few old musty-looking books on divinity; but in my room I have a tolerable collection of all the modern novelists, and also of the poets." 66 Are you fond of poetry, then?" "Exceedingly. I love the music of it." Lady Herbert thought, "This girl cannot be altogether devoid of feeling," and was herself such a passionate lover of poetry, that it made her lean to any one who expressed a similar taste. "And you sing, Miss Gregory?" Yes; but I am afraid not in a way that would please you." "Do not be so very diffident of your own powers, my dear," said her mother. Sing directly, and allow Lady 66 Herbert to judge for herself." She obeyed her mother, and pleased Lady Herbert, for she sang without affectation. Her voice was mellifluous, and she pronounced the words distinctly. The song was then new, and not hackneyed as it has since become. "When time, who steals our years away." "How these words touch one's heart," said Lady Herbert. "One feels as if one had written them oneself, so truly do they echo the wishes of the heart. I wish Francis could hear you, I am sure he would be delighted. Do you not think your father will come soon to join us?" Miss Gregory laughed. 66 Papa never comes from the dining-room till five minutes before we retire for the night, unless there are a party of gentlemen to play at billiards with him; but perhaps for you, Lady Herbert, he may possibly come sooner than usual." Lady Herbert made no answer; but inwardly she thought how very dreadful to have no companion in one's husband; to see him day after day, preferring the company of foxhunters or boors, to that of his wife. And for a moment she shuddered; then dismissing the horrid supposition, she thought that can never be my case; and again she tried to listen to the music. The clock seemed never to move; and yet she heard ten, eleven, and twelve strike. "Would you like to retire to bed," said Lady Gregory, "or will you take some wine-and-water first?" The answer was prevented by the entrance of the gentlemen. 66 66 Mabel, love," said Lord Herbert, approaching his wife, and leaning over the back of the sofa on which she sat. Mabel, I fear it is late," he whispered; "but we have had some capital fun with Tom Gregory. Such a cub! His father is an excellent creature, and one of the best judges of horseflesh in the kingdom. But as to him, he is really a vulgar fellow, though very amusing; that is to say-you understand, love-not at all in your way. But sometimes I like a little dash of that sort of thing; nevertheless, you know I have been longing to come to you this hour past. We have not drank any wine (his breath and thick pronunciation belied the assertion;) but Lady Herbert made no answer, only pressed his hand, and he felt that such society, or any society, could not have detained her from his presence. The conversation became very flat, and two or three times Sir Gregory started up, shaking his head to prevent himself from falling into a deep sleep. Lady Gregory rang for candles, and so passed that dull evening. CHAPTER II. THE HONEYMOON. So dear I love him, that with him all deaths MILTON'S PARADISE LOST, book ix. THE next day Lady Herbert thought, "Well! this is over, and I shall be at home to-day alone with Francis;" but what was her disappointment at finding that the badger's hunt was to take place in honour of Lord Herbert, and that it would be too late when the sport was finished to think of returning to Moreton Park. Lady Herbert did her best to smile and seem pleased, but her spirits sank, and it was with difficulty she restrained her tears; the unceasing attention of Lady Gregory to procure her every little comfort, and the less troublesome kindness of her equally obliging daughter, made Lady Herbert reproach herself for receiving these marks of good will ungraciously, and continued to be so agreeable, that she seemed to them a very charming person; an offer was made to drive her to the neighbouring town to visit Mr. Hartlebury's famous shop, or may be your ladyship would like to see the gentlemen at their sport, or if you ever fish we have some very famous trout in Mounteaston-river; but Lady Herbert declined all these temptations, and proposed reading aloud to Miss Gregory while she painted. The latter was delighted at her proposal, and that mode of disposing of the day was the one agreed upon. Lady Herbert was fond of reading, fond of various occupations, understood agricultural pursuits, and delighted in the pleasures of a garden, but although something of all these topics entered into their discourse, and formed part of their morning's conversation, Lady Herbert's thoughts reverted to the idea she had formed to herself of married comfort, of young and passionate love, and they appeared one and all flat, stale, and unprofitable to her, since he whose companionship she had looked forward to as partaker in all her tastes, recreations and pursuits, was not her companion, was no sharer in what formed the delight and dignified employment of her existence; so she sank into sadness. Miss Gregory observed she was not well, and besought her to retire to her apartment and rest till dinner-time. Unable for longer exertion of spirits Lady Herbert availed herself of the proposal: and there, in listless vacuity of mind, which prevented her from analyzing her thoughts and feelings, she awaited the return of Lord Herbert. A noise of dogs and men's voices, just as it grew dark, announced his arrival; she flew to the window; he called to her, at the same time kissing his hand; she opened the sash: "Look here, love," showing the mangled carcass of an unfortunate badger, "we have had capital sport, I never saw such dogs! poor Haco has suffered a little, but he'll soon come round again. I am just going to the stable to tell the groom how to dress the wound in his leg, and then be with you, love, directly." Lord Herbert looked so handsome, his countenance flushed with the ruddy hue of health, and his fine form re plete with grace and activity, that she forgot in the pleasure of seeing him, the pain that she should see him under such an aspect of hopeless portent to her future comfort. Again at night the pleasures of the bottle maintained their sway, and she was convinced that so long as they remained at Mount Easton, the same mode of passing the time would continue. She ventured on the third day to ask her husband if he was not tired of that sort of life.' kt No; I enjoy it exceedingly, love, for a change; but if you are tired, let us go home." "I should prefer Moreton Park," she replied, “greatly, for though Lady Gregory and her daughters are exceedingly obliging, we have not two ideas in common; and to-day, while I read to Miss Gregory, I was aware that she did not take any interest in the subject of the book; you know I cannot busy myself with the working contrivances of my sex, and I am so utterly at a loss what to say to the generality of young ladies of my own age, that I am sure my society is as unpleasant to them as theirs is to myself. At home I never can feel désœuvré; in the first place, and that implies every place, and every power of charm, I enjoy your society, and while you are otherwise engaged, I have there my own pursuits and enjoyments, of which I cannot grow tired, at least not so long as I hope to see you return, and approve and admire what I have been planning or putting into effect, either as regards our garden or the cultivation of the few talents I possess." "You know, my dear Mabel, I always admire every thing you do: so let us go home again, dear, I cannot bear the idea of your being bored." Lady Herbert felt quite happy at her husband's kind manner, and flattered herself that this passing cloud to her felicity had blown over; but, just as they were making their last adieus to the Gregories, Lord Herbert said, as if a sudden thought had struck him "By the way, that comical fellow, Crookshanks, comes to me next Saturday. I am sure he will amuse you, Mabel; he has all the poets by heart, and it is irresistibly droll to see him twitching about his hideous features with all the love sentiments coming out of his mouth. Do, Tom, there's a good fellow, do come and meet him; we will pledge him till he is up in alt, and we shall have inimitable fun, de pend upon it. We can ride over to Tracey's and see his kennel next day; and I am sure Lady Herbert will be delighted if Sir Gregory and Lady Gregory will join our party." Lady Herbert was so astonished, that she actually did not know what to reply. And, by the way," resumed Lord Herbert, "Mabel is quite alone in the barouche, perhaps Miss Gregory would kindly come with us now." "Yes," said Lady Herbert, at a loss what to say, "I am quite alone." And she was obliged to second her husband's proposal. Although she could not account for his strange infatuation in regard to the Gregories, and that after having told him she was exceedingly tired of their society, and requested as the greatest favour to go back to Moreton Park; that he should suddenly prolong the annoyances of which she complained, was a caprice she could not account for; but there was no opportunity afforded her of representing the dislike she felt to the Gregory society, or of entreating her husband to defer the evil day of their visit;-neither had she any ground of complaint against the ladies of the family, except that unanswerable one-she did not like them.' So the matter ended by Miss Gregory's accompanying Lady Herbert in her barouche, and the rest of the family being engaged to come in a few days and take her back. Lady Herbert had thought it hard to be alone, that is to say, to have been left by her husband the morning of their arrival at Mount Easton; but now her mind was out of tune, and the presence of an indifferent person was irksome to her beyond endurance. Miss Gregory, however, though one of those persons who might be called commonplace, had a good deal of common sense, which served her very well for daily use, and, on the present occasion, prevented her making herself more disagreeable to Lady Herbert than her actual presence effected. She remained silent after the first two or three efforts to engage her companion in conversation, and once arrived at Moreton Park, Lady Herbert could not avoid paying her the courtesies due to any guest in her own house, so that the good-natured Miss Gregory only supposed Lady Herbert had felt disinclined to talk, and that now she should find her the same charming person she had thought her at Mount Easton. When Lord Herbert was alone with his wife, he made |