whom our hero more especially feared to meet previous to his visit to Adderfield, I must beg to contradict the supposition.That gallantry with which he spoke of her ladyship to her aunt and sisters was perfectly applicable to her character, and consistent with the habits of a fashionable man.

Wentworth, though, strictly speaking, not an immaculate being, was certainly a paragon, compared with others of his age and fortune. From the age of twenty-one, he had been the master of a very competent income. He was a stranger to the vices of the gaming-table; he did not bet at Newmarket, nor run his barouche, to the hazard ́of his neck, and the certain subjugation of every quality which could dignify his character. Yet there was a species of error into which he had nearly fallen; and though precedent makes proselytes, and will often disarm vice of its guilt in appearance, he had paused, and the suspension saved him from endless remorse. He made a discovery which is seldom made until repent

ance

ance awakens the slumbering facultiesnamely, that infatuation is not love; that there is more real courage in resisting the advances of unhallowed love, than in leading even a willing victim to perdition.

The honourable Mrs. Marnley was young, handsome, and in some respects accomplished. She had married, in very early life, to the younger brother of a noble family, much her senior in years. If love had no share in the lady's feelings, gratitude should have bound her to her husband, by whom she had been raised from a dependant and unprotected estate to her present rank in society.

Mr. Marnley was profuse in his establishment, and indiscriminate in his associates; yet his wife possessed his intire affections. She had unbounded power over his purse; and as her happiness consisted in being admired, she did not omit to avail herself of this advantage. Wanting those resources in which a reflective mind finds its happi

ness, she sought amusement from the neverceasing influx of dissipation.

The contrast in the ages of this ill-suited pair was growing more and more visible. A few young and handsome men had smiled at the disparity; and one or two had affected to mistake Mr. Marnley for her father. Whether this was the era which awakened the sentimental feelings of the lady cannot be ascertained; but her manner, by those who knew her best, was observed to acquire a childishness and timidity, which would not have been inapplicable to fif

`teen.

Wentworth was one of Mr. Marnley's visitors. In London, if a man gives good dinners, there can be no possible doubt of their being well-attended. Sidney was a favourite of Mr. Marnley's; and his lady, to prove that she could unite in sentiment, thought proper to distinguish him by a thousand insidious means.

If she attempted to venture on horseback,

back, she requested Mr. Wentworth would devote one hour to the most timid, yet rie diculous creature in the world. He would be generous to her weakness, as he knew she was exactly of his way of thinking, that whatever we make the object of our pursuit, we should endeavour to acquire properly,

4

A young and disengaged man could not possibly object to accompany a handsome woman in her morning rides; and there it was so easy to develop the plans for the evening, and to offer a seat in her box at the Opera, or learn from the unconscious Sidney how he purposed to dispose of himself.

This system had been growing almost into a habit, when lord John Nugent remarked its singularity and tendency to Wentworth. Our hero was surprised. He felt so secure, that it had never entered his imagination any other person could cont sider it as a matter of any consequence; besides, Mr. Marnley always appeared so well

C 6

well pleased to see him, and in fact ratherfurthered the intercourse. Yet it is more

than probable that the reflections of Sid→ ney gave a colour to the subject, which coincided with the opinion of his friend Nugent.

He began by absenting himself as a morn ing visitor. This only increased the num ber of dinner tickets. He declined these occasionally, but was sure to be upbraided by Mr. Marnley, whenever they met.

Whether the lady discovered that an open siege would not succeed, or, from her knowledge of what was interesting, thought it most safe to harass the enemy; is immate rial. She now appeared with cheeks of lily white; she was no longer an equestrian; and the papers, with affected sympathy, began by lamenting that the fashion able world were unanimous in their regrets. occasioned by the indisposition of the lovely and interesting Mrs. Marnley..

Wentworth read the paragraph; and as he walked towards Hyde Park next morné