hispered Mr. Ormsby to Lord Valentine, 'you young
men had better look sharp; Lord Montacute will cut you all out!'

'Oh! he is going to Jerusalem,' said Lord Valentine.

'Jerusalem!' said Mr. Ormsby, shrugging his shoulders. 'What can he find
to do at Jerusalem?'

'What, indeed,' said Lord Milford. 'My brother was there in '39; he got
leave after the bombardment of Acre, and he says there is absolutely no
sport of any kind.'

'There used to be partridges in the time of Jeremiah,' said Mr. Ormsby;
'at least they told us so at the Chapel Royal last Sunday, where,
by-the-bye, I saw Lord Montacute for the first time; and a deuced
good-looking fellow he is,' he added, musingly.

'Well, there is not a bird in the whole country now,' said Lord Milford.

'Montacute does not care for sport,' said Lord Valentine.

'What does he care for?' asked Lord Milford. 'Because, if he wants any
horses, I can let him have some.'

'He wants to buy a yacht,' said Lord Valentine; 'and that reminds me
that I heard to-day Exmouth wanted to get rid of "The Flower of Yarrow,"
and I think it would suit my cousin. I'll tell him of it.' And he
followed Tancred.

'You and Valentine must rub up your harness, Milford,'said Mr.
Ormsby; 'there is a new champion in the field. We are talking of Lord
Montacute,' continued Mr. Ormsby, addressing himself to Mr. Melton, who
joined them; 'I tell Milford he will cut you all out.'

'Well,' said Mr. Melton, 'for my part I have had so much success, that I
have no objection, by way of change, to be for once eclipsed.'

'Well done, Jemmy,' said Lord Milford.

'I see, Melton,' said Mr. Ormsby, 'you are reconciled to your fate like
a philosopher.'

'Well, Montacute,' said Lord St. Patrick, a good-tempered, witty
Milesian, with a laughing eye, 'when are you going to Jericho?'

'Tell me,' said Tancred, in reply, and rather earnestly, 'who is that?'
And he directed the attention of Lord St. Patrick to a young lady,
rather tall, a brilliant complexion, classic features, a profusion of
light brown hair, a face of intelligence, and a figure rich and yet
graceful.

'That is Lady Constance Rawleigh; if you like, I will introduce you to
her. She is my cousin, and deuced clever. Come along!'

In the meantime, in the room leading to the sculpture gallery where they
are dancing, the throng is even excessive. As the two great divisions,
those who would enter the gallery and those who are quitting it,
encounter eac