not contented with the more aristocratic pursuit of the turf, he had been frequently seen at the prizering, or even at the cock-pit, or an occasional dogfight. Nevertheless he could be thoroughly gentlemanly in his address and manners; he was a good linguist, he had considerable readiness in conversation, and he was in fact a person of no contemptible talents. His great defect was the exceeding légèreté and want of firmness of purpose, which allowed him, for the momentary indulgence of a whim, to sacrifice the feelings and happiness of any who happened to be obstacles or stand in the way of his enjoyment.

The present of a splendidly large Newfoundland dog, a characteristic cadeau, but one which was peculiarly pleasing to the little Barona, was the first thing which really made him appear agreeable in her eyes; and when soon afterwards he occupied himself seriously with the task of procuring for her a young doe that might pair with her favourite roe-buck, and at last succeeded, and brought it to her himself, and begged that it might be called "Jenny," after her own name, she really began to fancy she could like the young earl as a husband. The affability of his manners, the ample brown whiskers that half covered his handsome face, and which were not at all required to

plant out" any defects, the straightness and firmness of his leg, and the vigour of his gaitall these things, perhaps, had not been lost upon her; and if there were slight roughnesses in him which occasionally offended, these, said she to herself, I can polish down and correct.

She liked England; she had been in a great measure educated in a convent in that country during her father's residence there; and the prospect of residing in the summer time at one of those rural palaces which are so peculiarly the boast and pride of the English aristocracy, and of wandering in the woods and green lanes with her tame playmates round her, and then the exhilarating expectation of spending her winters in the gaiety of the London monde, where her beauty and wit must command admiration, and her vanity be flattered by repeated triumphs, had been perhaps not without their influence in deciding her agreement to the proposed union.

The day arrived; the nuptial guests assembled; the church of Santa Maria del Carmine echoed with the final vow; the garlands were distributed, the donations were given to the poor, and nothing but congratulations and rejoicing met the ears of the beautiful and flattered bride.

"How I wish," said her young friend, the

Principessa de Collini," that I were in your place! I can't tell you how I envy your happiness!"

"How tiresome my admirer is!" exclaimed the little Marchésa de Balbi, " he has been two years about me, and never proposed yet, and that Englishman has won Jeannette in a fortnight!"

CHAPTER VII.

IT is the peculiar misfortune of women, resulting from the relative position which they occupy in society, that they never can see more than one side of a man's character. Of course, the fair side is always presented towards them, and all the darker traits and wilder extravagancies, are sedulously concealed on the reverse. This makes it so doubly dangerous for a girl to consult only her own preferences, and her own will, in making her choice for life; and this also proves the expediency, on all occasions, of taking the advice of some experienced male counsellor. Many a man may shine in the salon by his wit, taste, elegance, address, or good breeding; and yet, when he quits society, and revolves upon his axis, the darker half of his day may be passed in the kennel, the brothel, or the gambling house. How is a woman to ascertain this, if she is obstinately bent on asking no judgment but her own? Poor Jeannette Isabelle had no male

friend to refer to, whom she could trust. It was not wonderful if she began, very soon after the period of her marriage, to find that all is not gold which glitters, even in the tempting circlet of a wedding ring. Occasional symptoms of ill-humour, and a peevishness which seemed ever to be more discontented the more she endeavoured to soothe it, were the first clouds which rose to darken the horizon of her prosperity. Her husband had been so long the lawless follower of his own will, so accustomed to freedom from all restraint, and so spoiled by the subserviency and flattery of the menials around him, that he soon began to develope a weariness and tedium at the little attentions which were necessarily due from him to his wife; and seemed, in fact, to be as exigeant and egoistical in making her wait upon his pleasure, and minister to his caprices, as if their sexes had been changed, and she were the devoted and admiring bridegroom, and he the beautiful and commanding bride. So tiresome, and so provoking, did this querulousness at length become on the part of Lord Clanelly, that he seemed to look upon even the regard and attention paid by his wife to every other object than himself, as so much taken from his own due. He still loved her with passionate excess; but there was so much of selfishness in his love, that he ever wished to concentrate and fix