d that she fancied herself the very type of misery and
desertion? The last solace of such minds is in the pity they bestow upon
themselves; and here she certainly excelled, and upon no occasion more
forcibly than when receiving a visit from Dr. Grounsell.

"Dr. Grounsell, my Lady," said a servant; and, at the words, that
gentleman entered.

A heavy greatcoat, with numerous capes, a low-crowned glazed hat, and a
pair of old-fashioned "Hessians," into which his trousers were tucked,
showed that he had not stooped to any artifices of toilet to win favor
with her Ladyship. As she bowed slightly to him, she lifted her glass to
her eye, and then dropped it suddenly with a gentle simper, as though to
say that another glance would have perilled her gravity.

"Winter has set in early, madam," said he, approaching the fire, "and
with unusual severity. The poor are great sufferers this year."

"I 'm sure I agree with you," sighed Lady Hester. "I never endured such
cold before!"

"I spoke of the 'poor,' madam," retorted he, abruptly.

"Well, sir, has any one a better right to respond in their name than I
have? Look around you, see where I am living, and how, and then answer
me!"

"Madam," said Grounsell, sternly, and fixing his eyes steadily on her as
he spoke, "I have ridden for two hours of this morning over part of that
tract which is your estate. I have visited more than a dozen--I will not
call them houses, but hovels. There was fever in some, ague in others,
and want, utter want, in all; and yet I never heard one of the sufferers
select himself as the special mark of misfortune, but rather allude to
his misery as part of that common calamity to which flesh is heir. 'God
help the poor!' was the prayer, and they would have felt ashamed to have
invoked the blessing on themselves alone."

"I must say that if you have been to see people with typhus, and perhaps
small-pox, it shows very little consideration to come and visit _me_
immediately after, sir."

Grounsell's face grew purple, but with a great effort he repressed the
reply that was on his lips, and was silent.

"Of course, then, these poor creatures can pay nothing, sir?"

"Nothing, madam."

"Che bella cosa! an Irish property!" cried she, with a scornful laugh;
"and if I mistake not, sir, it was to your kind intervention and
influence that I am indebted for this singular mark of my husband's
affection?"

"Quite true, madam. I had supposed it to be possible--