316 THE LOVER OF BEAUTY; 



vanished gaieties : he flew towards her, and rallied her, lightly 

 and agreeably, upon her absence from the family circle : the 

 romantic brilliancy that illumined her while silent, faded when 

 with affectation and insipidity she declared that " the monotony 

 of the house was triste to a degree, and that, persuaded by Mrs. 

 Atherstone, she had ventured forth in search of variety, certainly 

 not anticipating a rencontre with the Captain, who, she under- 

 stood, had departed upon some angling excursion." " Yet this 

 sublime-looking creature found her way to the bridge, whispered 

 the silver tones of vanity in the not-unwilling ear of the Captain, 

 who, pleased with the sort of interest implied by the Lady 

 Eleanor's approach to the spot, and her mode of attracting his 

 attention, felt more disposed than formerly to be gratified with 

 his companion. That she was a woman of high family, young, 

 beautiful, and distinguee in manner no cynic could deny, and for 

 her understanding — why — "many women had no minds at all." 

 So reasoned the Captain, and so reasoning, he turned with an 

 air of infinite animation to the titled belle, while a compliment, 

 worthy a votary of Almack's, conveyed his delighted surprise at 

 a meeting so desired yet so unhoped for. It was received as such 

 tribute usually is by the fashionable and conscious fair, and the 

 gallant soldier offering his arm to Lady Eleanor, proposed 

 extending their walk. " But the grass might be damp, the paths 

 incommodious," and he glanced at the small and symmetrical foot 

 which, cased in a brodequin of peau bronzee, embroidered with 

 gold, he deemed it imprudent to submit to further intimacy with 

 the dewy sward. His greys, his dashing greys and phaeton would 

 now be useful, and he hastily suggested a ride round the park, 

 entreating Lady Eleanor to permit of his escorting her to the 

 saloon, prior to his ordering the vehicle. The Lady assented 

 with a smile, which, in the opinion of the intoxicated Henry, were 

 cheaply purchased at a monarch's ransom ; and while she was 

 carelessly arranging the folds of her shawl in a style of classic 

 elegance, the young soldier viewed her with an admiration which, 

 however ardent, did not prevent his volunteering and rendering 

 much important assistance in the task. A degree of confusion 

 stole over her Ladyship's countenance as she received the assi- 

 duous attentions of the half enamoured officer, and it could not 

 escape the notice of her officious assistant, that a bright blush, 

 which she vainly endeavoured to veil with her unruly blonde, 

 suffused her cheek and brow. The embarrassment was infectious, 

 and something more than the mere homage of gallantry stole 

 into the countenance of the Captain, as he strove to peep 

 beneath the down-cast lids, pure as the Parian marble, which 

 drooped over her bewitching eyes, while she affected to disengage 

 her robe from a willow stem which was most innocent of trespass. 

 At this lover-like moment a light and playful laugh broke upon 

 the stillness, and, simultaneously, a laurel leaf struck the gallant 

 Captain upon the breast; it was, emblematically, followed by a 



