"I regret, however," persisted Lady Horton, "that this softening power had not been permitted a somewhat longer influence. Under its beneficial effects Mrs. Bolton might have become sensible of the basis on which her sufferance among those she has so assiduously cultivated, rests. She might have perceived that it is not herself, but her wealth which is tolerated. Would you believe it, William, not one woman of rank, out of the many who were her guests, when this affair became whispered, have since left their cards. at her door, except the dowager Duchess of "I shall be sorry for Mrs. Bolton's selfdeception, if it continues," answered Lord Horton; "but I lament to observe, that the circumstance you have just mentioned argues far more against the principles and the unwomanly feelings of persons in our own rank of life, than it can possibly tell against Mrs. Bolton. We cannot blame, however much we may pity, her desire to associate with her superiors. It is vanity which suggests that desire. It is a great weakness—but it involves neither shame nor guilt. But what excuse shall we find-what terms shall we use sufficiently strong to reprobate those who, forgetting their birth and the refinement of conduct which should do honour to their birth, condescend to court the acquaintance of a person, whose vulgarity they have the bad taste to ridicule while receiving her hospitality, and then on the first alarm that the gilding may not be quite so thickly coated as they had been taught to expect, withdraw themselves from the scene, with a want of courtesy which is unpardonable, and a want of feeling which is execrable ?" In the course of the day Lady Horton received a feeling, if not a polished note from Mrs. Bolton, saying that she was going to her villa at Twickenham for a few days, and entreated that she and dear little Eddy would come and visit the flowers. CHAPTER VII. "Be thou blest, Bertram! and succeed thy father All's well that ends well. "Les gens qui écrivent l'histoire s'évertuent en vain à trouver de grandes causes aux évènements; ils oublient la foule de petites habitudes contre lesquelles on ne lutte qu'avec une immense désavantage, et sur lesquelles on remporte rarement la victoire." A. Karr. Ir the simple narrative Ellen had given of herself had inclined Lady de Quincy to undertake a journey to London for the purpose, and on the chance of unravelling the mystery which opposed itself to her happiness, it may be supposed that the knowledge she now possessed, that Lord Enersdale,—the son of that man whose love, and whose loss, had not only influenced, but had held despotic sway over her own life, was her betrothed, and that his joy or his sorrow was also involved and subjugated by this mystery,—had not rendered her inclination less earnest, or her execution less prompt. Lady de Quincy was never tired of asking questions respecting Lord Enersdale, Lady Horton, and Swindon; and Ellen, nothing loth, continued to expatiate on the loved theme, till, at the end of the first day's journey, Lady de Quincy felt as intimately acquainted with it all, as though she had known both brother and sister from their childhood, and had actually passed a portion of her life, as she had once hoped to do, at Swindon. Ellen had already, with her permission, written the heads of Lady de Quincy's |