88 Opposite Neighbours. 



from which they usually returned long before Lady Seymour made her 

 appearance in the drawing-room. 



A very handsome man, with a viscount's coronet on hi cab, was a fre- 

 quent visitor in Upper Brook Street. I doubted not but that he was an 

 admirer of and suitor to the feir Ellen. Yet she slighted him ; he was 

 entirely indifferent to her : otherwise why did she often leave the drawing 

 room during his very long morning visits, and sit reading in the window 

 of a room upstairs, or playing with the baby in the nursery, leaving her 

 sister to entertain him ? The reason was too evident; cruel and heartless 

 Ellen ! My heart bled more and more for the poor wife ; I absolutely 

 began to hate Ellen. 



At length closed bedroom shutters, hurry and bustle, cart-loads of 

 straw, and the galloping chariot of Mr. Blagden, announced the accouche- 

 ment of Lady Seymour. All seemed happily over before the house was 

 closed for the night. 



Sir Charles and Ellen were in the drawing-room together. The lady's 

 maid rushed into the apartment ; I almost fancied I heard her exclaim, 

 " my lady is safe, and a fine boy." So well did the deceitful Ellen act her 

 joy, she clasped her hands together, and then, in the apparent delight 

 of her heart, shook hands with the maid, who left the room directly. My 

 heart was relenting towards her, as she was flying to follow the woman, 

 no doubt with the intention of hastening to the bedside of her sister ; but 

 no she returned to tenderly embrace Sir Charles before she quitted the 

 drawing-room. At such a time too ! Oh, faithless and cruel Ellen ! 



Sir Charles and Ellen were now more frequently together more in 

 love than ever. They sang together, read together, walked together, 

 played with the little boy together, and nursed the new little baby in tarns. 

 In due course of time poor Lady Seymour recovered, and resumed her 

 station in the drawing room, and then Sir Charles was less frequently 

 at home. I was furious at him as well as at Ellen. All my tender com- 

 passion and interest centred in the unhappy and neglected wife. 



One other instance in corroboration of the justness of my suspicions 

 1 will relate. A miniature painter, whom I knew by sight, came early 

 every morning to the house. Sir Charles was sitting for his picture. 

 One morning, when I concluded it must be nearly finished, Sir Charles 

 and the artist left the house together. I saw the picture lying on the 

 table near the window, in the same spot where the artist had been 

 working at it for nearly two hours before, while Sir Charles was sitting 

 to him. I had not for a moment lost sight of it, and am ready to affirm 

 upon oath that the miniature was the likeness of Sir Charles, and of no 

 one else ; for you must know that I have a small pocket telescope by 

 which I can detect these nice points accurately. Well, Miss Ellen 

 came into the room ; she was alone ; she walked up to the picture, 

 gazed on it for a long while, and will it be believed ? pressed it several 

 times to her lips and then to her heart ! Yes, I am quite sure she 

 pressed it to her heart ; no one can deceive me in that particular. She 

 did not indeed think or guess that any eye observed her. But oh ! Ellen, 

 there was an eye over you that never slumbered, at least very seldom. 

 Things had thus arrived at such a pass, that concealment on my part 

 would have been criminal. My duty was clear, an instant exposure 

 without regard to the feelings of any one. But how could it be accom- 



