s happiness could last.
Naturally inclined to sympathy, Lord Colambre reproached himself for not
feeling as gay at this instant as the occasion required. But the festive
scene, the blazing lights, the 'universal hubbub,' failed to raise his
spirits. As a dead weight upon them hung the remembrance of Mordicai's
denunciations; and, through the midst of this Eastern magnificence, this
unbounded profusion, he thought he saw future domestic misery and ruin
to those he loved best in the world.

The only object present on which his eye rested with pleasure was Grace
Nugent. Beautiful--in elegant and dignified simplicity--thoughtless
of herself--yet with a look of thought, and with an air of melancholy,
which accorded exactly with his own feelings, and which he believed to
arise from the same reflections that had passed in his own mind.

'Miss Broadhurst, Colambre! all the Broadhursts!' said his mother,
wakening him, as she passed by, to receive them as they entered.
Miss Broadhurst appeared, plainly dressed--plainly, even to
singularity--without any diamonds or ornament.

'Brought Philippa to you, my dear Lady Clonbrony, this figure, rather
than not bring her at all,' said puffing Mrs. Broadhurst; 'and had all
the difficulty in the world to get her out at all, and now I've promised
she shall stay but half an hour. Sore throat--terrible cold she took
in the morning. I'll swear for her, she'd not have come for any one but
you.'

The young lady did not seem inclined to swear, or even to say this
for herself; she stood wonderfully unconcerned and passive, with an
expression of humour lurking in her eyes, and about the corners of
her mouth; whilst Lady Clonbrony was 'shocked,' and 'gratified,'
and 'concerned' and 'flattered' and whilst everybody was hoping, and
fearing, and busying themselves about her--'Miss Broadhurst, you'd
better sit here!'--'Oh, for Heaven's sake! Miss Broadhurst, not there!'
'Miss Broadhurst, if you'll take my opinion;' and 'Miss Broadhurst, if I
may advise--'

'Grace Nugent!' cried Lady Clonbrony--'Miss Broadhurst always listens to
you. Do, my dear, persuade Miss Broadhurst to take care of herself, and
let us take her to the inner little pagoda, where she can be so warm and
so retired--the very thing for an invalid. Colambre! pioneer the way for
us, for the crowd's immense.'

Lady Anne and Lady Catharine H--, Lady Langdale's daughters, were at
this time leaning on Miss Nugent's arm, and moved along wi