r. Trevanion, "eager and ardent," as ye say he was
in youth, with a heart bent on the practical success of life, won the
hand of the heiress. Well, you see Mr. Trevanion has contrived not to be
happy! By the side of my listening, admiring mother, with her blue eyes
moist and her coral lips apart, Lady Ellinor looks faded. Was she ever
as pretty as my mother is now? Never. But she was much handsomer. What
delicacy in the outline, and yet how decided, in spite of the delicacy!
The eyebrow so defined; the profile slightly aquiline, so clearly cut,
with the curved nostril, which, if physiognomists are right, shows
sensibility so keen; and the classic lip that, but for the neighboring
dimple, would be so haughty. But wear and tear are in that face. The
nervous, excitable temper has helped the fret and cark of ambitious
life. My dear uncle, I know not yet your private life; but 'as for my
father, I am sure that though he might have done more on earth, he would
have been less fit for heaven, if he had married Lady Ellinor.

At last this visit--dreaded, I am sure, by three of the party--was over,
but not before I had promised to dine at the Trevanions' that day.

When we were again alone, my father threw off a long breath, and looking
round him cheerfully, said, "Since Pisistratus deserts us, let us
console ourselves for his absence; send for brother Jack, and all four
go down to Richmond to drink tea."

"Thank you, Austin," said Roland; "but I don't want it, I assure you."

"Upon your honor?" said my father, in a half whisper.

"Upon my honor."

"Nor I either. So, my dear Kitty, Roland and I will take a walk, and be
back in time to see if that young Anachronism looks as handsome as his
new London-made clothes will allow him. Properly speaking, he ought to
go with an apple in his hand, and a dove in his bosom. But now I think
of it, that was luckily not the fashion with the Athenians till the time
of Alcibiades!"

CHAPTER VI.

You may judge of the effect that my dinner at Mr. Trevanion's, with a
long conversation after it with Lady Ellinor, made upon my mind when,
on my return home, after having satisfied all questions of parental
curiosity, I said nervously, and looking down: "My dear father, I should
like very much, if you have no objection--to--to--"

"What, my dear?" asked my father, kindly.

"Accept an offer Lady Ellinor has made me on the part of Mr. Trevanion.
He wants a secretary. He is kind enough to e