se ignorance or indifference. Of the great world--the
"swells" he would have called them--he only knew such as were on the
turf. Of the opera, he might possibly tell the price of a stall, but not
the name of a singer; and as to his own future, what or where it should
be, Grog no more knew than who would be first favorite for the Leger a
century hence. To "fence off" any attempt "to pump him" in the ring, to
dodge a clever cross-examiner in a court of justice, Davis would have
proved himself second to none,--these were games of skill, which he
could play with the best,--but it was a very different task to thread
his way through the geography of a land he had not so much as heard of,
and be asked to act as guide through regions whose very names were new
to him.

The utmost that Lizzy could glean from that long first evening's talk
was, that her father had few or no political ambitions, rather shunned
the great world, cared little for dukes or duchesses, nor set any great
store on mere intellectual successes. "Perhaps," thought she, "he has
tried and found the hollowness of them all; perhaps he is weary of
public life; perhaps he 'd like the quiet pleasures of a country house,
and that calm existence described as the chateau life of England.
Would that he were only more frank with me, and let us know each other
better!"

We entreat our readers to forgive us this digression, necessary as it is
to show that Lizzy, whatever her real doubts and anxieties, felt bound
not to display them, but accept Beecher's counsel as her father's will.

"And so we start for Aix-la-Chapelle by two?" said she, calmly.

"Yes; and I represent papa," said Beecher. "I hope you feel impressed
with a due reverence for my authority."

"Much will depend upon the way you exercise it," said she; "I could very
easily be a rebel if I suspected the justice of the Crown."

"Come, come," said he, laughing, "don't threaten me! my viceroyship will
be very short-lived,--he 'll perhaps be at Aix before us."

"And I suppose all my dreams of extravagance here are defeated," said
she. "Annette and I have been plotting and planning such rare devices
in 'toilette,' not exactly aware where or upon whom the captivations
were to be exercised. I actually revelled in the thought of all the
smart fineries my Pensionnat life has denied me hitherto."

There was that blending of levity with seriousness in her tone that
totally puzzled Beecher; and so was it through all