lost in the thoughts which they called up, when the door was thrown open, and the Marquis of Hoodborough was announced. There was not a moment more of dreamy recollection! No time for asking herself should she like a coward avoid him? Some half-dozen persons were present; the secret which she believed she had hitherto kept might be betrayed. Besides, what but an insolent want of feelings, or an insatiable vanity, could make him present himself thus with such apparent carelessness. She was roused to show that he had lost the power to move her heart, and she was successful in showing that.

If anything told of the indignation in Lady Charlotte's swelling bosom, it was that her cheek was a little paler than usual, that was all. She bore her part much better than her false lover did his. He was flushed-his lip quivered with some indefinable emotion, and his manner was more hurried than aristocratic breeding permits. He had come

from an impatient desire to get over the worst as soon as possible. He wished this disagreeable first meeting past. Not knowing, what Lady Charlotte did not know herself, the strength of her nerves, he dreaded a scene to which he was not disposed to allow his wife to be a witnees.

Had he been able to keep out of Lady Charlotte's presence for six months longer they might have encountered without much risk. Why then had he foolishly become her neighbour? Only because he did not wish it. The marchioness found in his warmly expressed dislike for Downes House a reason for choosing it-and thither she

came.

After the first greetings, and after Lady Charlotte's polite expressions of gratification in his having chosen a place of even temporary residence in her native county, the marquis said that a very extraordinary circumstance had occurred. He and Lady Hoodborough had met, as they were travel

ling to their new abode, Lord and Lady Woreham. He declared also that it was highly amusing, most diverting, and very charming; all which we are bound to believe. He added that he could not refuse himself the pleasure of calling to tell Lady Charlotte that the happy pair were quite well. Indeed, Lord Woreham had asked him to give her that agreeable information.

This sort of chit-chat was followed by pressing entreaties that she would not be ceremonious-would not wait for Lady Woreham's arrival, but would charitably call on Lady Hoodborough, and give her such a carte du pays as she alone could furnish. Lady Charlotte promised to do as he wished. She had now so strongly assembled her forces that she felt sure of herself, and she had a satisfaction in showing this, which she believed was mortifying to his vanity.

The conversation now became more general in the room. The Misses Downes, who happened to be present, took a part in it, and

the marquis did not fail to fix his eyes with evident admiration on one of them-the beautiful Hester. Ah, what value would she at one time have attached to such a gaze from a man of his rank! Now it fluttered her, but did not warm her. She, also, was like Lady Charlotte in the days of freezing and darkness, and bareness of soul. She had been deceived in mankind-and through no other man than the gay bridegroom of whom they were talking, Lord Woreham! There was, however, a remarkable difference between her manner of comporting herself and her ladyship's. Whilst the latter struggled undauntedly to tear up her passion by the roots, aiming only at perfect self-command, the former had clung the more tenaciously to her love the more hopeless it had appeared to be. Now her only effort to hide what was going on within consisted in restless occupation about nothing and in perpetual prattle.

The marquis having recovered from his

VOL. I.

H

first feeling of awkwardness-this phrase must be applied to him, accomplished man of the world as he was-showed in conversation that he was lively and talented; Lady Charlotte that she was well-informed and sensible; Miss Downes that she was serious; Miss Hester that she was silly; and, the other visitors having exhibited their characters according to their powers, this morning party was broken up by the Misses Downes' departure. The marquis soon followed them, the other visitors went their various ways, and Lady Charlotte was left alone to her painful ruminations.

The marquis was riding and quickly overtook the sisters who were walking. With many openly-expressed congratulations to himself on his good fortune in having come up with the ladies, he dismounted and desired his servant to take his horse as he should walk back. Was there not much of Miss Hester Downes's own weakness in this attempt to find amusement in her vapid talk