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dy Louisa immediately perceived the mistake committed by her footman Robert, who had an inveterate habit of substituting one name or title for another, and who, for a number of similar errors, had acquired in the family the more familiar and appropriate appellation of Blundering Bob. Fearful of its consequences on Geraldine, when prepared to meet so very different a person, she lost no time in announcing the stranger to her, as the mar quis of Beaudesert, adding, as she turned to him-"We have at length, my lord, got the young lady among us, whose absence you heard us so often lament as the greatest break in our circle-this is Miss Geraldine Southwell."

Notwithstanding his apparent infirmities, the spectre rose and bowed; and Geraldine internally smiled at the effect of prepossession, when she caught herself almost fancying she could trace, in his wasted features, a likeness, of outline at least, to those of Montfort; while an indescribable

expression

expression of loftiness and dignity was still diffused over his shattered frame. Terror was quickly succeeded by curiosity to know what fatal cause had brought on such a wreck, which, as she examined the countenance of the marquis more attentively, she found reason to think was premature; and before the end of the visit, this curiosity was again converted into interest, by the taste, politeness, and information his lordship's conversation displayed. As these changes were rapidly passing through the mind of Geraldine, lord O'Melvyl and the count di San Carlos were announced; and this time she was not disappointed, for Montfort himself stood before her. The interesting appearance of the two young men, who seemed fondly united, was in advantageous contrast to that of the marquis. Though equally handsome, nothing could be more different than their style of countenance; that of San Carlos being decidedly Italian, while lord O'Melvyl's united much that

was

was peculiar to Germany, with the gay, frank, winning expression that distinguishes the sons of Erin. He wore the uniform of an aide-de-camp of the Castle, and looked in high spirits and remarkably handsome. On Geraldine Southwell's re-introduction to him under his new title, he bowed profoundly, and then, taking her hand, slightly touched it with his lips. Recovering immediately, as from a momentary abstraction, he, in seeming confusion, asked a thousand pardons for a liberty into which, he said, he had been betrayed, from having lived so much abroad, where the custom was pretty general on being presented to a lady.

Geraldine smiled, and accepted the apology, but could not help recollecting that such fits of absence had never seized him at Meadowscourt." This is one of the instances, I suppose," she said to herself, "of the ease which marks security to please;' respecting which Miss O'Reilly warned me."

Lord

Lord O'Melvyl now approached the marquis, to remind him of some appointment, and to express his readiness to accompany him. During their conversation Geraldine learnt from lady James, that O'Melvyl, gay and dissipated as he was reputed in some respects to be, would never join a party, or make an engagement that could interfere with the daily attentions he had accustomed himself to pay his only-surviving parent.-" A father's love is to him a new delight," thought Geraldine," and he enjoys those feelings with all the relish of an untried luxury."

The visitors departed before Miss Southwell and Miss O'Reilly returned—a circumstance which was loudly deplored by the latter, and secretly regretted by the former lady.“ That was very ill-natured of them, I must say," cried Miss O'Reilly; " for lord O'Melvyl and the count di San Carlos have quite made a conquest of me; they are such dear young men—and the worst of it is, they both keep never-mind

ing! I love to see them so united-it is so generous of San Carlos, who has lost such noble expectations by O'Melvyl. But tell me," she added, turning to Geraldine, "did lord O'Melvyl give himself any of the airs he is trying to bring into fashion ?" "He only kissed Geraldine's hand, and then begged pardon," said lady Louisa. "And did not he blush most becomingly, and

say it was a custom at all foreign courts? That is what he says to all the ladies, and is thus perpetually trespassing and begging pardon, upon the plea of early education. He did so the other day to me."

Geraldine had annexed no importance to this little incident, yet felt vexed to discover that she experienced a sort of mortification, on the good-humoured Miss O'Reilly's describing O'Melvyl's manner as being exactly the same to herself. Ashamed of this little femality, as "uncle Selby" would have called it, she determined carefully to conceal it.

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