414 Paul de Walberg. 



I did so, and, mounting the steps, we entered a roomy hall, abounding 

 in architectural decoration. Lights were about the house, and we 

 were received by several domestics in substantial-looking liveries. I 

 had not much time for observation, for my conductor led the way 

 quickly to the upper story, and, throw ing open a door, ushered me into 

 an apartment, richly, even splendidly, furnished. 



The room was illuminated, as if for company; and, advancing to 

 a lady seated on a sofa at the other end of the room, Walberg in- 

 troduced me to his sister. His easy and polished address soon made 

 the conversation general, and my host, his sister, and myself, were,, 

 in a short time, on excellent terms with each other. I found her a 

 person of much information, evidently one who had mixed with the , 

 world, and possessed of the same prepossessing manners as her bro- ' 

 ther. Her age I took to be about two and twenty ; and to a beau- 

 tiful face and slender figure she added the graces of good nature. 

 Without affectation, her appearance was calculated to make a de- 

 cided impression ; and, had I not, at that time, been travelling fast 

 on towards forty, might have stood some risk from her fascinations. 

 My character had, however, been always particularly sedate and 

 unromantic ; and, even in youth, I think I could have gone through 

 the ordeal uninfluenced. 



As I hud anticipated, company was expected. This, I learnt, was 



the case nearly every evening. While resident in P , they were 



accustomed to mix much with society ; but on retiring to a country 

 residence, some forty or fifty miles from town, which had been in 

 their family for years, their visits to which were long and frequent, 

 they were in the habit of living, by choice, entirely secluded. The 

 number of those expected was, however, somewhat limited ; and the 

 evening was passing off agreeably enough. Conversation, cards, 

 and music, supplied sufficient amusement ; and a small though 

 splendid banquet wound up the entertainments of the evening. The 

 company, however, retired early, and by one o'clock I was at home 

 and in bed. 



Short as I had anticipated my stay was now doomed to be, that of 

 Walberg at his town residence was still shorter. His removals were 

 frequently capricious; but, on this occasion, business of some impor- 

 tance required his presence in the country. I was soon informed of 

 the journey and its cause, accompanied with pressing invitations, if 

 the place to which they were going lay at all in my way, that I 



would, on leaving P , pay them a friendly visit, and remain as 



long as might be compatible with my current avocations. Their be- 

 haviour was so extremely friendly, and their request, seemingly, so 

 very sincere, that it was with great reluctance I declined the invita- 

 tion. Inadvertently, however, I happened to mention the towns I 

 was appointed to take in my route after leaving the city ; ami, seizing 

 the ppportunity, they declared the variation of distance would be 

 nothing, and insisted that I should take their residence in iny way. 

 After some difficulty, I found myself obliged to comply. To tell 

 the truth, this arrangement was the reverse of disagreeable 1 , for I 

 had become attached to Walberg's society, and fancied I should find 

 in his place of residence a gratifying relief from the uniformity of 



