yet tears of wrathful indignation, such as burst
from me when I detected Lady M--, in her base endeavour to destroy my
character.

These were tears of affection, of softness, almost of joy. They flowed
noiselessly and gently, and they relieved me, for my heart was very
full; and, when I was relieved, I bathed my face, and arranged my hair,
and descended the staircase almost merrily to join the merry company in
the garden.

I found on my joining them, that the Count de Chavannes had already
completely gained the good graces, not only of Caroline and her young
sisters-in-law, but of Mr Selwyn and the Judge also.

He had come down to Kew with the particular purpose of engaging my
brother and Lionel to accompany him, on the next day but one, to
Wormwood Scrubs, where there was to be a grand review, in honour of some
foreign prince or other, of two or three regiments of light cavalry,
with horse-artillery and rockets. It was to conclude with a sham fight,
and which he thought would interest Auguste as a military man, and
especially one who had commenced his service in the hussars, though he
had been subsequently transferred into the line.

This plan had been discussed and talked over, until the ladies, having
expressed a laughing desire to see the _spectacle_, it was decided that
Caroline, the two Miss Selwyns and myself, escorted by Lionel, in the
rumble, should go down to the review in the Judge's carriage, Auguste
and the Count accompanying us _en cavalier_, and that after the order of
the day should be concluded, the whole party, including the Count,
should return to dinner at Kew.

On the day following, as I did not think it either wise or correct to
neglect my pupils, my chapel, or Mrs Bradshaw's school, although I had
sent satisfactory reasons for taking one week's leave of absence, we
were all to return to town; I to good Monsieur Gironac's, Auguste and
Lionel to the lodgings of the latter in Suffolk Street.

Monsieur de Chavannes did not stay long after I made my appearance, not
wishing either to be, or to appear, _de trop_ on a first visit; nor had
he any opportunity of addressing more than a few common-place
observations to me, had he desired to do so. Still I observed the same
peculiarity in his manner towards me, as distinct as possible from the
sort of proud humility, half badinage, half earnest, which he put on in
talking with other ladies.

To me he observed a tone of serious softness, with somethi