Certainly, she had drunk from the spring of eternal youth, so far as her spirits were concerned; and her frame was a truly wonderful one to stand it as she did. I have gone to bed, and hours afterwards have heard her still in the drawing-room below, joking and laughing as she played rubber after rubber; yet the next morning she would be full of plans for the day's gaieties.

The excitement of this mode of life was amusing, I must own, and served to divert my mind from dwelling so much upon my guardian's detestable conduct as it would otherwise have done.

I was subjected, however, to excessive annoyance by the marked attentions he paid me in society. Do what I would, I could not shake him off; and the sight of his lamp-postlike figure, and his small stone-grey eye spoilt my pleasure many an evening.

Lady Ravensden was most kind to me; and when I could (which was seldom), it was pleasant to talk over the difficulties of my position with her ladyship.

She always listened to me attentively, but said little; and though from her manner, I

VOL. II.

D

drew some hope, yet it was of a vague character. The "Ellen" so mysteriously mentioned, was never alluded to in her conversations with me.

Mr. Grey I rarely met, though I never went to an assembly without hoping that I should do so, and looking round the room somewhat anxiously to see if he were present; but Leila informed me that he went very little into society, attending night after night to his duties in "the House."

"Balls he very seldom honours with his presence," remarked Leila; "and I do not know that his company there would be very desirable, as, though an excellent creature, he does not dance."

Why do you call him an excellent creature ?" I asked, glad of having an opportunity of talking about him.

He

"Because I have heard Reginald tell so many anecdotes of his kind-heartedness. will put himself to the greatest inconvenience and trouble to assist any person who is in difficulty; sometimes, in the case of a poor man, who is going to be thrown into prison for debt-if Mr. Grey happens to know anything of him, and thinks that he has got into

trouble more through his misfortune than his fault-he steps forward and saves him from jail. At another time, a poor widow applies to him, who has been left with a family of children-he will take all manner of trouble about the unfortunate people, and get the children provided for in charity schools, and so forth. Then, as you know, he is the advocate of all those measures which are for the amelioration of the condition of the lower classes; and his speeches, I believe, are most beautiful; so that, if he only would dance the deux temps, and polka, and be like any other rational being," said Leila, in conclusion, pulling to pieces a splendid bouquet the while, why, he would be a perfect angel."

And it was this kind-hearted, "excellent creature" who had treated me so strangely! He ought to have known me better than to believe the reports which my guardian might have circulated. I felt angry with him, and vexed with myself. Why did I not explain matters when I leant upon his arm fainting after the drawing-room? When should I have another opportunity? I never met him now; and when, in courtesy to Lady Ravens

den, after her kind invitation, he left his card in Hertford Street, as ill-luck would have it, we were out.

It was so provoking! and it really seemed as if the fates were against our meeting. This apparently only increased my desire of seeing him, and invested him with an interest, he would not otherwise have possessed, at least, I suppose not.

Meanwhile, Lady Ravensden had several little schemes in her busy head about me, and alternately advocated the claims of " Sir Soand-so, or the Honorable That," but she found me very troublesome in not falling in with her views.

However, as she took very good-naturedly the many disappointments my wilfulness caused her, we did not quarrel upon the matter; she only told me, that if I was so extremely particular and difficult to please, I should "go through the wood, and through the wood, and pick up the crooked stick at last."

I will not dwell on the gaieties of this, my first London season; as nothing is more uninteresting to my mind than details of such

matters, unless they bear upon the romance of life, and in this case they did not.

Suffice it that the rural festivities at which I had assisted under the auspices of Lady Bernard, sank into insignificance when compared with the career of gaiety, in which I had now entered; but after the first week, it had lost its novelty, and with that all interest for me.

It was the same programme over and over again, which may be given thus:

1st. Part. Dress, weigh the merits of each robe you possess, decide according to the occasion, and recollect what you wore last night.

You go through the ceremony of reception, hear the music of the night before, and halfa-dozen gentlemen with whom you have danced at other parties, come up and clamour for your hand (or waist), and half-a-dozen more, whom you have never seen, beg to be introduced that they may have a like honour, there is just a chance, that amongst these fresh faces, one may be a taking one, if so, a slight interest is excited.

You honour these creatures, as you feel inclined, or your chaperon dictates, or etiquette