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nevertheless, you know I have been longing to come to you this hour past. We have not drank any wine (his breath and thick pronunciation belied the assertion); but Lady Herbert made no answer, only pressed his hand, and felt that such society, or any society, could not have detained her from his presence.

The conversation became very flat, and two or three times Sir Gregory started up, shaking his head to prevent himself from falling into a deep sleep. Lady Gregory rang for candles, and so passed that dull evening.

CHAPTER II.

THE HONEYMOON.

So dear I love him, that with him all deaths
I could endure, without him live no life.

MILTON'S PARADISE LOST, book ix.

THE next day Lady Herbert thought, "Well!
this is over, and I shall be at home to-day alone
with Francis;" but what was her disappoint-
ment at finding that the badger-hunt was to
take place in honour of Lord Herbert, and that
it would be too late when the sport was finished
to think of returning to Moreton Park. Lady
Herbert did her best to smile and seem pleased,
but her spirits sank, and it was with difficulty
she restrained her tears; the unceasing at-
tention of Lady Gregory to procure her every

little comfort, and the less troublesome kindness of her equally obliging daughter, made Lady Herbert reproach herself for receiving these marks of good will ungraciously, and continued to be so agreeable, that she seemed to them a very charming person; an offer was made to drive her to the neighbouring town to visit Mr. Hartlebury's famous shop, or may be your ladyship would like to see the gentlemen at their sport, or if you ever fish we have some very famous trout in Mounteaston-river; but Lady Herbert declined all these temptations, and proposed reading aloud to Miss Gregory while she painted. The latter was delighted at her proposal, and that mode of disposing of the day was the one agreed upon. Lady Herbert was fond of reading, fond of various occupations, understood agricultural pursuits, and delighted in the pleasures of a garden, but although something of all these topics entered into their discourse, and formed part of their morning's conversation, Lady Herbert's thoughts reverted to the idea she had formed to herself of married comfort, of young

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and passionate love, and they appeared one and all flat, stale, and unprofitable to her, since he whose companionship she had looked forward to as partaker in all her tastes, recreations and pursuits, was not her companion, was no sharer in what formed the delight and dignified employment of her existence; so she sank into sadness. Miss Gregory observed she was not well, and besought her to retire to her apartment and rest till dinner-time. Unable for longer exertion of spirits Lady Herbert availed herself of the proposal: and there, in listless vacuity of mind, which prevented her from analyzing her thoughts and feelings, she awaited the return of Lord Herbert.

men's voices, just

A noise of dogs and as it grew dark, announced his

arrival; she flew to the window; he called to her, at the same time kissing his hand; she

opened the sash

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the mangled carcass of an unfortunate badger,

"Look here, love," showing

66

we have had

soon

dogs! poor Haco has suffered a little, but he'll come round again. I am just going to the stable to tell the groom how to dress the

capital sport, I never saw such

wound in his leg, and then be with you, love, directly."

Lord Herbert looked so handsome, his countenance flushed with the ruddy hue of health, and his fine form replete with grace and activity, that she forgot in the pleasure of seeing him, the pain that she should see him under such an aspect of hopeless portent to her future comfort. Again at night the pleasures of the bottle maintained their sway, and she was convinced that so long as they remained at Mount Easton, the same mode of passing the time would continue. She ventured on the third day to ask her husband if he was not tired of that sort of life.

"No; I enjoy it exceedingly, love, for a change; but if you are tired, let us go home."

"I should prefer Moreton Park," she replied, "greatly, for though Lady Gregory and her daughters are exceedingly obliging, we have not two ideas in common; and to-day, while I read to Miss Gregory, I was aware that she did not take any interest in the subject of the book; you know I cannot busy myself with the

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