made her feel perfectly safe and innocent in immediately giving in to the intimacy which so suddenly sprang up between them. Their communication did not confine itself to a little good-humoured ridicule of the self-constituted Corinne; he had the happy knack of leading the conversation to topics interesting to the individuals with whom he conversed; and Mrs. Heckfield overheard Lucy, in the fulness of her heart, giving a detailed account of the death of a Newfoundland puppy, which was supposed to have been bit by a mad dog! Mrs. Heckfield was in agonies: she looked unutterable things; but her looks were utterly thrown away. Lucy's heart and soul were in her subject, and her eyes were sufficiently tearful to look very bright and melting. Lord Montreville thought this extremely countrified simplicity charming, though he did not intend it should last for ever. He was himself a professed lover of animals, and he gave her, in return, an account of a horse who neighed when he came into the stable, and would put his nose into his pocket to find the bread he was in the habit of feeding him with. Lucy thought him the nicest, best-natured creature she had ever met with; and Mrs. Heckfield saw her, in the midst of his story, draw her chair nearer to him, her whole mind intent upon the sensible horse. Mrs. Heckfield thought, "How improper! how forward! how vulgar! What can ail Lucy tonight?" When the company dispersed, what was her horror to see Lucy put out her hand towards Lord Montreville, and shake hands with him cordially, heartily, and frankly; but her horror was mixed with astonishment, when Lord Montreville begged permission to call the next morning, as Miss Heckfield had promised to show him some beautiful puppies, and to allow him to select one, as he was a great dog-fancier. "What can be the meaning of this?" thought she, "He must be disgusted with Lucy's manners to-day! They could not have been worse if Bell Stopford had been here!" When the last carriage had driven from the door, Mrs. Heckfield threw herself into a chair. "Well, Lucy! I think you have done it to-day! When you knew I wished you to behave like a girl of fashion! When we had all the best company within ten miles round assembled here, just this one day, to giggle and laugh all dinner-time, and then to entertain a man of Lord Montreville's refinement and taste with your dog's death, and your puppies' birth! He must think you have been brought up in the stables, rather than in the drawing-room." "Oh, dear mamma! I assure you he asked me all about poor dear Hector's death!" "Asked you about Hector's death! How could he have known such a dog as Hector ever existed, if you had not begun about your own dog and your own affairs? Don't you know that egotism should be avoided in every way, and that it is the most ill-bred thing in the world to talk of yourself and your "So it is, mamma;-very true. I did not mean to talk of myself, and I am sure I do not know how I fell into it; but you don't know how interested he seemed. I do not think he was bored, really: he says he is so fond of animals-just like me." "Pooh, child! - he is a very well-bred man, and was too polite to let you feel you bored him. You must learn not to be led into pouring your own histories into people's ears." Mrs. Heckfield forgot that at dinner she had given Lord Montreville a very long account of the manner in which she had become possessed of the china he had admired says I am not to sit so near Charles again, for if we g each other, we make too much noise; and Mr. Lyon like Miss Pennefeather at all." "I am sorry for that, miss; but I meant how the corners did, for poor Mrs. Fussicome was in such The jelly would not stand, and it looked so shock when it was in the dish, that what did we do but beat raspberry-cream in no time, and sent it in instead; b it made two reds at the cross-corners; but I should body noticed it." "I am sure I did not, nurse, and I don't think man at least, she said nothing about it. Every thing look nice, tell Mrs. Fussicome." "Yes, miss, that I will, for she has been quite put c it; she said she could not enjoy her supper a bit, thought the soufflet was not quite right." "Mamma did not say any thing about it: indeed, no faults in the dinner-they were all in me. How I I had not such spirits. - I mean to be so quiet and den as soon as the people begin to talk to me, I forge really believe Lord Montreville is very good-natured, not think the worse of me." "La! miss, I'm sure your mamma can't think the harm in talking and laughing with such an old gentler "He is not so very old, Milly," answered Lucy if Milly had not said so, she might have been the firs it herself. About one o'clock the next morning, Lord M arrived at Rosehill Lodge, and was surprised to f shy, reserved, timid, and rather awkward. Mrs. 1 anxious to efface from Lord Montreville's mind all im concerning the kennel, and the stables, and the dog-hu his attention to the flower-garden, which was remarkab and to her small conservatory, which was in exceller at the same time taking care to let him know that the tion of the flower-beds was according to Lucy's ta Lucy had arranged the vases in the manner which ex admiration-that the training of the creepers in festo one tree to another, was Lucy's fancy. She point beautiful new geranium, which had been named after "madcap Lucy; for madeap as she is, Lord Montre has a decided taste for botany and that kind of thing Mrs. Heckfield, with a sweet smile at Lucy, who cert morning had not deserved the name of "madcap." Lord Montreville immediately understood the state of the case, and was well pleased: he thereby perceived that Lucy was docile, easily subdued, and easily managed. However, as his present object was to win her confidence, preparatory to attempting her heart, he alluded to Miss Heckfield's promise of a puppy of their beautiful breed of setters, and he begged to be taken to the kennel, as he was to be allowed to choose for himself. Mrs. Heckfield entreated Lord Montreville would allow her to send for the dogs-Lord Montreville insisted on not giving so much trouble; when the servant was seen issuing from the drawing-room windows, showing the way to Lord and Lady Bodlington, who had called to see the conservatory. Mrs. Heckfield had a fresh demand on her politeness; and, after the proper greetings, Lord Montreville whispered Lucy that she must not allow him to be cheated of his puppy-that he had quite set his heart upon seeing the whole family, and entreated her to lead the way. She was at first somewhat confused, and looked uneasily towards her mother, who was some way in advance; but she did not know how to refuse: so they proceeded through the back-yard, by the coal-hole, and the bottle-rack-through the drying-ground-past the pig-sties, to a range of out-houses, where Lufra and all her family were shut up. The moment Lucy opened the door, up jumped Lufra, to the great detriment of the pretty muslin gown which that day made its first appearance. "Oh, my best new gown!" exclaimed Lucy, "Oh dear! Why would mamma make me put it on?" She had scarcely uttered the words, when it flashed across her why mamma had wished her to be smart and to look well -she stopped short and blushed up to the eyes. "This is too naif," thought Lord Montreville; "but naïveté soon dies away if it is not encouraged. Her mother wishes to catch me, I know; but the girl has no plan: I shall be able to mould her to my liking." A young man would have flown off upon perceiving the mother's views; but Lord Montreville had seen them plainly from the very beginning, and it did not affect his opinion as to whether Lucy était son fait or not. Because Mrs. Heckfield wished to catch him, there was no reason he should be caught; and he continued his observations of Lucy, and his calculations whether she would easily become the sort of wife he wished to have. After a long discussion concerning the several merits and beauties of the several puppies, in which Lucy found Lord Montreville's taste in dogs perfectly coincided with her own, the puppy was selected, and Lucy's heart had again opened, her reserve had vanished, she had made up her mind that, for once, mamma was wrong and she was right; that hers had been the most correct estimate of Lord Montreville's character. She asked him if he admired young donkeys. He confessed that if he had a weakness, it was for a little baby donkey, with a shaggy forehead and a pointed nose. Lucy's eyes sparkled at such a proof of sympathy in her companion. She proposed to show him her pet. He eagerly assented, and they proceeded through the chicken-yard to the paddock where the donkeys were grazing. The chickens expected to be fed, and all gathered round Lucy's feet; the donkeys instantly set up a most sonorous braying, and galloped to her with their uplifted heads. Lucy was amused and began to laugh, and to pat and stroke and pinch the dear sensible creatures, when a turn in the shrubbery walk brought Mrs. Heckfield, Lord and Lady Bodlington, and Mr. Lyon to the opposite side of the paddock, which commanded a view of Lucy and Lord Montreville. Lucy felt her cheeks glow, and her mirth subside. Her mother, who could not but know through what ignoble paths she must have led Lord Montreville, would be more displeased than ever. She was sobered in an instant. Lord Montreville perceived the blush, and the change in her countenance, and flattered himself there was something gratifying to himself in her emotions. They retraced their steps, but Lucy was silent and abashed, and looked heartily ashamed of herself when they rejoined the party. Lord Montreville immediately addressed Mrs. Heckfield; informed her that "Miss Heckfield, at his earnest request, had allowed him to inspect the puppies, and to select the one he fancied; and that he had a childish passion for young donkeys, which she had also most kindly indulged." / Mrs. Heckfield saw that no harm was done, and she was soothed. Lucy thought him more good-natured than ever in thus averting the storm she saw impending, and gratitude was added to cement the union of their congenial souls. He now became a frequent visiter at Rosehill Lodge, and his manner gradually assumed more the tone of gallantry. Reports arose. Lucy was rallied by her young friends, and began to look into her feelings. She had seen his beautiful equipage, his four blood bays; she had seen engravings of his magnificent seat in Staffordshire, of his lovely villa near London, of his ancient castle in Wales. |