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When the party separated, Lord Annandale begged me to indulge him with a few minutes' conversation. I displayed some hesitation and reluctance, which made him still more anxious to retain me.

"I wish to speak to you on a very important subject, my dear Miss Montressor; and, consequently, this is no time to stand on idle ceremony, so let me request you will be seated. You must have observed," he added, "the frequency of Lord Nottingham's visits here; they are daily and long-too long not to give rise to idle and ill-natured comments. I have been too much, and lived too many years, in the world, to attach importance to trifles; but when I see Lady Annandale commit her reputation and my honour, it is time I should look to her conduct."

Here I attempted some futile excuses for her; but he checked me, saying, "I am aware that, from your friendship for her, and your

extreme good-nature" (the first time I ever was considered good-natured!), "you would wish to

conceal or palliate her offences; but, I am sorry to say, they admit of neither excuse nor palliation."

"You surely cannot imagine, my lord," interrupted I," that, blessed with a husband so every way superior to Lord Nottingham," (and here I affected to look confused at my own warmth)," Augusta could possibly bestow a thought on him."

"You are too good, too indulgent, my dear Miss Montressor, to think so favourably of me," and his eyes positively sparkled with pleasure. "It is a fact, of which you, perhaps, are not aware, but with which I have been some days acquainted, that Lady Annandale's position with Lord Nottingham has furnished a topic of scandal in the fashionable world; and we must admit that her conduct must

have been wholly wanting in decorum, or it never could have obtained this publicity in so short a time. What could be more glaring than her choosing to dine out to-day, when she knew I had company at home - Lord Nottingham absenting himself, too, without even an apology? And then, being seen with her at the theatre justifies the rumours in question; and I shall be rendered ridiculous in the eyes of all London, if I do not adopt measures to put a stop to her imprudence."

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Surely, my lord, you would not do any thing harsh, any thing likely to pain or humiliate Augusta. Consider how young, how inexperienced she is!"

"You are an angel, lovely Caroline!" exclaimed he, seizing my hand and kissing it fervently; "and I only wish that Lady Annandale had your tact and discretion, — but of that no woman that I know can boast."

I looked down, tried to blush and appear embarrassed, which, of course, encouraged his boldness, until he unequivocally made me a declaration of love, at which I affected to be shocked; and he repeated his regret that I stood not in the relation towards him that Lady Annandale filled.

"When I saw you doing the honours of my table to-day, my charming friend," continued he, “I could not help being struck with the different effect your influence spread around. Brilliant and witty yourself, you called forth all the agreeable qualities of others; instead of casting a gêne, if not a gloom, round the guests, as Lady Annandale's reserved manners invariably do. I wish to fill a certain position in society, for which, I flatter myself, my station, fortune, and talents, qualify me; I mean the position of a leader of fashion, making my house the focus of the

élite of our society. I do not regard this important desideratum with the frivolous feeling of the generality of persons; that is, as a mere object of amusement, or of acquiring fashionable celebrity. No; I view it as a means of obtaining political influence, which our ministerial people have always too much neglected."

Here he looked as profoundly sagacious as if suggesting the mode of carrying the most important political measure; and I affected to consider his puerile fancy, ineffably sapient and momentous.

"Our ministers," resumed he, "arrive at power at too advanced an age to become leaders of fashion. A veteran élégant is always ridiculous; witness poor Ledersdale; but, as I took office at a period of life when few are deemed capable of holding it," (you should have seen how self-important he looked!) "I may, without any risk of ridicule, unite the

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