dy Armine completed the
establishment, with her young brother, who, among numerous duties,
performed the office of groom, and attended to a pair of beautiful white
ponies which Sir Ratcliffe drove in a phaeton. This equipage, which was
remarkable for its elegance, was the especial delight of Lady Armine,
and certainly the only piece of splendour in which Sir Ratcliffe
indulged. As for neighbourhood, Sir Ratcliffe, on his arrival, of course
received a visit from the rector of his parish, and, by the courteous
medium of this gentleman, he soon occasioned it to be generally
understood that he was not anxious that the example of his rector should
be followed. The intimation, in spite of much curiosity, was of course
respected. Nobody called upon the Armines. This happy couple, however,
were too much engrossed with their own society to require amusement from
any other sources than themselves. The honeymoon was passed in wandering
in the pleasure-grounds, and in wondering at their own marvellous
happiness. Then Lady Armine would sit on a green bank and sing her
choicest songs, and Sir Ratcliffe repaid her for her kindness with
speeches softer even than serenades. The arrangement of their dwelling
occupied the second month; each day witnessed some felicitous yet
economical alteration of her creative taste. The third month Lady Armine
determined to make a garden.

'I wish,' said her affectionate husband, as he toiled with delight in
her service, 'I wish, my dear Constance, that Glastonbury was here; he
was such a capital gardener.'

'Let us ask him, dear Ratcliffe; and, perhaps, for such a friend we have
already allowed too great a space of time to elapse without sending an
invitation.'

'Why, we are so happy,' said Sir Ratcliffe, smiling; 'and yet
Glastonbury is the best creature in the world. I hope you will like him,
dear Constance.'

'I am sure I shall, dear Ratcliffe. Give me that geranium, love. Write
to him, to-day; write to Glastonbury to-day.'

CHAPTER III.

_Arrival of Glastonbury._

ADRIAN GLASTONBURY was a younger son of an old but decayed English
family. He had been educated at a college of Jesuits in France, and had
entered at an early period of life the service of the Romish Church,
whose communion his family had never quitted. At college young
Glastonbury had been alike distinguished for his assiduous talents and
for the extreme benevolence of his disposition. His was one of those
minds to