and unmeaning smiles? Yes, it cannot be denied. He married a woman whom he did not love, tempted by her fortune. He had just felt rather too painfully that he had lost all power over Lady Charlotte—whom he had loved-and it was his system to seek, as soon as possible, some means of forgetting whatever was painful. He had at the time only the choice either of returning home to make comparisons between the ungraceful demeanor and unyielding temper of his wife and the dignity, composure, and elegance of Lady Charlotte, or of thus entertaining himself with the Misses Downes. He preferred the latter extremity; and, listening with apparent gusto to Hester's voluble folly, and her sister's common-place piety, he proceeded by their side to the end of their walk as he supposed.

CHAPTER XI.

Oh, come è dilettevole e quanto è grazioso con tranquillo e libero animo il premere le rive de trascorrenti fiumi e sopra i nudi cespiti menare i lievi sonni, i quali il fuggente rivo con mormorevoli suoni e dolci senza paura nutrica! Questi senza alcuna invidia sono conceduti al povero abitante delle ville, molto più da desiderare che quelli i quali alletati con più lusinghe sovente o da prouti sollecitudine cittadini, o da strepiti di tumultuante famiglia son rotti."

BOCCACCIO.

"AND this most charming cottage, charming even now in the depth of winter, is your home?" said the marquis to his fair companions.

"No," Miss Eliza replied, "it is not our home yet; but it is to be so-we hope very soon to occupy it."

"In the meantime you are having it put in this beautiful order for you," he went on, determined to settle matters according to his own conception of them. "Here at the

foot of this hill, this spot must be in summer, quite a gem cut out of the very heart of Arcadia! It can want only the pastor fido to make it perfect! I wondered, Miss Downes, at your devout resignation in losing Downes House, through Sir Walcot's determination. to enter the army again and go abroad; and at your gaiété de cœur on the subject, Miss Hester, but my wonder has altogether vanished on seeing what a little paradise you had in reserve for yourself.”

They laughed. "But I assure you, my lord," said Miss Hester, "though you admire all here so much, I intend to set about an immense number of alterations."

"Not one-not one alteration, I entreat you-those chesnut trees are superb "-and stepping back a pace or two to have a better view of them, the marquis's eye in passing

over the cottage, saw something more than he expected-near one of the windows a young lady in deep mourning. This sight determined him to accept an invitation to enter, given him by Hester Downes, in utter disregard of all consideration and courtesy.

Perhaps, however, disregard of what is right can only be imputed to those who know what is right. Now, it certainly never had occurred to Hester Downes as right, that she should shew courtesy and consideration to one in Harriet Aveley's position. She was unknown and poor; could she or her sister then hesitate about entering her abode at any unseasonable time; asking any impertinent question, and bringing there any stranger? But indeed, had poor Hester Downes been sufficiently instructed in the proprieties to know that she was doing wrong, she would not have cared about the matter at that time of feverish restlessness, after her disappointment. Shall the excuse be offered also for the marquis, that he

sought a means of diverting his thoughts? He needs some apology to be made for him, as he was sinning in the face of a thorough knowledge of the bienséances.

If this knowledge were forgotten, or thrown aside whilst he followed the sisters, it was recalled immediately when he found himself in the parlour of the cottage, and in Miss Aveley's presence. He was painfully conscious of having been guilty of rudeness, when he stood before a lady of as noble a deportment as Lady Charlotte's, and not like hers, the result of artificial training, but of an elevated mind. He saw also, that without the éclat of the beauty of Hester Downes, she was infinitely more beautiful. And struck by his ungentlemanly behaviour in having intruded on such a person, he remained modestly back, hat in hand, as if entreating pardon for his offence.

"Pray, take this chair, my lord," said Miss Eliza Downes, with much fuss when she saw how he had placed himself, and