superiority; -and with the occasional visit of a -relative or friend their time flowed on, fruitful -in its course, and fraught with real and -substantial happiness. - -But in this their retirement they were not -forgotten. It is not those who are fluttering -about their empty shewy existence in the -sunshine of pleasure and splendour whose -memories live longest, even in that very -world they so busily court. All great and -useful works are the fruit of retirement; all -strength of character is formed, not in indulgence -and prosperity, but in retreat, and -under the grave hand of that schoolmaster -Adversity. The corn is not ripened till it receives -the first and the latter rain: neither is -the moral character formed to its great end, -till it has known the storms of adversity. The -Delameres had now reaped the fruits of this -earthly probation, and they shone forth with -lustre, which could not be eclipsed by any -tinsel splendour of mere outward grandeur. -The children of such parents could not be -supposed to be altogether different from -themselves, for though there are anomalies in -nature, it rarely happens that the offspring -are not like either father or mother, still -less that they are not ultimately influenced -by the example of parents. - -When Lord Albert D'Esterre found himself -in this happy society, so different, and -yet, as he acknowledged to himself in every -passing moment, so superior to that in which -he had lately lived, he felt as if he also -were of another race of beings; a pleased -sort of self-satisfaction took possession of -him: so much are we affected by outward -things, so much does the mind reflect the -hues by which it is surrounded. Are these, -he thought, the persons whose names I have -been accustomed to hear coupled with ridicule -or condemnation--are these the persons -who are designated vulgar? Strange indeed -is the misnomer! And that there were -many in the same grade, whose characters -shed lustre upon their high stations, many -who constituted the true character of British -nobles, was a truth that Lord Albert had not -sufficiently considered; for where is there -a body in any country more worthy of respect -and admiration than the real nobility -of our land? It is only to be lamented that -the errors of the few, and the assumed superiority -of the _ton_, should have given ground -for a false estimate of those characters of -solid worth, whose virtues and whose ancient -ancestry reflect a mutual value on -each other; and the moral tranquillity of -whose lives is at once a dignified refutation -of the depreciation of high birth, and the -best confirmation of its real consequence. -But the middling classes, those who envy -their superiors, or those who would attain -to a distinction in society to which they have -no immediate claim, are too apt in these days -to form a mistaken judgment, founded upon -newspaper reports or the spurious publications -of the day, in which much false representation -is mingled with some gross truths, -and the delinquency of the few ascribed to the -conduct of the many. Nor is it these alone, -who are thus led into an erroneous opinion. -The public press produces a circulation of -good and evil, of truth or falsehood, universally; -and wherever the latter creeps in, there -ought to be an antidote administered. It -should not be suffered to smoulder and gain -force till it produce some serious mischief. - -It should be told that the few individuals, -whose idle and trifling lives, and whose tenour -of conduct lay them open to contumely -and blame, do _not_ constitute the great mass -of English nobility. So far from it, they are -persons whose lives differ as much from the -general existence of their compeers, as does -the life of one individual in any class from -that of another. Vice is not confined to -nobility because a few great names have -sullied its brightness. It is a false conclusion -to consider _them_ as examples of their -caste, any more than the man in inferior -station, whose delinquency is proved, and -who suffers the penalty of the law, is to be -taken as a specimen of the people at large. - -In the course of conversation at Lady -Dunmelraise's dinner, the ensuing drawing-room -was spoken of. "I am one of those -old-fashioned persons," said Lady Delamere, -"who feel a real pleasure in the thought of -going to court--for first, I shall have the -gratification of seeing my Sovereign, and of -presenting to him another branch of that -parent stock, who are personally as well as -on principle attached to him and to his -house. And though, doubtless, there are -many who share in these feelings, yet I will -yield the palm of loyalty and zeal to none; -and, in the second place, I do very firmly -believe that, in as far as society goes, a drawing-room -does much moral good. There -are certain lines drawn, which are useful to -remind persons in general, that vice is contemned, -and virtue honoured; and there is -a distinction, too, of time, and place, and situation, -which is not yet laid aside; I heartily -wish there were many more drawing-rooms -than there are." - -Lord Delamere fully agreed with his -wife in this opinion--the young people did -not giggle and whisper, "what a bore it -will be," but coincided with their parents. -Lady Mary Delamere too declared, that she -thought there was no occasion better suited -to shew off real beauty to advantage than the -splendour of a mid-day assembly, where -every thing conspired to give people an air of -decorative style which they could not possess -at any other public meeting. "What pleasure," -she continued, "I shall have in going -with my cousin Adeline, and gathering up all -the stray words of admiration, which I am sure -will abundantly fall in her praise. Do tell -me, love," addressing herself to her in a half -whisper, while the rest of the persons at -table conversed on other matters, "do tell -me of what colour is your dress, and how it -is to be trimmed?" - -"Really," replied Lady Adeline, colouring -as though she had committed a crime, "I -have not thought about it. All I begged of -Mamma was, that it might be very simple, -and, I believe, of a rose-colour--for a rose is -my favourite flower." - -"Dear child," said the good-natured -Lady Mary, "you must think about it now, -for the day is drawing near, and I shall -be so disappointed if you are not well -dressed." - -"You are very kind, sweet cousin, but if -you only knew how very little I care about -the matter;" and she laughed heartily at the -idea of its being a subject of the least importance. - -"But, Lord Albert D'Esterre," said Lady -Mary, appealing to him as he sat on the -other side of Lady Adeline, "you will -interfere, will you not? You will not be -pleased, I am sure, lovely as Adeline is, to see -her a _figure_ at a drawing-room." - -"What sort of figure do you mean?" he -asked, smiling. - -"Oh dear! you know well enough what -I mean--unbecomingly attired." - -"I think," he replied, "that although -some figures will always be admired, still -there is no merit in disdaining the usages of -society or the advantages of dress, and that -the neglect of appearance may in a young -person be produced by some causes which -are not desirable." He looked fixedly at -Adeline as he spoke, and she blushed very -deeply; but answered with an unhesitating -voice: - -"I shall be always desirous of pleasing -those I love, even in trifles; but I should be -sorry that trifles occupied their thoughts." - -Lord Albert was silent; he felt a kind of -chill come over him, for the remembrance -of Lady Hamlet Vernon's instructions recurred -to him; and he thought he saw a -species of puritanical pride in the general -tenour of Lady Adeline's manner of thinking -and speaking, which seemed to justify the observations -she had made upon her character. -Then again he feared, that in other points -he might discover more reason still to be -dissatisfied--points on which his vital happiness -rested. He looked instinctively round -the room; but the person who at that -moment crossed his thoughts was not present, -and he again wrapped himself up in -that mood of suspicion, which is ever on -the alert to seek out the object which -would give it most pain; under this influence -he returned to the subject of Adeline's -presentation dress, and said, addressing -Lady Dunmelraise: - -"I am not particularly an advocate for -splendid attire; but I am sure, Lady Dunmelraise, -you will agree with me in thinking, -that there is an affectation in going unadorned -to a court, which is a sort of disrespect -to the place." - -"Indeed," said Lady Adeline, in her wild -eager way, "I will not go to much expenditure -on my dress, for I have a plan for doing -some good going on, which will require all -the money I can collect, and I should be very -sorry to see mamma wasting her's on any -thing which I so little prize as my court-dress." - -Lady Dunmelraise only smiled, and replied, -"We must all subscribe to Adeline's -toilette, for she is the veriest miser on that -score herself. However, Lord Albert, do not -be uneasy, I think she will not disgrace us," -and the pleased mother passed on to other -discourse. - -This tenacity of Lady Adeline appeared to -be a confirmation of his suspicions; and -when, in the after part of the evening, Mr. -Foley was announced, Lord Albert lost all -command over himself, and under plea of -a bad head-ache, sat silent, that he might -the better watch every look and motion of -Lady Adeline and Mr. Foley. Turning every -indifferent word and gesture into the meaning -with which his jealousy clothed it, he fancied -that they were certainly mutually attached. -Whatever soothing attentions Lady Adeline -shewed to himself, he imagined were put -on for the purpose of deceiving him; and -his manner was so cold and haughty, that -she in her turn began to shrink within herself, -and to wear an abstracted, and somewhat -distressed countenance. - -Under this impression, Mr. Foley, with -his _doucereux_ air, whispered Lady Adeline, -"that he was sure she was ill," and asked -her "to cast out the evil spirit by her sweet -power of music." - -"Do, my love," said Lady Dunmelraise, -"sing that delightful duet, which is always -charming, '_O Momento fortunato!_' and -then I feel sure we shall be all love and -harmony--shall we not, Lord D'Esterre?" - -The chords of the piano-forte relieved -him from the embarrassment of a reply, and -he listened to the impassioned tones of _poi -Doman, poi Doman l'altro_, ascribing to every -intonation and every sentiment of her feeling -voice the dictates of a passion for his -supposed rival. - -"That used to be a favourite of yours, -Albert," said Lady Adeline when the duet -was finished; "but I am afraid your head-ache -prevents you from enjoying any thing -to-night." - -"I do not feel well," he replied shortly; -"and lest my indisposition should in any -way affect the pleasure of others, I will -hasten away." - -"Oh yes, you appear ill, indeed!" said -Lady Adeline, fixing her eyes tenderly on -his; "and, dear Albert, perhaps you had -better go--the noise of company may be -too much for you:" and she held out her -hand to him--"Oh, if you are unwell, by -all means go home," she repeated, with an -anxiety of tender interest, that no one else -could misinterpret to be any thing but -genuine affection, but which to him seemed -to spring from the desire of his absence. - -"You shall be obeyed," he said, returning -her look reproachfully; and at the same time -reaching his hat, which happened to lie on -a table beyond Mr. Foley, he almost rudely -snatched it away, and with a celerity of -movement that admitted of no courtesy to -any one present, departed. Lady Dunmelraise -called after him, "Lord Albert, do -you dine here to-morrow?" But he heard -not, or affected not to hear, and with the -gnawing rage of blind jealousy darted into his -carriage, and gave the order, "home." - -Soon after the rest of the party broke up; -and when Lady Dunmelraise and her daughter -found themselves once more alone, their -mutual silence proved that they both felt the -strangeness of Lord Albert's manner of departure. -But although the words were on -Lady Dunmelraise's tongue to utter--"_he is -capricious_,"--she restrained, and suffered -them to die away in silence, determined that -her daughter's own unbiassed judgment -should form for herself that opinion of Lord -Albert's character, which would soon now -ultimately decide on her acceptance or rejection -of him as her husband. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -OFFICIAL LIFE. - - -It may be recollected, that when Lady -Glenmore returned from the water-party, she -was cruelly disappointed at finding only a -note from her husband. "How little," she -thought, as she sat at her toilette taking off -the dress which in the morning she had not -despised, as having been approved of and -admired by him, but which now she cast aside -with disdain--"how little men know how -to value the affections of a wife! I have been -for many hours in what is called a gay scene, -and during the whole of the time, I cannot -recal one moment when Glenmore was -not present to my fancy; but he, I dare say, -on the contrary, has not given a wish or a -sigh to me." She looked in the glass as she -thought this, and although a tear dimmed -her eye, vanity whispered, "ought this to -be so?" - -"I am at least _pretty_; young, no one can -deny; yet I am neglected for a number of -old stupid men, a dull political discussion. -Oh, those vile politics! how I hate them. -And when he comes home, he will look so -grave, so preoccupied! Oh, I wish there was -no such thing in the world as a House of -Lords or Commons. Is life itself long enough -for love?--and must dull, dry business, consume -the hours of youth, pale his cheek, -perhaps blanch his hair, his beautiful hair, -for they say care has whitened the locks even -in one night! how very terrible this is."--And -she arose, and walked to and fro in her -room, and listened to every carriage that -rolled by--then she took up Lalla Rookh--read -some of the most impassioned passages, -and wished herself a Peri. - -"I have but one wish," she said, "that -wish is to be loved as I love."--Poor Lady -Glenmore! this beautiful phantom of a young -heart is, nevertheless, in the sense in which -she framed it, a mere deceit. Love such as -her's does _not_ grow by feeding on; there is -a strength of character, a consciousness of -self-dignity, the duties of a rational being, -above all, the duties of a Christian, which -must be cherished and understood, before -any lasting fabric of happiness can be built -on love. This was never more proved than -in the restless impatience, the miserable (for -such hours to such minds are miserable) -anxiety and disappointment, which converted -minutes into hours, and hours into ages, before -Lord Glenmore returned. As she foresaw, -when he did come, though he pressed -her with almost rapturous tenderness to his -heart, and inquired with trusting fondness -at her party, hoping she had been well -amused, he was himself so exhausted and -harassed by business, that he professed himself -unable to talk. "Why did you sit up -for me, dearest?" he asked; "you will fatigue -yourself uselessly; and I must really insist -in future that you do not do so. At least, -if you had been _amusing yourself_, I should, -not be so sorry; but as it is, really Georgina, -love, you must be better behaved in future--but -why did you not go to the supper?" - -"I came home to see you," she answered -in a tremulous voice. Lord Glenmore chided -her lovingly, and assured her that he had -not less anxiously desired to return to her; -but he said, smiling, - -"You know you have the advantage over -our sex, for _your business_ is love--but our -_business_ is a matter apart from that gentler -care. I long to tell you, my sweet Georgina, -all that has interested me this day, and I -think you will share in my satisfaction; but -I am really unequal to enter into the details -at present: to-morrow, love, you shall know -all." Lady Glenmore only sighed; but with -the sweet docility of her nature, never questioned -his will, and his being with her constituted -in fact all she cared to know. The -truth was, that certain changes in the ministry -had long been talked of, and on that -morning overtures had been made to Lord -Glenmore to take on himself an important -office. The whole of the morning had been -occupied in settling preliminaries, and ascertaining -the sentiments of these public men -with whom he was to act: for Lord Glenmore -was a conscientious man, and would -not mount a ladder, which he intended -afterwards to cast down. It was not place -he sought, but power, for purposes alike -good and great. He felt within himself a -capacity for the honours and distinctions -he aspired to, and knew on principle the -responsibility which attends success in such -measures. - -One of the first persons, whom he considered -to be a man of inflexible integrity, -and whom he wished for as a colleague -in office, was Lord Albert D'Esterre; -and since the situation which he -had himself received threw several appointments -into his own hands, Lord Glenmore -lost no time in writing him the following -note: - -/# -"MY DEAR D'ESTERRE:--I think that I -shall not be making a proposal unacceptable -to your wishes, or in discrepancy with your -future plans, when I announce to you that -I have accepted the office of ----. The -official appointments immediately connected -with it of course become mine, and it would -afford me the greatest satisfaction in my -arduous undertaking, to have one possessed -of your talents to aid me in the performance -of its duties. Would you accept the -office of under Secretary of State in my -department? I need not express my ardent -hope that you will consent. You know that -our views of public matters coincide thoroughly--let -me therefore hear from or see -you as soon as possible. - -/*[5] -"Your's ever most truly, - -"GLENMORE." -*/ -#/ - -After despatching this note, Lord Glenmore -sought his wife, and entered into -an account of what passed the previous -day; he spoke of the increased expediency -that would ensue of her living very much -in society, whether he could himself be -present with her or not; and added, that she -must not allow any fears or mistrust, either -of herself or him, to lessen the pleasure -which it was natural, at her age and with her -charm of person, she should derive from the -homage around her. - -"It is not mistrust, dearest Glenmore, -that makes me feel joyless in your absence, -for what can I fear?--it is true that I am -uninterested in every thing, when you are -not by to share my pleasure; but indeed -you quite mistake me, love, if you suppose -that I am not all confidence in you. And as to -myself, what is there that can be for a moment -dangerous to my peace, when all my -interest, all my wishes, are centred in your -love?" - -"My own best Georgina," he replied, -pressing her to his breast, "be ever thus, and -what can I wish for more. But, love, mark -me--you are now no longer the girl, whose -duties were centred in passive obedience to -her relatives, and whose recreations were the -innocent, but trifling pursuits of girlhood; -you are the wife of a man who is become a -servant of the public--whose high cares must -necessarily debar him frequently from the -enjoyment of those domestic pleasures which -a less busy or responsible life might allow. -It is now become your duty, love, to feel your -own consequence in his--to play _your_ part in -the scale by which his actions must be measured, -and to be aware that many will court -you from an idea of your being wife to a -minister, who would not for your own sake -alone, perhaps, have thought of you; while -others who previously courted you for the -charm of your presence and the beauty of -your outward shew, will now doubly affect your -society, and endeavour, it may be, to use your -influence to undue purposes. All are not pure -and single-hearted like you, my dearest, and -these cautions, believe me, are not given -as to one whose worth I doubt, but, on the -contrary, to one whose very ingenuousness -and worth may prove a snare to her. In all -that concerns mere knowledge of the world -I recommend you to look to Lady Tenderden -and Lady Tilney; they have passed creditably -through the busy throng, and are certainly -in all respects fashionable, and bear -a high consideration in the estimation of -the London world. You cannot do better, -then, than to shape your course by their's -in respect to what the French call _conduite_; -and to the dictates of the heart, and moral duties, -I refer you to your own and your excellent -mother's." - -Lady Glenmore scarcely knew why, but -her heart swelled almost to bursting while -her husband spoke thus to her; and it was -with difficulty that she restrained the tears -which seemed at every moment ready to -overflow. The truth was she dwelt upon -his first words, his declaration that his newly -acquired honour would debar him from the -pleasures of home society; and she looked up -timidly as with tender accents she asked, -"whether she was doomed now to be always -absent from him." - -"I trust not, dearest; at all events, you -know my best and fondest interests are centred -in you, and you would, I am sure, consider -your husband's advantage and glory to -be of value to you, even though these were -obtained by the sacrifice of his company." - -She said "yes," but _felt_ decidedly, that had -she spoken the truth, the "yes" would have -been "no." - -Lord Glenmore received several notes, -and with a preoccupied air which prevented -his observing the melancholy depicted -on his wife's countenance, he snatched a -hasty embrace, and was hurrying away, -when looking back he said, "Remember -love, not a word of this to any one, even -to your mother. A few days will release -the restraint I put upon your tongue," he -added, smiling; "but in you I expect to -find the _wonder_, that a woman can keep -a secret;--in all things, I believe in, and -trust you. Adieu, love, adieu." And he was -gone. - -That which would have pleased a vain -woman, and gratified an ambitious one, fell -only like lead on the young Georgina's -heart. - -"So," she said, sinking down in a chair, "I -am a minister's wife. And am I the happier? -Far, far from it; I am seldom now to see my -husband, and when I do, the concerns of the -public are to form our consideration and -discourse; whereas, hitherto, in the short -sunshine of our marriage, ourselves, our -mutual hopes, our own dear home, have -constituted all our care; and I fondly -trusted, perhaps foolishly hoped, would have -continued to do so. What a desolating -change! But he says I must prepare -for it; and since it is his will that thus -it should be, I will endeavour to hide the -mournful feelings of my heart. My dear -mamma shall not see that I have wept either, -for she will, perhaps, ascribe my tears to my -husband's temper, and that would be worse -still." So saying, she roused herself from the -despondency into which she had fallen, bathed -her face, called up smiles which were _not -genuine_ for the first time in her life; and, -having re-arranged her dress, she said to -herself as she cast a glance at her mirror, -"Am I not now metamorphosed into the -wife of a minister?" Just as she was preparing -to ring her bell for her carriage, -Lady Tenderden arrived. - -"How well you are looking, _la belle aux -yeux bleus_," said Lady Tenderden, kissing -her: "there certainly never was any body -who had the azure of the skies so exactly reflected -in her eyes." This might be true; -but it certainly was not true that she was -looking well. To a vague answer given by -Lady Glenmore she made no allusion; but -looking at her very fixedly, so fixedly that -it made her colour deeply, Lady Tenderden -said, "Yet methinks something more than -usual has occurred--is the report true?" - -"What report?" - -"Nay, now, do not make the _discreet_, for -by to-morrow it will be in the newspapers. -Come, tell me, your friend, am I not to wish -you joy?" - -"Of what, I may ask you in return, -Lady Tenderden, for I can sincerely answer, -that no increased cause of joy has befallen -me, that I know of." This was said so -very naturally, that her interrogator was -posed. Judging by herself, Lady Tenderden -conceived it impossible that the report -of Lord Glenmore's having accepted a high -office in government, which would have -been the envy of so many, should be true; -or else she thought the little lady must be -more silly than she ever believed her to -be. She went on, nevertheless, to sound -Lady Glenmore in various ways, expecting -to make out something relative to the subject; -but Lady Glenmore's calm indifference -totally foiled her, as she herself afterwards -confessed; and she set it down in her own -mind that for the present she could not -be of any particular service to her, or derive -any more reflected lustre from her, as being -the friend of a woman whose husband was -in power. - -How the simplicity of a genuine character -confounds the pertinacity of a keen worldly -mind! Lady Tenderden was completely at -fault: when another visitor, who came much -on the same errand, afforded an additional -proof of the truth of this observation. Lady -Tilney came up to Lady Glenmore, and after -the first salutation, entered with all her -energy and eloquence upon politics; inveighing -against government measures, and -hoping that now a man of more liberal -principles had come in, some change of -_measures_ at least would be adopted. Lady -Glenmore sat abstracted, and began arranging -her embroidery frame; seeing that there -was no chance of Lady Tilney's speech coming -to a conclusion: - -"Well, my dear, and now," the latter said, -"you will really have a part to play: how I envy -you! What interest--what endless business -will devolve on you! Were I you, I would -propose to Lord Glenmore to write all his -private letters for him; by this means you -know you would be _au fait_ of all the state -secrets, and could, in a great measure, -guide things your own way. You write rapidly, -I believe; and your hand is not bad; -it wants a little more character perhaps: but -you know there is the man who advertises to -teach any hand-writing. I do assure you he -is excellent--I tried him myself, and a very -few lessons from him would teach you to give -your writing the firm diplomatic air--and -you would quickly learn that significant -style which means nothing; and by which, -should any thing occur to make you change -your mind (Lord Glenmore's, I mean), you -could twist the phrase into another meaning, -suitable to the occasion. I am sure I am -always for decision and truth; but in certain -cases prudence and caution are necessary; -and therefore these resources are requisite to -be observed in diplomatic writing. If you look -back, you will always see it has been so in -all ministers' letters." - -Lady Glenmore, who had sat silent hitherto, -now conceived herself obliged to -speak, and replied, "that she knew nothing -of diplomacy, except the name; that every -thing of the kind always made her yawn, and -she hoped she should never have to copy any -letters of business for any body." Lady Tilney -in her turn stared, and observing that -Lady Glenmore was very young, she said: -"Well, but at all events you will be delighted -to see your name perpetually with -all the people in power; and to hear them -say, that is the minister's beautiful wife! and -the honours of your husband, at least to any -one so domestically inclined, must be a great -delight." - -"I do not want Lord Glenmore to have -any more honours than he has, for my own -sake; but whatever pleases him will certainly -please me." - -"Oh, oh! so then you do confess it? and -he _is_ minister for ----" - -"I am happy to hear it, if it really is to -confer all the honour you seem to think upon -him. But I wish you would tell me what _you_ -mean, Lady Tilney, for I do not quite understand -you." There was a sort of real _not -caring_ about Lady Glenmore, which deceived -Lady Tilney, as it had done Lady Tenderden. -It was a thing so totally out of Lady Tilney's -calculation that any one should not be -enchanted at such a situation, that she was -persuaded either that the fact was not so, or -that Lady Glenmore did not know that it was -the case. - -Just as this inquisition had ceased, a servant -entered with a few lines written in pencil -on a card, which he gave to Lady Tenderden: -they were from Mr. Leslie Winyard, to say, -that having seen her carriage at the door, -and having something very particular to -communicate to her, he requested ten minutes' -conversation, if he might be allowed -to come up. Lady Tenderden remembered -Lady Glenmore's former scruples about receiving -him, but determined to overcome -them. - -"_Chère ladi_," she said, "you must positively, -notwithstanding the fear of Lord -Glenmore, allow me to see Mr. Leslie Winyard; -I will take all the _imminent_ risk of the -danger upon myself; and besides, you know, -visiting _me_ is not visiting _you_." Lady Glenmore -looked exceedingly distressed, and -said, "If you want to speak to Mr. Leslie -Winyard, why can you not speak to him in -your carriage?" - -"Oh! that is so uncomfortable. Besides, -Lady Tilney, I appeal to you, was there ever -any thing so strange as Lady Glenmore's -refusing to let Mr. Leslie Winyard come up -stairs to see me, merely because _le tiran de -mari_ does not approve of morning visits -from gentlemen?" - -"Pho, pho," said Lady Tilney, "he was -only joking, and that dear little good Georgina -thought he was serious." Then turning -to the servant who was waiting for orders, -"Shew Mr. Leslie Winyard up stairs directly," -commanding, as she always did, or -tried to do, in every place and every person. -In a few minutes Mr. Leslie Winyard made -his appearance; and having paid his compliments -to Lady Glenmore and Lady Tilney -for some little time, he then stepped aside -with Lady Tenderden, and after conversing -together, apparently engaged on a most interesting -subject, they returned to the other -ladies, and he entered into general conversation -with his usual light and amusing -anecdote. At length, however, Lady Tilney -arose, saying to Mr. Winyard, "well, notwithstanding -your _agrémens_, I must go, for -I have a hundred things to do." Lady Tenderden -echoed this declaration, and they both -went away, leaving Mr. Leslie Winyard, who -seemed determined to sit them out _en tête-à-tête_ -with Lady Glenmore. - -The consciousness that any thing has been -said on any subject, always creates in an unartificial -mind an awkwardness when the predicament -that has led to the discussion really -occurs;--and Lady Glenmore experienced this -painfully. Every instant the sensation became -stronger, and, of course, was not lost to -the observation of her companion, though he -affected not to perceive it; and by dint of -feigning ignorance, and talking on indifferent -subjects, he arrived at bringing her into -the calm and comfortable frame of mind -he had in view, one in which she would -feel _le diable n'est pas si noir_; and this -he effected with his usual address, till he -evidently saw that she was rather diverted -than otherwise by his conversation. - -He then led the discourse to music, and -entreated her once more to sing the _Sempre -più t'amo_ of Caraffa. She readily agreed, and -their voices were in beautiful and thrilling -unison when the door opened, and in came -Lord Glenmore. His wife suddenly stopped, -and rising from the instrument, looked abashed. -Lord Glenmore, with the manners of a man -of the world, addressed Mr. Leslie Winyard, -regretted that he had interrupted the music, -declared that he had some letters to write, -and prayed him to finish the duet. But Lady -Glenmore tried in vain to recommence singing--her -voice faltered, her hand trembled, -as she touched the keys--her eyes wandered to -her husband with an expression of inquiry -and uneasiness; and Mr. Leslie, too much the -man of the world, and too much skilled in -his _métier_ to push matters at an unfavourable -moment, declared that he was exceedingly -sorry, but found himself under the -necessity of going away, having an appointment -on business which he could not put -off. Apologizing, therefore, to Lord Glenmore, -to whom he always took care to pay -particular deference, for not being able to -remain, he hurried out. - -Lady Glenmore hastened with considerable -trepidation of manner to explain to her -husband how it had chanced that he found -her singing with Mr. Leslie Winyard; but -Lord Glenmore seemed more deeply engaged -in thinking of the letter he was perusing -than of what she was saying, and only looked -up smilingly in her face, and said, "My dear -love, why are you so agitated about such a -trifle?"--"Is it a trifle?" she said: "well, -then, I need not care, and am quite happy -again." She kissed his forehead; and further -discourse was prevented by a servant's entering, -to inform Lord Glenmore that Lord -D'Esterre requested to see him if he was -disengaged. Lord Glenmore immediately -desired that he might be shewn into his private -apartment; and at the same time gave -orders that no one else might be admitted -except the persons whose names were on the -list; then pressing his wife's hand tenderly, -but evidently much preoccupied in mind, he -left the room. - -"Is it possible," thought Lady Glenmore, -looking after him--"can this be _my_ husband, -who so lately appeared to have no thought -save what we mutually shared? and now we -seem suddenly cast asunder: different interests, -different hours, different societies, all -seems to place us, as if by magic, apart, and -to divide us from each other. He too, who -dwelt so particularly on my not receiving -morning visits from young men, now seems -to think it is become a matter of indifference, -or rather not to think about it at all. Has -power then changed him so quickly? What -a horrible thing power is!--how it transforms -every thing into its own heartless self! -Surely, surely, it is the most miserable thing -in the world to be a minister's wife!" To -dissipate the melancholy she felt, she ordered -her carriage, and proceeded to visit -her mother, who she found was ill, having -caught cold in coming out of the Opera. - -"Why did you not inform me of your -indisposition before, dearest mamma?--I -would have been here early?" - -"I know, love, that you would not have -been remiss in any kindness; but when a -woman is married, her first duty is to her -husband; and I fancy," she added, smiling, -and implying by her manner that she knew -more than she would exactly say; "I fancy -Lord Glenmore will occupy more of your -time than ever, dear Georgina, if what is -reported be true." - -"I am sure he will never prevent my -coming to you, under any circumstances; but -really he has so much business, that I see -less and less of him every day." - -"Indeed!" said Lady Melcomb, looking -rather blank. Fortunately for both parties, -Lord Melcomb came in from his morning -walk, with a countenance even more bright -and cheerful than was his wont. "So, my -love," he cried, "I fear you must now be -no longer my little Georgy, if the current -news be true, I must look at you in a new -light--eh?" and he examined her countenance. - -"I am very sorry to hear that, dearest -papa; I was so happy in the old one, that -nothing can make me wish to change in -your eyes." - -"Come come, love, tell us now, has Lord -Glenmore accepted the appointment of ---- -or not?" - -"Whenever he tells me to say that he -has done so, I shall certainly, my dearest -papa and mamma, make you the first to be -acquainted with the event." - -"Well, Georgina, I see how it is: you -need not say more, for you are already quite -diplomatic in your mode of answering. But -you are right, my child: whatever confidence -your husband reposes in you, you ought to -regard it as sacred;" and Lord Melcomb -changed the subject like a good and a sensible -man, who wishes really that his child -should prove a good and faithful wife. "You -have given the best earnest any girl can -give," he said, "my sweet Georgina, of being -an invaluable treasure to your husband, by -having first been such to your parents; and -the obedience you paid us should now be -implicitly transferred to Lord Glenmore. The -woman who has not learnt obedience, is likely -to be very unhappy: for it is surely one of -the first duties in every sphere of a woman's -life. You know the lines, that I have -so often repeated to you, and I am sure you -practise them, my own Georgina, as forming -the great golden rule to be observed by -a married woman: one who - -/P -"'Never answers till her husband cools; -And if she rules him, never shows she rules.' -P/ - -"But when I say obedience, I do not mean -that slavish obedience, which in matters of -conscience must remain a question for conscience -to decide; I mean that system of gentle -acquiescence in all the minor motives of -life, which can alone render the domestic -circle a circle of harmony." - -Lady Glenmore assured her father she had -not forgotten, and never should forget his excellent -lessons; and that every thing which he -had recommended her to do, she invariably -called to mind every night and morning. Lord -Melcomb had, during a very busy life, acquitted -himself under all circumstances with -credit both abroad and at home, and if he had -leant to the despotic side of governing in his -own house, he had done it with so much gentleness -as well as firmness, that no one felt -inclined to consider the yoke heavy. His -daughter had never even felt it could be so, -for she was by nature and inclination a docile -gentle being, leaning upon those she loved with -implicit confidence for guidance and support. -It was at this particular moment more than -usually sweet to her to be in the society of her -parents, and she promised that if Lord Glenmore -were engaged in the evening, she would -bring her work, and instead of passing the _then_ -dull hours at home, find a sweet solace with -them; they were a happy family, united in -the bond of the strictest union, and even at -a temporary parting felt pain, in proportion as -being together gave them pleasure; but it -was time for Lady Glenmore, she said, to go -home, and they separated. - -The interview between Lord Glenmore and -Lord D'Esterre that morning had passed to -their mutual satisfaction; their general opinion -of public affairs, and their views of domestic -happiness were too similar for them not to -draw together; and yet there were points of -difference in their character, which tended to -keep alive an awakening interest, and render -the one more necessary to the other; but in -regard to the great question then agitating the -public mind, Lady Tilney was quite mistaken -in her ideas of his principles, which were at -variance in many respects with what she -called _liberalism_. - -The fact was, the minister of the day, having -discovered that those whom he had allowed to -continue in office, on agreed and well-defined -principles as to the line they were to pursue -in their political conduct, were acting out of -the pale of their engagements, and forfeiting -the pledges given to himself; consequently, -with that decision of character, and straightforwardness -of conduct, which formed the leading -feature of his life, he availed himself of the -first favourable opportunity of breaking off a -connexion with men, whose moral complexions -were so very unlike his own. Well -knowing how vast were his resources, he -sought among the rising nobility of England -(who, take them altogether, form perhaps, a -body more talented, and more patriotic than -any other nation in the world) for that support -and coadjutancy which the emergency of -the times demanded, in order to maintain -the constitutional rights of the nation. Lord -Glenmore was one of these, and amongst the -parties whom he, in his turn, named as being -those he wished should co-operate with him -in his individual department, Lord D'Esterre -stood pre-eminent. This happy nomination -met at once with the entire approbation of -the minister, whose discernment was as penetrating, -as it was prompt and decisive. - -Lord Albert, it may be, in his acceptance of -office, was not influenced alone by political -views. He felt that, in the uncertain and agitated -state of his mind, some great and commanding -power for exertion was necessary to -him; some influential weight of sufficient magnitude -to poise the fluctuations of a mind, -whose energies he was conscious were wasting -themselves in a diseased state of excitement. -He thought that by engaging in a political -career, where the duties imposed were of an -imperious and absorbing nature, he should -best find that refuge against himself which he -deemed it wise to seek. Men in such cases -have most indubitably great advantages over -women; many a noble career lies open to them. -When they are oppressed by any woe of a private -nature, they may in the exercise of their -powers find arms against a sea of troubles; -but women have only one great lesson to -learn, greater still perhaps if duly entertained--to -suffer resignedly. - -Lord Glenmore and Lord Albert prolonged -their discussion to a late hour--so late that -Lord Glenmore pressed him to remain and -dine. "We have no company to-day," he said, -"and Lady Glenmore will excuse your toilette." -The invitation was too acceptable to be -refused, and they passed into the drawing-room, -where they found Lady Glenmore all -smiles and beauty; for the idea of enjoying her -husband's company had again restored her to -her wonted placid happiness. - -The conversation took that happy course -which it ever does when similarity of tastes -directs the subjects; and as the minds of these -young men were not only of a superior cast, -but their manners too formed on that refined -model which, when it is accompanied by -intellectual power, gives grace to force, their -social intercourse was truly such, as one likes -to think is the sample of a high-born, high-bred -British nobleman. - -Lady Glenmore listened with no insipid -mawkish indifference, even to matters beyond -her ken, and the remark she ventured now -and then to slide in was one that bespoke a -diffident, but not deficient understanding. A -delighted glance of approbation occasionally -escaped from Lord Glenmore, in homage to -his wife, and as Lord Albert beheld this married -happiness, he could not help sighing, as -he thought "such might have been mine;" and -he almost unconsciously drew a parallel between -Lady Glenmore and Adeline, in which -he did not deceive himself in giving the decided -palm to the latter. - -When he was preparing to depart, he found -it was so late that he drove home; but when -there, the same incapacity to settle himself -to any occupation which he had before experienced, -returned, and he fancied that he -might yet be in time for an hour of the ballet. -So he ordered his carriage, made a brief toilette, -and drove to the Opera-house. "It is too -late," he thought, "to go to South Audley -Street; I shall disturb Lady Dunmelraise;" -but yet the idea that he had not called upon -her that day haunted him painfully. - -Arrived at the Opera, he walked in, and -hearing, as he passed the pit-door, a favourite -air sung by Pasta, he made his way through -the crowd, obtained a tolerable place, and was -listening intently to the music, when he was accosted -by Mr. George Foley. The recollection -of what he had suffered the previous evening -came freshly to his feelings, like a dark dense -cloud, obscuring every other idea. Mr. Foley, -either not seeing, or not choosing to see, -the coldness of his reception, pertinaciously -kept up a conversation with him on various -subjects, precisely in that quiet and self-satisfied -manner, which is so insufferable to a person -under feelings of irritation. Nor did Mr. -Foley cease talking till he suddenly turned -round, and saw some one in the boxes, to -whom he nodded with much apparent familiarity -of interest. Lord Albert mechanically -turned his head also, and beheld Lady Hamlet -Vernon--who kissed her hand to him; and -both of them, as if by mutual consent, proceeded -to join her. She was but just arrived, having -been at a dinner at the Leinsengens, she -said, and her face was lit up with more than ordinary -animation as she greeted them on their -entering; then noticing to Lord Albert to -take the seat next her in front of the box, she -bent towards him, so as to whisper in his -ear, "I heartily congratulate you; I have just -heard of the arrangements at the Leinsengens -where I dined, as I have already told you, and -where I heard all the finest things in the world -said of you, as I have not yet told you; but I -assure you the generality of the persons there -were, I really believe, for once sincere in what -they said. But you do not express any satisfaction -at this event yourself: why are you so -exceedingly indifferent?" and her eyes spoke a -language which was any thing but that of indifference. - -"Because," he said, "I do not avow that -the news you have heard is true. We must -wait and see the event publicly announced, -before one can have any feeling about it, one -way or the other." Lady Hamlet Vernon continued -to banter him on his cautious reserve -for some time; but did not press the matter -further, as she saw his dislike to being probed -on the subject. - -"Only remember," she whispered, "you -have one friend, who enters into all your joys -and sorrows, and feels every thing that betides -you with a keen perception of interest." After -some vain attempts on her part to unite Mr. -Foley in a conversation with them, which she -resumed aloud, he being perfectly aware -that Lord Albert in fact engrossed her completely, -took an early opportunity of withdrawing. -Lord Albert remained till near the close -of the ballet in earnest conversation with Lady -Hamlet Vernon, interrupted only occasionally -by chance visitors, who seeing the preoccupied -air, and observing the thoughtful expression -of Lord Albert, did not long obtrude themselves. -He would probably have remained -where he was till the entire end of the performance, -had not a sudden movement in the -box opposite, attended with bustle, and some -lady apparently fainting, caught his attention. -He looked eagerly again, and in another minute -recognized Lady Delamere, and thought in the -reclining figure that he could trace a likeness -to Lady Adeline Seymour. Hastily rising, he -rushed out of the box, without making any -apology to Lady Hamlet Vernon, or mentioning -the cause of his very abrupt departure. - -When he arrived at the opposite side of the -house, he found his fears and conjectures true; -and his heart smote him in an instant, as he -figured to himself what Lady Adeline's feelings -must have been, in seeing him occupied so long -a time, and his attention so intensely fixed -upon another, as he was conscious his had been -on Lady Hamlet Vernon. Although Lady Adeline -might not know who she was, yet the circumstance -of his not having been near her all -day, the reason of which she could not know, -together with the fact which she saw, namely, -that he preferred the society of another to her's, -were all circumstances that struck him with -self-condemnation, and his look, and manner, -implied the full expression of tender penitence. -But Lady Adeline was still insensible; -she could not see, or observe, _what_ his feelings -then were at beholding her thus; but with -Lady Delamere the case was different; he -thought he read in her cold reception of his -offered services, and the penetrating glance -which she cast upon him, her complete -knowledge of all that had passed in his mind -relative to Lady Hamlet Vernon, and he shrunk -confused from her gaze. - -This, however, was neither a time nor place -adapted for explanations; and, indeed, to whom -was he to make them? To no one did he feel -responsible but to Adeline; to no one he felt -would they be satisfactory, save to Adeline. He -knew her mind was truth itself, and so utterly -incapable of deception, that she could not believe -that any one would deceive her; he determined -therefore to unbosom himself to her, and be forgiven. -With these feelings, which were rapid -and almost simultaneous in their effect, though -language is slow in expressing them, he -caught the sinking Adeline in his arms, and -lifted her inanimate form into the corridor, -where a seat being hastily taken from the box, -he supported her, kneeling by her side. At -this moment Mr. Foley appeared, breathless -with haste, bearing some water and a smelling-bottle, -which he proceeded to apply, whilst -Lady Delamere aided him in his efforts to restore -Adeline, and was assisted by several -of their acquaintance who were passing by. - -Lord Albert could only partially be of use, -as one arm supported her; but with the other -he tenderly pressed her hand as he bathed it -in the water. Animation, after a few minutes, -returned; she opened her eyes, and gazed vacantly; -but in another moment her senses were -fully restored; and on recognizing Lord Albert, -she quickly closed her eyes again, and a sort -of convulsive throb seemed about to make her -relapse; but struggling to disengage her hand, -which he let drop with an expression of sorrow -and dismay, Lady Adeline made an effort -to recover herself; and half rising, she turned -to Lady Delamere, and said inarticulately, -"I should like, dear aunt, to be taken home." - -"Stop, for heaven's sake," cried Lord Albert -D'Esterre, stepping forward, as if to catch her -tottering frame; "wait till you are more recovered." - -"No," she said; but speaking still as if to -Lady Delamere, "I shall be better when I -am at home; dear aunt, let me go." Lady -Delamere, judging of Adeline's feelings by -her own observations of the circumstances -which she thought had caused her sudden -indisposition, said coolly, addressing Lord -Albert, "Thank you, Lord Albert, but Adeline -is the best judge of her own feelings." -Then turning to Mr. Foley, she asked him -if he had seen her servants. He answered -in the affirmative; and added, "the carriage -will be up by this time certainly." - -"Then," rejoined Lady Delamere, "have -the goodness, Mr. Foley, to give your arm to -my niece;" and she continued, with marked -emphasis, "Adeline dear, I will support you -on the other side." It was impossible for -Lord Albert to mistake what this arrangement -implied; his whole frame was convulsed, -though he betrayed no gesture of suffering, -but stood rooted to the spot, as his eyes gazed -on her, walking away feebly between her two -supporters, without thinking of following her; -and then, by a sudden impulse, he rushed -after her, and arrived at the door just in time -to see Mr. Foley get into the carriage, after -having placed the ladies in safety, and to hear -the word "home" pronounced by the footman -as they drove from the door of the Opera-house. - -He mechanically turned round, and with an -agitation of mind that allowed not of reflection, -returned to Lady Hamlet Vernon's box. He -sat down without speaking; and, gazing in -vacancy, remained for some time like one in a -deep reverie. Fortunately there was no one in -the box but themselves; and though Lady Hamlet -Vernon was quite aware of his situation, and -partly guessed the cause, she was too deeply -interested herself in the issue of the event to -press indiscreetly into his feelings at that moment, -but simply asked him "if he were not -well?" "Oh, quite well," he replied; "only -rather astonished.--It was,"--he stopped--seemed -to muse again, and then he added to -himself, "they went away together." Lady -Hamlet Vernon's eyes filled with tears--(tears -will come sometimes to some people when they -are called)--she said, in a low voice, "I must -always grieve for what gives you pain; but -I have thought"--she paused.--Lord Albert -fixed his eyes on her for an instant, as if he -would inquire, "what have you thought?" but -the latter, without appearing to deny that she -_had_ thought, at the same time added, in a -hurried tone, - -"Yet, my dear Lord Albert, let not my -thoughts weigh with you; let not a momentary -appearance alone decide on any measure -which may influence your whole life; look -dispassionately on appearances; sound them, -sift them thoroughly, ere you allow yourself -to act upon them." There was a gentle reason -in these words, an expression of heart-felt -interest in the speaker, which at the -present instant was doubly efficacious in turning -the current of his thoughts and feelings in -favour of her who uttered them; and he gave -way to a warmth of expression in his reply which -was joy to her heart. Still she repressed the -triumph she felt at this impassioned answer; -and it was only when he handed her to her -carriage, that the pressure of her hand spoke -a tenderer language, which vibrated through -his frame. - - -END OF VOL. II. - - -/* -LONDON: -PRINTED BY J. L. 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