centred in his brother; and yet
more, that he was the Mr. Maltravers whose writings every one talked of,
whether for praise or abuse. Lord Doningdale had the two characteristics
of a high-bred gentleman of the old school--respect for birth and
respect for talent; he was, therefore, more than ordinarily courteous to
Ernest, and pressed him to stay some days with so much cordiality, that
Maltravers could not but assent. His travelling toilet was scanty, but
Maltravers thought little of dress.

CHAPTER VIII.

"It is the soul that sees. The outward eyes
Present the object, but the mind descries;
And thence delight, disgust, or cool indifference rise.
"CRABBE.

WHEN Maltravers entered the enormous saloon, hung with damask, and
decorated with the ponderous enrichments and furniture of the time
of Louis XIV. (that most showy and barbarous of all tastes, which has
nothing in it of the graceful, nothing of the picturesque, and which,
nowadays, people who should know better imitate with a ludicrous
servility), he found sixteen persons assembled. His host stepped up from
a circle which surrounded him, and formally presented his new visitor
to the rest. He was struck with the likeness which the sister of
Valerie bore to Valerie herself; but it was a sobered and chastened
likeness--less handsome, less impressive. Mrs. George Herbert--such was
the name she now owned--was a pretty, shrinking, timid girl, fond of her
husband, and mightily awed by her father-in-law. Maltravers sat by her,
and drew her into conversation. He could not help pitying the poor lady,
when he found she was to live altogether at Doningdale Park--remote
from all the friends and habits of her childhood--alone, so far as the
affections were concerned, with a young husband, who was passionately
fond of field-sports, and who, from the few words Ernest exchanged with
him, seemed to have only three ideas--his dogs, his horses, and his
wife. Alas! the last would soon be the least in importance. It is a
sad position--that of a lively young Frenchwoman entombed in an
English country-house! Marriages with foreigners are seldom fortunate
experiments. But Ernest's attention was soon diverted from the sister by
the entrance of Valerie herself, leaning on her husband's arm. Hitherto
he had not very minutely observed what change time had effected in
her--perhaps he was half afraid. He now gazed at her with curious
interest. Valerie was still extremely handsome,