"Bath" story. I thought I
should have died. I could not but fancy the Admiral suspected. Was it
not natural? And what do you think I had the audacity to do? I asked him
coolly, whether the Mr. Harrington he mentioned was not the son of Sir
Abraham Harrington, of Torquay,--the gentleman who lost his yacht in
the Lisbon waters last year? I brought it on myself. 'Gentleman,
ma'am,--MA'AM!' says the horrid old creature, laughing, 'gentleman! he's
a ---- I cannot speak it: I choke!' And then he began praising Papa.
Diacho! what I suffered. But, you know, I can keep my countenance, if I
perish. I am a Harrington as much as any of us!'

And the Countess looked superb in the pride with which she said she
was what she would have given her hand not to be. But few feelings are
single on this globe, and junction of sentiments need not imply unity in
our yeasty compositions.

'After it was over--my supplice,' continued the Countess, 'I was
questioned by all the ladies--I mean our ladies--not your English. They
wanted to know how I could be so civil to that intolerable man. I gained
a deal of credit, my dears. I laid it all on--Diplomacy.' The Countess
laughed bitterly. 'Diplomacy bears the burden of it all. I pretended
that Combleman could be useful to Silva! Oh! what hypocrites we all are,
mio Deus!'

The ladies listening could not gainsay this favourite claim of universal
brotherhood among the select who wear masks instead of faces.

With regard to Evan, the Countess had far outstripped her sisters in
her views. A gentleman she had discovered must have one of two things--a
title or money. He might have all the breeding in the world; he might be
as good as an angel; but without a title or money he was under eclipse
almost total. On a gentleman the sun must shine. Now, Evan had no title,
no money. The clouds were thick above the youth. To gain a title he
would have to scale aged mountains. There was one break in his firmament
through which the radiant luminary might be assisted to cast its beams
on him still young. That divine portal was matrimony. If he could but
make a rich marriage he would blaze transfigured; all would be well! And
why should not Evan marry an heiress, as well as another?

'I know a young creature who would exactly suit him,' said the Countess.
'She is related to the embassy, and is in Lisbon now. A charming
child--just sixteen! Dios! how the men rave about her! and she isn't a
beauty,--there's the wonder;