fell powerless by his side. Her most
bewitching smiles, her haughtiest frowns were ever received with the same
immutable, careless good-humour; till, finding he was indeed
impenetrable, she suddenly remitted her efforts, and became, to all
appearance, as perfectly indifferent as himself. Nor have I since
witnessed any symptom of pique on his part, or renewed attempts at
conquest upon hers.

This is as it should be; but Arthur never will let me be satisfied with
him. I have never, for a single hour since I married him, known what it
is to realise that sweet idea, 'In quietness and confidence shall be your
rest.' Those two detestable men, Grimsby and Hattersley, have destroyed
all my labour against his love of wine. They encourage him daily to
overstep the bounds of moderation, and not unfrequently to disgrace
himself by positive excess. I shall not soon forget the second night
after their arrival. Just as I had retired from the dining-room with the
ladies, before the door was closed upon us, Arthur exclaimed,--'Now then,
my lads, what say you to a regular jollification?'

Milicent glanced at me with a half-reproachful look, as if I could hinder
it; but her countenance changed when she heard Hattersley's voice,
shouting through door and wall,--'I'm your man! Send for more wine: here
isn't half enough!'

We had scarcely entered the drawing-room before we were joined by Lord
Lowborough.

'What can induce you to come so soon?' exclaimed his lady, with a most
ungracious air of dissatisfaction.

'You know I never drink, Annabella,' replied he seriously.

'Well, but you might stay with them a little: it looks so silly to be
always dangling after the women; I wonder you can!'

He reproached her with a look of mingled bitterness and surprise, and,
sinking into a chair, suppressed a heavy sigh, bit his pale lips, and
fixed his eyes upon the floor.

'You did right to leave them, Lord Lowborough,' said I. 'I trust you
will always continue to honour us so early with your company. And if
Annabella knew the value of true wisdom, and the misery of folly and--and
intemperance, she would not talk such nonsense--even in jest.'

He raised his eyes while I spoke, and gravely turned them upon me, with a
half-surprised, half-abstracted look, and then bent them on his wife.

'At least,' said she, 'I know the value of a warm heart and a bold, manly
spirit.'

'Well, Annabella,' said he, in a deep and hollow tone, 'since my