fancied the marchioness a widow, as I had never heard her husband named. He was a quiet, sickly, gentlemanly-looking person, as different in manner and habits from his lady as it was possible to conceive. He never stirred out, except for a short walk in the sun, or a drive along the cliffs if it was very fine, and he always retired to rest before ten o'clock.

The marchioness, on the contrary, rode, drove, and walked in the roughest weather, got up early, and went to bed very late.

The consequence was, that this most uncongenial couple never met but at dinner, and very seldom then. Now I began to discover why the marchioness asked if I was a good walker. Whenever she could get no one she liked to accompany her in her long walks, I was summoned. At first, as I fancied she was to be alone, I did not dislike the idea of a walk on the breezy cliffs, but I soon got frightened at being her companion on these excursions.

When we first started, she would walk up and down the Steyne for an hour or two,

and if none of her friends volunteered to accompany her, she would set off along the cliffs for many miles, walking at such a rate that it was quite impossible to keep up with ber. She laughed heartily when she saw how tired I was, and only said, "I shall soon break you in."

She had ordered me a habit, and as soon as it came home she took me to a riding school, and for some time occupied herself in drilling me. She appeared in very good humour at my being, as she said, so docile, while I was only thinking and hoping she would get tired of my stupidity.

How long this freak might have lasted I know not; but after we had been a month at Brighton, her ladyship informed me that she was going the following day to the seat of the Earl and Countess of and desired me to have every thing ready to accompany her.

At ten o'clock the next morning the travelling-carriage was at the door, into which the marchioness entered, desiring me to fol

low her. The marquis was left behind.

As

we never stopped, except to change horses, which were ordered by the marchioness to go at a tremendous rate, the seventy miles which intervened between the Earl of 's seat were soon got over.

The occasion of this visit was to be present at the celebration of the marriage of the only daughter of the earl and countess.

The house was full of company, and as we drove up to the grand entrance it was one blaze of light. This evening, for the first time, the marchioness displayed some little care of her person; but the next day she returned to her old habits, and scoured the park and grounds in every direction. How gladly would I have left those scenes of merriment. My heart was still oppressed by the sudden and sad loss I, in common with so many others, had sustained in the recent death of the good and gentle duchess, and it was with great difficulty I could endure, in my present frame of mind, the boisterous manners of my new mistress.

After we had been at this place two or three days, she informed me that she meant to remain a week, and then go to Tunbridge Wells. Though I was very fond of travelling, yet to be hurried about from place to place with a mistress I could neither respect nor love, was extremely distasteful to me; and I was further disgusted by the marchioness telling me, in a very unfeeling manner, that she should not allow me to wear the mourning for the late excellent duchess much longer. This decided me to take the first opportunity of informing the marchioness that I felt myself unable to continue in her service.

On the third morning after our arrival Lady Laura was married, and for a week after her departure the gaieties continued. The style of the mansion at which we were now visiting, and many other circumstances, concurred to bring fresh to my mind the bright and charming, though deceitful hours, so fatally spent at Beaulieu.

There was a ball every evening, and as I listened to the music, the same air was often

repeated to which, so many years before, I had listened with a beating and happy heart. I cannot tell how it was, but I felt more miserable, more desolate now, than I had done for years.

One morning, after I had been up very late the previous night, waiting for the marchioness to retire to rest, I called her, as she had desired me to do, at eleven o'clock, an unusually late hour for her to rise. Her ladyship was, however, so sleepy, that she ordered me to come to her again in half an hour. Her bed-room, together with many others, opened into a superb picture-gallery, and as scarcely any of the company were stirring, and my room was a considerable distance from that of the marchioness, I thought I might as well remain in the gallery till the half hour was expired.

Being very tired, I seated myself near the door of the marchioness's room on one of the many couches which decorated each side of this splendid apartment.

I had not been long in this luxurious situation before, overcome by fatigue, I fell