"I confess I cannot exactly understand that," replied Grosvenor, very decisively.

Lord Montague did not answer :-he knew enough of Grosvenor to be aware, that the tenacity with which he maintained this opinion originated from a conviction that he was expected to pursue a certain line of conduct, distinct from that he affected to adopt. Lord Montague smiled at the self-willedness of human nature, and saw that Grosvenor's release from his thraldom must be left to the operation of time and circumstances.

Lord Percival, detected, humbled, overwhelmed, was conscious that England could be no place for him. He had lost his station in society his dignity as a man- his honour as a gentleman; his only refuge was in flight.

He secured his ill-gotten spoils; his coadjutor Mr. Flash seconded his efforts: - the carriage was ordered, and they proceeded to the assembly of the Marchioness of!

Lord Percival and Mr. Flash sat down at two different card-tables, and contrived to add a few hundreds to their present stock. These obtained, Lord Percival sought out Lady Clervaux.

"Let me speak to you a few moments," he said, drawing her arm through his, and leading her away.

"Certainly; but what do you want?"

"You!" replied Lord Percival, vehemently. "Nonsense, nonsense: why have you taken me away?"

"I cannot tell you here, upon my honour: will you go home?"

"Well, I don't mind; if you will."

"Dear Angel! have my coach, will you? It will oblige me, actually."

"How strange you are! just as if I minded whose coach! Won't you have Lady Jane,

too ?"

66

No, I don't want Lady Jane and I can tell you she would much rather ride home by herself, than by the side of you: people can't help making comparisons: devilish bad for her, positively.

"Dear, you are too witty, and quite too severe on poor Lady Jane: she is not at all, that is, not so very plain."

"But then, my dear Lady Clervaux, you are, you know, so confoundedly beautifulso heavenly lovely, that a merely pretty woman even, would stand no chance of being looked at by the side of you, positively!"

"You are very ridiculous, my dear Lord Percival! I assure you, I think so!"

"Then it is very cruel of you, actually! But do you know, I don't believe you!" "Impudence! go away!"

"No; I will not. positively: you are going in my carriage, you know."

"I wonder what you want with me!"

"I will tell you there!" and Lord Percival handing her into his own equipage, placed

himself by her side, whilst the Reverend Mr. Flash seated himself on the coach-box.

"Now what have you to say, Lord Percival? make haste, or I shall not be awake to hear it."

"Well then the fact is do I think Sir Thomas a sad brute ?"

you know, "There is nothing surprising in that; I should wonder if you did not; I assure you I think him so, and all the world knows it. I wish I had never seen him !”

"It was a sad day for your innumerable adorers when you married him, positively!" said Lord Percival, sighing.

"I have no adorers: how can you talk so ?" said Lady Clervaux, laughing.

"How can you talk so?" demanded Lord Percival: "see before you the most adoring, the most despairing of men, actually!" "You are always so silly!"

"You are always so cruel!"

"Nonsense-I hate to be called cruel, and all that you, men of fashion, think, we women believe every thing you choose to tell us." "I wish I had no interest in being believed!" sighed Lord Percival: "if

but be unmarried!"

you could

"I wish I could! - but it is hoping for impossibilities."

"I am not so sure of that.”

"Oh! you may be; --- the Bishop of-married us, and he took care to have every thing right and legal."

"I do not dispute the legality of it; but I conceive that it can very well be set aside.' "You are wrong, indeed! I wish you were right."

"Let us see: you married Sir Thomas Clervaux when you had seen nothing of the world! and, consequently, before you knew exactly whether you liked him or not." "Too true!"

"Very well;- you come into our circles, and that kind of thing; and he does not pay you that attention which every pretty woman has a right to expect you, above all!"

"That is right; and no woman of any pride or dignity would endure to be slighted !" said Lady Clervaux, passionately.

"Certainly not; no woman who appreciates herself properly would! -He, gallivanting every other celebrated beauty about toasting any body as the handsomest woman of his acquaintance, except his own wife, who, every other person that has eyes, can see, is far superior to them all, actually.'

"How fine you are to-night, Lord Percival!" "No, I am not; let me proceed. - Unattended to by him who ought to have guarded you followed by every one else-it is very natural that you should have selected another object of preference; for has not he done the

same ?"

"Well, well; but then you know I am still married!"

"I know it too well, my dear Lady Clervaux; but this happy man, whom your prefer

ence distinguishes, would soon find a means of annulling it, if he loved as he ought to love you, believe me positively!" "How ?

"It is for him only to tell you."

"You may tell me then," said Lady Clervaux, smiling with arch significance. "Adorable woman! let me then tell you! You are now in my carriage; suffer me to direct the coachman to drive us into the country.' "I shall still be married; and, besides, I hate the country at this season."

دو

"But consider, my heavenly Lady Clervaux, it will be but for a very short time !—we will go to Dublin.”

to be at

"Well, I should think that pleasant enough; but then I promised old Lady her masquerade next week: and besides, I should still be married."

"Only for a short time: Sir Thomas would sue for a divorce; you would then be freeat liberty to bless the happy man of your choice!" "What would Lady Jane say

"She would admire your spirit, actually. Sir Thomas would rave finely it would be a sort of pleasure to revenge the indignity with which he has treated you, positively!"

“But then, old Lady -'s masquerade! I have such an excellent character for it !"

"You would be excellent in any character, take my word for it," said Lord Percival; "and as to the masquerade, in Dublin you might give one yourself."