friends do hint that his connexions, not being on a par with mine in fact, they say he wishes his wife to be 'my lady'-that I should not heed if I loved him; I should be proud of my poor distinction, if it gratified the man of my choice." The lady pressed rather harder than needful on the stout short arm of Athelstan of Coningsburg. He coloured, and wild visions, prompted by that gentle pressure, acting on a brain excited by champagne, danced before his lack-lustre eyes. "May I have the honour of calling on you to-morrow?" he asked. 66 'Yes; come at two......Oh! I forgot that Lindsay has been imploring me to be at home to him at two! He has something of great importance, poor fellow! to uige." "I, too, have....I mean....in short.... I should wish to see you alone...." "Mr. Lindsay!" said Lady Jane, arresting that gentleman, who was passing by with a glass of lemonade for Rebecca, "I cannot VOL. II. P receive you to-morrow-circumstances render it impossible-do not urge it." Mr. Lindsay, much surprised, since it was the lady had entreated him to call, bowed coldly, and hurried on. "How surprised and hurt he is! Poor fellow! you see he could not speak." "And dare I hope, lovely Lady Jane, that, having so decidedly rejected him, you will admit me ?" "I have....sacrificed him to you!" "May the devotion of my life repay the debt!" "I have rejected him, but I cannot reject Alas! the weakness of a woman's you! heart!" "Then may I come to-morrow, in the happy character of an accepted lover?" "Yes. And now hand me to my carriage. Look at that window: I declare it is broad day! I must draw my veil over my face, I feel such tell-tale blushes on my cheek. How the rooms have thinned during this interesting conversation!— every one is going. Quick, I see Lindsay hastening from an inner room. I am not equal to an encounter with him. Happy dreams!.... Farewell." In a month, poor Lady Jane Belville was the rich Lady Jane Jackson! END OF VOL. II. LONDON: F. SHOBERL, JUN., 51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET, PRINTER TO H. R. H. PRINCE ALBERT. |