he chanced to recollect his person, to imagine that there must be some extraordinary reason for her display of coldness towards so old a friend. Welsted felt it would be impossible that they should meet and part thus without a word; yet resolving to leave it to her discretion, to take what measure she thought best, turned himself nearly round again, so as to admit of her addressing him, if she chose. She struggled with herself for a moment, and endeavoured to calculate; but calculation was out of the question, and she cordially and frankly held out her hand to him; he took it as calmly as he could. Sir Frederick said nothing, but opened his eyes to double their usual extent. Her ladyship instantly addressed him. "You don't remember Mr. Welsted, Sir Frederick ?" said Fanny. "No!" said his excellency, staring still more; "I did not know your ladyship had any acquaintance in London." 3 Fanny whispered his excellency, that Welsted had been her father's assistant. "Very odd situation, Ma'am, to stumble upon such connexions," muttered his excellency; and then turning to Welsted, he made a common-place enquiry after his health; that being the mode established by the English people for commencing a conversation. 66 Lady Farnborough," said Welsted, was kind enough to give me her box to-night." "Farnborough!" said Sir Frederick; "you are acquainted with Lord Farnborough, Sir?" "Yes," said Welsted. "Umph!" said his excellency; who seemed to think Fanny was more than sufficiently attentive to the observations of Mr. Welsted; "Good night, Sir!" saying which, and bowing very graciously, his excellency pushed his wife forward through the crowd: she again shook hands with Francis, and they parted. He had been unable, of course, to elucidate the mystery of his position between the two Misses Tickle; and, as Fanny looked back-for she did look back-he thought her eyes fixed themselves with a strange and doubtful expression upon his female companions. Francis was wholly unnerved; but such is the command, which even the most timid woman has over herself, that, although Fanny's heart was bursting-breaking -one could hardly perceive upon her countenance the evidence of a more than ordinary feeling; while Welsted absolutely trembled as he stood, and totally lost all recollection of his friends, to whose questions he made the most incoherent answers. Different, indeed, were the feelings of the Misses, when they saw the cordial greeting of the beautiful girl, leaning on the decorated chevalier: they began to feel a mingled wonder and veneration for their new usher, who certainly would have passed no unpleasant evening, had not his whole mind been absorbed by the sudden and unlooked-for appearance of her, to see whom was, in truth, his most ardent desire; but of whom the sight was too much to endure with any thing like composure. But time wears on, and operas must have an end; so must chapters-and since neither accident nor incident marred the safe return of the Hackney party in the glass coach, I need only say, that they reached home by half-past one; at which late or early hour the young divinities satisfactorily proved their humanity by demolishing a most substantial supper of cold boiled mutton and pickled onions: and when Francis retired to rest, his thoughts rested, as they generally did, on Fanny ; if Lady Brashleigh did not dream of Welsted, it was because, poor soul, she was unable to sleep. CHAPTER XIII. "You have so overpowered me TRAP. WHATEVER unpleasant feelings had been excited in Welsted's mind, by the extremely mal apropos appearance of Fanny at the Opera House, those by which she was agitated were by no means more agreeable; nor did the petulant ill-humour of Sir Frederick, who hurried her through the lobbies and along the passages, as if apprehensive of losing her, if any eye besides his own should glance upon her beauties, at all contribute to sooth or conciliate her, and as they drove back to the hotel from the theatre, she rejoiced at the silence which his excellency was pleased to observe, and which, when broken, was broken only to speak of Welsted. "That appears a gentlemanly young man, Ma'am," said his Excellency, "that Mr. Welsted. I recollect, I think, seeing him at your house. What induced your father to part with him, Ma'am?" It was, luckily, dark-and therefore the confusion which would have betrayed her Ladyship, when she declared that she was ignorant of the cause of their separation, was unobservable. "He seems to have bettered himself considerably,' said his Excellency; "he talks of Countesses now, and seems the chosen beau of some very fine young ladies, Ma'am." Who these ladies were, Fanny would have given the world to know; although her opinion of their "finery" was not quite so favourable as her husband's. mirthful gaiety of Welsted beyond all else surprised her, The nor could she reconcile his apparent liveliness with her own feelings, nor imagine how two persons (and they too of assimilating characters) could possibly be so differently affected by the same causes. Poor Fanny! she had neither time nor leisure to devote much of her thoughts to the subject nearest her heart. She had been received by Mrs. Brashleigh with, first, a scrutinizing glance of curiosity; secondly, with an approving nod; and thirdly, with a patronizing salute on the cheek. The same spirit which the lady evinced in her introduction to her new and youthful mother-in-law, characterized all her farther proceedings; it was one continued display of patronage and condescension; and to say truth, Fanny needed much of her advice, in the purchases and arrangements she had to make; and, barring the occasional side cuts at the academy, and disparity of age in marriages, and young ladies' wordly prospects, which it would have been impossible for Sir Frederick's daughter-in-law to restrain, the time passed quietly until the time of sailing approached. Never, during the various excursions which Lady Brashleigh was compelled to make in search of essentials or finery, did she enter or quit a shop, never step from or return to her carriage, without feeling a dreadful hope, an alarming wish, that she might meet Francis-but for one moment-to say farewell, and then separate for ever. They had met only for an instant in London, and the meeting was so unsatisfactory, nay, so distressing, that she would have given the world to hear the shortest possible explanation of the circumstances which could have brought him into the centre of all gaiety, with ladies, laughing at the very period, or so shortly after, at which he had represented himself to Rodney as devotedly attached to her, and hopelessly wretched in consequence of having lost her. To seek an interview now, even with the best intentions, would have been incompatable with the duty which she owed Sir Frederick ; but amongst those motives which would have justified her, had she suffered her feelings to get the mastery of her principle, was the desire she felt of speaking to Welsted about her father. She knew enough to be assured that Welsted's talents and influence were in the highest degree important to Rodney's success in his profession; that to Welsted's exertions an increase of pupils latterly had been mainly attributable; and besides those natural feelings, which are more particularly applied to self, her anxiety was great to persuade Francis, if possible, to return to the academy. She would almost have asked it as a proof of his love; but then, what right had she to seek any testimonial from him of affection, which she knew must never be requited by her? perhaps the anxiety for her father's welfare might have been heightened unconsciously, by the wish to have some just reason for again beholding Welsted before she bade him what she felt was an eternal adieu ;—but I have no right to say this. Suffice it, that the difficulties which she first felt, encreased with time; and amidst the constant whirl of business, into which she was forced, and of pleasure which was forced upon her, day flew after day, and the week at length arrived, in which they were to proceed to Portsmouth, to embark. She found Major Mims the most quiet gentlemanly little old creature imaginable, ready to trot off the longest distances, on the shortest notice; Captain Macaddle, though carefully selected by his excellency for the homeliness of his appearance, was by no means deficient in attention to her Ladyship, and while his excellency was absent, both these gentlemen made themselves agreeable enough; the moment his excellency entered the room, they were like so many sleeping beauties in the wood, all struck motionless, and apparently senseless, in the respective attitudes which they had accidentally assumed before his excellency's arrival. Towards his amiable and unoffending Lady, Sir Frederick grew gradually harsher, more indifferent, and less considerate; and he continued this process of training until she took her cue from the rest of the staff, and never ventured to mutter a wish or express an opinion in |