d'Albret certainly did, and gave him every opportunity. He was
the heir to a large property, and did not require money with his wife.
About this time, an English lady of the name of Bathurst who was
travelling with a niece, a little girl about fourteen years old, had
accepted an invitation from Monsieur de G--'s father, to pass a week
with them at their chateau, which was about five miles from that of
Madame d'Albret, and this lady was introduced. She was apparently very
amiable, and certainly very _distinguee_ in her manners, and we saw a
great deal of her as she was a great favourite with Madame d'Albret.

A few weeks after the introduction of this English lady, I was one day
on the terrace alone, when I was accosted by Monsieur de G--. After a
remark or two upon the beauty of the autumnal flowers, he observed, "How
different are the customs of two great nations, with but a few leagues
of water between them--I refer to the French and the English. You would
be surprised to see how great they are if you were ever to go to
England--in none, perhaps, more so than in the affairs of the heart. In
France we do not consult the wishes or the feelings of the young lady,
we apply to her parents, and if the match is considered equally
advantageous, the young lady is told to prepare herself for changing her
condition. In England the very reverse is the case; we apply to the
young lady, gain her affections, and when certain of them, we then
request the sanction of those who are her guardians. Which do you think
is the most natural and satisfactory, Mademoiselle de Chatenoeuf?"

"I have been brought up in France, Monsieur de G--, and I prefer the
mode of France; our parents and our guardians are the people most able
to decide upon the propriety of a match, and I think that until that
point is ascertained, no affections should be engaged, as, should the
marriage not be considered advisable, much pain and disappointment will
be prevented."

"In some instances, I grant that such may be the case," replied he; "but
still, is it not treating your sex like slaves to permit no love before
marriage? and is it agreeable for ours, that we lead to the altar a
person who may consent from a sense of duty, without having the least
regard for her husband; nay, perhaps feeling an aversion?"

"I do not think that any kind parents would force their child to marry a
man for whom she felt an aversion," replied I; "and if there is not much
lov