Man of the world as he was, Mr. Dormer's cheek flushed crimson, whilst he turned his horse's head, and proceeded towards Marston at a brisk pace, to avoid all further conversation on the subject; but Alford, seeing there was some mystery in the affair, was not inclined to let the matter rest; and, as they walked their horses up the next hill, he endeavoured to learn more. By the way, Dormer, I fear you must meet this detested heiress, as she comes to us on Monday; but you shall not be introduced." "There will be plenty to flatter her without my troubling myself," said he, coldly and haughtily. particularly engaged this next week. "What! riding alone?" "No!" he replied very sternly. Besides, I shall be "Oh! I beg your pardon, I thought it might have been.” There was a silence of some moments, but the hill was a long one, so he began. "Where did you meet this Mrs. Hargrave?" He paused for an answer. "I saw her at S-" said Dormer at length, mastering his anger and confusion. "At S you say. Did you see much of her? or could she have any reason for shunning you? I ask because she refused to visit us, though I urged her, and she knew you were with us." 66 'Impossible! It cannot be !" burst forth Dormer, surprised, hurt and angry. "She cannot wish to shun me. Her brow spoke confusion but not dislike. She shall, she must meet me! What did she say? how did she look? when she heard my name. Alford burst into a loud laugh. "Well I never could have believed this possible! I really thought an earthly being was too material for you, and that nothing less aerial than a rainbow could have won you. What will Catherine say? I must gallop to tell her." Away he went; but, gallop as he would, Dormer was still at his side. A spiked gate, too high for a leap, must be passed through. " Open Sesame!" was useless; the spell was pow. erless, and Alford was obliged to dismount. Mr. Dormer dismounted also; and when the gate was closed, took his friend's arm and proposed a walk. Alford, revelling in mischief, would have declined the invitation, but his friend's half-earnest, half-haughty look, produced a burst of laughter, during which he allowed himself to be led quietly forward. Neither spoke, for Alford enjoyed the mischievous pleasure of increasing his friend's awkwardness by his silence; and Dormer felt as if appealing to Alford's forbearance would be beneath his dignity, yet to have his feelings and her name become the subject of jest and merriment was not to be thought of. Too proud to stoop with a good grace he at last said abruptly: "As my friend, Alford, you will never mention this subject again to me or to another." "Is concealment a proof of friendship ?" said his friend, bending on him an enquiring look. "Pshaw! I have other things to talk to you about." "Indeed! then make haste and discuss them, and we will talk about this matter afterwards. Who knows but it may contain the elements of high treason, or murder, or felony, or some such heinous crime; and, as my father would say, eternal shame would rest on the eldest son of a peer and a Privy Counsellor, should he fail to sift such a matter to the bottom.' So explain! explain! What, shy about it? Nay, never colour; you are not the first wise man who has lost his heart, and his senses too, to a pretty foot, or a well-turned ankle, or a good jointure. Which doth this gentle dame possess ?" "I tell you," said Dormer, worked up to a passion by this raillery, "It were degradation to think of her, much more to name her, in your presence. Do you think that Percy Dormer would give a second thought to the loveliest face or the finest foot and ankle in Christendom? or that his heart would stoop to court a jointure? As well might you think he would seek to rule for the gauds of pomp or the fawning of slaves. Lovely as she is, others may equal her in the material part of her beauty. Other forms may be as slight, other eyes as deep and blue, other cheeks as rich and downy. But where can you find all these lit up, and sublimed by such a mind? One while soft, timid, shy, gentle, as the dawn of early morning in all its misty loveliness, or the first sweet hopes of childhood's happy years: and then bright as our manhood's brighter dream, before the spirit's blight; glowing and brilliant as the sun-set hour-that time, when hope and memory mingle so wildly sweet together. With just enough of earth to teach us to love, not worship; and yet, so much of heaven, as to refine and purify the thoughts that rest upon her.' "Hear! hear! hear! Hear! hear! hear! One while she is like a misty morning or a child's hoop or top. Which It is the was it? let me remember! Do repeat it, there is a good fellow! or, perhaps, you will write it down for me. very thing for Miss Juliana Waitman's album. morning and a glowing sunset! Beautiful_contrast! I de. clare, I thought I was listening to the maiden speech of a first classman, praising his college. You really must have written those Lines to a Lady' in one of the Annuals, beginning— Those eyes, sweet lady, glistening through their lashes, Gleam like the mid-day sun when rain around us splashes.' But who is this thing of poetry? this woman with a mind so marvellously balanced between earth and heaven? When we young men talk of a woman's mind, we mean a lovely form and a sensitive heart; but, of course, you mean something more. May I presume to enquire if Hargrave is the name this morning's mist bears in this earthly world of ours ?" "You are incorrigible! and I am a fool to heed or answer you," said his friend in a wrathful tone, who had been writhing under the banter. “On! Proclaim my folly! and hold mock at it. I will delay you no longer." tone. "I thank you; I am in no hurry," said he in a careless "In truth I am half tired of laughing at folly, and have thought sometimes of looking grave at wisdom; but, just now, I think I shall moralize on the blindness of lovers. This Mrs. Hargrave, in my mind, is tolerable, but nothing to make a fuss about; a very respectable-looking lady, but no more. Now, my heiress is worth looking at. I tell you what, you had better not make up your mind till you have seen her; for I will wager my favourite hunter, after having been one hour in her society, you will be for transferring this aerial description from the widow to the heiress. What say you?" "Hang the heiress!" cried Dormer, in a towering passion. Alford shrugged his shoulders, in pretended horror, and asked if all her admirers were to share the same fate, as in that case the county would be depopulated. His friend was too angry to deign a reply, but, mounting his horse, rode on; and Alford, thinking he had carried his raillery too far, apologised and made his peace by promising silence towards Catherine, guidance to Mrs. Hargrave's on Monday, the day after the next, and a sly declaration at the end, that he would be sure and not introduce him to the heiress. CHAPTER V. She was a phantom of delight, To be a moment's ornament. WORDSWORTH Parting day Dies like the dolphin, whom each pang imbues With a new colour as it gasps away; The last still loveliest, till 'tis gone and all is grey. BYRON. THAT Miss St. Maur, instead of Mrs. Hargrave, was the real object of Dormer's panegyric, Alford did not for one moment doubt; but how the mistake had arisen was beyond his comprehension. His love of mischief, not always very justifiably gratified, made him cautious of asking many questions, lest in acquiring knowledge himself, he should likewise enlighten his friend, and thus spoil his own sport. About two o'clock on Monday, that time having been fixed for the visit to Mrs. Hargrave, Mr. Dormer entered the drawing room at Marston Hall, thinking of the coming meeting, and most heartily weary of the company of his noble host, who, from a sly suggestion of Alford, had insisted on showing him some improvements in his farm. Helen had arrived a short time before, and was too much engaged in an animated conversation with Catherine to notice the opening of the door. Alford, who had insisted on her taking off her bonnet, that he might see the full effect of Dormer's salutation, was seated nearly opposite. Dormer entered the apartment with an air in which weari ness at what had been, and anticipation of what was to be, were equally mingled; and, thinking only of his visit, won his way between chaises longues, and ottomans, fauteuils, and footstools, till he stood beside Alford. "Have you ordered the horses?" he enquired, quite unconscious of the presence of the ladies. "Not yet; but, if Miss St. Maur will excuse my leaving her to Catherine's entertainment so soon after her arrival, I will do so directly." The name of the heiress was no inducement for Dormer to look round, and he pretended to be intent on a newspaper lying on the table, till startled by a sweet and musical voice playfully releasing Alford from the trouble of amusing her, he turned quickly round and beheld before him the lovely being whose charms had rendered him so eloquent two days before. : Surprised at a sight so unexpected, and vexed at Alford's smile, he stood for one minute looking at her with flushing cheek, and in awkward silence; the next, he was by her side, pouring forth in a less dignified and connected strain than was his wont, his pleasure at this meeting in short, a whole torrent of hopes, fears, apologies, and congratulations. If the unexpected surprise, and the looks of Alford, had confused the gentleman, how could they do less than have the same effect on the lady. When she saw those brilliant eyes fixed full upon her, saying in the plainest manner the most flattering things; and heard him claim her acquaintance with a warmth that would admit of no denial; and thought of the scene with her cousin, and their previous meetings, her confusion became still greater than that of Mr. Dormer; and, for almost the first time in her life, she lost all self-possession, and listened with changing cheek and downcast eyes to all his expressions of pleasure at this meeting. To Lady Catherine this scene was strange, and, to all ap. pearance, any thing but pleasing; whilst to her brother it af forded great amusement, mixed with some surprise, as even his penetration failed to make the riddle quite clear. Determined to amuse himself still more, without the slightest pity for their confusion, he began to "make confusion worse confounded." Why, what is the meaning of all this, Dormer ?" looking provokingly from one to the other. On Saturday, you declare you detest heiresses, and positively refused to be introduced to this lady; yet on Monday, you claim her acquaintance with an ardour that will admit of no doubt as to your sincerity." "What do you mean?" said Mr. Dormer, turning angrily |