The

left the determination to Geraldine. fair applicants now thought themselves sure of success: a hundred plays were proposed, and the first evening almost specified; but though pressed, solicited, and flattered, Geraldine modestly, but firmly, declined bearing a part in any such arrangement. Through the mask of affected sentiment, she saw very well what passed in Matilda's mind. She had observed a cloud gather on her black and heavilydefined brow at the very mention of the word "readings;" and no prospect of gratification to her own vanity, by the display of an additional talent, could tempt her wilfully to hurt her cousin's feelings; for Geraldine valued love far more than admiration. Lady Louisa pressed her hand, in silent approval of her judicious forbearance; cards were introduced, and put a period to discussions that began to grow unpleasant.

Thus terminated Geraldine's presentation to the society of her Irish friends.

During the whole scene, sir Charles had enjoyed the admiration she excited with a politely-repressed, yet scarcely-repressed, feeling of pride and pleasure. He had, indeed, with a secret anxiety, of which no one, from his gay and nonchalant manners, would have believed him capable, weighed every expression, and scrutinized every opinion, uttered that day on the subject of the fair stranger; and on parting for the night, he could not forbear congratulating her, in his foreign and courtly manner, on having had un succès complet.

CHAP

CHAPTER IV.

Io credo essere la calamíta dei pazzi. In casa mia non ci piovono, ei tempestano.

GOLDONI. La Donna di Maneggio.

SIR Charles Southwell was formed to strike at first sight. Though no longer young, his figure was elegant; and to fine features were united that ingenuous sweetness, that openness of countenance, generally supposed the surest index of an amiable mind, though, too often, alas! completely separated from it. Geraldine bore a marked, though feminine resemblance to him, which Matilda did not; and for this or some other reason, the partiality of the baronet towards his new and fair inmate became every day more apparent: yet, at the same time, she could not help observing, that his manner, which, to

every other woman was habitually what is termed philandering, was to her alone -to one of the most attractive and fascinating of her sex, ever delicately respectful as it was cordially kind. With this one exception, Geraldine could see in his conduct but little to praise, and much to disapprove. During the first years of his marriage, no one had been more talked of in the gay world than sir Charles Southwell; and it was not till he had considerably involved his estates, and spent a great part of the fortune lady Louisa brought him, that he began to think seriously of retrenching. The mind of lady Louisa seemed to rise with the exigencies of her circumstances, and she, at that period, displayed energy and resources, that, to a man of feeling and principle, would have endeared her for ever. Instead of idly repining at the deprivation of that gaiety and splendour to which she had been accustomed, this excellent woman acquiesced at once in a plan of retirement and digni

fied economy, the best calculated to retrieve the effects of her husband's ruinous extravagance. She did more; and, by pointing out to him the great improvements of which the estate was capable, was the means, in a few years, of greatly increasing the value of that property he had done his best to impair. Conscious of her superiority, sir Charles appeared to resign all power into her hands. While lady Louisa devoted the morning to active and personal superintendence of her many useful or benevolent plans, sir Charles, extended on a couch, listened to French novels, or played with his great Spanish dog Lara, or at other times recreated himself with the reverend Mr. Preston at a game of billiards. The state of his health, indeed, furnished him with some apology for this apparent supineness. For two years past, it had been visibly declining. The slightest cold was sure to bring on a dangerous inflammation of the chest; and country air, regular hours, and attention

to