"How do you like Mr. Temple?" she demanded. "Is he handsome?"

Decidedly not," was the blunt reply.

"He speaks well; so does Glenorme." Florence was silent.

"Which is the more eloquent of the two?" continued Lady Cecilia, who seemed bent on deciphering our heroine's inmost thoughts.

"Lord Glenorme is not eloquent; Mr. Temple is an orator."

Lady Cecilia bit her lip. "Do you always speak the

truth?"

"The truth, and nothing but the truth," was our heroine's uncompromising reply.

Lady Cecilia was silent; she did not speak again until the gentlemen entered the drawing-room. The conversation was general; but, before the evening was half over, Lord Glenorme found himself carrying on a lively dialogue with Cecilia and Florence.

Mr. Temple stood by, not joining in the conversation, but smiling gravely, from time to time, at Lady Cecilia's sallies.

"Gentlemen, have you no curiosity to learn Miss Dudley's opinion anent you?" said her ladyship, turning from one to the other, with an arch glance in her eye. "Cecilia!" cried Florence, imploringly.

"Florence, as you are strong, be merciful!" and Lady Cecilia held up a lace flounce which displayed a deplorable fracture, thanks to Miss Dudley's energetic appeal.

"I beg your pardon, Cecilia; but

"Heaven save me from my friends!" cried Cecilia, as she arranged the delicate folds of her lace dress, so as best to conceal the accident.

"We await your verdict in breathless suspense, Miss Dudley," said Lord Glenorme, fixing his eyes upon our heroine's blushing countenance.

Lady Cecilia looked up,-" Miss Dudley awards the palm of beauty to my Lord Glenorme; the eloquent

tongue, to Mr. Temple. Which is the brighter gift of the two?"

Both gentlemen bowed-one gaily, the other sedately. "If there be truth in Voltaire (which there is not), I claim the foremost place in Miss Dudley's favour," said Lord Glenorme, laughing.

"After all, Voltaire's opinion of woman was more favourable than the verdict of the wisest of men. Voltaire, in his cynicism, pronounced one true in a hundred; Solomon, in all his glory, found not one-in a thousand."

Lady Cecilia's mocking laugh broke in upon Mr. Temple's grave speech.

"What say you to a fancy ball, Cecil?" said Lord Glenorme, with sudden animation. "Such a gala would be an appropriate festivity to celebrate my return to the neighbourhood."

Lady Cecilia clapped her hands; Miss Dudley's eyes sparkled with delight.

His lordship resumed: "I will don my Syrian cos

tume

"Pooh, Glen!" interrupted Lady Cecilia, maliciously; "Miss Dudley would prefer you as a gay cavalier."

"Cecilia," said a clear, musical voice, which made her start, "I have heard your voice too often this evening. Oblige me by playing an accompaniment to Geraldine on the harp."

Lady Cecilia was tuning the harp, before the words had fairly died away on Lady Wentworth's lips. Certainly, her movements were too rapid for grace.

"Glenorme," continued her ladyship, who seemed bent upon breaking up the happy coterie, "Lord Ullswater is waiting to cross-question you on Turkish politics."

Lord Glenorme rose, bowed, and very reluctantly joined the noble Marquis, for whom he entertained no cordial liking.

Lady Wentworth had not finished her strictures.

"Miss Dudley," she said, in a low, measured tone, "you are young and unsophisticated. Take the advice of a friend; attach yourself less to the society of gentlemen" Florence bounded from her chair. "There is a vacant seat by Mrs. Gerald Herbert."

Florence checked the retort which rose to her lips, but she could not quell the fire which gleamed in her eye. No human being, save her father, had ever uttered words of rebuke, still less of taunt, to her. Her haughty spirit ill-brooked reproof from a stranger, although that stranger were Countess of Wentworth. Her ladyship did not trouble herself to analyze the sentiments which sent the warm blood to Miss Dudley's cheeks and called up a lambent flame in her eye; she was obeyed; she cared not to penetrate beneath the surface.

66

Cecilia," said Florence, as she paused to bid her friend good-night, "how long does Mrs. Gerald Herbert stay at the Castle?"

Lady Cecilia yawned, and shrugged her shoulders. "I do not know. She has carte blanche, and uses it. She is useful to mamma."

Florence sighed. "I dislike her very much, and I have a shrewd suspicion that she dislikes me."

Lady Cecilia looked grave. "Do not offend her, Florence. She carries everything before her."

"Is it possible? Does Lady Wentworth stoop to?”› "My dear Florence, it is not for me to analyze my mother's motives; be warned, avoid Mrs. Herbert as much as you please, but do not offend her."

Florence said no more, but she was both surprised and dismayed at the important post filled by Mrs. Herbert in the councils of the lady of the castle. Cecilia hesitated a moment, then said quickly,-" Then she plots, then she ruminates, then she devises, and what they think in their hearts they may effect, they will break their hearts but they will effect. 'Forewarned is forearmed.””

With this oracular speech Lady Cecilia darted off, leaving our heroine in a state of blissful perplexity.

151

CHAPTER XV.

LORD! what fools these mortals be!

Midsummer Night's Dream.

On sera ridicule et je n'oserai rire !

BOILEAU.

FLORENCE," cried Lady Cecilia, running into her friend's room, and interrupting her in the middle of a letter she was inditing to her father, "come to the library, directly. Glenorme has persuaded mamma to give a fancy ball; all the world are busy studying prints, costumes, and sic awfu' vanities."

Florence waited for no second bidding; she started up, and throwing pen and paper aside, pronounced herself ready. The two girls found the guests assembled in the library, examining prints, and comparing notes, with breathless eagerness. If a matter of life and death had been under consideration, greater acumen could scarcely have been brought to bear upon it by the gentlemen, or more wit by the ladies. The latter were inspired, they trod on air. Florence remembered her essay upon "Vanity;" she smiled, but said nothing.

Lord Wentworth stood upon the hearthrug, watching the eager throng, with a good-humoured smile; Lady Wentworth, bending gracefully over a huge portfolio, which contained an enviable collection of prints, appealed from time to time to Lord Ullswater, to decide which costume would best become his beautiful fiancée. Lord Glenorme, absorbed in the contemplation of a magni

ficent Turkish costume, was wrapt in mute admiration thereof; Mr. Temple stood aloof.

There was a laughing devil in his eye, but the corners of his mouth did not relax into a smile.

Lady Cecilia stole noiselessly to the side of her brother; Florence, remembering Lady Wentworth's advice, with heightened colour, drew near to Lady Geraldine. The haughty beauty did not look up or make room for her unbidden companion; she allowed her to stand, unnoticed, by her side.

The two girls made a lovely picture; the graceful form and classical features of Lady Geraldine (she bore a strange resemblance to a Grecian statue) contrasted finely with the slight, elastic figure and sparkling countenance of our heroine.

Lord Wentworth contemplated them with mingled feelings; he muttered in a half-audible whisper :

"I've seen more beauty, ripe and real,

Than all the nonsense of your stone ideal.""

A sudden thought passed through his mind; he advanced into the middle of the room, and, raising his voice above the deep tones of the gentlemen, and the silvery murmurs of the ladies, said," Good people, allow me to fix upon two characters for our fancy ball." There was a murmur of assent; all pressed forward to listen.

"I decree, and my decrees like those of the Medes and Persians, admit of no appeal, that Florence Dudley and Geraldine Percival shall personate Day and Night at our fancy ball."

Lady Cecilia clapped her hands, joyously; it was a childish action, in which she indulged when much pleased; Lady Geraldine drew herself up, and glanced furtively at her mother; Florence coloured deeply, and drew back, abashed.

However Lord Wentworth's decision might militate against the wishes of some of the ladies, not a dissentient voice was raised. All acknowledged that Day