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CHAPTER XIII.

ance.

THE WELCOME VISITOR.

WE should here mention among the attractions presented by the séjour at Redburn Hall, the expected arrival of Lady Templedale, a most intimate friend of the whole family, as she is to all those who have the pleasure of her acquaintWho is so agreeable, who is so pleasant, who is so sensible, who is so well-informed as Lady Templedale? Very few indeed whom we know! When she appears in a country-house, it always has seemed to us as if an indefinite amount of convivial entertainment and pleasure were unpacked with her imperial and bonnetcase, and was diffused at once throughout the precincts.

Who is going to be married to who? who is in love with who? who has quarrelled with who? who is behaving lamentably ill with who? Lady Templedale knows it all, writes it all, tells it all-never ill-naturedly, mind, but in such a manner as to excite the acutest interest, and to impart the intensest amusement. She is a politician, too, and reckoned very sagacious in that line also, we are told; but our province lying by no means in that direction, the less we refer to her eminence on this head the better, or we might betray our own incompetency. As much, or rather as little, must we say respecting her qualifications as a controversialist, merely stating that we have always observed the extraordinary equanimity of her discussion, as well as the great candour and sincerity with which she will ever labour distinctly to ascertain the true opinions and sentiments of others.

It is not very surprising that the appearance of such a personage should at once have dispelled the clouds which had been overshadowing of late the serener atmosphere of Redburn Hall. At the very first glance, Lady Templedale saw and knew all about it, and proceeded to business accordingly. Sir Charles Basinstoke was in

formed that his son's position, and his own, had never been better in the county; Lady Helen, that Edward had been heard of in London, looking in very good spirits, and by no means as if he had lost the most important organ of the human frame; Cécile, that the outcry against the Catholics, while fatal of course to the body at large, could only render each individual member more interesting. Cheerfulness having thus been restored where it had somewhat failed, the whole party was accused of looking shockingly moped; neighbours were inquired for in such terms as to render their immediate invitation imperative; and a considerable accession of spirits being thus procured, music, singing, riding, driving, and even dancing became the successive orders of the day, and almost of the night likewise.

This new régime, while perfectly successful in general, was not very favourable to Lady Helen alone. It debarred her from meditating, to her heart's content, upon the full rigour of the forthcoming Parliamentary enactment, and also from bestowing upon Cécile's imperfections that amount of hourly admonition which really could not be withheld in justice to her future

prospects. Nay more, so keenly did the provident aunt feel the absurdity of seeing a superstitious and idolatrous girl, without a penny in the world, saving what might be granted by the charity of her relatives, herself singing, laughing, dancing, and actually noticed by others, as if there were nothing extraordinary and almost revolting in her position, that Lady Helen's excellent health was itself slightly affected, and she was constrained to keep her room for a day or two with a violent migraine. Her absence, however, thanks to the increased assiduity of Lady Templedale, in nowise cast any uncalled-for gloom upon the forsaken party. Indeed, we should be inclined to imagine the very reverse, since their excitement on one of these evenings reached to such a point, that Cécile, ay, the above described Saint Cecilia herself, was seen to join, not only in the quadrilles, but actually in the valse itself.

To be sure, Conny was the first partner, but ere the fair cousins had accomplished a single turn, they were forcibly arrested by Lady Templedale, closely followed by all the young men present.

"This won't do, you know, this won't do at

all," exclaimed the former.

"Each of you two

young ladies will be pleased to accept a proper partner without a moment's delay."

Conny, who, we are bound to say, is always very docile and obedient when her own inclinations are not interfered with, immediately complied with the behest, but it was not so with the naturally rebellious Cécile. She protested that properly, or perhaps, as some may think, improperly speaking, she never had valsed, and, indeed, could not valse.

"You story-telling little Papist," rejoined Lady Templedale, "have we not just had the contrary demonstration under our very eyes; though, by the bye, in your judgment, this may be no disproof."

"I can appeal to no supernatural agency in this case," replied Cécile, laughing, and blushing slightly, "yet I can truly affirm that I never have valsed-really-in short, with any one but Conny,"

"You could not give a beginning this very instant.

better reason for Is it not exactly

the same thing, you silly child, or, at least, the same step? Now, Lord St Edmunds, have you nothing to add?"

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