There! do you see that lady? Who in the name of wonder is she, Laneton? It must be Juno herself, I think, come down from Olympus, expressly to honour you."

He pointed to the lady whom our readers have already seen in the Park, and who, in a dress of pale blue satin, looked even more gloriously handsome than she had done in her equestrian habit. A few diamonds, attached to some sprigs of foliage, gleamed amid the masses of her rich black hair. She had disposed herself for admiration. Her attitude -even to the folds of her dress-was arranged with an eye to the highest effect. That deep ingrained colour, often seen in dark complexions, which never leaves the cheek, though animation gives it a deeper glow, illuminated her face, and added to the flashing brilliancy of her splendid eyes. She received the attentions of the gentlemen who clustered round her chair as the homage justly due to her charms, and repaid it with smiles, which beautifully dimpled her cheeks, and gave to view her fine teeth.

Mr. Laneton, replying to the question of Freeborn, said

"That lady is a connection of mine—a cousin of some degree-I am sure I forget

what. She is of good family; and I remember her as a child, but have scarcely seen her since. She has been much abroad; you will remember her name, I dare say-Rhoda Haughton. I didn't much like to notice her, but her mamma begged me to do so for old acquaintance sake; and, after all, it seems nothing could be said against her but that she was wilful and ambitious. She is certainly very handsome. Who would have imagined that the noisy tomboy I recollect her nearly twenty years back, would have grown up into such a woman!"

His admiration was genuine; for her bold beauty, and showy figure and manner, were to his taste. Of a frame still vigorous, and of a sanguine temperament, he had by no means lost his sense of female attractions. But he thought with Buonaparte, that business should be the mistress of a man, and women his toys. He had, therefore, kept himself out of the range of their influence, though scandal, in spite of his correct habits, whispered he was not quite so free from frailty as he desired to be thought.

"What a fine prize she would be to any man who had nous enough to break her well in!" said Freeborn. "Egad-such a

Katharine would require a bold Petruchio, though!"

"I dare say," Mr. Laneton réplied carelessly. "Most women are spoiled by being made too much of. I suppose they understand what sort of persons they have to deal with, and play their cards accordingly."

As they approached the proud beauty, she was engaged in a discussion on the politics of the Continent. She was universally accomplished; and, in her travels through Europe, had acquired a masculine spirit of confidence, which broke out in her conversation. Original and fearless, it a little startled some of her admirers, who had been used to the correct young-ladyism of the drawingroom; but Mr. Laneton admired it for its freedom from what he called "all nonsense." That evening she exhausted all her arts of attraction. She was ambitious, and ardently desired to escape from the narrow means and annoying embarrassments of her home. She played, not for the mere gratification of her vanity, but for a more substantial object; and it was something to know that she had at least made her host admire her.

CHAPTER XXII.

Oft is an upright heart the surest guide,
Surer and better than the subtlest head;

Still with its silent counsels thro' the dark
Onward and onward leading.

ROGERS.

SMITH and Damer had meanwhile retired from the throng, at the invitation of Bellstar, to discuss the offer which had been made him. His own feeling would have led him to promptly decline it; but, as Mr. Laneton would evidently have deemed his refusal the act of a madman, he resolved to seek the opinion of friends on whose judgment he could rely.

Smith, without hesitation, advised his acceptance of the offer, and backed his advice by some excellent arguments.

"I have no reason to favour the government, Heaven knows!" he said, "I am bound to the other party by every sentiment

of conviction and interest. The policy they support is unjust to agriculture, though it may swell the bloated fortunes of some moneydealers. But you see how the matter stands. No other government is possible just now; and you have a right, Bellstar, to look to yourself. In the place proposed for you, you may on all questions of economic policy be content with giving a silent vote, and avoid committing yourself to the opinions of the Manchester people. The place is something; but the seat in Parliament is more. While parties are fighting their battles, you will be gaining experience and reputation; and, should Stanley come in by and by, your accession will be all the more valuable that you are won from the enemy's ranks, and have acquired some official knowledge. I say, accept by all means. The tide happens to be running out just now; go with it. When it returns, let it float you back to us again."

Damer spoke with more reserve, and with the natural calmness of spirit which led him to philosophise almost unconsciously.

"It is always difficult to counsel our friends," he said, "because it is so hard to

know what desires they have really at heart.

VOL. I.

X