their return to Belgrave Square, Lady Horton had written and despatched a letter to her brother, which doubtless would ensure his arrival by the time fixed for Sir Horace's.

CHAPTER VIII.

"J'amerais volontiers toutes les personnes; je ne guis aimer aucun masqué."-A. Karr.

"Some minds require the full blaze of prosperity to develop their character, while others are seen in their truest light under the chill of adversity; just as some flowers blossom only under a torrid sun, and others flourish nowhere but in freezing climes."

ELLEN in her turn had to relate her interview with Mr. Cavendish, who she asked to return to the cottage to dinner, as Lady de Quincy wished to enlist his services in her great 'scheme of benevolence, a part of which could not but speak strongly to his feelings, when he reflected how homeless

his own high-born wife might have become but for one relation.

"You will be surprised, Ellen," remarked Lady Horton, as she was spending a morning, as she now did many, at the cottage, you will be surprised to hear that I am going, almost self-invited too, to pass two days at Mrs. Bolton's villa at Twickenham."

Self-invited, dear Julia!" cried Ellen; "why, to the commission of what heinous sin do you deem such penance necessary? Ah, no," she added, laughing, "it is on Eddy's account that you are meditating this sacrifice; but why not let him remain here, where he might run about in the open air all day ?"

"But," interrupted Lady Horton, suppose Eddy was my second, and Mrs. Bolton my first object in this visit? I see your amazement, but when I have related an event which has been occupying the fashionable

world for the last fortnight you will comprehend, and if I mistake not, sympathise in my altered feelings towards Mrs. Bolton."

;

In a few words Lady Horton portrayed the disgraceful scene which had occurred on the evening of that lady's concert; of the subsequent neglect of the guests; spoke of Mrs. Bolton's genuine feeling and propriety of conduct under her husband's possible reverse of fortune; of her retiring to Twickenham when the alarm was proved to be unfounded and of the mean and paltry subterfuges by which Lady Janet had endeavoured to get herself reinstalled in Mrs. Bolton's favour, with the avowed hope of inducing her to give some fétes at Twickenham, of which her ladyship would condescend to become the patroness. "I am sorry to add," continued Lady Horton, "that Lady Janet, though the most prominent, is not the only woman of rank who has been guilty of this littleness of

and un

conduct, and who unblushingly and sparingly ridicules Mrs. Bolton while seeking to be again entertained at her expense. She has herself behaved admirably under these trials. Not a word of complaint did she utter when she found herself deserted by all these worldly women; not a sound of exultation has she expressed at their again seeking her. She seems to have learned as rapidly as truly, that however her wealth, and the power it gave her of administering to their pleasures, might make her tolerated among them, it was but as a necessary evil that she was permitted even to participate in the festive scenes that wealth supplied."

"Nature must have given her not only an upright heart, but no inconsiderable share of common sense, "observed Lady de Quincy. "It is worthy of you to give her your support, and to endeavour to confirm her present sensible ideas."