I can consider myself as sufficiently acquainted with Mr. Downe Wright, to think of him at all in that light. And even then he may be very amiable, and yet "hesitating "I may not be able to love him as I ought."

"Love!" exclaimed Lady Juliana, her eyes sparkling with anger; "I desire I may never hear that word again from any daughter of mine. I am determined I shall have no disgraceful love-marriages in the family. No well-educated young woman ever thinks of such a thing now, and I won't hear a syllable on the subject.'

"I shall never marry anybody, I am sure, that you disapprove of," said Mary timidly.

"No; I shall take care of that. I consider it the duty of parents to establish their children properly in the world, without any regard to their ideas on the subject. I think, I must be rather a better judge of the matter than you can possibly be, and I shall therefore make a point of your forming what I consider a proper alliance. Your sister, I know, won't hesitate to sacrifice her own affections to please me. She was most excessively attached to Lord Lindore-everybody knew that; but she is convinced of the propriety of preferring the Duke of Altamont, and won't hesitate in sacrificing her own feelings to mine. But, indeed, she has ever been all that I could wish-so perfectly beautiful, and, at the same time, so excessively affectionate and obedient. She approves entirely of your marriage with Mr. Downe Wright, as, indeed, all your friends do. I don't include friend Lady Emily in that number. I look upon her as a most improper companion for you; and the sooner you are separated from her the better. So now good

your

bye for the present. You have only to behave as other young ladies do upon those occasions, which, by-the-bye, is generally to give as much trouble to their friends as they possibly can."

There are some people who, furious themselves at opposition, cannot understand the possibility of others being equally firm and decided in a gentle manner. Lady Juliana was one of those who always expect to carry their point by a raised voice and sparkling eyes; and it was with difficulty Mary, with her timid air, and gentle accents, could convince her that she was determined to judge for herself in a matter in which her happiness was so deeply involved. When at last brought to comprehend it, her Ladyship's indignation knew no bounds; and Mary was accused in the same breath with having formed some low connection in Scotland, and of seeking to supplant her sister, by aspiring to the Duke of Altamont. And, at length, the conference ended pretty much where it beganLady Juliana resolved that her daughter should marry to please her, and her daughter equally resolved not to be driven into an engagement from which her heart recoiled.

CHAPTER LIII

"Qu'on vante en lui la foi, l'honeur, la probité;
Qu'on prise sa candeur et sa civilité;

Qu'il soit doux, complaisant, officieux, sincère :
On le veut, j'y souscris, et suis prêt à me taire."

BOILEAU.

WHEN Mary entered the drawing-room, she

found herself, without knowing how, by the side of Mr. Downe Wright. At dinner it was the same; and, in short, it seemed an understood thing, that they were to be constantly together.

There was something so gentle and unassuming in his manner, that, almost provoked as she was by the folly of his proceedings she found it impossible to resent it by her behaviour towards him; and, indeed, without being guilty of actual rudeness, of which she was incapable, it would not have been easy to have made him comprehend the nature of her sentiments. He appeared perfectly satisfied with the toleration he met with; and, compared to Adelaide's disdainful glances, and Lady Emily's biting sarcasms, Mary's gentleness and civility might be mistaken for encouragement. But even

under the exhilarating influence of hope and high spirits, his conversation was so insipid and commonplace, that Mary found it a relief to turn even to Dr. Redgill. It was evident that the Doctor was aware of what was going on, for he regarded her

with that increased respect due to the future mistress of a splendid establishment. Between the courses he made some complimentary allusions to Highland mutton and red deer; and he even carried his attentions so far as to whisper, at the very first mouthful, that les côtellettes de saumon were superb, when he had never been known to commend anything to another, until he had fully discussed it himself. On the opposite side of the table sat Adelaide and the Duke of Altamont, the latter looking still more heavy and inanimate than ever. The operation of eating over, he seemed unable to keep himself awake, and every now and then yielded to a gentle slumber, from which, however, he was instantly recalled at the sound of Adelaide's voice, when he exclaimed, "Ah! charming-very charming, ah!" Lady Emily looked from them as she hummed some part of Dryden's Ode:

"Aloft in awful state

The godlike hero sate, etc.

The lovely Thais by his side,

Look'd like a blooming eastern bride."

Then, as his Grace closed his eyes, and his head sunk on his shoulder

"With ravish'd ears
The monarch hears,
Assumes the god,
Affects to nod."

Lady Juliana, who would have been highly incensed, had she suspected the application of the words, was so unconscious of it, as to join occasionally in singing them, to Mary's great confusion, and Adelaide's manifest displeasure.

When they returned to the drawing-room, "Heavens! Adelaide," exclaimed her cousin, in an affected manner, "what are you made of? Semelé herself was but a cinder-wench to you! How can you stand such a Jupiter - and not scorched, not even singed, I protest!" pretending to examine her all over. "I vow, I trembled at your temerity-your familiarity with the imperial nod was fearful. I every instant expected to see you turned into a live coal.

"I did burn," said Adelaide, "with shame, to see the mistress of a house forget what was due to her father's guests.

"There's a slap on the cheek for you. Mercy, how it burns. No, I did not forget what was due to my father's guests; on the contrary, I consider it due to them to save them, if I can, from the snares that I see set for them. I have told you that I abhor all traps, whether for the poor simple mouse that comes to steal its bit of cheese, or for the dull elderly gentleman who falls asleep with a star on his breast.'

"This is one of the many kind and polite allusions for which I am indebted to your Ladyship," said Adelaide haughtily; "but I trust the day will come when I shall be able to discharge what I owe you."

And she quitted the room, followed by Lady Juliana, who could only make out that Lady Emily had been insolent, and that Adelaide was offended. A pause followed.

"I see you think I am in the wrong, Mary; I can read that in the little reproachful glances you gave me just now. Well, perhaps I am; but I own it chafes my spirits to sit and look on such a