After the card-party broke up, Lady Glassington and the General got upon old topics; and, in talking of many a departed friend or acquaintance, they went over their juvenile years again, and forgot the passing hours. Miss Macalpine, Lord Mowbray, and Lady Emily sat apart from them forming their own amusement. Lord Mowbray seemed much entertained by Lady Emily's descriptions of all she had seen, and he ended by asking her, whether she preferred the town or the country. "I should like," she replied, "always to spend a portion of the year in town, but the greatest part of it in the country. If I must choose the one or the other for ever—oh certainly then, the country; but neither in town nor in the country would I live exactly as I see anybody live." "How so, Lady Emily?" 66 Why I would not, because I was in London, determine never to pass an evening at home with my family; neither would I in the country be for ever without society; a large house in the country filled with pleasant people would be delightful." "Hech, sirs!" said Miss Macalpine, shaking her head," my Lady Emily, you're no' for a puir man's wife-that's certain; though I thought otherwise ance; but no' a bit o't; dinna ye ken that there's nathing sae wasterfu' as to keep open doors in a country house, feeding the piper's maws, we Laddie, although doubtless, in the Highlands, nae body ever shuts them, but then ye see it's unco different like from the ways o' England. Here, gin ye're asked to a neebur's it's no' expected ye should stay mair than ane night at ony haund; and three or four days at the vera best, is a' ye can reckon on: even frae friends indeed, that same, it's like eneugh will produce glied faces wi' mony a sly hint that ye had better no' stay langer. Hospitality is na the growth o' this cuntrie; 'tis a shining, and appearing, and striving to get the taye ane afore the ither; and if, my Lady Emily, ye will choose to combine the General's Scotch ways, wi' the cauld ceremonious grandeur o' the southerns, ye maun keep a sharp luke out, and get a hantle siller to keep yer head abune water. But it is no' for a' that, that I'm blaming you; on the contrair, it pats me in mind ye ha'e a gude drap o' mountain blood in your veins, and I like you a' the better. It's but natral too that ye suld tak' pleasure in the fine balls and grand doings that are going on here, and I am surprised, now there's a prospect o' sae mony o' thae things taking place, that you, my Lord, should be just gawing awa'." "I have nothing to do with balls and fêtes, my dear Miss Macalpine. These things are only fit for young men.” 66 Why to hear ye talk, one might suppose ye were the age of Methusaleh at the vera least." "And so I am; age and youth are not designated by years alone, but depend on a thousand circumstances, which wither the one or nourish the other. For instance, look at Gene ral Montgomery, who ever feels that he is old ?" "Oh!" said Lady Emily, with an expression of anxious concern, "do you not see a great change in my uncle ever since that fatal story at the Hall. Since we have left that dear place, he has never been himself." "What fatal story? do tell it me," said Lord Mowbray; "for, though a vague report has reached me, I never heard it related distinctly." "Oh! you remember I began to tell it you at the Opera, just as Rosalinda came on the stage, and I stopped to look at her, when, on turning again round to speak to you, you were gone, and I have never since that moment seen you." These words were common words; but there was that in the tone and manner in which they were pronounced which spoke volumes to Lord Mowbray. He looked in Lady Emily's face earnestly, her eyes fell beneath his gaze; and she was painfully conscious that |