ady Coventry (for in truth the first-comer was she) has
sent her husband out to the _foyer_, to make enquiries. He comes
back and reports her to be the lady of Sir Oliver Vyell, a great
American Governor [But here we detect de Jouy in a slight error]
newly arrived from his Province; that she is by birth an American,
and has never visited Europe before. 'She must be Pocahontas
herself, then,' says the Gunning, and very prettily sends across
after the second Act, desiring the honour of her acquaintance.
Nay, this being granted, she goes herself to the Marechale's box, and
the pair sit together in full view of all--a superb challenge, and
made with no show (as I believe, with no feeling) of jealousy. The
audience is entranced. . . . Report said later that my Lady Coventry,
who was given to these small indiscretions, asked almost in her first
breath, yet breathlessly, her rival's age. Her rival smiled and told
it. 'Then you are older than I--but how long have you been married?'
This, too, her rival told her. 'Then,' sighed the Gunning, 'perhaps
you do not love your lord as I love my Cov. It _is_ wearing to the
looks; but 'faith, I cannot help it!'"

From Lisbon Sir Oliver paid several flying visits to England, where
his suit against Lady Caroline still dragged. Nor was it concluded
until the summer of 1754, when the _Gentleman's Magazine_ yields us
the following:--

"_June 4_. A cause between Sir Oliver Vyell, baronet, plaintiff, and
the lady of the late Sir Thomas, defendant, was tried in the Court of
King's Bench by a special jury. The subject of the litigation was a
will of Sir Thomas, suspected to be made when he was not of sound
mind; and it appeared that he had made three--one in 1741, another in
1744, and a third in 1746. In the first only a slender provision was
made for his lady, by the second a family estate in Devonshire, of
2,000 pounds per annum, was given her for her life, and by the third
the whole estate real and personal was left to be disposed of at her
discretion without any provision for the heir-at-law. The jury,
after having withdrawn for about an hour and a half, set aside the
last and confirmed the second. In a hearing before the Lord
Chancellor some time afterwards in relation to the costs, it was
deemed that the lady should pay them all, both at common law and in
Chancery."

Thus we see our Ruth by glimpses in these years which were far from
being the best or the happiest of