y dear, will you come?"

I replied in the affirmative, and Lady M--then rose, and giving me her
arm, we walked back to the bench which I had left, where I found Lady
R--in a hot dispute with a member of Parliament. I sat down by her
unnoticed, and Lady M--having smiled an adieu, I was left to my own
reflections, which were anything but agreeable. My head ached
dreadfully, and I looked so ill that Lady R--'s warm antagonist
perceived it, and pointed it out to her, saying, "Your _protegee_ is not
well, I fear, Lady R--."

I replied to Lady R--, "that I had a violent headache, and wished to get
home if it were possible."

She immediately consented, and showed great concern. As soon as we were
home, I need hardly say, that I hastened to my room.

I sat down and pressed my forehead with my hands: my knowledge of the
world was increasing too fast. I began to hate it--hate men, and women
even more than men. What lessons had I learnt within the last year.
First Madame d'Albret, then Madame Bathurst, and now Lady R--. Was
there no such thing as friendship in the world--no such thing as
generosity? In my excited state it appeared to me that there was not.
All was false and hollow. Self was the idol of mankind, and all
worshipped at its altar. After a time I became more composed, I thought
of little Madame Gironac, and the recollection of her disinterested
kindness put me in a better frame of mind. Mortified as I was, I could
not help feeling that it was only the vanity of Lady R--and her desire
to shine, to which I had been made a sacrifice, and that she had no
intention of wounding my feelings. Still, to remain with her after what
had been told to me by Lady M--was impossible.

And then I reflected upon what steps I should take. I did not like to
tell Lady R--the real grounds of my leaving her. I thought it would be
prudent to make some excuse and part good friends. At last it occurred
to me that her intention of going to France would be a good excuse. I
could tell her that I was afraid of meeting my relatives.

Having decided upon this point, I then canvassed the words of Lady M--.
What could she offer me in her house? She had three daughters, but they
were all out, as the phrase is, and their education supposed to be
completed. This was a mystery I could not solve, and I was obliged to
give up thinking about it, and at last I fell asleep. The next moment I
woke up, jaded in mind, and with a bad headache