OR WHICH WILL HE WED ? 309 



besides we have neither balls nor billiards, vingt-et-un nor ecarte, 

 to make the two ends of the day answerable for the tedium of 

 the interim : and although the duties of the toilet may be, 

 economically, protracted till the dinner-bell rings, I am au desespoir 

 for the soiree alas ! * tout est perdu in this gothic wilderness. It 

 is true there are some faded pictures of the ' olden time,' as the 

 poets say, in the gallery — a Rembrandt and a Titian, I believe — 

 and you will find a few bronzes and marbles, some specimens of 

 ancient armour, together with some other articles of virtu hidden 

 in the recesses of the thousand and one chambers that dignify 

 this mansion of my ancestors." 



*'Ihave not the slightest doubt of passing my time most 

 agreeably,, my dear Madam," returned the Captain, cursing his 

 insincerity the while, " beside the curiosities which you have 

 named, and which I feel persuaded must be replete with attrac- 

 tion, I understand that you have a fine piece of water on the 

 grounds, and that there is some capital trout fishing.' 



" Report has spoken truth," replied Mrs. Atherstone, '' and if 

 you are unprovided, Bennett can supply you with a rod and 

 tackle not to be surpassed, in his opinion, by any in the kingdom : 

 the old man had some notion of dedicating it to the shade of 

 Walton, but I have no question that he will feel proud of 

 entrusting it to the care of so accomplished an angler as Captain 

 Atherstone." 



" Thank you — thank you, my dear Madam," exclaimed the 

 Captain, somewhat nettled by her implied sarcasm, and willing 

 to draw the conversation to a close, " I am no professed sports- 

 man ; and, in fishing, venture to throw a line merely by way of 

 amusement." 



"Doubtless," rejoined his companion, "should you, therefore, 

 to vary your amusement in the autumn, explore our woods and 

 thickets, you will again find Bennett a useful auxiliary, and I 

 perceive that your Manton has not been forgotten." 



" My Manton : oh, no ! Madam, I never travel without it ; — 

 it is an excellent double-barrelled fowling-piece, made upon the 

 most approved principles" — " And calculated to do infinite 

 damage to the feathered unfortunates that come within reach of 

 its influence ;" interrupted " the elderly," who, after a momentary 

 pause, continued, " my cousin. Lady Eleanor Byrne, will visit 

 us shortly, and I charitably hope that the addition of her society 

 will help to enliven the monotony of our rural abode." 



" If she resemble her relation," thought the young officer, " she 

 will, in truth, be a pretty addition to the coterie." 



"Harry," exclaimed Colonel Atherstone, entering the room, 

 " what say you to a ramble ? I perceive that you are abattu, 

 and I think the fresh air in a canter round the park would do 

 benefit to both." ** Selina! my love," he returned, addressing 

 Mrs. A. "I will carry him away from you — he's but poor com- 

 pany at present; our hills and plains are too rude and venerable 



