anion. Peacock soon gained the secret of Vivian's
love for Fanny, and dazzled by the advantages that a marriage with Miss
Trevanion would confer on his patron, and might reflect on himself, and
delighted at an occasion to exercise his dramatic accomplishments on the
stage of real life, he soon practised the lesson that the theatres had
taught him; namely, to make a sub-intrigue between maid and valet serve
the schemes and insure the success of the lover. If Vivian had some
opportunities to imply his admiration, Miss Trevanion gave him none
to plead his cause. But the softness of her nature, and that
graceful kindness which surrounded her like an atmosphere, emanating
unconsciously from a girl's harmless desire to please, tended to deceive
him. His own personal gifts were so rare, and in his wandering life the
effect they had produced had so increased his reliance on them, that he
thought he wanted but the fair opportunity to woo in order to win. In
this state of mental intoxication, Trevanion, having provided for his
Scotch secretary, took him to Lord N--s. His hostess was one of those
middle-aged ladies of fashion who like to patronize and bring forward
young men, accepting gratitude for condescension as a homage to beauty.
She was struck by Vivian's exterior, and that "picturesque" in look and
in manner which belonged to him. Naturally garrulous and indiscreet, she
was unreserved to a pupil whom she conceived the whim to make "au fait
to society." Thus she talked to him, among other topics in fashion, of
Miss Trevanion, and expressed her belief that the present Lord Castleton
had always admired her; but it was only on his accession to the
marquisate that he had made up his mind to marry, or, from his knowledge
of Lady Ellinor's ambition, thought that the Marquis of Castleton
might achieve the prize which would have been refused to Sir Sedley
Beaudesert. Then, to corroborate the predictions she hazarded, she
repeated, perhaps with exaggeration, some passages from Lord Castleton's
replies to her own suggestions on the subject. Vivian's alarm became
fatally excited; unregulated passions easily obscured a reason so long
perverted, and a conscience so habitually dulled. There is an instinct
in all intense affection (whether it be corrupt or pure) that usually
makes its jealousy prophetic. Thus, from the first, out of all the
brilliant idlers round Fanny Trevanion, my jealousy had pre-eminently
fastened on Sir Sedley Beaudese