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tigue of her journey, that she was forced to lie down at the inn at Glenartrey. Bridget sat by, to take care of her, while Cobham was engaged in a dispute with the landlord, and in ordering supper-a meal which he always considered of firstrate importance. Thus favoured by circumstances, Diana took from her trunk an old suit of her brother's clothes, which she always kept among her various grotesque disguises; and having altered her com plexion, as above described, tied up one leg in a red handkerchief, and one arm in a sling, she sallied forth to inquire for Mount Parnassus, where she appeared with the success and éclat that have been already related. Cobham Pendennis was inclined to exhibit great resentment against his sister, but was prevented by Miss Southwell, who interposed, with an air of playful authority, and insisted on a complete forgiveness of the truant. Diana had, in fact, made herself an interest with Miss Southwell, by this extraordinary

"first appearance." Matilda was extremely fond of that good-natured amusement, termed, among our foreign neighbours,

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mystification," and among ourselves, quizzing." In the ready address and aptitude at disguise of Diana Pendennis, she saw materials for a fund of future entertainment.

Miss Southwell and Miss O'Reilly now rose to depart, and Pendennis set off to the inn to welcome his two other nieces. But before the ladies took leave, Matilda directed a very gracious look towards Diana Pendennis, and gave her a warm invitation to take the earliest opportunity of making a visit at Meadowscourt.

CHAP.

CHAPTER V.

For he had left

The wearying place of his unrest, that morn,
With its cold dews, might bathe his throbbing brow,
And with its breath allay the feverish heat

That burnt within. Alas! the gales of morn
Reach not the fever of a wounded heart!

SOUTHEY'S Roderic.

THE morning after these occurrences had taken place at Mount Parnassus, Mr. Montfort was amusing the ladies with reading them the papers, which had just arrived, when he stopped at the following paragraph:-" Whereas a considerable reward has been proclaimed for the immediate apprehension of—”

Who the person thus announced might be, his auditors were not destined to learn; for Mr. Montfort, taking advantage of the entrance of a person on business, who con

ducted

ducted one of lady Louisa's manufactories at Glenartrey, rose, put the paper in his pocket, and, in a degree of agitation he in vain endeavoured to suppress, abruptly quitted the room.

Immersed in the mysteries of calicostamps, and a dispute as to the compara tive merit of foreign and home manufactures, her ladyship scarcely noticed his departure. Miss Southwell vainly tried to discover, in the other papers, an article similar to that of which Montfort had made a seizure; while Geraldine, perceiving her presence no longer wanted at the breakfast-table, rose to follow her accustomed occupation of superintending the out-of-door improvements. This was a pursuit that Geraldine Southwell had lately taken up, and in the prosecution of which she experienced singular satisfaction. Lady Louisa had discovered that she possessed a most correct taste in rural architecture and landscape-gardening. Having no time to devote to such objects

herself,

herself, the demesne of Meadowscourt was immediately submitted to Geraldine's improving hand, and the delighted inmates soon beheld a paradise arise beneath the magic wand of the Armida, at whose creative touch fresh beauties sprung up on every side. In planning new embellishments, Geraldine more than once had occasion to appeal to the judgment of Montfort, whose peculiar studies rendered his taste a most desirable reference in any question relative to landscape-scenery, and the art of producing picturesque effect.

This morning, rather to her surprise and embarrassment, she found herself followed by him. The place where they met was one of the sweetest spots in the spacious pleasure-grounds: it was almost surrounded by artificial roeks, whose rugged sides were enlivened with a tapestry of the greenest moss, intermingled with a thou sand gaily-coloured and sweetly-scented ereepers. The silvery plumage of the swans that sailed on the unruffled bosom

of

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