ear, he added, 66 no one can trust 'em." After this, as if exhausted by the effort, he fell again into silence. The whole party were affected, and Evelyn rose to go--"Stop," said Sir Hildebrand to Georgina— "You seem, as I said, gentle: you seem honest too, and would not say one thing and do another. I am much obliged to you for coming to see me. I never saw but one that looked so handsome and so good, and she turned out ill." Here the old man sighed. "You are not married, I perceive, for you want a ring;" then unlocking a small cabinet, he took out a diamond hoop, with a ruby in the middle of it of considerable value, and fitting it on her finger, before she seemed aware of what he was about, "there," said he, “if ever you want a friend you may come again." After which bowing to them all, he said, "I think I have counted all the carriages that have gone by, and yours will be the fourth." Roth Evelyn and Tremaine thought it was time to leave the poor Baronet to himself; and Georgina having looked at her father, and perceiving that he wished her to accept the ring, would have returned her thanks; but she was not only very much affected, but the giver hung his head in even sheepish distress, and begged her so awkwardly to say nothing about it, that she was silent-contenting herself with a courtesy and a look, which was not thrown away upon Sir Hildebrand, much less upon Tremaine, who translated that look into ten thousand softnesses, every one of them winding into his own heart.-The Baronet himself seemed roused by it, for he immediately said, with an air of something like dignity, "If you are going, at least let me have the honour of assisting you," and actually gave his hand to her with a manner which a Lord Chamberlain need not have blushed at. Georgina could not help pressing it as he put her into the carriage;-which made him falter and blush, so as to disable him from saying a word to his male guests: and many were the speculations from the windows of the hall, and the walls of the court-yard, which were crowded with his servants and tenants, as Tremaine and his friends drove off to Bellenden House. The party were for many minutes silent after leaving Homestead. Georgina was affected, even to tears, with what she had seen; Evelyn was much impressed, and Tremaine thoughtful: so that Lord Bellenden's lodges were almost in sight before the train of reflection was broken. At length Evelyn could not help exclaiming, 66 a noble mind seems here o'erthrown." "I own I expected something very different," said Tremaine with emotion. "Poor fellow!" cried Georgina, as she looked at her ring, and could not help a tear falling upon it, which she was unwilling to wipe away.." I will keep it for his sake." The emotion did not make either of her companions less thoughtful. "You see, my friend," said Evelyn with a serious air," what it is, as this poor gentleman observed, to tempt heaven. It is evident that the report of the neighbourhood is true; and that in a temporary fit of disgust, perhaps of madness, from disappointment, he bound himself to this way of life by a vow. consequence is, that by brooding over in solitude what he might have dissipated by business, he nursed himself into a humourist, and has led a useless, and, I should think, an unhappy life." The "The latter does not appear," said Tremaine, rousing; "he seems to have been social at least at his gate: and, as long as he had plenty of gossip, not to have been unhappy." "Granting that," replied the Doctor, "to what indeed, as you sometimes say, is a man of education reduced, when, to count the stage-coaches, or busy one's self about another man's kitchen, has become, perhaps, a serious employment ?” "May he not, from your own theory," said Tremaine, "be happy ?” "If he may," answered Evelyn, "which perhaps I ought not to deny, it at least proves the soundness of the theory itself; for you see his solitude, unoc cupied as it is, forces him upon the world, as far as he can mix in it, for the only relief he enjoys,—and he is busy about his fellow men, though only passengers in a post-chaise, whom he does not even know." Tremaine was about to reply, when, as they had now long passed the lodges, Lord Bellenden's fine place opened upon their view, and the conversation stopped. CHAP. II. AN EXCLUSIVE. "If the quick fire of youth light not your mind, SHAKSPEARE. THE visit to Homestead had deranged part of the plan of our guests-which was to have a walk in the beautiful grounds before dinner, and afterwards to dress. Only the latter could be effected; and the whole company had nearly assembled in the saloon, by the time they presented themselves. Lady Bellenden, who regarded Georgina with both tenderness and esteem, received her with the most affectionate politeness-introducing her to her daughter Lady Gertrude Bellenden's particular attentions; and adding, as she put their hands together, "How I wish this moment of introduction between you two may lead to a friendship hereafter." Each of the young ladies, thus called upon, surveyed the other; calculating, according to the quickness of eye or penetration of judgment that either was endowed with, how far this amiable wish might be realized. But whether from the restraint which the sudden and public expression of it imposed, or from the want of sufficient experience and discrimination in the youthful parties, neither young lady discovered much that tended to raise hopes of its accomplishment. Lady Gertrude was in her twenty-first year; of uncommon beauty of face, which was absolutely brilliant with the finest white and red in the world. She was tall and graceful, but there was no particularity of air, manner or countenance, that spoke, even after acquaintance, as if there was much within, except a very high idea of her own consequence. Her mother, who had long been in bad health, had been residing some years on the Continent; and these were the most critical years of Lady Gertrude's life; for she had been left during that whole period under the care of her aunt, the Duchess of Mandeville, who was considered the very mirror |