es, by the
very sweets with which they are charged! "Do you remember," said he,
"that evening at ---- when we last parted? and the boldness which at
that time you were gentle enough to forgive?"

Lady Flora replied not.

"And do you remember," continued Clarence, "that I told you that it was
not as an unknown and obscure adventurer that I would claim the hand of
her whose heart as an adventurer I had won?"

Lady Flora raised her eyes for one moment, and encountering the ardent
gaze of Clarence, as instantly dropped them.

"The time is not yet come," said Linden, "for the fulfilment of this
promise; but may I--dare I hope, that when it does, I shall not be--"

"Flora, my love," said Lady Westborough, "let me introduce to you Lord
Borodaile."

Lady Flora turned: the spell was broken; and the lovers were instantly
transformed into ordinary mortals. But, as Flora, after returning Lord
Borodaile's address, glanced her eye towards Clarence, she was struck
with the sudden and singular change of his countenance; the flush of
youth and passion was fled, his complexion was deadly pale, and his eyes
were fixed with a searching and unaccountable meaning upon the face of
the young nobleman, who was alternately addressing, with a quiet and
somewhat haughty fluency, the beautiful mother, and the more lovely
though less commanding daughter. Directly Linden perceived that he was
observed, he rose, turned away, and was soon lost among the crowd.

Lord Borodaile, the son and heir of the powerful Earl of Ulswater,
was about the age of thirty, small, slight, and rather handsome than
otherwise, though his complexion was dark and sallow; and a very
aquiline nose gave a stern and somewhat severe air to his countenance.
He had been for several years abroad, in various parts of the Continent,
and (no other field for an adventurous and fierce spirit presenting
itself) had served with the gallant Earl of Effingham, in the war
between the Turks and Russians, as a volunteer in the armies of the
latter. In this service he had been highly distinguished for courage and
conduct; and, on his return to England about a twelvemonth since, had
obtained the command of a cavalry regiment. Passionately fond of his
profession, he entered into its minutest duties with a zeal not exceeded
by the youngest and poorest subaltern in the army.

His manners were very cold, haughty, collected, and self-possessed, and
his conversation that of a man who has cultiv