one of the vices he held as most mean and disreputable, his rage at this avowal was boundless: darting at his wife a scornful glance, he exclaimed, you have. excited my contempt and distrust; never more can I have the slightest reliance on your assertions, except they be indeed supported by the testimony of such a character as the gentleman whom you have so falsely quoted. As to you, madam,' he continued, addressing the trembling Miss Lambert, no longer consider yourself a member of this family; the conduct of their mother is, I regret to say, a lamentable example to my daughters; but I will endeavour to find a person capable of inculcating in them sincerity, truth, a wholesome and judicious restriction of the tongue, and an avoidance of malignant confidence, under the seal of secrecy.'

Mrs. Courtney having sufficient penetration to perceive that it was, not a mo

ment for opposition, was just meditating to try the success of a fainting fit, when Lady Arraglen was announced. The effect of a title on our turbulent party was such as oil is said to produce on the agitated wave; the voices of discord were hushed, and the tumult was no more to be heard.'

Mrs. Courtney dressed her face in smiles, to receive and flatter her noble visitant ; for by flattery did she ever seek to atone for the absence of those graces of manner and conversation in which consist the principal charm of polished society; yet the food so offered was frequently found too coarse for the luxurious palates to which it was presented; they required it more daintily served up; and, although the original morsel might remain the same, it needed for them a garnish of flowers, which the unskilful hand of Mrs. Courtney knew not how to cull.

Κ

146

CHAP. VIII.

In what a labyrinth of nonsense does a man involve himself who labours to maintain falsehood by argument!'

A soldier's honor is as delicate as a woman's; it must not be suspected.

THE curiosity said, by inheritance, to belong to the daughters of Eve, caused the females of the parsonage to await, with considerable solicitude, the departure of Mr. Courtney. Harriet had communicated that part of the conference which had passed in her presence, and an anxiety to know its result rendered the violent noise he made, when closing the door, a sound by no means unacceptable to the ears of the ladies-impatient. Not any thing, howeyer, was yet to be ascertained, as Mr.

Vernon, (again in the library,) was occupied in hearkening to a detail of grievances made by two of his parishioners; who, with a circumlocution, for which the natives of Ireland are proverbial, contrived to detain him two hours by a narration which might have been completed in one-fourth of the time, even making a reasonable allowance for exclamation and digression. Fortunately the attention of our fair expectants was presently diverted to a subject of superior interest; Captain Maxwell having called to announce that intimation had been received by the officer commanding the regiment that they should hold themselves in readiness for an immediate removal to the southern coast.

Somewhat prepared by rumour to expect this intelligence, Maria had hoped to have been able to hear its confirmation with composure; but the practice of years is required effectually to dissemble, and she

was but a novice in the art. Pale, and cold as the mountain snow, trembling as the latest leaf of Autumn in the storm which blasts it, she quitted the room, secretly to vent feelings of sorrow and disappointment too violent for suppression; and her sister perceiving the ghastly hue which her coun tenance assumed, took occasion, in a few moments, to follow her. Having in vain sought each apartment, Harriet proceeded to the garden, where was a small building appropriated to the shelter of plants during the winter months; and to this was she attracted by over-hearing such loud sobs and half stifled groans as could proceed only from a person in much agony of mind or body. Hastily entering, she was terrified to discover Maria kneeling, her head reclined on a wooden bench, her entire appearance denoting so much unfeigned misery, that the affectionate sister, bursting into tears, took her hand, en