labouring with something which, spite of herself, was restrained. She meant to be a great deal more than civil, yet kindness would not flow; while Lady Gertrude, who did not even intend much civility, felt no kindness at all.

While their hands were yet together, and Lady Bellenden had scarcely withdrawn her's, Lady Gertrude, with a very short and abrupt courtesy, said in a low voice, and with most fashionable nonchalance, My mother is very good"-and when Georgina said something about her being always so, and that this was not the least instance of it, she replied, adjusting her tucker, "We dressed in such a hurry, I really don't know whether I'm dressed or not."

The conversation there languished, and would perhaps have died away altogether, had not Georgina, after surveying her new friend rather anxiously, observed, by way of something to say, upon the largeness of the company that was assembled. Lady Gertrude immediately applied to her eye-glass, and after surveying them, exclaimed, “ They seem a strange heterogeneous set, as they always are upon these occasions; but I suppose you know them all, Miss Evelyn-in which you have the advantage, for I really am not acquainted with one in the room except Mr. Tremaine,-who is always so excessively fine, there's no knowing whether one knows him or

not. I believe you came with him. They say he is worse than ever."

The

glass was then directed exclusively to Tremaine; and one or two gentlemen approaching with their wives and daughters, to salute this daughter of the house, she replied to their civilities with a most freezing, and scarcely perceptible bend of the head, and leaving both them and her new friend, made her way to that part of the room where Tremaine was engaged in conversation with Lord Bellenden.

CHAP. III.

HALF AN HOUR BEFORE DINNER.

"All the men and women merely players."

SHAKSPEARE.

As there was nothing in a young lady joining even a tête-à-tête, of which her father formed one of the parties, Lady Gertrude thus presented herself to Tremaine's notice without the smallest breach of decorum, or even derogation to her dignity; so that she put her arm within her father's with the prettiest air of independence and apathy imaginable, without seeming to notice who was his companion, except

indeed, that she was ready to receive any notice that he might take of her. But to say truth, the gentleman was her equal at this play; for though he was in fact well known to her, and had not seen her for eighteen months, he only made her the slightest inclination, (for it could not be called a bow,) in which his chin was in fact the only part of the body that moved. He then instantly pushed through the row of squires and clergymen that intercepted his way, till he found himself by the side of Georgina, who was listening with all meekness to the protecting speeches of an exceedingly great lady indeed.

This was a high-bred dame, who had arrived a few minutes before in a coach and six. Stopping at Boroughbridge, in her way to Lancashire, she had heard that Lord Bellenden, with whom she was well acquainted, had a public day, and had sent to say she would pay him a visit, if Lady Bellenden would admit her in a traveller's dishabille. Lady Bellenden had of course returned a proper compliment, and the dishabille she appeared in was a richly trimmed silk pelisse, while her hair was adorned with a considerable number of diamonds, the fruits to her father, of many German, and other foreign missions, and which she often boasted could purchase the whole dominion of many a German sovereign.

To this lady, Georgina had been introduced by Lady Bellenden, when the latter found, to her very

great vexation, that Lady Gertrude had abandoned her almost in the moment of her introduction. She therefore presented Georgina to her guest with more than common earnestness, as one of her most favourite young friends, and her name alone informed Mrs. Neville, who was not unmindful of these matters, that she was of one of the oldest families, not merely in the county, but in England itself. This and a countenance and manner that had the art of fixing high and low in their favour, the moment they were beheld, and were not thrown away upon Mrs. Neville, (who was what is called an exceedingly clever woman) drew down from her, very voluble offers of any thing she could do, (and she could do a great deal,) to make London or Belvidere Castle agreeable to her, if ever she came to her part of the world.

Georgina was replying, with as much civility as she could muster, where her mind was not fixed, (for in truth she was thinking and wondering at Lady Gertrude still,) when Tremaine joined them.

"Good heavens! Mr. Tremaine!" said Mrs. Neville, "you here!-we thought you had been dead and buried above a year ago, in Northamptonshire."

Tremaine hardly made a salute of recognition to Mrs. Neville, though they had been so long separated.

"I have been inviting Miss Evelyn to Belvidere,"

continued Mrs. Neville, not seeming to notice his coldness," and if she will come to the Assizes, could promise her something gay: our rooms will be more magnificent than ever. But I am this moment under considerable anxiety."

"None of the Miss Nevilles are ill, I hope," said Tremaine, with indifference, "I don't see them here."

"Oh, no! I'm only afraid that Marshall, whom I always bring down to dress my hair, cannot set out in time, so as to be at the assizes the first day."

"That would be dreadful!" said Tremaine, and he turned away with evident contempt.

At this moment he was met by Miss Lyttleton, the lady whom we mentioned in a former chapter, as having excited in him inextinguishable dislike, from certain masculine tastes, which had made him confer upon her the title of the man woman.

He started when he saw, or rather when he resolved not to see, her broad hand stretched out, and inviting his to a grasp, which he declined encountering. He bowed and endeavoured to pass on.

66

Why, what can be the matter with the man!" cried the surprised female; " do you think I'm a bear, and would hug you to death ?"

"He is not quite sure," observed Mrs. Neville, who had seen the rencontre.

"That is so like you," returned Miss Lyttleton;