86 Opposite Neighbours. 



with black legs, and a star on his forehead. With respect to the general 

 habits of the family, they were early risers, and dined at eight o'clock. 

 The beautiful baby was the pet of both ladies, and lived chiefly in the 

 drawing-room ; and I observed that Ellen frequently accompanied him 

 and his nurse in their early walks, attended by a footman. 



The Seymours occupied the whole of my timej I gave up all parties 

 for the present, on the score of business, and I assure you it was quite 

 as much as one person could do conveniently to look to them. From 

 discoveries I made, the family speedily became very interesting to me, 

 I may say painfully interesting. Now I am not at all given to romance 

 or high-flying notions, seeing that I am but seldom known to invent 

 anything j what I am about to relate, may safely be relied on as the 

 result of an accurate though painful investigation. * 



Before communicating these discoveries to my readers, I pause, even 

 on the threshhold. I have endeavoured to bespeak their interests for the 

 fair Ellen, as I felt a deep one for her myself, but, truth must out, it 

 is my duty. 



From the first day of the arrival of the Seymours, as I shall continue 

 to designate them, I had been struck by the evident dejection of Lady 

 Seymour. I frequently observed her, when alone, bury her face in her 

 hands, as she leant upon a small table beside the couch on which she sat. 



The work, or the book, or the pencil, for she drew, was invariably 

 thrown aside when her husband or her young sister quitted the apartment. 

 The fine little baby seemed her greatest pleasure. He was a wild, strug^ 

 gling little fellow, full of health and spirits, almost too much for her 

 delicate frame, and apparently weak state of health. She could not her- 

 self nurse him long together, but I observed that the nurse was very 

 frequently in the room with her, and that the fond mother followed and 

 watched her little darling almost constantly. She was surrounded by 

 luxuries by wealth. Her husband, in appearance at least, was one whom 

 all women must admire j one of whom a wife might feel proud ; she 

 had a beautiful child - } she was young, lovely, titled. What then could 

 be the cause of this dejection ? What could it be ? I redoubled my 

 attention : I was the last to retire and the first to rise. I determined to 

 discover this mystery. 



One morning I discerned her weeping weeping bitterly. Her bedroom 

 was in the front of the house ; she was walking backwards and 

 forwards between the wndow and the opened folding doors, her handker- 

 chief at her eyes. At first I thought she might have the toothache, 

 not being given as I before said to romance j then I suspected her con- 

 finement was about to take place, but no, that could not be. No Mr. 

 Blagden appeared his carriage had not even been at her door for more 

 than a week ; at which I was rather surprised. She was evidently and 

 decidedly weeping, I ascertained that beyond a doubt. A flash of 

 light beamed across my mind ! I have it ! thought I, perhaps her hus- 

 band's affections are estranged. Could it be possible ? Husbands are 

 wayward things, I felt glad that I was not a husband. 



A kind of disagreeable and tormenting suspicion at that moment 

 strengthened my belief; a suspicion that how shall I speak it ? perhaps 

 he might love the beautiful Ellen. I tried to banish the idea : but cir- 

 cumstances, lightly passed over before, returned now in crowds to my 

 recollection to confirm me in it. From that moment I renewed my 



