won, and forever."

Yes, that story increased my admiration for Lord Castleton; it showed
me with what forethought and earnest sense of responsibility he had
undertaken the charge of a life, the guidance of a character yet
undeveloped; it lastingly acquitted him of the levity that had been
attributed to Sedley Beaudesert. But I felt more than ever contented
that the task had devolved on one whose temper and experience had so
fitted him to discharge it. That German prince made me tremble from
sympathy with the husband, and in a sort of relative shudder for myself!
Had that episode happened to me, I could never have drawn "high comedy"
from it; I could never have so happily closed the fifth act with a pinch
of the Beaudesert mixture! No, no; to my homely sense of man's life and
employment there was nothing alluring in the prospect of watching over
the golden tree in the garden, with a "woe to the Argus if Mercury
once lull him to sleep!" Wife of mine shall need no watching, save in
sickness and sorrow! Thank Heaven that my way of life does not lead
through the roseate thoroughfares, beset with German princes laying bets
for my perdition, and fine gentlemen admiring the skill with which I
play at chess for so terrible a stake! To each rank and each temper, its
own laws. I acknowledge that Fanny is an excellent marchioness, and Lord
Castleton an incomparable marquis. But, Blanche! if I can win thy true,
simple heart, I trust I shall begin at the fifth act of high comedy, and
say at the altar,--

"Once won, won forever."

(1) Sir Philip Sidney.

(2) Lord Hervey's Memoirs of George II.

CHAPTER VII.

I rode home on a horse my host lent me; and Lord Castleton rode part
of the way with me, accompanied by his two boys, who bestrode manfully
their Shetland ponies and cantered on before us. I paid some compliment
to the spirit and intelligence of these children,--a compliment they
well deserved.

"Why, yes," said the marquis, with a father's becoming pride, "I hope
neither of them will shame his grandsire, Trevanion. Albert (though not
quite the wonder poor Lady Ulverstone declares him to be) is rather
too precocious, and it is all I can do to prevent his being spoilt by
flattery to his cleverness, which, I think, is much worse than even
flattery to rank,--a danger to which, despite Albert's destined
inheritance, the elder brother is more exposed. Eton soon takes out the
conceit of the latter and more vulgar ki