but be eloquent, because they are for the most part deeply felt. Hamond, when suffering from the misery of knowing his mother's history, bewailed every part of it; but nothing in it, nothing he anticipated as likely to accrue from it, was half so bitter as Lindsay Bathurst's illiberal opinions! His indignation on this head was as a ceaseless and silent torrent, making its way unobserved, till its swelling waters were almost beyond control.

CHAPTER XX.

A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.

Two GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

HAMOND's birthday, the anniversary of his twenty-first year, was fast approaching. Whether, under the influence of happier feelings, he would have rejoiced at this, is not known. He certainly now dreaded it, for his father had resolved on celebrating it by every festivity which is thought most indicative of the joy experienced on such occasions. Mr. Langham, in doing this, had more in view than the mere celebration of his son's coming of age. There were many respectable families in the county, who, he considered, had been withheld by motives of delicacy from prosecuting a farther intimacy with himself and his daughters than that which arises from a formal exchange of calls. These he wished to collect around him, and it was not likely that invitations accompanied by rumours of "races in the park,""dinner to the tenants,"-66 fireworks,' "" amateur concerts and ball," should be generally rejected. They were not; and Matilda began to feel some degree of rational apprehension that, notwithstanding all her father's careful preparations, there would be too many guests.

Hamond was not informed of this conspiracy against his peace till too late to prevent its being put in execution; the same post conveying an invitation to Colonel Hawkins and the officers of the regiment.

"A good opportunity, Langham, for you to play the civil

to all of us: we cannot all go, certainly, but you may politely hope that each will."

"I hope you will, beyond a doubt, colonel."

"Oh, certainly; I never thought of not going; but I want you to tell Bathurst that you hope he will also go. He came back, you know, last night."

"Bathurst! I am afraid, my dear colonel, he would think I meant to insult him."

"Insult! nonsense!-The invitation comes from your father, and must be seconded by you. All I ask, therefore, from you is, a little additional courtesy to him--it would, I think, my good fellow," added the colonel, purposely looking from Hamond and retreating as he spoke, "better help to reconcile you to each other than any other measure."

Hamond felt himself redden to the temples when the proposition was made to him; but as Colonel Hawkins left him before he could pronounce a refusal, he felt that the suggestion must not be disregarded. "Yet," he murmured to himself, "I would rather, if the choice were granted me, take the drum-major-the rub-a-dub of the one being infinitely more pleasing to me than the logic of the other:" -these words however had no sooner escaped him than he felt ashamed of his own weakness and injustice. This pang of conscience was brief but sincere, and occasioned a great and sudden change in his feelings.--" Yes! I will ask, nay, entreat Lindsay Bathurst, should it be needful, if it be only to punish my own weak and despicable heart."

And he proceeded, on the instant, to fulfil his resolve. His execution of it was perhaps in some degree aided by his thoughts recurring to his sisters, as he walked from his own to Captain Bathurst's apartments. "They," he said, "come quite under his ban; and it is well that he should see I do not fear introducing them, even to him."

Pride has been called the dominant sin of intellect; it might also have been termed the master-key of the affections, for it too frequently happens, that all of our internal life bows down before it. The portion that entered into Hamond's mind banished every unpleasant thought from his memory, and enabled him, in an hospitable and elegant manner, to hope Captain Bathurst would "do him the honour of accepting his father's invitation."

Captain Bathurst was greatly astonished; but much pleased. His answer was prompt and frank.

"I shall be happy, Langham, to avail myself of thie opportunity of becoming acquainted with your family, and with you too," he added, as he observed the incredulous expression of Hamond's countenance, "for we have seen astonishingly little of each other."

"Both being blessed, it would seem, with truant dispositions," replied Hamond, "as far as relates to our military duties;" and the conversation then fell on other matters.

Captain Bathurst had so sincerely regretted his late conversation with Hamond, in which he had given such free utterance to his opinions when ignorant of his young friend's peculiar position, that he rejoiced exceedingly in the prospect held out to him of making a practical amende for his words, without retracting his sentiments.

CHAPTER XXI.

Oh! there are looks and tones that dart
An instant sunshine through the heart,
As if the soul that minute caught

Some treasure it through life had sought;
As if the very lips and eyes

Predestined to have all our sighs

And never be forgot again,

Sparkled and spoke before us then!"

MOORE.

Ir is a great advantage to be spoken ill of, though men in general do not so consider it.

Lindsay Bathurst arrived at Langham Court two days after Hamond had represented him as somewhat fastidious and decidedly disagreeable, after Matilda had said it was a pity he had been invited, and Jeannette had pronour it provoking. The impression which he was by nature calculated to make, was from these circumstances considerably heightened. He came, with a countenance beaming with animation and intellect; and, as if to put Hamond's reports VOL. I.-6

more entirely to shame, he entirely abandoned, on this occasion, that reserve of manner which sometimes gave so much umbrage to strangers.

Mr. Langham wondered what Hamond could find objectionable in him. Matilda carefully examined his countenance, and it was a satisfaction to her sisterly feelings to discover (or to imagine she discovered) in an occasional curl of his lip when he smiled, the outward and visible sign of the exclusiveness and illiberality ascribed to him.

Jeannette was not at home when he arrived, and was only introduced to him a few minutes before dinner.

Her graceful movements, her exquisite beauty, the rich and sudden suffusion of her sweet countenance, could scarcely have passed unobserved by any one. To Bathurst, unprepared as he was to see any thing in Jeannette Langham beyond the attraction of a debutante, with perhaps the prettiness of youth, she seemed little less than angelic. He had never before found it difficult to address women of any age or station. But it seemed to him a species of profanation, after he had once looked at Jeannette, to address to her the common nothings of every-day life. It was his good fortune to sit next to her at dinner, and her genuine timidity of manner, which he could see she was endeavouring to overcome, not only restored him to the ease of self-possession, but inspired him with that strong desire to please which rarely fails of success. In a very low and peculiarly sweet voice, he began by asking questions respecting such of her father's guests as he was unacquainted with, and making comments on those whom he knew.

"The lady sitting next my friend Langham is, I think, Lady Everard. She is much altered since I last saw her, and not for the better; even then she had arrived at "le revers de la colline de la beauté."

"It is Lady Everard; but you must take care not to let her know on which side of the hill you think she stands." "You mean, that she has not learned how to grow old gracefully."

No; I mean," said Jeannette, playfully, "that she is still a very handsome woman, and is right so to consider herself."

"Why, perhaps she is. I wish I could so consider her. Report, however, whispers that she is more a rival than a

chaperone to her daughters. They too are here, I think, Miss Langham ?"

"Yes; and one of them very near you.

Care!"

Pray, take

To avoid suspicion, I will ask her to take wine with me. "Lady Mary Milner, may I have the honour ?" &c. &c. Bathurst's spirits were rapidly rising, for he felt that his companion was pleased with him. She, on her part, was conversing, for the first time in her life, with a stranger, not only without embarrassment, but with delight. When the spirits are thus attuned, it matters little what is talked of. Every subject has its charm; and they who have most readily pronounced conversation le sel de tous les plaisirs," have perhaps the most frequently found, upon analysis, that the essence of the charm lay in the conviction that they themselves were interesting to, or respected by, their colloquists.

From time to time, Captain Bathurst suspended his sotto voce dialogue with Jeannette, to address or listen to others, but as frequently renewed it after the momentary interruption.

"Miss Sherrard, I think you said, was fascinating. Is she witty? Sprightly I see she is,-and she seems to have more attentive listeners than anybody ;--that is always a good sign."

"And a true, in this instance," said Jeannette; "you will find her quick, clever, ready with a humour of her own, which, if it is not wit, will entertain you quite as much. People who judge by line and rule think her conceited.”.

"And is she not ?"

L "Not in the least."

"You may perhaps be partial."

“No; others are illiberal."

"What should make them so ?"

"Her success."

"On what is it founded ?”

"Oh! that I must leave you to discover; for I scarcely yet know myself, unless it is that she tells more truth than other people."

"That is being very bold,—I am afraid I shall not like your Miss Sherrard."

"I think," said Jeannette, but very softly," that you must, in spite of yourself."