rong. Without being broad in the shoulders, he was
exceedingly deep in the chest--deeper than men who seemed giants by his
side; and his gestures had the ease of one accustomed to an active life.
He had, indeed, been celebrated in his youth for his skill in athletic
exercises, but a wound, received in a duel many years ago, had rendered
him lame for life--a misfortune which interfered with his former habits,
and was said to have soured his temper. This personage, whose position
and character will be described hereafter, was Lord Lilburne, the
brother of Mrs. Beaufort.

"So, Camilla," said Lord Lilburne to his niece, as carelessly, not
fondly, he stroked down her glossy ringlets, "you don't like Berkeley
Square as you did Gloucester Place."

"Oh, no! not half so much! You see I never walk out in the fields,--[Now
the Regent's Park.]--nor make daisy-chains at Primrose Hill. I don't
know what mamma means," added the child, in a whisper, "in saying we are
better off here."

Lord Lilburne smiled, but the smile was a half sneer. "You will know
quite soon enough, Camilla; the understandings of young ladies grow up
very quickly on this side of Oxford Street. Well, Arthur, and what are
your plans to-day?"

"Why," said Arthur, suppressing a yawn, "I have promised to ride out
with a friend of mine, to see a horse that is for sale somewhere in the
suburbs."

As he spoke, Arthur rose, stretched himself, looked in the glass, and
then glanced impatiently at the window.

"He ought to be here by this time."

"He! who?" said Lord Lilburne, "the horse or the other animal--I mean
the friend?"

"The friend," answered Arthur, smiling, but colouring while he smiled,
for he half suspected the quiet sneer of his uncle.

"Who is your friend, Arthur?" asked Mrs. Beaufort, looking up from her
work.

"Watson, an Oxford man. By the by, I must introduce him to you."

"Watson! what Watson? what family of Watson? Some Watsons are good and
some are bad," said Mrs. Beaufort, musingly.

"Then they are very unlike the rest of mankind," observed Lord Lilburne,
drily.

"Oh! my Watson is a very gentlemanlike person, I assure you," said
Arthur, half-laughing, "and you need not be ashamed of him." Then,
rather desirous of turning the conversation, he continued, "So my father
will be back from Beaufort Court to-day?"

"Yes; he writes in excellent spirits. He says the rents will bear
raising at least ten per cent., and that the house will not r