Year: 1859

That evening Captain Wybrow. returning
from a long ride with Miss ASHER, went
up to his dressing-room, and seated him
self with an air of considerable lassitude before
his mirror. The reflection there presented of
his exquisite self was certainly paler and more
worn than usual and might excuse the anxiety
with which he first fell his pulse, and then laid
his hand on his heart.


" It's devil of position this for man to
be in" was the train of his thought,as he kept
his eyes fixed on the glass, while he leaned back
in his chair, and crossed his hands behind his
head :" between two jealous women, and both
OF them as ready to take fire as tlnder. And
in my state of health too l should be glad
enough to run away from the whole affair, and
90 off to some lolos eating place or other where
there arc no women, or only women who are too
sleepy to be jealous. Here am I, doing nothing
10 please myself, trying to do the best thing for
everybody else, and all the comfort | get is to
have fire shot at me from women's eyes, and
venom spirited at me from women's tongues.
IF Beatrice takes another jealous fit into her
head-and it's likely enough Tina is SO un.
manageable don't know what storm she may
raise. And any hitch in this marriage especial.
ly of that sort, might be u fatal business for
the old gentleman. | wouldn't have such a
blow fall upon him for great deal. Besides,
a man must be married some time in his life, and
| could hardly do better than marry Beatrice
She's an uncommonly fine woman, and I'm
really very fond of her ; and as shall let her
have her own way, her temper won't signify
much. wish the wedding was over and done
with, for this fuss doesn't suit me at all.
haven't been half go well lately. That scene
about Tina this morning quite upset me- Poo
little Tina What little simpleton it was, tt
set her heart on me in that way! But sh,
ought to see how impossible is it that thing
should be different. lfshe would but under
stand how kindly feel towards her, and maxi
up her mind to look on me as friend blu
that is what one never can get women to do
Beatrice is very good natured; I'm sure sh
would be kind to the little thing 1t would b.
a great comfort if Tina would take to Giifil, il
it were only in anger against me- He'd max
her apital husband, and l should like to se
the little grasshopper happy. III had been i
a different position. Iwoud certainly have mai
ried her myself, but that was out of the questio
with my responsibilities to Sir Christopher
| think little persuasion from nay uncle woulC
bring her to accept Gfl; | know she woul
never be able to oppose my uncle's wishes. An
if they were once married, she's such lovin
little thing, she would soon be billing and coo
ing with him as if she had never known me
1t would certainly be the best thing for he
happiness if that marriage were hastened
Heghho Those are lucky fellows that hav
no women falling in love with them. It's


conlounded responsibility"


At this point in his meditations he turne
his head little, so as to get a three. quartz
view Of his face. Clearly it was the " don
fHJeHCe uGtd 06HszZ0 tilht ialu tuese onereu
duties upon him-an idea which naturally sul
gested that he should ring for his valet.


For the next few days, however, there wa
such cessation of threatening symptoms as t
rally the anxiety both of Captain Wybrow, On


Mr. Gilfl. All earthly things have their lull
even on nights when the most unappeasabl


wind is raging, there will be moment of still


ness before it crashes among the boughs agar
and storms against the windows, and how
like thousand lost demons through the Ike,
holes.


Miss ASHER appeared to be in the highe


good d.humour; Captain Wybrow was MOI
issiduous than usual and was very ciroun
spcct in his behaviour to Catsrina, on who


Miss Assher bestowed unwonted attention


The weather was brilliant there were ridin


excursions in the mornings and dinner. partis
in the evenings. Consultations in the libral


between Sir Christopher and Lady ASHER seen
{ ed to be leading to satisfactory result and
. was understood that this visit at Chever
Manor would terminate in another forngh
' when the preparations for the wedding wou
be carried forward with all despatch at Farleig
The baronet seemed evory day more radiar