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vulgar. Mercy! It is alarming to one's nerves to think of such an assemblage! And as to Mrs. Fitzhammond's pale, vacant face, that will be no amusement to me; and then all the strange melange, of what she calls people of talent, whom she pays to flatter her,—Heaven protect me from such a set!"

"But there will be a ball, and somebody must be there to dance," said Lady Emily.

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"Oh, yes!—what do you think of Mr. Kimbolton? who prances through a quadrille as if he had sworn the destruction of one's trimming; or Mr. Higglesworth? who says, Yes, Ma'am,' and 'If you please, my Lady;' or Sir John Marsden? who has a regular catechism at his fingers-end for all the pauses in the figure: How do you do? how is your uncle? where is your cousin? how is your aunt? how is Lady A-? Mrs. B? Miss C? Ah! Heaven defend me from a country ball!"

"Frances," rejoined the General, with something more of asperity in the tone of his voice

than was usual, "there are many kinds of excellence in the world, and many sorts of virtues. I hold charity to be the chief among the latter and if Mrs. Fitzhammond's pursuits and manners, and her style of company, are not exactly to your taste; if they are not excellences in your eyes; remember, she possesses many good sterling qualities, which, if they were more universally and better appreciated, the world would be better than it is. She is a good wife, a fond mother, a friend to the poor; and, as they tell me, very well informed, and capable of valuing the talents of those persons whom the ample fortune of her husband enables her to bring around her. So you see, my dear Frances, I can make as different a story of the subject of Mrs. Fitzhammond as you would have done of my allegory; and now then that we are even, dearest, we will go, and I am sure you will wear your brightest

smiles."

"Oh! thank you, dear, dear uncle!" said Lady Emily.

"I hope your Lordship will not refuse ?" said the General.

"By no means!" replied Lord Mowbray, as he bowed assent to the General's wishes.

In the meanwhile, the party continued their way to the Hall; and Lady Emily, in all the gaiety of youthful spirits, kept dancing on before her uncle, as he slowly paced the

terrace.

"Emily," said General Montgomery, "the very idea of this ball has made you quite wild ; though, I really believe, you would dance with a post, if it could move, rather than not dance at all; and it is quite right and natural, dearest! I never hear good music but my dancing-days come back to me in their original joyousness; and I should certainly dance forthwith, were it not that it would suit ill with an old General to be twirling about like a tetotum. Eh! Pennington, you are younger than I am; why do you not join Emily ?"

By this time they had reached the librarywindow. The General entered to write his answer to the invitation, and the different parties paired off, Lady Frances being the only one among them who appeared dissatisfied with the arrangements and amusements of the morning.

CHAPTER V.

Yet scarcely can I throw a smile on things
So painful, but that, Time his comfort brings,
Or rather throws oblivion on the mind;
For we are more forgetful than resigned.

CRABBE'S TALES OF THE HALL

THE party at the Hall had sought (throughout the day) their own peculiar amusements, and, in the liberty which was professedly allowed to its inmates, each individual had planned some little project of gratification, independent of the rest of the world around them. The General had been occupied with his agents, whose smiling faces and profuse compliments and allusions to their employer's fortune, as

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