'out of the swim' could scarcely be found in England.

Such, and of such connections, was the lady, fair, faded, with mildly
aquiline features, and an aspect at once distinguished and dowdy, who
appealed to Merton. She sought him in what she, at least, regarded as
the interests of her eldest daughter, an heiress under the will of a
maternal uncle. Merton had met the young lady, who looked like a
portrait of her mother in youth. He knew that Miss Malory, now 'wrapped
up in' her betrothed lover, would, in a few years, be equally absorbed in
'her boys.' She was pretty, blonde, dull, good, and cast by Providence
for the part of one of the best of mothers, and the despair of what man
soever happened to sit next her at a dinner party. Such women are the
safeguards of society--though sneered at by the frivolous as 'British
Matrons.'

'I have laid the case before the--where I always take my troubles,' said
Mrs. Malory, 'and I have not felt restrained from coming to consult you.
When I permitted my daughter's engagement (of course after carefully
examining the young man's worldly position) I was not aware of what I
know now. Matilda met him at a visit to some neighbours--he really is
very attractive, and very attentive--and it was not till we came to
London for the season that I heard the stories about him. Some of them
have been pointed out to me, in print, in the dreadful French newspapers,
others came to me in anonymous letters. As far as a mother may, I tried
to warn Matilda, but there are subjects on which one can hardly speak to
a girl. The Vidame, in fact,' said Mrs. Malory, blushing, 'is
celebrated--I should say infamous--both in France and Italy, Poland too,
as what they call _un homme aux bonnes fortunes_. He has caused the
break-up of several families. Mr. Merton, he is a rake,' whispered the
lady, in some confusion.

'He is still young; he may reform,' said Merton, 'and no doubt a pure
affection will be the saving of him.'

'So Matilda believes, but, though a Protestant--his ancestors having left
France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nancy--Nantes I mean--I am
certain that he is _not_ under conviction.'

'Why does he call himself Vidame, "the Vidame de la Lain"?' asked Merton.

'It is an affectation,' said Mrs. Malory. 'None of his family used the
title in England, but he has been much on the Continent, and has lands in
France; and, I suppose, has romantic ideas. He is as much French as
Engli