Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-05-22
From the London Punch
TIL e STORY OF
A r H. A Il til IL R.
by DOUGLAS JERRoLD.
by DOUGLAS JERRoLD
CHAPTER XII.

y 4.. Cl1AI Eli Al.
D you come in good time, my lord. sale
the countess, with icy speech, 'in excel
lent time for Mr. IngIewood's eloquence C,
Il am always happy to listen to Mr.
lnglewood, " said the earl, politely bow
ting towards the wife of his bosom. His
lordshlp then graciously smiled upon his
chaplain, and drawing chair, ceremoni-
ousIy seated himself, as though resigned
to a long discourse. This formaIlty
somewhat abashed the worthy chaplain;
but there was another circumstance that
increased his confusion. lie knew fol
the past week the welded couple had not
once met, and the feigned civility inter-
changed between them gave certain o.
men of rising. storm. Their General
bearing was that of polished Indifference;
but when either Of them was stung into
extreme polteness, hostiities were sure
to follow. The earl could have loved
his wife, nay, when he married, he did
love her; but she had chilled him into
GOODNESS. Her eXcelling beauty had fas-
cinated him; but too late he found that
he had sacrificed his dearest hopes to a
statue. The countess was that most ter
rlble, but happily that rarest evil ofcrea-
ton, selfish woman. Supremacy arro-
giant in her personal charms, her looking
glass presented her with all the external
world cntaincd; whilst self-self-self
sang 10 her soul never-ending lullaby
Would 10 God' cried the husband, as one
day he looked upon her fatal loveliness
with moistening eyes-'would TO God she
could change that face for heart She
would not have battered one days bloom
Of it for the maternal pride of Cernelia,
And now, Mr. lnglewood, said the earl,
now for your household sermon. | see
how it u.s." he continued, marking the dis
comfort Of the chaplain, keenly observing,
TOO, the cloudy brow of the countess, -
i see how 1t is; as usual, you have been
discoursing to her ladyship,'
Here IngIewood inwardly shivered; for
he knew by fatal experience how his lord
ship-otherwise kind and considerate to-
wards him, delighted to play him off in
his churchman's character against the
countess. 1t was to the earl's thinking, an
exquisite touch Of policy to correct his wife
correct, did say? no, the earl had no
such desperate thought; but to punish the
partner Of his fortunes with the rod of the
church. The earl, | say, considered this
to be stroke of6ne policy; some folks may
call it conjugal cowardice.
MY lord said Inglewood, determined to
to make an effort to extricate himself -
Il would defer my sut-for indeed, it was
suit | had to urge, and not sermon UNI
til tomorrow"
Certainly not, Mr. Inglewood, cried her
ladyship, affecting distrustful glance to-
wards her husband. Proceed, | beg of
you'll assure you, my lord, MIR lnglewood
was talking very charmngly-very much
so, when you interrupted us. am sure
he had something Of importance to COM
municate; some thing that you, doubtless,
ought to hear-I beg he will continue. =
All this was said with meaning, inquisl-
tive eyes, and in tone OF suppressed suff-
srlng; so admirably did the unfeeling wife
act jealousy-so perfectly did her very
heartessness assure heart. At once,
his lordship knew that he was reserved
for some mysterious mischief, and so re-
solved to make the first attack.
Poor Inglewood-poor chaplain! And
he-he was to be sentiment shuttIecock,
struck in cruel sport from wife to husband
from husband back to wife! AT that mo-
ment how did his heart yearn for the para
disc of a Welsh curacyD
Her ladyship, Mr. Ingewood, cried the
earl quickly, for the first time in his life
getting the advance speech of his vile, and
vigorously determined to keep it-'her la
dyship-for all she may affect towards
youls eIf-has, know, the creates vene-
ration for your worth, your honesty She
loves plain-speaking dearly; though per-
haps it might be impolite at all times to a
vow it. Still, her ladyship; you must be
a little indulgent. You must not wage
such deadly crusade against piquet.-l
know what you have said of woman gam
ster have listened with great edlication
to your description of the terrible sect
have really shuddered at the frightGnl pic
ture; at the anatomy, | may say, you have
prepared from what for all good purposes
has ceased to live-a lady gambler; never