THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 143 



admiration. Then I am told he is equally indifferent at 

 all times. She likes riding, and is a beautiful horse- 

 woman, but a groom is her general attendant. She likes 

 female society, but her husband does not, and few of her 

 sex are asked to visit her. She is musical, but I am told 

 he never quits the dining-room in time to hear a note 

 of it." 



"He is in danger, I think," observed Goodall, with a 

 significant wink of the eye ; "and especially if you " 



" Nonsense," observed Frank ; "a more virtuous woman 

 never lived. I confess I was much stricken with her that 

 night at the ball, and danced twice with her. Perhaps I 

 may never see her again ; and perhaps it will be well for 

 me that I never do. In fact, when I handed her into her 

 carriage, I seemed to wish to bid her a final adieu ; and 

 as it drove from the door, with her cold-hearted husband 

 by her side, I muttered to myself those lines : 



' Since thoti would'st needs, bewitched by some ill charms, 

 Be buried in those monumental arms ; 

 All I can say is, may the earth lie light 

 Upon thy tender limbs : and so good-night.' " 



But to return to the party at the Abbey. 



" I am somewhat uneasy," said Lady Charlotte to Mr. 

 Egerton, after a few days had expired since the night of 

 the gay ball, " about your friend Francis. I really think 

 the silly boy fancies himself in love with that beauti- 

 ful, and, I believe, very excellent person, Mrs. Denham. 

 Emma tells me he is always talking about her, and he says 

 he would have his right arm cut off, on condition that he 

 could make her his wife. It is truly ridiculous ; but he 

 seems to verify the proverb of ' love at first sight ' for, 

 although he never saw Mrs. Denham before, he was 

 evidently smitten, as the term is, by her charms. For- 

 tunately Mr. Raby knows nothing of the matter, and God 

 forbid he should ; but as you are somewhat aware of it, 

 as well as myself, I wish you would take an opportunity 

 of giving him a lecture on the subject. He is too well 

 disposed, I am sure, to harbour dishonourable intentions 

 towards anyone ; but the fact of his having the name of 

 the lady so perpetually in his mouth, is extremely unjust 

 towards her, and the very thought of it makes me wretched. 

 Oh," continued Lady Charlotte, somewhat angrily, " I will 

 give Sir John a trimming if he introduces either of my 



