e reared out of a Tycoon's garden; and so she hastened up to her sister's room, as totally oblivious of the man of law as though he had been hundreds of miles away. They talked pleasantly of flowe

ring anything "decent" on the dusty roads; and, lastly,

ing anxieties invade, no tormenting ambitions pursue-where the morning's stroll through the garden is the very type of existence, a ramble amidst fragrance, and fruit, and flowers,

e cloud-shadows on the mountains, adding at each change some new effect of light and colour. "Let us go and call on Sir Within," said Lady Vyner; "it would be a glorious day to see the old castle, and the mountain behind it." Her sister agreed at once; for though the drive was full eight miles, the road was beautiful all the way, and at its end was a grand old keep, Dalradern Castle, with a charming old bachelor for its owner, than whom none better understood

d get back, but it was not to find everything as he had pictured it. The temperate climate rained a good deal. The genial air had a marked tendency to give bronchitis. The grass was unquestionably green, but so were they who walked in it, for wet feet were invariable. A

ot held to the disadvantage of Beauty that discretion should not have united itself to loveliness, and Wit was just as highly appreciated as though its possessor had not been more than lucky with the dice-box. Sir Within, be it remarked, wanted none of these immunities on his own behalf. He had never been what is called a man of gallantry, never gambled. His great passion was a splendid house and grand receptions. He liked great people, crowned heads, and af

on virtue. What anecdotes he had of ministers who had cheated at cards! Great men, excellent men in all other respects, unimpeachable in all their public acts, and pillars of the State they pertained to.. He told of a society whose very laxity saved all friction, and which went on smoothly-for it always went d

d saw little company at home-facts which, when they came to be acquainted with him, struck them as strange, for he was eminently one made for society, and seem

in him-most ungrateful had they been if they had not-for never was courtesy more polished, never homage more devoted or more respectful. Royalty could not have been received by him with a greater deference, and now, as they drove up to the massive entrance of the cast

ot say how-that you would come over here to-day, and I told Bernais to prepare the orangery; for," sa

Vyner, looking at Georgina, whose fi

id Georgina, gaily; "but what

lence of this old court wanted the pleasant plash of a fountain? and so I got these disabled nymph

utiful i

mansion; and, as a work of art, it is almost equal to a Luca della Robb. The mistake is the era. It is not suited to this old dungeon

ds. I couldn'

ber, that in villa ornamentation nothing

e, Sir Within-qu

me here as brigands," sai

art, what matters what is

t a displeased one-and, somehow, more conscious than the

land?" said he, as he introdu

he has made a purchase

o fancy that I owned my furniture, but I found that it owned me. I was the bondsman of an old arm-chair, and the a

evere bondage after all,

you all to come and pay me this long-promised visit? Remember, the longe

comes home, we s

I thought so dreary a while ago, looks positively beautiful now. Yes, Bernais, bring it in." This was said to the servant, who, after appearing at the door, made a hasty retreat. "It is the m

the asparagus," s

's dinner is to the full banquet of mid-winter what a light 'aquarelle' is to an oil picture. You want

must deem us!" said

sse de Sagance. She was much admired at the time by the Archduke Cha

! We must implicitly b

, I am ruined. You

n't have us say,

k to us as if we were all at Vi

Sir Within; but the world says that you are-what

blame? Who ever called on a priso

hat Sir Within occasionally forgets his geography, and fa

imate than conversation; both one and the other are lighter in the south of Europe, and wh

matised, to say so," said Lady Vyner; "but bear

more ridiculous than all, our cockney population wandering over the Coliseum and Quirinal, not fully certain that they are getting the real article for their money, or whether Nero and Tiberius are not dear at

ss; but very spiteful,

escue you from my tartness;" and, giving an a

frontier of China, and the fish, that seemed flavourless, came by estafette from the Caspian? Such, in a certain way, was Sir Within's conversation; it sparkled with great people-Kings glittered, and Queens bespangled it; it was evidently a dear article to have acquired, but, beyond that, it

is less odious than at others, it is when a host expatiates on the pains he has taken to feed you. The little selfish vaing

owing how an accomplished host makes the light talkers do duty at the first course, using them as mere skirmishers, who are to fall back and be ignored as the great engagement comes on. "I flatter myself," said he, "that I

d Georgina, laying her hand on her sist

? What is t

h a blunder-how sha

tell it!" cried L

ut him-utterly-co

ut w

d to meet Gervais, and only ran over from Crewe to see us; I left him to tell you that he was there. I had it in my he

o did Sir Within, and so, at last, did Miss Courtenay, and the mirth was kept up by a

g passion; he's hot-tempered at

doubtless; but as a minister plenipotentiary vents his ill-temper in a despatch, your man of law consigns all his indign

hin, would you oblige me by ordering our ponies

not let me send a messenger over to ask hi

and my husband is most tenacious regarding him. I m

am to face him at

y not try," s

that plainly said, "You might stay where you are;" and Miss Courtena

ave any difficulty about it-at least, I hope not-though

I begged a visit from you-that I wanted some legal advice-I required a draft of-

Within!" said Georgina

de for it," said he, assisting

ith us?" asked Lady Vyner. "The promise has b

next Sund

me to church with us afte

and she turned away abruptly, but ere she drew down

h of their thoughts, taxing all their address how to encounter its difficulty, yet, from ti

do not take to him," said she; "he is too much a man of

or the proprieties of Engl

people are pretty much the same everywhere, though the

laughing; "or rather, that his magnificent old castle, and

ely princely in all its details; but I think he himself is the gem of the collection. He is so courteous and so plea

ughts and ideas are so essentially homely, and who must of necessity be eternally talking of

he never married?" said

e likely to marry, and very far from being one

so-do you re

ittle things which would make life a perfect servitude. Cannot you imagine him spending his mornings giving audience to his cook, and listening to the report

scharged servants, changed furniture, rearranged rooms, and, in fact, managed little daily '

hy not go back to the life and the p

s only waiting for the visit of a certain relative, Mr.

thin says that they scarcely know each other, and have all that dislike and di

is heir must be to a man like Si

Sir Within spoke of the Ladarelles with much forbearance, aware, as he is, that they are coming down here to see in what state

t with Groves to look at the large cactus he told me this, and mentioned that, by a singular provision, though the estate is strictly entailed, he could charge the property

saucy laugh. "I don't know. There are many wom

nsiderable number of women who

ing-the air was growing fresh, and the twilight deepening. "I wonder

about meeting him, that I half wish he had gone away, an

science," said Georgina, "though I am the real delinquent. I d

but such a breach

ppointments with him and forgotten him; he has been left standing on that terrace, or pacing moodily up that street,

; it struck me as the only

Sir Within W

hat might readily have come from any ordinary and common-place perso

envious things your wealth, your splendour, and your taste may have provoked from us, I

ing to be unpleasant, for already they were at the gate lodge