ecognised her gathering
a nosegay, too, for him, himself unobserved, he stole behind her on
tiptoe, and suddenly clasping her delicate waist, and raising her gently
in the air, 'Well, lady-bird,' he exclaimed, 'I, too, will pluck a
flower!'

Ah! when she turned round her beautiful face, full of charming
confusion, and uttered a faint cry of fond astonishment, as she caught
his bright glance, what happiness was Ferdinand Armine's, as he felt
this enchanting creature was his, and pressed to his bosom her noble and
throbbing form!

'Perhaps this time next year, we may be travelling on mules,' said
Ferdinand, as he flourished his whip, and the little pony trotted along.
Henrietta smiled. 'And then,' continued he, 'we shall remember our
pony-chair that we turn up our noses at now. Donna Henrietta, jogged to
death over dull vegas, and picking her way across rocky sierras, will
be a very different person from Miss Temple, of Ducie Bower. I hope you
will not be very irritable, my child; and pray vent your spleen upon
your muleteer, and not upon your husband.'

'Now, Ferdinand, how can you be so ridiculous?'

'Oh! I have no doubt I shall have to bear all the blame. "You brought
me here," it will be: "Ungrateful man, is this your love? not even
post-horses!"'

'As for that,' said Henrietta, 'perhaps we shall have to walk. I can
fancy ourselves, you with an Andalusian jacket, a long gun, and, I fear,
a cigar; and I with all the baggage.'

'Children and all,' added Ferdinand.

Miss Temple looked somewhat demure, turned away her face a little, but
said nothing.

'But what think you of Vienna, sweetest?' enquired Ferdinand in a more
serious tone; 'upon my honour, I think we might do great things there. A
regiment and a chamberlainship at the least!'

'In mountains or in cities I shall be alike content, provided you be my
companion,' replied Miss Temple.

Ferdinand let go the reins, and dropped his whip. 'My Henrietta,' he
exclaimed, looking in her face, 'what an angel you are!'

This visit to Armine was so delightful to Miss Temple; she experienced
so much gratification in wandering about the park and over the old
castle, and gazing on Glastonbury's tower, and wondering when she should
see him, and talking to her Ferdinand about every member of his family,
that Captain Armine, unable to withstand the irresistible current,
postponed from day to day his decisive visit to Bath, and, confident
in the future, would not perm