with such nonsense. Geraldine ?" Have you seen Lady "Not to-day yet. Is she here?" "I suppose so; I must see if I can hunt her up. "And I must go and look after my protégé. He may get into mischief, you know, as he's so raw." "I'll accompany you," Mr. Laneton said. "I should like to know him better, as he is connected with Cavendish." CHAPTER XIII. His father's acres, who enjoys in peace, POPE. In the meanwhile, Florian had joined himself to Bellstar. Though his manner was tolerably confident, he had a vague feeling of shyness and alarm at the thought of being left alone in a brilliant, but to him strange, crowd. Bellstar, with his eyes bent to the ground, and a thoughtful smile lurking at the corner of his lips, led his companion through the gardens, occasionally naming some person to him, or giving, in a quiet manner, and with an air of the greatest unconcern, as if he were speaking of some indifferent subject, an outline of the characters of those who swept by him. "I shall soon, with your aid, have a numerous circle of friends," Tremore remarked, as the introductions grew in number. "That, excuse me, is the simplest thing I have heard you say yet. Those persons I anxious to know have named to you were you; but it is for you to cultivate their acquaintance as little or as much as you please. May I venture to offer you a word of advice?" "Indeed, I shall be thankful for it. I merely look on myself as a scholar here." "Beware, then, of forming any intimate connections suddenly. You will find yourself courted, and most by those whom it is least for your advantage you should know much of. You had never seen Mr. Laneton before, I presume?" "Never. of?" Is he one I ought to beware Bellstar involuntarily heaved a slight sigh as he replied "Most persons think themselves honoured by his intimacy. He is a powerful man, if you can understand that-powerful to crush or to raise; that is caution enough. I admire him; but I am forced to wish I had never known him. Excuse my frankness. repose in your "You may do so safely." I honour." "Your look assures me of that. If the face be an index of the mind, you yet know only the fairest side of men. See, there is a person passing now, you ought to know. No," he added, seeing the eyes of Tremore taking a wrong direction-"not him, but the one bowing to the lady with her hand on the garden chair." "I see; he is rather short, and plainly dressed." "Yes; his name is Smith, John Smith— and an excellent fellow he is. If I had a son, I should feel inclined to make him take that gentleman as a model for his conduct.' "At all events, he is not distingué in appearance." "No; yet I think him handsome, and so will you, when you become better acquainted with his expression." The gentleman thus referred to was about the middle size, and his compact, well-knit figure, indicated strength, agility, and great capacity of exertion. He was several years turned forty, perhaps had reached fifty indeed: but his countenance, browned by exposure to the weather, had settled into such an habitual smile of good-humour, that he might easily be mistaken for many years younger than he was. His forehead was low but smooth, and he had one of those arched or Roman noses, which the ingenious author of "Nosology" has connected, by the best examples of ancient and modern achievement, with strength of will and determination of character. His eyes were of a sparkling hazel, his mouth and chin pleasantly dimpled, and his dark chestnut hair fell round his small and well-shaped head in easy waves. He would not, however, have been thought more than ordinarily good-looking, but for his expression of tranquil and benevolent good-humour, which was mingled with some show of that joyous and jovial air which Scott has described as a striking characteristic of James V. of Scotland "Forward and frolic glee was there, The will to do, the soul to dare." Tremore remarked, as this gentleman, passed nearer, that he had seldom seen a happier-looking face. |