part of a detestable hypocrite, and affected a love which I did not feel.

A day or two before my departure the steward paid the servants their wages and legacies, and mine amongst the number, which I placed according to the advice of Lady Eustace, in the same fund with my other little savings, which now amounted to rather more than a hundred pounds.

I was also pleased in being enabled to make suitable presents to dear Mrs. Davies, and poor Patty Harris, but I felt that nothing could ever repay the disinterested kindness I had received from the former.

The day at last came when I was to bid adieu to the charming villa, which I was secretly convinced I might have some day called my own, but as I walked through its now deserted apartments, and traversed every corner of its delicious gardens, much as I regretted leaving it, I positively never felt a shadow of regret at having refused the excellent and accomplished Mr. Willoughby.

CHAPTER XII.

my imagination

Carries no favour in it, but Bertram's.
I am undone; there is no living, none,

If Bertram be away."

SHAKSPEARE.

Ar the hour appointed, a plain carriage belonging to the Duke of Beaulieu came to fetch me, and as I entered it, I was followed by the good wishes of the whole of my late dear lady's household.

As the carriage drove along I began to feel a good deal frightened at the idea of entering unsupported into the immense establishment of Beaulieu House.

I strove, however, to shake off my fears, and divert my thoughts, till at the end of two

miles we entered the park under an elegant gothic archway with lodges on each side.

Nothing could exceed the beauty of the grounds with its noble trees, through which occasional peeps of the bright, beautiful Thames presented itself.

At the end of about half a mile, the noble mansion appeared, and I was set down, at what I afterwards found was the "Upper Servants' entrance."

A footman conducted me immediately into a large room elegantly furnished.

At the upper end of it, seated on a handsome sofa, was a splendidly dressed woman about fifty years of age, very fat, and with a countenance of assumed dignity, and a young lady, dressed in the height of the fashion, was placed at a piano receiving lessons from a conceitedlooking music-master. A harp stood in one

corner of the room.

Had I not known the Duchess of Beaulieu by sight, I should certainly, in my profound ignorance, have taken the dignified, fat lady

for her grace, and the young one for her daughter.

The former graciously desired me to be seated, while the latter, having just turned her head at my entrance, did not condescend to take any further notice of me.

After a few moments' awkward silence, the fat lady informed me that the young one at the piano was her daughter, taking a few finishing lessons in thorough bass, adding,

"I have spared no pains or expense in her education."

As soon as the music lesson was over, the bell being rung, a footman appeared, who was ordered to bring in luncheon.

It was of the most delicate description, with the choicest fruits and wines.

When the repast was ended and the musicmaster gone, the elder lady (whom I afterwards found was the head housekeeper,) asked me if I should like to retire to my own apartments, and on my answering in the affirmative, she rang her bell, and the same footman ap

pearing, she ordered him in an authoritative tone to ring for "Forty-two."

In a few minutes " Forty-two" made its appearance, in the shape of a smart, good-looking young woman.

She seemed to have a profound awe of the fat housekeeper, who desired her in a commanding manner to conduct "Miss Dornay to her apartments, and then to inform "Mam'selle" that she had done so.

Wishing me good morning in a rather more gracious tone than she had at first adopted, and telling me that my conductress was the person especially appointed to wait upon "Mam'selle" and myself, I gladly took my leave, and followed "Forty-two" to my room.

As she conducted me through (as I then thought) endless galleries and ante-rooms, I fancied that I never could find my way alone through this immense and magnificent mansion. At last, at the end of a superb picture-gallery, from which on each side a number of beautifully carved mahogany doors led into