ld-mutton days, mind
that, and resist all temptation to money-spending."

L'Estrange bowed his head in quiet acquiescence; his was the sad thought
that so many of us have felt; how much of enjoyment life shows us, just
one hair's breadth beyond our power to grasp; vistas of lovely scenery
that we are never to visit; glimpses of bliss closed to us even as we
catch them; strains of delicious music of which all our efforts can but
retain the dying cadences. Not that he felt all these in any bitterness
of spirit; even in narrowed fortune life was very pleasant to him, and
he was thoroughly, heartily grateful for the path fate had assigned him
to walk in.

How would they have liked to have lingered in the Brianza, that one
lovely bit of thoroughly rural Italy, with the green of the west
blending through all the gorgeous glow of tropical vegetation; how
gladly they would have loitered on the lake at Como--the brightest spot
of landscape in Europe; with what enjoyment had they halted at Milan,
and still more in Florence! Stern necessity, however, whispered ever
onwards; and all the seductions of Raffaels and Titians yielded before
the hard demands of that fate that draws the purse-strings. Even at Rome
they did not venture to delay, consoling themselves with the thought
that they were to dwell so near, they could visit it at will. At last
they reached Albano, and as they drove into the village caught sight of
a most picturesque little cottage, enshrined in a copse of vines. It was
apparently untenanted, and they eagerly asked if it were to be let. The
answer was, No, it was waiting for the "Prete Inglese," who was daily
expected to arrive.

"Oh, George, it is ours," cried Julia, in ecstasy, and hid her head on
his shoulder, and actually cried with excess of delight.

CHAPTER XXXII. THE CHURCH PATRONS AT ALBANO.

The patrons of the English chapel at Albano were the three great leaders
of society in Rome in winter, and at Albano during the summer. Of these
the first was Lady Augusta Bramleigh; next came Sir Marcus Cluff; and
last--not indeed, either in activity or zeal--was Mrs. Trumpler, a
widow lady of considerable fortune, and no small share of energy in her
nature.

To these George L'Estrange had brought formal letters of introduction,
which he was cautiously enjoined should be presented in the order of
their respective ranks--making his first approaches to the Lady Augusta.
To his request to know at what hour h