great part of his time with this person, who was as vulgar as she was profligate. "For," added the housekeeper, "she is either married to my lord's confidential valet, or has him as a lover at her lodgings whenever his master is absent. How I wish (added the indignant woman) that my lord could know how he is deceived."

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Why do you not tell him?" I asked. Perhaps it might rouse him to a sense of his folly and wickedness."

Why, he would not believe me," she replied."

I urged her, however, to open his eyes, as I felt sure that, as he must be mortified at the infidelity of his worthless mistress, it would cause him to see the cruelty of neglecting his most amiable and lovely wife, and perhaps be the means of his treating her with more kind

ness.

After talking over the best way of breaking the communication to her lord, it was at last settled that the housekeeper should take the first opportunity, during the absence of his de

ceitful valet, to beg an interview, and then state all she knew. This was accomplished beyond her hopes. Whether his lordship began to tire of his faithless mistress, or really did suspect her, he resolved to take immediate steps for finding out whether the housekeeper's tale

was true.

That very evening he announced that he should remain at home, as he expected a friend on business. The valet, as we anticipated, asked and obtained leave of absence for the evening, and was informed that he should not be wanted till two o'clock in the morning.

As soon as it was midnight, Lord Kilcromar and his friend left the house, and instantly repaired to the lodgings of his mistress. Upon arriving there, they found the hall door open, and a servant girl carrying in a dish of oysters.

She cried out as the light of the lamps fell on the features of Lord Kilcromar. He ordered her to be silent, and slipping a guinea into her hand, asked her who was upstairs with "his lady."

"Only Mr. Simmonds," replied the terrified girl.

Obey my orders and be silent, and you shall have another guinea." Saying this, his lordship and his friend followed her upstairs to the drawing-room door, which he had desired her to leave open, that he might see without being seen all that passed inside.

The favourite valet, Mr. Simmonds, was seated at a table which was amply spread, while the lady was helping him to some excellent Champagne, which had been laid in for the especial drinking of Lord Kilcromar, whenever he visited the lodgings.

Mr. Simmonds was already very tipsy, and was talking in a lofty manner, and criticising his lord's taste, while the lady desired him not to bother her about the great, long, awkward fellow, as she called her noble protector, saying, "I have quite enough of his company, so pray talk of something more agreeable."

Lord Kilcromar stopped to hear no more, but rushing in, collared his valet, and kicking

him downstairs, thrust him out of the house. His lordship then returned to the drawingroom, where he informed the lady, who was alternately weeping and scolding, that she must on the morrow look out for fresh lodgings and a fresh victim.

Lord Kilcromar then hastened home in a furious temper, and summoning the housekeeper, told her what had passed, and she repeated the foregoing particulars to me.

We greatly hoped that this discovery would be the means of benefiting our injured lady, and for a short time it certainly appeared to have a good effect, as he was more at home, and spoke kinder to her than usual; but time proved that an unprincipled profligate, like a confirmed gambler, is rarely ever reformed.

Lord Kilcromar continued for a fortnight in tolerable humour, but soon became very restless, and apparently impatient, at having kept up so long his good behaviour, and one day set off, after only an hour's preparation, for Ireland. As soon as his lordship was gone, his

lady informed me that I must prepare for her departure, as her lord had announced his desire that she should follow him in a week.

I hardly knew what steps to take, as I felt very unwilling to give her ladyship pain, and yet I could not account for wishing so soon to quit her without explaining my reasons for doing so; for I abhorred the idea of being domesticated, for some time perhaps, in a place so distant from the few friends I possessed, with such a man as Lord Kilcromar.

While ruminating upon my unpleasant position, I was relieved by her ladyship saying, that she was in hopes that her friend Lady Eustace might visit Ireland during our stay there, and added, that while Lord Kilcromar visited his estates, she should remain with her aunt in Dublin.

This information, with the hope of having dear Lady Eustace near, determined me to accompany my poor lady, and thus I should avoid all unpleasant explanations.

It was on a very cold day in January when we left town, Lady Kilcromar and myself in