ed to
give me some details of my father, by which I could learn that the
change in his circumstances had never been made known to her, and that
she had gone on since we last met in her old career of extravagance and
expense, the indulgence of which, and the cares of her ever-declining
health, having given her abundant occupation.

As I looked at her beautiful features and delicately fair complexion,
upon which time had scarcely laid a touch, I sighed to think at what
a frightful sacrifice of feeling, of duty, and of happiness, too, such
loveliness had been purchased. If the fine pencilling of that brow had
never known a wrinkle, the heart had never throbbed to one high or holy
thought; if the smile sat easily on the lip, it was the habitual garb of
fashionable captivation, and not the indication of one kind thought
or one affectionate feeling. I felt shocked, too, that I could thus
criticise my mother; but in truth for a minute or two I forgot she was
such.

'And Julia,' said I, at length--'what of her?'

'Very handsome indeed--strikingly so. Beulwitz, the emperor's
aide-de-camp, admires her immensely. I am sincerely glad that you are
come, dear John. You know Julia's fortune has all been saved: but of
that another time. The first point now is to secure you a ticket for
this ball; and how to do it, I'm sure I know not.'

'My dear mother, believe me I have not the slightest desire----'

'How very unkind you are to think we could separate from you after such
an absence! Besides, Julia would be seriously offended, and I think with
cause. But the ticket--let's consider about that. Dejoncourt, is it
true that the Princesse de Nassau was refused a card for the ball?'

'Oui, miladi. The King of Prussia has sent her one of his, and is to
take her; and Madame la Duchesse de St. Bieve was so angry at being left
out that she tried to get up an alarm of conspiracy in the _faubourg_,
to prevent the sovereigns from going.'

'But they will go, surely--won't they?'

'Ah, to be sure. _Pardieu_, they would say to-morrow that they had been
omitted too, if they didn't appear.'

'What are we to do?' said her ladyship with energy. 'Grammont can be of
no use here; for unfortunately these people are not French.'

'What then,' said I, 'is it some of the crowned heads who are the
entertainers?'

'Oh, no! Indeed, I don't know who they are; nor do I know any one
who does. The only fact of importance is that this is their third
_fete_