THE PLAIN GREEN CHARIOT.

A TALE.

"Ce qu'on cherche pour être heureux est trop souvent précisément ce qui empêche de l'être."-FENELON.

Ar eleven o'clock on the morning of the 13th of March, 183-, the little town of Willesden was roused from its rural repose by the arrival of the regiment, then on their march to London. The trumpets had sounded their last blast, the last little boy's last huzza had subsided into silence, and the officers had already alighted at the principal inn, where the host, fully aware of the importance of his guests, was preparing in every way to do honour to their presence. He had already established them in due state in the star-chamber, a room, which from its size and look-out on the high street, he had long considered an unexceptionable abode for idle travellers. And if its present tenants could not be fairly comprehended in that class, they certainly had every opportunity that length of time and want of occupation could afford, fully to appreciate its attractions. It was still early, they had finished their march for the day, and as they were only one day's journey from London, had not much chance of amusement from the occasional adventures which more unfrequented places in their route had afforded. While therefore a few of them sallied forth to make the best of a bad prospect, the others disposed themselves in the aforesaid star-chamber with a strong feeling that the period till dinner would not be one of very active enjoyment.

Among these the Colonel (whose diminutive figure was rather out of proportion with that of the tall men under his command) had already stretched himself at what he chose to call full length on the sofa, and, though he certainly held a newspaper in his hand, yet, if it were lawful to draw an inference from appearances, he seemed already asleep, or at least in a fair way soon to be so. The adjutant was already occupied in giving orders to a stiff-looking sergeant; a spruce little captain (the gourmand of the regiment) was in deep debate with the waiter as to what fish they should have for dinner; while a red-nosed, red-faced major, having remarked that the heat reminded him of India, had got into a long story to which no one was listening.

Lord James Somerton and Frederick Pemberton, two of the younger officers, had in the mean time betaken themselves to a window to seek amusement from the busy scene which a great road near London is so apt to afford, or it might be to test the extent of female beauty in Willesden by an examination of the opposite windows. The scene was, however, by no means busy: an ostler with his hands in his pockets, and a postboy with the whitest of smockfrocks over his ordinary equipments, mounted most ingloriously on a low gate, and whistling as he sat, for want of thought-these, seen under the glaring sun of a still summer's day, seemed the very personification of idleness. It was as yet too early for much travelling, and after they had seen two stage coaches severally arrive, change horses, and depart, and after Lord James had remarked that the baker's daughter opposite was "rather pretty," and Pemberton had replied "not very," they were about to re

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linquish their post in despair when the sound of approaching wheels, with the accompaniment of the ostler's bell, and the cheering cry of "first turn-out," detained Somerton, and a chariot and pair drove up to the door. This immediately arrested his attention, and, as it seemed, amply repaid him for it, as he exclaimed—

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"Come, Pemberton, come! make haste! come back to the window!"

'Well," said his friend after he had obeyed his call, "well, I see nothing in that old green chariot to make you in such a hurry; it seems to be a very shabby and uninteresting set-out."

There certainly was nothing particularly striking in the carriage, which was a plain green chariot, for which the highest ambition of its owner should have been that it might pass along unnoticed; but it contained within it quite sufficient attraction for one at least of the young officers.

"Look, Pemberton !" cried Lord James Somerton, "look what a beautiful face!"

The girl is certainly rather pretty," replied his friend.

"Rather pretty! she is lovely, Pemberton, and how attentive she seems to her old father in the corner!"

"I see no particular marks of attention," said Pemberton, "towards her father, or at least towards that fat old fellow who fills the greater half of the carriage, and to whom you choose to ascribe that degree of relationship."

Well, Pemberton, you may say what you please, ay, and you may look what you please; but, crowded as you may think it, I had rather be in that plain green carriage, side by side with that beautiful girl, and admitted as a friend to their interesting family party, than occupying any other place I know of in the world."

Poh, Somerton, how can you talk such nonsense? you would soon be very much bored. and wish yourself out of it. What would Lady Emily say if she heard you? I know you better than you do yourself; and if your wish was accomplished step by step, you would be the first to regret it.'

"I should like to have a bet on that," said Lord James.

"So should I," said his friend.

But their conversation was now interrupted by evident symptoms of preparation for departure in the equipage which was the subject of their discussion. The servant was already ensconced in great coats on the rumble-tumble, the old gentleman had settled himself into the occupation of a still larger portion of the carriage, and the fair object of Somerton's admiration, while acknowledging the landlady's valedictory curtsy, had cast one glance at the inn window, in which Somerton fondly hoped that their eyes had for one instant met, when the decisive "all right" was heard, and the green chariot rolled off in the direction of the western road. Somerton with his head stretched forward watched its progress, till it was hidden from his view by a turn in the road, and, while the other idlers who had been collected round the inn-door departed in different directions, he retreated from his station at the window in silence.

Just as quickly would the image of the young lady of the green chariot have disappeared from his recollection, but that Pemberton having

detailed the whole scene to his brother officers, the idleness of the afternoon was enlivened by sundry jokes at the expense of Lord James, of the plain green chariot, and the respectable and interesting family that occupied it.

Lord James Somerton, whom we have thus introduced to the notice of the reader, was now, to his great joy, about to return to his favourite haunts, London parties at the height of the London season. The duties of his regiment had so often taken him away during the continuance of that witching period, that he had never got that surfeit of its gaieties which seems necessary to induce a more healthful appetite for them. He was what may be called a very susceptible young man, and had"Let his young affections run to waste,"

and been, as he thought at the time, deeply involved in several tender attachments, the quick succession of which to each other did not at all open his eyes to their want of importance. In the course of these he had gone through the list of nearly all the reigning beauties of the day, and was prepared to enter on the same scenes, to be again caught, and again set at liberty: the incident, however, just related, seemed likely to send him to London with the recollection of at least one fair face stamped on the otherwise blank tablet of his affections.

But his affections were not in reality so completely unoccupied as most of his friends, nay as he himself, supposed. His cousin, Lady Emily Marchmont, one whom he would least have suspected, had acquired more hold of his heart than its usual frivolity would appear likely to allow. This was shown principally by a great sensitiveness on his part to ridicule from her, and by his always quoting with peculiar pleasure her approval of any plan which he had formed, as if he thought that a sure mark of its excellence.

Nor was the Lady Emily unworthy of this as yet unacknowledged preference, though she certainly could not boast of any very eminent beauty-a circumstance which in itself perhaps blinded Lord James to the existence of the feelings by which he was actually moved. Her countenance, however, was one of those that never deceive you-it was the index of her feelings; and whenever these were excited, or whenever she got out of the ordinary nothings of every-day conversation, the rush of blood to her face overcame what was sometimes considered rather a dark complexion.

On Somerton's first arrival in town he was much struck by the improvement he fancied he saw in his cousin during his absence. Whether she was really changed or not, certain it is that she lost nothing by comparison with the numerous objects of his admiration who had filled up the period of his sojourn in country quarters.

He had been more than usually attentive to her for a week after his arrival, during which time they were able to form a truer estimate of each other than former intercourse had permitted. He had found leisure to contemplate and more fully appreciate her numerous excellences, and she had almost flattered herself that he had got rid of many of the frivolities which had disgraced a person in whom she felt a deep interest, and a character in which there was much to approve. She fancied she could

"See some sparkles of a better hope,

Which elder days might happily bring forth."

It was at this period that a ball was given by the Countess of Stevenage, an aunt of Lady Emily, to whom she generally paid a visit during the London season.

Lord James had looked forward to this ball with great pleasure, though between himself and Lady Stevenage, whose person and manners, to say the truth, told of

there existed no very great sympathy. But the society of Lady Emily was becoming every day more and more the object of his search, and her approval the leading motive for his slightest action. He had danced the first dance with his cousin, and was standing in the doorway-the place where one always sees most of the humours of a ball -when his taste was unluckily captivated by a face which he immediately pronounced to be one of inexpressible beauty, and which seemed also familiar to his recollection. He made numerous inquiries of all his friends, of "Who is the dark girl with nothing in her head?" but to this very descriptive question he received no satisfactory answer; he at last put the same question to his friend Pemberton, asking him, at the same time, if he had seen her, and if he knew who she was?

'No, I have not seen her," answered Pemberton, nor from your description do I wish to know her; for I do not admire dark girls, and, whatever may be their complexion, I like them to have something in their heads.' "'

At this moment Lord James saw his cousin Emily, and instantly had recourse to her. She must know, thought he, every one that is asked to her aunt's house. He made his inquiries with evident marks of anxiety. "Oh yes," said she, "I know her: you mean Laura Allingham. She is a neighbour of ours in the country.

"Will you introduce me, then ?”

"Oh, certainly, if you really wish it.”

"Wish it? to be sure I do; but do you think you know her well enough ?"

"Oh yes, Laura Allingham will be too happy: as soon as the dance is over I will introduce you.' And she left him to perform her part in the chaîne des dames.

"What can be the meaning of her odd answers ?" thought he. "If I really wish it!'-why shouldn't I wish it? And Laura Allingham will be too happy!'-Can it be that Emily is ill-natured? I always knew that she was rather satirical, but never saw any symptoms of illnature before." However, the dance was now over, and, as there seemed no symptoms of preparation to introduce him, he thought it necessary to remind her, after which the wished-for ceremony at last took place.

Hardly had he been introduced to Miss Allingham, when, as she raised her eyes to his face, they at the same moment recognised each other as having already exchanged glances at the inn at Willesden. It is impossible to describe the joy this afforded to the romantic Lord James. Bright hopes crowded in his mind-the first part of his wish then is already accomplished-he is acquainted with that lovely girl: what then shall forbid his also being introduced to her amiable family, nay, perhaps sitting side by side with her in the PLAIN GREEN CHARIOT ?

He began his acquaintance prepared to find her all perfection. What wonder then that she appeared to be that " faultless monster that the world ne'er saw?"

Miss Allingham received him very graciously, and he was quite delighted to find one so beautiful, at the same time so free from the affectation of giving herself airs. He danced the next dance with her, aud thought he might even venture after that to propose going in to tea. She "had no objection," and listened to his remarks, into which he threw as much of personal interest for her as possible, with apparently reciprocated interest. He liked her better and better!" They seemed going down to supper."- Might he venture to lead her there?"-" She would be most happy."-She was a delightful girl! He discovered that he had travelled in, and particularly admired, the county in which her home was situated, and from which she had just arrived. He scraped up the recollection of a second cousin of hers, with whom he had been at college-proved at the expense of an "Exchequer of words," in which lichen, pollen, petals, and farina were conspicuous, that he knew at least as much of botany as herself, and agreed in the important consequences likely to result from Miss Martineau's ideas of Political Economy; in short, they seemed to have the same feelings, opinions, and objects of interest. He soon had to add to this accomplishment of the first part of his wish an acquaintanceship with her amiable family, as he was presented to her mother-a stout lady, in a red velvet gown, pink topaz jewellery, and a turban on which all the wealth of the Indies. appeared to have been lavished.

It was however getting late-Mrs. Allingham's carriage had been called-Mrs. Allingham's carriage actually stopped the way, and be was obliged to conduct his lovely acquaintance to it, paying nevertheless that proper attention to the fat Mrs. Allingham which young men are said to be too much in the habit of neglecting. As Lord James walked home that night, he called up to his mind with eager feelings the events of the ball, and secretly determined that his acquaintance with Miss Allingham formed the bright spot in his mental retrospection. Will his cousin Lady Emily be thought by the reader too exigeante if we confess that she viewed the proceedings of Lord James on this evening with pain? The fact was, she had no very high opinion of the manners or intellect of Miss Allingham. She had been rather used to patronise her in the country; she could not therefore behold with unconcern Lord James prostrating himself at so lowly a shrine. If there is one thing that more than another gives annoyance to woman, it is to see one she loves devoted to one whom she cannot respect. It wounds her in the tenderest point, namely, in the pride she has before felt in his homage to herself.

The season was now far advanced, and for several days he had no engagement for the evenings, so that he chiefly looked for enjoyment to his afternoon rides with his fair cousin in the Parks and neighbourhood of London. In one of these Lady Emily mentioned that her aunt was thinking of a party to Vauxhall. Lord James immediately felt and expressed a wish to join it.

"I am afraid," answered she, "I cannot promise you that you will enjoy it so much as my aunt's last ball, but I will try to get you included in it."