OR WHICH WILL HE WED? 311 



sented in such guise to the bright eyes of aristocratical beauty. 

 "Here Bennett, tell Lawrence to take charge of the trout, and 

 you, yourself, look after the rod ;" he flung the man half-a- 

 crown, and ran towards the Abbey by a narrow path bordered 

 with trees, that shielded him from all probable reconnoitre. 

 Lewis, his valet, met him in the hall, and at a sign, instantly 

 prepared to attend him. Never were the duties of the toilet more 

 assiduously performed! no, not even prior to the debut at 

 Almack's : and with auburn locks clustering, daintily, round his 

 fine-formed forehead, an eye kindled with expectation, a bloom 

 mantling upon his cheek, and a faint smile of satisfaction play- 

 ing upon a full lip slightly mounted by a inoustache of most 

 imposing appearance. Captain Henry Atherstone, in his military 

 frock and jeans, issued from his sanctum, to steal a glimpse, if 

 possible, of the high-born Milesian, whose " devoted" he most 

 religiously determined to become. 



*'Pray Heaven, report speak truly in this instance," he ejacu- 

 lated, as he cautiously paced the corridor leading to the draw- 

 ing-room, " even if she be tolerable, I may contrive to pass 

 time in her society without actual ennui : she will be pleasant as 

 a companion in such case; and as a novelty at all events." 

 With these words he found himself nearly opposite the folding 

 doors of the library, which were half-opened: he paused instan- 

 taneously, for his eyes fell upon a stranger, whom he, immedi- 

 ately, felt aware must be the Lady Eleanor Byrne. She was 

 seated upon a couch, her head inclined over a paper which she 

 was apparently perusing with much attention. " What a superb 

 looking creature ! how fortunate !" thought Henry. A brow pure 

 as alabaster, and which, for intellectual sweetness, Minerva 

 might have claimed, was partly shaded by a mass of silken ring- 

 lets that descended, like the drooping tresses of a Naiad, upon 

 her neck and shoulders; long raven lashes gave earnest of dark, 

 brilliant orbs concealed beneath their downcast fringe, and a 

 nose, a mouth and chin of almost sculptural loveliness, com- 

 pleted a countenance, which, for exquisite beauty, tintlessness 

 and repose, bore closer analogy to one of the Grecian busts of 

 antiquity, than resemblance to animated nature. The budding 

 charm and slender gracefulness of a Psyche were displayed in her 

 reclining figure, and a foot which the already enamoured Ather- 

 stone vowed, internally, was the most symmetrical he had ever 

 seen, rested its slight weight upon an embroidered ottoman. 



" What a divinity!" he exclaimed in low, deep and impetuous 

 tones, unable to conceal his emotion. " She is, indeed, beauti- 

 ful," emphatically pronounced a voice at his ear — he started, 

 " the swarthy, ill-favoured and elderly,'' from contrast seeming 

 more ordinary than ever, stood beside him. "Allow me, my 

 dear Captain," she continued, with an arch glance shot like an 

 arrow from her vivacious eyes, " allow me to introduce to you 

 my cousin — a mere child though — the Lady Eleanor Byrne." 



