"Your conclusions possibly may be correct," said the countess, "and in my opinion I should justify your accusation-of apathy, if I was insensible to so great an acquisition of fortune. Besides, my lord, you will be good enough to recollect, that from the period of the general's marriage with lady Caroline Elvington, I never lived under the same roof with him, and that he has been absent from England' twelve years. Miss Fitzallan, you will also remember, was not more than five years old when I last saw her; and however romantic your ideas may be respecting consanguinity, I am persuaded, all sensible and rational minds will allow, that residing together, with the constant interchange of acts of kindness, is more likely to create affection, than the mere conviction that we are allied by blood to persons whose dispositions and features are nearly unknown to us."

The earl could not deny the truth of this remark.

"It is a great pity though," resumed lady Clarisford, "that the general did not live to inherit the title and estates of Austincourt, to which he was the immediate heir. I would rather see the title extinct than possessed by Edmund Ornville, who never was, nor ever will be, a favourite of mine."

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And wherefore ?" asked the earl. "Mr. Ornville is certainly a very elegant young man, and has fewer vices and follies than disgrace most of our young men of fashion."

"Oh yes!" returned the countess; "he

neither games, drives, nor drinks! Edmund Ornville affects propriety, and is considered a rara avis by those whose approbation he believes it his interest to obtain ; but necessity and inclination are distinct things. Mr. Ornville's present fortune is not equal to fashionable excesses—we shall see how he will conduct himself when he is lord Austincourt, with sixty thousand a-year; indeed there is no saying how rich he may be, for the present earl sees no company,

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company, keeps up no establishment, supports no retinue-it is quite impossible to guess how his wealth may have accumulated."

"Nor how long he may hold it in his own possession," said lord Clarisford, "for he is recovered from his late illness, and is now as well as he has been for many years-so says the Observer," continued he, pointing with his finger to the paragraph.

"That is the only pleasing intelligence I ever knew that paper to contain,” returned the countess; "I am positively glad to hear the queer old soul is likely to live, for no doubt Edmund Ornville was anxiously gasping for the title, and I am pleased to think he will be disappointed."

"Your undisguised dislike of a young man so generally admired would surprise me," said the earl, "did I not recollect a report that whispered, a certain young lady had been recommended to Mr. Orn

ville for a wife, and that he had declined the honour of her alliance."!!

The countess coloured scarlet deep.-"I understand your lordship's inuendo," replied she, "but I beg to assure you the report had no foundation in truth-neither my own wishes, nor those of my family, ever pointed to a marriage with Edmund Ornville. The insensible wretch! I never heard of his shewing the least partiality for any female he is utterly indifferent to beauty-his heart is an absolute icicle!though we were so much together during the time he passed with my aunt, I don't think he ever said a civil thing to me in his life."

"Mr. Ornville had too much sense and honour," replied the earl, "to pay you unmeaning compliments."

"Unmeaning compliments!" repeated the countess, rising from the breakfasttable, with an air of mortified vanity"husbands, I believe, consider themselves privileged to say rude things. I certainly

must

must allow," placing herself before a mirror, that mourning is far from becoming to me, yet, even at this moment, Mr. Ornville might venture to praise my eyes, my teeth, and my complexion, without incurring the censure of uttering unmeaning compliments. But as a favourite author of your lordship's observes- The jewel we possess is never valued to its worth! Before we were married, your lordship had always something gallant to say-my beauty could then furnish you with endless topics for conversation."

"True," replied the earl-" your vanity, Georgina, drew so extravagantly on the bank of flattery, that it is quite exhausted. But believe me," added he, with a look and tone of seriousness," I shall be extremely proud, and ready to attest your virtues, whenever you will be at the pains to let me see you possess them."

The countess threw a scornful look at her husband, as he continued to say"It grieves me to the soul, Georgina, to

see