Haugh-whaugh-whaugh!

to show his face after what has occurred. Haugh-haugh!" "I should think so, indeed," rejoined the lady, whose fear that remark had harped aright. But of the suspicions on that head, which had lately broken in upon her mind, she mentioned nothing, only resolving to keep a closer watch upon her daughter than she had ever done before, fearing lest, after all, she might have been wrong in trusting her so entirely to her own discretion. "Not," she thought, "that the girl is a bit the less attractive for looking so pale; it makes her appear the more interesting. And men are so apt to refer every change in a woman's appearance to themselves, that perhaps it is lucky just now. We shall soon see what is to be done."

Thereupon, tired with the fatigue of a bustling day, she fell asleep to dream of a splendid wedding; of her parting with smiles and tears from a happy bride; and of a rentroll of a hundred thousand a year, with a coronet in perspective.

Alas, for her ladyship, that dreams must be interpreted by their contraries !

VOL. II.

H

CHAPTER IX.

This is admirable! I am not to pay honour to a man clothed in brocade, and followed by seven or eight lackeys. Why, his very garments bespeak compulsion !-PASCAL,

TREMORE had fallen so much into the fashion of the time as to be persuaded that his moments were inestimably precious. He therefore ordered a special train to convey him the thirty or forty miles he had to travel from town, having previously sent forward his carriages and horses to meet him at the station. He arrived at Hurst-place, just after the dinner-hour, with all the state proper to the representative of one of the greatest fortunes in England. He listened negligently to the raptures of my lord and lady, but was touched by the frank and unaffected welcome of Geraldine. She looked ill and worn; that sparkling colour which used to lend such animation to her features, had deserted her face; but her eyes beamed

with their wonted light and kindliness as

she gave him her hand. recently had puzzled him. his society as far as she

Her demeanour She had avoided could, without

positive rudeness. Sensitively alive to any evidence of dislike or neglect, he was wounded by her coolness; for he knew her too well to suppose that she was acting from pride or caprice, and he was unconscious of having given her offence. Sometimes he feared that she might have penetrated his secret; but, at any rate, he resolved to frankly ask for an explanation on the first favourable opportunity; and to that resolve Lord Glarvale was mainly indebted for the honour of his visit.

At table, Tremore found himself seated between her ladyship and Geraldine. Nearly facing him was an antiquated maiden, with as much starch in her face as would have sufficed for an Elizabethan ruff, but finely dressed in the last year's fashions. No one understood the chiar'oscuro of social art better than her ladyship. Damer was on the other side of Geraldine; and opposite him was the vicar, making a vain effort to bear up in discourse against the superior calibre and sharper practice of the old officer.

The Major-general-and the character is a very common one in the world-was mightily addicted to stories and anecdotes, of which he was himself the hero. He had a most ingenious way of turning every topic that arose in conversation to his own particular account. All was grist that came to his mill. He never opened his mouth but to magnify himself, and was especially loquacious on his own valour and sagacity. He gave himself credit in the most liberal manner for every good quality under the sun. Not a remark could be made on any subject that did not "put him in mind" of something illustrative of his own magnanimous virtues. Those ingenious traders who seize on every event of the day to call attention to their commodities, and who will manufacture a puff for slop-clothing out of the French revolution, and a recommendation of vegetable pills from the Gorham controversy, could not show greater dexterity in their way than he did in his. He would catch you by pretending to open with a reminiscence of Napoleon, and end with an extraordinary shot he had last autumn, when he bagged three brace of birds by a single discharge.

While he was victimising the vicar, by

relating, with the utmost particularity of detail, how he had "winged" a brother officer for having dared to venture a jest on his veracity-a story he had been put in mind of by the excellent flavour of some vermicelli soup-Florian, in an aside to Geraldine, apologized for being so latethrowing the blame on the engine, which had taken thirty-seven minutes and a half to perform the distance, instead of twentyeight and a quarter, and hoped he had not kept dinner waiting. The vicar eagerly seizing the chance of escaping from his old man of the sea-(it is to be feared nearly every one is troubled in one shape or other with such a disagreeable companion)—and of mingling in the conversation of the upper part of the table-observed punctuality to dinner was a duty one owed to the cook if not to one's self, and instanced the susceptibility of that class of artistes by the fate of Vatel, the chef of the great Condé, who, on his master being honoured with a visit by Louis Quatorze, committed suicide in a fit of frenzy, caused by the non-arrival of some fish he had reckoned on for the second course. Having finished his anecdote, he asked Tremore, to the amazement and indignation of Lord